OP THE ROMAN EMPIRE.

45

CHAP. II.

Of the union and internal prosperity of the Ro-man empire , in the age of the Antonines.

IT is not alone by the rapidity, or extent of chap.

conquest, that we should estimate the great-_ I[ ‘

ness of Rome . The sovereign of the Russian principle,deserts commands a larger portion of the globe. ” 1 f e |( Vl , “'In the seventh summer after his passage of theHellespont , Alexander erected the Macedoniantrophies on the banks of the Hyphasis .’ Withinless than a century, the irresistible Zingis, andthe Mogul princes of his race, spread their crueldevastations and transient empire from the seaof China to the confines of Egypt and Germany . 6Rut the firm edifice of Roman power was raisedand preserved by the wisdom of ages. The obe-dient provinces of Trajan and the Antonineswere united by laws, and adorned by arts. Theymight occasionally suffer from the partial abuseof delegated authority; but the general principleof government was wise, simple, and beneficent.

They enjoyed the religion of their ancestors,whilst in civil honours and advantages they wereexalted, by just degrees, to an equality withtheir conquerors.

* Tiiey were erected about the midway between Lahor and Delhi .

The conquests of Alexander in Hindostan were confined to the Punjab ,a country watered by the five great streams of the Indus.

6 See M. de Guigncs, Histoire des Huns, 1. xv, xvi, and xvii.