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Preface To The First Volume。
Diligence and accuracy are the only merits which an
historical writer may ascribe to himself； if any merit； indeed；
can be assumed from the performance of an indispensable duty。 I
may therefore be allowed to say； that I have carefully examined
all the original materials that could illustrate the subject
which I had undertaken to treat。 Should I ever complete the
extensive design which has been sketched out in the Preface； I
might perhaps conclude it with a critical account of the authors
consulted during the progress of the whole work； and however such
an attempt might incur the censure of ostentation； I am persuaded
that it would be susceptible of entertainment； as well as
information。
At present I shall content myself with a single observation。
The biographers； who； under the reigns of Diocletian and
Constantine； composed； or rather compiled； the lives of the
Emperors； from Hadrian to the sons of Carus； are usually
mentioned under the names of Aelius Spartianus； Julius
Capitolinus； Aelius Lampridius； Vulcatius Gallicanus； Trebellius
Pollio and Flavius Vopiscus。 But there is so much perplexity in
the titles of the MSS。； and so many disputes have arisen among
the critics （see Fabricius； Biblioth。 Latin。 l。 iii。 c。 6）
concerning their number； their names； and their respective
property； that for the most part I have quoted them without
distinction； under the general and well…known title of the
Augustan History。
Preface To The Fourth Volume Of The Original Quarto Edition。
I now discharge my promise； and complete my design； of writing
the History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire； both in
the West and the East。 The whole period extends from the age of
Trajan and the Antonines； to the taking of Constantinople by
Mahomet the Second； and includes a review of the Crusades； and
the state of Rome during the middle ages。 Since the publication
of the first volume； twelve years have elapsed； twelve years；
according to my wish； 〃of health； of leisure； and of
perseverance。〃 I may now congratulate my deliverance from a long
and laborious service； and my satisfaction will be pure and
perfect； if the public favor should be extended to the conclusion
of my work。
It was my first intention to have collected； under one view；
the numerous authors； of every age and language； from whom I have
derived the materials of this history； and I am still convinced
that the apparent ostentation would be more than compensated by
real use。 If I have renounced this idea； if I have declined an
undertaking which had obtained the approbation of a
master…artist； ^* my excuse may be found in the extreme
difficulty of assigning a proper measure to such a catalogue。 A
naked list of names and editions would not be satisfactory either
to myself or my readers： the characters of the principal Authors
of the Roman and Byzantine History have been occasionally
connected with the events which they describe； a more copious and
critical inquiry might indeed deserve； but it would demand； an
elaborate volume； which might swell by degrees into a general
library of historical writers。 For the present； I shall content
myself with renewing my serious protestation； that I have always
endeavored to draw from the fountain…head； that my curiosity； as
well as a sense of duty； has always urged me to study the
originals； and that； if they have sometimes eluded my search； I
have carefully marked the secondary evidence； on whose faith a
passage or a fact were reduced to depend。
＇Footnote *： See Dr。 Robertson's Preface to his History of
America。＇
I shall soon revisit the banks of the Lake of Lausanne； a
country which I have known and loved from my early youth。 Under
a mild government； amidst a beauteous landscape； in a life of
leisure and independence； and among a people of easy and elegant
manners； I have enjoyed； and may again hope to enjoy； the varied
pleasures of retirement and society。 But I shall ever glory in
the name and character of an Englishman： I am proud of my birth
in a free and enlightened country； and the approbation of that
country is the best and most honorable reward of my labors。 Were
I ambitious of any other Patron than the Public； I would inscribe
this work to a Statesman； who； in a long； a stormy； and at length
an unfortunate administration； had many political opponents；
almost without a personal enemy； who has retained； in his fall
from power； many faithful and disinterested friends； and who；
under the pressure of severe infirmity； enjoys the lively vigor
of his mind； and the felicity of his incomparable temper。 Lord
North will permit me to express the feelings of friendship in the
language of truth： but even truth and friendship should be
silent； if he still dispensed the favors of the crown。
In a remote solitude； vanity may still whisper in my ear；
that my readers； perhaps； may inquire whether； in the conclusion
of the present work； I am now taking an everlasting farewell。
They shall hear all that I know myself； and all that I could
reveal to the most intimate friend。 The motives of action or
silence are now equally balanced； nor can I pronounce； in my most
secret thoughts； on which side the scale will preponderate。 I
cannot dissemble that six quartos must have tried； and may have
exhausted； the indulgence of the Public； that； in the repetition
of similar attempts； a successful Author has much more to lose
than he can hope to gain； that I am now descending into the vale
of years； and that the most respectable of my countrymen； the men
whom I aspire to imitate； have resigned the pen of history about
the same period of their lives。 Yet I consider that the annals
of ancient and modern times may afford many rich and interesting
subjects； that I am still possessed of health and leisure； that
by the practice of writing； some skill and facility must be
acquired； and that； in the ardent pursuit of truth and knowledge；
I am not conscious of decay。 To an active mind； indolence is
more painful than labor； and the first months of my liberty will
be occupied and amused in the excursions of curiosity and taste。
By such temptations； I have been sometimes seduced from the rigid
duty even of a pleasing and voluntary task： but my time will now
be my own； and in the use or abuse of independence； I shall no
longer fear my own reproaches or those of my friends。 I am
fairly entitled to a year of jubilee： next summer and the
following winter will rapidly pass away； and experience only can
determine whether I shall still prefer the freedom and variety of
study to the design and composition of a regular work； which
animates； while it confines； the daily application of the Author。
Caprice and accident may influence my choice； but the dexterity
of self…love will contrive to applaud either active industry or
philosophic repose。
Downing Street； May 1； 1788。
P。 S。 I shall embrace this opportunity of introducing two
verbal remarks； which have not conveniently offered themselves to
my notice。 1。 As often as I use the definitions of beyond the
Alps； the Rhine； the Danube； &c。； I generally suppose myself at
Rome； and afterwards at Constantinople； without observing whether
this relative geography may agree with the local； but variable；
situation of the reader； or the historian。 2。 In proper names
of foreign； and especially of Oriental origin； it should be
always our aim to express； in our English version； a faithful
copy of the original。 But this rule； which is founded on a just
regard to uniformity and truth； must often be relaxed； and the
exceptions will be limited or enlarged by the custom of the
language and the taste of the interpreter。 Our alphabets may be
often defective； a harsh sound； an uncouth spelling； might offend
the ear or the eye of our countrymen； and some words； notoriously
corrupt； are fixed； and； as it were； naturalized in the vulgar
tongue。 The prophet Mohammed can no longer be stripped of the
famous； though improper； appellation of Mahomet： the well…known
cities of Aleppo； Damascus； and Cairo； would almost be lost in
the strange descriptions of Haleb； Demashk； and Al Cahira： the
titles and offices of the Ottoman empire are fashioned by the
practice of three hundred years； and we are pleased to blend the
three Chinese monosyllables； Con…fu… tzee； in the respectable
name of Confucius； or even to adopt the Portuguese corruption of
Mandarin。 But I would vary the use of Zoroaster and Zerdusht； as
I drew my information from Gre