Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire, vol 1 | Page 3

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The History of The Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire

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David Reed

History Of The Decline And Fall Of The Roman Empire
Edward Gibbon, Esq.
With notes by the Rev. H. H. Milman

Vol. 1

Introduction
Preface By The Editor.
The great work of Gibbon is indispensable to the student of history. The literature of
Europe offers no substitute for "The Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire." It has
obtained undisputed possession, as rightful occupant, of the vast period which it
comprehends. However some subjects, which it embraces, may have undergone more
complete investigation, on the general view of the whole period, this history is the sole
undisputed authority to which all defer, and from which few appeal to the original writers,
or to more modern compilers. The inherent interest of the subject, the inexhaustible labor
employed upon it; the immense condensation of matter; the luminous arrangement; the
general accuracy; the style, which, however monotonous from its uniform stateliness, and
sometimes wearisome from its elaborate ar., is throughout vigorous, animated, often
picturesque always commands attention, always conveys its meaning with emphatic
energy, describes with singular breadth and fidelity, and generalizes with unrivalled
felicity of expression; all these high qualifications have secured, and seem likely to
secure, its permanent place in historic literature.
This vast design of Gibbon, the magnificent whole into which he has cast the decay and
ruin of the ancient civilization, the formation and birth of the new order of things, will of
itself, independent of the laborious execution of his immense plan, render "The Decline
and Fall of the Roman Empire" an unapproachable subject to the future historian: ^* in
the eloquent language of his recent French editor, M. Guizot: - [Footnote * A
considerable portion of this preface has already appeared before us public in the
Quarterly Review.]
"The gradual decline of the most extraordinary dominion which has ever invaded and
oppressed the world; the fall of that immense empire, erected on the ruins of so many

kingdoms, republics, and states both barbarous and civilized; and forming in its turn, by
its dismemberment, a multitude of states, republics, and kingdoms; the annihilation of the
religion of Greece and Rome; the birth and the progress of the two new religions which
have shared the most beautiful regions of the earth; the decrepitude of the ancient world,
the spectacle of its expiring glory and degenerate manners; the infancy of the modern
world, the picture of its first progress, of the new direction given to the mind and
character of man - such a subject must necessarily fix the attention and excite the interest
of men, who cannot behold with indifference those memorable epochs, during which, in
the fine language of Corneille -
'Un grand destin commence, un grand destin s'acheve.'" This extent and harmony of
design is unquestionably that which distinguishes the work of Gibbon from all other great
historical compositions. He has first bridged the abyss between ancient and modern times,
and connected together the two great worlds of history. The great advantage which the
classical historians possess over those of modern times is in unity of plan, of course
greatly facilitated by the narrower sphere to which their researches were confined. Except
Herodotus, the great historians of Greece - we exclude the more modern compilers, like
Diodorus Siculus -