章节目录
几次大规模的入侵
第三十一章 阿拉里克对意大利的入侵。
罗马贵族及罗马人民的品格。
对罗马城的三次围攻和洗劫。
哥特人的退却及阿拉里克之死。
第三十二章 阿尔卡狄乌斯的统治。
圣约翰·克里索斯托姆。
阿尔卡狄乌斯之死及小提奥多西的继位。
普尔喀丽娅的统治。
欧多西亚的冒险经历。
第三十三章 汪达尔人对阿非利加的入侵。
圣奥古斯丁和对希波的围困。
对迦太基的掳掠。
关于七个长睡人的神话。
帝国在西部的终结
内容简介
被吉本所贬抑的古代基督教，可参看古罗马教父奥古斯丁合自传和对天主的歌颂为一体的《忏悔录》等。至于对法国启蒙运动的承接，启蒙思想先驱孟德斯鸠写过一本《罗马盛衰原因论》，博览群书的吉本是肯定读过的。不过两人的看法和侧重点不一样，孟德斯鸠认为罗马之盛是因为共和制度和开明法律等，衰则是君主独裁等造成；他以古讽今，将历史写成政论，通过此书第一次概述了自己的社会理论，来反对当时的专制暴政。 沿着此类思路，启蒙运动影响所及，第一个伟大成果是法国大革命。在这一事件上，到底是由英国式自由文明浸淫出来的吉本，与法国思想家们分道扬镳了。对此，很多人感到可惜和不解，如《吉本自传》的中译者戴子钦说，吉本在评价历史时首先强调独立和自由，但在现实中却保守、落后、反动，最突出就是对法国大革命强烈反感，反对民主。鲲西《罗马古寺旁的沉思》也说，从吉本“对柏克《法国革命感想录》热烈的称许已可看出他对法国革命所怀的恐惧了。很难想像一个对千年以前罗马帝国兴亡的命运如此热烈关切的人，会对发生在自己时代的事缺乏历史的清醒认识。”指这是吉本的“狭隘或局限”。今天我们已能从不同角度重新看待法国大革命和柏克等，对吉本是否明于史而昧于时，也就另有所思量。以我粗浅的了解，很喜欢吉本的平和、通达、理性、睿智。这样一个看透了历史更替、帝国兴衰的人，会对现实不清醒？的确“很难想像”。也许正是他太清醒了。
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The improvements of society may be viewed under a threefold aspect. 1. The poet or philosopher illustrates his age and country by the efforts of a single mind; but these superior powers of reason or fancy are rare and spontaneous productions, and the genius of Homer, or Cicero, or Newton would excite less admiration, if they could be created by the will of a prince or the lessons of a preceptor. 2. The benefits of law and policy, of trade and manufactures, of arts and sciences, are more solid and permanent; and many individuals may be qualified, by education and discipline, to promote, in their respective stations, the interest of the community. But this general order is the effect of skill and labour; and the complex machinery may be decayed by time or injured by violence. 3. Fortunately for mankind, the more useful, or, at least, more necessary arts can be performed without superior talents or national subordination; without the powers of one or the union of many. Each village, each family, each individual, must always possess both ability and inclination to perpetuate the use of fire12 [298] and of metals; the propagation and service of domestic animals; the methods of hunting and fishing; the rudiments of navigation; the imperfect cultivation of corn or other nutritive grain; and the simple practice of the mechanic trades. Private genius and public industry may be extirpated; but these hardy plants survive the tempest, and strike an everlasting root into the most unfavourable soil. The splendid days of Augustus and Trajan were eclipsed by a cloud of ignorance; and the Barbarians subverted the laws and palaces of Rome. But the scythe, the invention or emblem of Saturn,13 still continued annually to mow the harvests of Italy: and the human feasts of the Læstrygons14 have never been renewed on the coast of Campania.
所谓的“筵席”其实是食人宴。