← History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire — Volume 1

History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire — Volume 1 — Page 5

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—Part VII

—Parte VII

Chapter XV: Progress Of The Christian Religion.—Part VIII.

Capitolo XV: Progresso della Religione Cristiana.—Parte VIII.

Chapter XV: Progress Of The Christian Religion.—Part IX.

Capitolo XV: Progresso della Religione Cristiana.—Parte IX.

Introduction

Introduzione

Preface By The Editor.

Prefazione dell'Editore.

The great work of Gibbon is indispensable to the student of history.

La grande opera di Gibbon è indispensabile allo studioso di storia.

The literature of Europe offers no substitute for "The Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire."

La letteratura europea non offre alcun sostituto a «Il Declino e la Caduta dell'Impero Romano».

It has obtained undisputed possession, as rightful occupant, of the vast period which it comprehends.

Ha ottenuto il possesso incontrastato, come legittimo occupante, del vasto periodo che comprende.

However some subjects, which it embraces, may have undergone more complete investigation, on the general view of the whole period, this history is the sole undisputed authority to which all defer, and from which few appeal to the original writers, or to more modern compilers.

Per quanto alcuni argomenti, che essa abbraccia, possano aver subito indagini più complete, nella visione generale dell'intero periodo, questa storia è la sola autorità incontestata a cui tutti si rimettono, e dalla quale pochi ricorrono agli scrittori originali, o a compilatori più moderni.

The inherent interest of the subject, the inexhaustible labor employed upon it; the immense condensation of matter; the luminous arrangement; the general accuracy; the style, which, however monotonous from its uniform stateliness, and sometimes wearisome from its elaborate ar., is throughout vigorous, animated, often picturesque, always commands attention, always conveys its meaning with emphatic energy, describes with singular breadth and fidelity, and generalizes with unrivalled felicity of expression; all these high qualifications have secured, and seem likely to secure, its permanent place in historic literature.

L'interesse intrinseco dell'argomento, la labor inesauribile impiegata su di esso; l'immensa condensazione della materia; la luminosa organizzazione; la generale accuratezza; lo stile, che, per quanto monotono nella sua uniforme maestosità, e talvolta stancante nella sua elaborata ar., è in ogni parte vigoroso, animato, spesso pittoresco, cattura sempre l'attenzione, trasmette sempre il proprio significato con energica enfasi, descrive con singolare ampiezza e fedeltà, e generalizza con incomparabile felicità di espressione; tutte queste alte qualità hanno assicurato, e sembrano destinate ad assicurare, il suo posto permanente nella letteratura storica.

Vocabulary

Parte
PAR-te — A section or division of a larger work.
Capitolo
ka-PEE-to-lo — A chapter or main division of a book.
Progresso
pro-GRES-so — Advancement or forward movement over time.
della
DEL-la — Contraction of 'di' and 'la', meaning 'of the'.
Religione
re-li-JO-ne — A system of faith and worship practices.
Cristiana
kri-STYA-na — Relating to the Christian religion or faith.
Introduzione
in-tro-du-TSYO-ne — An opening section presenting a text's content.
Prefazione
pre-fa-TSYO-ne — A foreword or preface written before main text.
dell'
del — Contraction of 'di' and 'l'', meaning 'of the'.
Editore
e-di-TO-re — A publisher or editor responsible for publishing books.
La
la — Feminine definite article meaning 'the'.
grande
GRAN-de — Large, great, or impressive in size or importance.
opera
O-pe-ra — A major work or artistic creation of significance.
di
di — Preposition meaning 'of' or 'by'.
è
è — Third person singular of 'essere', meaning 'is'.
indispensabile
in-dis-pen-SA-bi-le — Absolutely necessary and impossible to do without.
allo
AL-lo — Contraction of 'a' and 'lo', meaning 'to the'.
studioso
stu-DYO-zo — A scholar or person devoted to academic study.
storia
STO-rya — History or a narrative account of past events.
letteratura
let-te-ra-TU-ra — Literature, the body of written works and texts.
europea
eu-ro-PEA — Relating to or characteristic of Europe.
non
non — Negation word meaning 'not' or 'no'.
offre
OF-fre — Third person singular of 'offrire', meaning 'offers'.
alcun
al-KUN — Any, used in negative sentences meaning 'any'.
sostituto
so-sti-TU-to — A substitute or replacement for something else.
a
a — Preposition meaning 'to', 'at', or 'in'.
Il
il — Masculine singular definite article meaning 'the'.
Declino
de-KLI-no — A decline or gradual decrease in power or strength.
e
e — Conjunction meaning 'and', linking words or phrases.
la
la — Feminine definite article meaning 'the'.
Caduta
ka-DU-ta — A fall or collapse of a person, empire, or thing.
Impero
im-PE-ro — An empire, a large political realm under one ruler.
Romano
ro-MA-no — Relating to Rome or the ancient Roman civilization.
Ha
ha — Third person singular of 'avere', meaning 'has'.
ottenuto
ot-te-NU-to — Past participle of 'ottenere', meaning 'obtained' or 'achieved'.
il
il — Masculine singular definite article meaning 'the'.
possesso
pos-SES-so — Possession or ownership of something valuable.
incontrastato
in-kon-tra-STA-to — Unchallenged, not contested or opposed by anyone.
come
KO-me — Conjunction or adverb meaning 'as' or 'like'.
legittimo
le-JIT-ti-mo — Legitimate, lawful, or rightfully recognized as valid.
occupante
ok-ku-PAN-te — An occupant or one who holds a position or place.
del
del — Contraction of 'di' and 'il', meaning 'of the'.
vasto
VA-sto — Vast, enormous, or covering a very large extent.
periodo
pe-RYO-do — A period or span of time in history.
che
ke — Relative pronoun or conjunction meaning 'that' or 'which'.
comprende
kom-PREN-de — Third person singular meaning 'encompasses' or 'includes'.
Per
per — Preposition meaning 'for', 'through', or 'by'.
quanto
KWAN-to — How much or however much; used in clauses.
alcuni
al-KU-ni — Some or a few of a group of things or people.
argomenti
ar-go-MEN-ti — Topics, subjects, or arguments discussed in a text.
essa
ES-sa — Third person feminine singular pronoun meaning 'it' or 'she'.
abbraccia
ab-BRAT-cha — Embraces or encompasses a wide range of topics.
possano
pos-SA-no — Subjunctive of 'potere', meaning 'may' or 'can'.
aver
a-VER — Infinitive 'avere' clipped form meaning 'to have'.
subito
SU-bi-to — Past participle of 'subire', meaning 'undergone' or 'suffered'.
indagini
in-DA-ji-ni — Investigations or detailed inquiries into a subject.
più
pyù — More or most, used for comparisons in Italian.
complete
kom-PLE-te — Complete or thorough, lacking nothing essential.
nella
NEL-la — Contraction of 'in' and 'la', meaning 'in the'.
visione
vi-ZYO-ne — A vision or overall perspective of something.
generale
je-ne-RA-le — General or overall, not limited to specific details.
intero
in-TE-ro — Entire or whole, encompassing all parts together.
questa
KWE-sta — Demonstrative pronoun meaning 'this' (feminine).
sola
SO-la — Alone or only, the sole instance of something.
autorità
au-to-ri-TÀ — Authority or recognized expertise in a subject.
incontestata
in-kon-te-STA-ta — Uncontested, not disputed or challenged by anyone.
cui
kwi — Relative pronoun meaning 'whom', 'which', or 'to whom'.
tutti
TUT-ti — All or everyone, referring to a complete group.
si
si — Reflexive pronoun meaning 'oneself' or impersonal 'one'.
rimettono
ri-MET-to-no — They defer or refer back to a source or authority.
dalla
DAL-la — Contraction of 'da' and 'la', meaning 'from the'.
quale
KWA-le — Relative pronoun meaning 'which' or 'who'.
pochi
PO-ki — Few, a small number of people or things.
ricorrono
ri-KOR-ro-no — They resort to or turn back to a source.
agli
AL-yi — Contraction of 'a' and 'gli', meaning 'to the'.
scrittori
skrit-TO-ri — Writers or authors who produce literary works.
originali
o-ri-ji-NA-li — Original, primary, or first-hand sources of information.
o
o — Conjunction meaning 'or', presenting an alternative choice.
compilatori
kom-pi-la-TO-ri — Compilers who gather and arrange information from sources.
moderni
mo-DER-ni — Modern or contemporary, belonging to recent times.
L'
l' — Contracted article 'il' or 'la' before a vowel.
interesse
in-te-RES-se — Interest or the quality of attracting attention and curiosity.
intrinseco
in-TRIN-se-ko — Intrinsic, inherent value or quality belonging naturally.
argomento
ar-go-MEN-to — A subject, topic, or argument under discussion.
inesauribile
i-ne-zau-RI-bi-le — Inexhaustible, never running out of energy or resources.
impiegata
im-pye-GA-ta — Past participle of 'impiegare', meaning 'employed' or 'applied'.
su
su — Preposition meaning 'on', 'upon', or 'about'.
esso
ES-so — Third person singular pronoun meaning 'it'.
l'
l' — Contracted definite article before a vowel sound.
immensa
im-MEN-sa — Immense or vast, extremely large in scale or scope.
condensazione
kon-den-sa-TSYO-ne — Condensation or compression of material into concise form.
materia
ma-TE-rya — Subject matter or material forming the content of work.
luminosa
lu-mi-NO-za — Luminous or bright, full of clarity and illuminating insight.
organizzazione
or-ga-nid-dza-TSYO-ne — Organization or structured arrangement of parts or elements.
accuratezza
ak-ku-ra-TET-tsa — Accuracy or precision in presenting facts and details.
lo
lo — Masculine definite article used before certain consonants.
stile
STI-le — Style or distinctive manner of writing or expression.
per
per — Preposition meaning 'for', 'through', 'because of'.
monotono
mo-NO-to-no — Monotonous, lacking variety and tediously repetitive in tone.
sua
SU-a — Possessive adjective meaning 'his', 'her', or 'its'.
uniforme
u-ni-FOR-me — Uniform or consistent, remaining the same throughout.
maestosità
ma-e-sto-zi-TÀ — Majesty or stateliness, impressive dignity and grandeur.
talvolta
tal-VOL-ta — Sometimes or occasionally, not always but at times.
stancante
stan-KAN-te — Tiring or wearisome, causing fatigue in the reader.
elaborata
e-la-bo-RA-ta — Elaborated or carefully crafted with great detail.
in
in — Preposition meaning 'in', 'into', or 'within'.
ogni
ON-yi — Every or each, referring to all members of a group.
parte
PAR-te — A part, portion, or section of a whole.
vigoroso
vi-go-RO-zo — Vigorous or energetic, full of force and vitality.
animato
a-ni-MA-to — Animated or lively, full of energy and expressiveness.
spesso
SPES-so — Often or frequently, happening many times.
pittoresco
pit-to-RES-ko — Picturesque or vividly descriptive, creating vivid mental images.
cattura
kat-TU-ra — Captures or holds firmly, seizing the reader's attention.
sempre
SEM-pre — Always or at all times, without exception.
attenzione
at-ten-TSYO-ne — Attention or focus directed toward something specific.
trasmette
tra-ZMET-te — Transmits or conveys meaning effectively to the reader.
proprio
PRO-pryo — Own or proper, belonging specifically to someone or something.
significato
si-nyi-fi-KA-to — Meaning or significance conveyed by a word or text.
con
kon — Preposition meaning 'with', indicating accompaniment or manner.
energica
e-NER-ji-ka — Energetic or forceful, conveying strength and intensity.
enfasi
EN-fa-zi — Emphasis or stress placed on a particular point.
descrive
de-SKRI-ve — Describes or depicts something in words vividly.
singolare
sin-go-LA-re — Singular or remarkable, outstanding and unique in character.
ampiezza
am-PYETS-tsa — Breadth or width, a wide and expansive scope.
fedeltà
fe-del-TÀ — Fidelity or faithfulness, accuracy in depicting truth.
generalizza
je-ne-ra-LID-dza — Generalizes or draws broad conclusions from specific facts.
incomparabile
in-kom-pa-RA-bi-le — Incomparable, without equal or beyond all comparison.
felicità
fe-li-chi-TÀ — Happiness or here: felicity, aptness of expression.
espressione
e-spres-SYO-ne — Expression or articulation of ideas through language.
tutte
TUT-te — All or every (feminine plural), the entire group.
queste
KWE-ste — Demonstrative adjective meaning 'these' (feminine plural).
alte
AL-te — High or lofty, referring to elevated qualities or standards.
qualità
kwa-li-TÀ — Qualities or attributes, characteristic features of something.
hanno
AN-no — Third person plural of 'avere', meaning 'they have'.
assicurato
as-si-ku-RA-to — Assured or secured, guaranteed to remain stable.
sembrano
SEM-bra-no — They seem or appear to have a certain quality.
destinate
de-sti-NA-te — Destined or intended, meant for a specific purpose.
ad
ad — Variant of 'a' used before vowels, meaning 'to'.
assicurare
as-si-ku-RA-re — To assure or secure, to guarantee something endures.
suo
SU-o — Possessive adjective meaning 'his', 'her', or 'its'.
posto
PO-sto — A place or position held by someone or something.
permanente
per-ma-NEN-te — Permanent or lasting, enduring without change over time.
storica
STO-ri-ka — Historical, relating to history or historical scholarship.
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