Page:Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire (1827) Vol 2.djvu/34

 IG THE DECLINE AND FALL CHAP, a cautious historian will scarcely venture to adopt ^^^'- them. We are told that Galerius, who had formed a very imperfect notion of the greatness of Rome by the cities of the east, with which he was acquainted, found his forces inadequate to the siege of that immense ca- pital. But the extent of a city serves only to render it more accessible to the enemy : Ptome had long since been accustomed to submit on the approach of a con- queror; nor could the temporary enthusiasm of the people have long contended against the disciphne and valour of the legions. We are likewise informed, that the legions themselves were struck with horror and remorse, and that those pious sons of the republic re- fused to violate the sanctity of their venerable parents But when we recollect with how much ease, in the more ancient civil wars, the zeal of party, and the habits of military obedience, had converted the native citizens of Home into her most implacable enemies; we shall be inchned to distrust this extreme delicacy of strangers and barbarians, who had never beheld Italy till they entered it in a hostile manner. Had they not been restrained by motives of a more interested nature, they would probably have answered Galerius in the words of Cesar's veterans : " If our general wishes to lead us to the banks of the Tiber, we are prepared to trace out his camp. Whatsoever walls he has deter- mined to level with the ground, our hands are ready to work the engines; nor shall we hesitate, should the name of the devoted city be Rome itself." These are indeed the expressions of a poet ; but of a poet who has been distinguished, and even censured, for his strict adherence to the truth of history*^. <= Lactantius de M. P. c. 28. The former of these reasons is probably taken from Virgil's shepherd ; "lUam ego huic nostras similem, Meliboee, putavi," etc. Lactantius delights in these poetical allusions. '' Castra super Tusci si ponere Tibridis undas, (jiibeas) Hesperios audax veniam metator in agros. Tu quoscunque voles in planum effundere muros, His aiies actus disperget saxa lacertis ; Ilia licet penitus lolli quam jusseris urbem Roma sit. Lucan. Pharsal. i. 381.