CHAPTER XI.

THE FALL OF THE EMPIRE.

False Security of the Roman People--Their stupendous Delusions--The
Invasion of Barbarians--Their Characteristics--Their alternate Victory
and Defeat--Desolation of the Provinces--The Degeneracy of the Legions--
General Imbecility and Cowardice--Great public Misfortunes--General
Union of the Germanic Nations--Their Leaders--Noble but vain Efforts of
a Succession of warlike Emperors--The rising Tide of Barbarians--Their
irresistible Advance--The Siege and Sack of Rome--The Fall of Cities--
Miseries of all Classes--Universal Despair and Ruin--The Greatness of
the Catastrophe--Reflections on the Fall of Rome

CHAPTER XII.

THE REASONS WHY THE CONSERVATIVE INFLUENCES OF PAGAN CIVILIZATION DID
NOT ARREST THE RUIN OF THE ROMAN WORLD.

Necessary Corruption of all Institutions under Paganism--Glory succeeded
by Shame--The Army a worn-out Mechanism--The low Aims of Government--
Difficulties of the Emperors--Laws perverted or unenforced--The
Degeneracy of Art--The Frivolity of Literature--The imperfect Triumph
of Philosophy--Nothing Conservative in human Creations--Necessity of
Aid from foreign and Divine Sources

CHAPTER XIII.

WHY CHRISTIANITY DID NOT ARREST THE RUIN OF THE ROMAN EMPIRE.