DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.63447#0045
CAUSES OF HER DECAY AND FALL.
29
causes were sapping the foundation of the olden society,
and forecasting its total decay.
In addition to the arbitrary and insatiable drain on
the resources of the provinces at the mere caprice of the
Imperial will, there were three paramount sources of
perpetual disquiet to the government, and each demanding
an immense expenditure.
First, and most formidable, was the insatiable, lazy,
reckless, and savage populace of Rome, and of the great
cities, demanding food and amusement, with threats of
fire and assassination if refused. Next was the army,
swarming with mercenaries of doubtful faith, and ever
menacing civil war. This army was even more necessary
to repress the Barbarians perpetually hovering on the
outskirts of the Empire, allured by hopes of plunder, and
themselves also pressed on by fresh tribes, still more
savage, in the rear. To these inevitable sources of dis-
quiet and of boundless expenditure were added the
swarm of civil functionaries, who, like a plague of locusts,
spread over the entire Empire, solely with a view of
amassing, by every fraud and violence, treasure for the
government and wealth for themselves ; and through
them new and grievous taxes were laid on real and on
mortgaged property.
The class most humiliated and injured by these exac-
tions was naturally the Deeurional, who found themselves
compelled to exercise gratuitously harsh and thankless
offices, whilst their property was at the mercy of the
government officers.
At the commencement of this state of municipal
depression many members of the Municipise sought and
obtained exemption from such onerous burdens (as their
once honourable duties had become), under the pretence
of joining the Christian brotherhood. Men of all ranks
found employment as clerks of a dignified and not
servile nature in these Christian bands. Much, however,
as the new doctrines were encouraged, it was found
necessary to put a sudden and peremptory stop to the
abandonment of the Deeurional duties—else the city’s
29
causes were sapping the foundation of the olden society,
and forecasting its total decay.
In addition to the arbitrary and insatiable drain on
the resources of the provinces at the mere caprice of the
Imperial will, there were three paramount sources of
perpetual disquiet to the government, and each demanding
an immense expenditure.
First, and most formidable, was the insatiable, lazy,
reckless, and savage populace of Rome, and of the great
cities, demanding food and amusement, with threats of
fire and assassination if refused. Next was the army,
swarming with mercenaries of doubtful faith, and ever
menacing civil war. This army was even more necessary
to repress the Barbarians perpetually hovering on the
outskirts of the Empire, allured by hopes of plunder, and
themselves also pressed on by fresh tribes, still more
savage, in the rear. To these inevitable sources of dis-
quiet and of boundless expenditure were added the
swarm of civil functionaries, who, like a plague of locusts,
spread over the entire Empire, solely with a view of
amassing, by every fraud and violence, treasure for the
government and wealth for themselves ; and through
them new and grievous taxes were laid on real and on
mortgaged property.
The class most humiliated and injured by these exac-
tions was naturally the Deeurional, who found themselves
compelled to exercise gratuitously harsh and thankless
offices, whilst their property was at the mercy of the
government officers.
At the commencement of this state of municipal
depression many members of the Municipise sought and
obtained exemption from such onerous burdens (as their
once honourable duties had become), under the pretence
of joining the Christian brotherhood. Men of all ranks
found employment as clerks of a dignified and not
servile nature in these Christian bands. Much, however,
as the new doctrines were encouraged, it was found
necessary to put a sudden and peremptory stop to the
abandonment of the Deeurional duties—else the city’s