History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire — Volume 1 — Page 12
He has undergone the triple scrutiny of theological zeal quickened by just resentment, of literary emulation, and of that mean and invidious vanity which delights in detecting errors in writers of established fame.
Il a subi le triple examen du zèle théologique avivé par un juste ressentiment, de l'émulation littéraire, et de cette vanité mesquine et malveillante qui se complaît à déceler des erreurs chez les écrivains de renom établi.
On the result of the trial, we may be permitted to summon competent witnesses before we deliver our own judgment.
Sur le résultat de cette épreuve, il nous sera permis de convoquer des témoins compétents avant de rendre notre propre jugement.
M. Guizot, in his preface, after stating that in France and Germany, as well as in England, in the most enlightened countries of Europe, Gibbon is constantly cited as an authority, thus proceeds:—
M. Guizot, dans sa préface, après avoir déclaré qu'en France et en Allemagne, ainsi qu'en Angleterre, dans les pays les plus éclairés d'Europe, Gibbon est constamment cité comme une autorité, poursuit ainsi :
"I have had occasion, during my labors, to consult the writings of philosophers, who have treated on the finances of the Roman empire; of scholars, who have investigated the chronology; of theologians, who have searched the depths of ecclesiastical history; of writers on law, who have studied with care the Roman jurisprudence; of Orientalists, who have occupied themselves with the Arabians and the Koran; of modern historians, who have entered upon extensive researches touching the crusades and their influence; each of these writers has remarked and pointed out, in the 'History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire,' some negligences, some false or imperfect views, some omissions, which it is impossible not to suppose voluntary; they have rectified some facts, combated with advantage some assertions; but in general they have taken the researches and the ideas of Gibbon, as points of departure, or as proofs of the researches or of the new opinions which they have advanced."
« J'ai eu l'occasion, au cours de mes travaux, de consulter les écrits de philosophes qui ont traité des finances de l'empire romain ; d'érudits qui ont étudié la chronologie ; de théologiens qui ont sondé les profondeurs de l'histoire ecclésiastique ; de juristes qui ont étudié avec soin la jurisprudence romaine ; d'orientalistes qui se sont occupés des Arabes et du Coran ; d'historiens modernes qui se sont livrés à de vastes recherches sur les croisades et leur influence ; chacun de ces écrivains a remarqué et signalé, dans l'« Histoire du Déclin et de la Chute de l'Empire romain », quelques négligences, quelques vues fausses ou imparfaites, quelques omissions qu'il est impossible de ne pas supposer volontaires ; ils ont rectifié certains faits, combattu avec avantage certaines assertions ; mais en général ils ont pris les recherches et les idées de Gibbon comme points de départ, ou comme preuves des recherches ou des nouvelles opinions qu'ils ont avancées. »
M.
M.
Vocabulary
- subi
- Past participle of subir: undergone, suffered
- triple
- Adjective meaning threefold or triple
- examen
- Careful examination or scrutiny of something
- zèle
- Fervent enthusiasm or zealous dedication
- théologique
- Relating to theology or religious doctrine
- avivé
- Intensified, stirred up, or sharpened
- juste
- Fair, justified, or righteous
- ressentiment
- Deep feeling of resentment or bitterness
- émulation
- Competitive rivalry or desire to equal another
- littéraire
- Relating to literature or literary matters
- vanité
- Excessive pride or petty self-conceit
- mesquine
- Petty, mean-spirited, or small-minded
- malveillante
- Ill-disposed, spiteful, or malevolent toward others
- complaît
- Takes pleasure or delights in something
- déceler
- To detect, uncover, or reveal something hidden
- erreurs
- Mistakes or errors in reasoning or fact
- chez
- Preposition meaning among, in the work of
- écrivains
- Writers or authors of literary works
- renom
- Renown, fame, or established reputation
- établi
- Established, settled, or well-recognized
- résultat
- Result, outcome, or finding of something
- épreuve
- Test, trial, or proof of something
- permis
- Allowed, permitted, or authorized
- convoquer
- To summon or call together witnesses or people
- témoins
- Witnesses who testify or give evidence
- compétents
- Competent, qualified, or knowledgeable persons
- rendre
- To render, give, or deliver something
- propre
- Own, personal, or proper
- jugement
- Judgment, verdict, or critical assessment
- préface
- Introductory section written before the main text
- déclaré
- Declared, stated, or proclaimed formally
- Allemagne
- Germany, central European country
- ainsi
- Adverb meaning thus, so, or likewise
- Angleterre
- England, part of the United Kingdom
- pays
- Country, nation, or region
- éclairés
- Enlightened, educated, or intellectually advanced
- constamment
- Constantly, continuously, or consistently
- cité
- Cited, quoted, or referenced as a source
- autorité
- Authority, expert, or recognized source of knowledge
- poursuit
- Third person of poursuivre: continues, proceeds
- occasion
- Opportunity or circumstance to do something
- cours
- Course or progression; au cours de: during
- travaux
- Works, studies, or scholarly labors
- consulter
- To consult or refer to sources or experts
- écrits
- Written works, texts, or writings
- philosophes
- Philosophers or Enlightenment thinkers
- traité
- Treated, dealt with, or discussed a subject
- finances
- Financial matters, funds, or fiscal affairs
- empire
- Empire or vast dominion ruled by emperor
- romain
- Roman, relating to ancient Rome
- érudits
- Scholars or highly learned individuals
- étudié
- Studied or examined in depth
- chronologie
- Chronology or arrangement of events by time
- théologiens
- Theologians who study religious doctrine
- sondé
- Probed, sounded, or explored deeply
- profondeurs
- Depths or profound complexities of a subject
- histoire
- History or story
- ecclésiastique
- Ecclesiastical, relating to the Christian church
- juristes
- Jurists, legal scholars, or experts in law
- soin
- Care, attention, or diligence
- jurisprudence
- Body of law or legal philosophy and precedents
- romaine
- Roman, feminine form of romain
- orientalistes
- Orientalists, scholars specializing in Eastern cultures
- occupés
- Occupied or engaged with a topic or task
- Arabes
- Arabs or Arabic peoples and culture
- Coran
- The Quran, sacred text of Islam
- historiens
- Historians who study and write about history
- modernes
- Modern, contemporary, or of recent times
- livrés
- Devoted or engaged in extensive research
- vastes
- Vast, extensive, or wide-ranging
- recherches
- Research, investigations, or scholarly inquiries
- croisades
- Crusades, medieval Christian military expeditions
- influence
- Influence or effect on events or people
- chacun
- Each one or every one individually
- remarqué
- Noticed or pointed out something noteworthy
- signalé
- Pointed out, highlighted, or flagged something
- Histoire
- History; title word referring to historical work
- Déclin
- Decline or gradual deterioration
- Chute
- Fall or downfall of a civilization or power
- Empire
- Empire, large state ruled by an emperor
- quelques
- Some or a few (indefinite quantity)
- négligences
- Negligences, oversights, or careless omissions
- vues
- Views, opinions, or perspectives expressed
- fausses
- False, incorrect, or mistaken (feminine plural)
- imparfaites
- Imperfect, incomplete, or flawed (feminine plural)
- omissions
- Omissions, things left out or overlooked
- impossible
- Impossible or not possible to do
- supposer
- To suppose or assume something to be true
- volontaires
- Voluntary or intentional (plural adjective)
- rectifié
- Corrected or rectified errors or inaccuracies
- certains
- Certain, some, or particular (masculine plural)
- faits
- Facts or established pieces of information
- combattu
- Combated, challenged, or argued against
- avantage
- Advantage or benefit gained over something
- certaines
- Certain, some, or particular (feminine plural)
- assertions
- Assertions, claims, or statements put forward
- général
- General; en général: in general, generally
- pris
- Taken, used, or adopted (past participle of prendre)
- idées
- Ideas, thoughts, or concepts
- points
- Points or starting points of argument
- départ
- Departure; point de départ: starting point
- preuves
- Proofs, evidence, or supporting demonstrations
- nouvelles
- New or novel (feminine plural adjective)
- opinions
- Opinions, views, or personal judgments
- avancées
- Advanced or put forward (views or arguments)
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