The History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire

Edward Gibbon
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In this library of spoken volumes, the works of Edward Gibbon are restored to the patient ear: a monument of history, reason, irony, and imperial decline. From the ruins of ancient greatness to the slow revolutions of manners, faith, power, and ambition, each reading invites the listener to contemplate, with the historian, how the fortune of empires is composed from the virtues and follies of mankind.

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  1. エピソード 1

    History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire Volume 3 - Chapter XXVII Part I

    In which the premature virtues and indulgent passions of young Gratian unravel the fragile peace of the Western empire, unfolding the contentious rise of the usurper Maximus and the consequent tragic demise of an emperor. Meanwhile, the Eastern ruler Theodosius, newly baptised and fervent in his defence of orthodox Christianity, cautiously navigates the tempest of rebellion and alliance with a resolute spirit tempered by wisdom and piety.

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    History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire Volume 3 - Chapter XXVII Part II

    In which the religious strife of Constantinople unfolds amid the rise and struggle of orthodox and Arian factions, illuminated by the eloquence and trials of Gregory Nazianzen, whose spiritual labours are met with both triumph and tribulation. Theodosius’ reign enforces orthodox doctrine with rigorous edicts that reshape the ecclesiastical landscape, while the contentious councils reveal the human frailties of those charged with guiding the faithful through an age of fervent theological discord.

  3. エピソード 3

    History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire Volume 3 - Chapter XXVII Part III

    In which the ascendancy of Ambrose, a man unexpectedly called from civil office to sacred duty, confronts the Arian creed promoted by empress Justina, leading to a tumultuous defence of the churches of Milan upheld by ecclesiastical authority and popular devotion. Meanwhile, the ambitions of Maximus cast a dark shadow over the Western empire, prompting the intervention of Theodosius whose martial preparations and delicate politics signal the impending turbulence of civil war.

  4. エピソード 4

    History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire Volume 3 - Chapter XXVII Part IV

    In which the skilful Theodosius, by his superior military command and magnanimous clemency, restores order after the swift downfall of his Western rival, whilst demonstrating a temperate and domestic virtues that adorn his reign. Yet beneath this benevolence lies a character prone to impetuous wrath, as revealed in the tragic seditions of Antioch and Thessalonica, where the emperor’s justice mingles stern punishment with the influence of a stern and resolute ecclesiastical authority.

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    History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire Volume 3 - Chapter XXVII Part V

    In which the benevolent yet indolent reign of Theodosius restores order to a fractured empire, only to be swiftly overshadowed by the machinations of Arbogastes and the tragic fate of young Valentinian, stirring the restless currents of civil strife. Theodosius’ final triumph at the battle of the Frigidus, aided by timely desertions and a sudden tempest, brings fleeting unity before his death, while reflective commentary reveals the insidious luxury and military decline that subtly erode the Roman legions and foreshadow darker days.

  6. エピソード 6

    History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire Volume 3 - Chapter XXVIII Part I

    In which the steadfast zeal of Christian bishops and emperors culminates in the systematic suppression of the ancient Roman rites and temples, as the fading vestiges of paganism struggle to maintain their accustomed place within the empire’s senate and city. The eloquence of advocates for the old faith contends with the resolute arguments of ecclesiastical adversaries, while the gradual conversion of Rome’s nobility and populace presages a profound transformation in the religious fabric of the empire.

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    History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire Volume 3 - Chapter XXVIII Part II

    In which the resolute emperors, guided by both piety and political prudence, endeavoured to suppress the ancient pagan rites through legal edicts and the zealous actions of ecclesiastical leaders, resulting in the closure and despoiling of temples across the empire. Among the notable destructions was the grand temple of Serapis at Alexandria, where Christian fervour and pagan resistance culminated in a dramatic episode emblematic of the fading old faith amidst the ascendancy of Christianity.

  8. エピソード 8

    History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire Volume 3 - Chapter XXVIII Part III

    In which the gradual and often reluctant decline of Paganism under Christian emperors is examined, revealing a populace more inclined to outward conformity than spirited resistance, while the rise of Christian veneration for saints and relics subtly transforms the purity of early worship into a rich tapestry of superstition and ritual. The narrative unfolds with a contemplative scrutiny of miracles, visions, and the human proclivity for sacred imitation, illustrating how the sacred and the profane intertwine in the evolving landscape of religious belief.

  9. エピソード 9

    History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire Volume 3 - Chapter XXIX Part I

    In which the vast Roman Empire finds its sovereignty delicately divided between the youthful heirs of Theodosius, Arcadius and Honorius, whose reigns are overshadowed by the ambitious intrigues of ministers and generals such as Rufinus and Stilicho, amid the enduring loyalty and unrest of their diverse dominions. The episode unfolds the subtle dynamics of power, revealing how rivalry, avarice, and secret alliances shape the fragile peace and governance of an empire teetering on the cusp of decline.

  10. エピソード 10

    History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire Volume 3 - Chapter XXIX Part II

    In which the careful yet ambitious hand of Stilicho navigates the troubled inheritance of Theodosius, striving to maintain order amidst rival factions and turbulent frontiers, while the intrigues of Eastern and Western courts reveal the deepening schism of empire. The saga unfolds with the fierce contest over Africa’s loyalty and the somber fate of youthful Honorius, whose reign is marked more by guardianship than by personal prowess, reflecting the waning vigour of Roman might.

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番組について

In this library of spoken volumes, the works of Edward Gibbon are restored to the patient ear: a monument of history, reason, irony, and imperial decline. From the ruins of ancient greatness to the slow revolutions of manners, faith, power, and ambition, each reading invites the listener to contemplate, with the historian, how the fortune of empires is composed from the virtues and follies of mankind.

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