author - "Edward Gibbon"
narrative, which shallcomprehend this period of social disorganization, must beascribed entirely to the skill and luminous disposition of thehistorian. It is in this sublime Gothic architecture of hiswork, in which the boundless range, the infinite variety, the, atfirst sight, incongruous gorgeousness of the separate parts,nevertheless are all subordinate to one main and predominantidea, that Gibbon is unrivalled. We cannot but admire the mannerin which he masses his materials, and arranges his facts insuccessive groups, not according to chronological order, but totheir moral or political connection; the distinctness with whichhe marks his periods of gradually increasing decay; and the skillwith which, though advancing on separate parallels of history, heshows the common tendency of the slower or more rapid religiousor civil innovations. However these principles of compositionmay demand more than ordinary attention on the part of thereader, they can alone impress upon the memory the real c
narrative, which shallcomprehend this period of social disorganization, must beascribed entirely to the skill and luminous disposition of thehistorian. It is in this sublime Gothic architecture of hiswork, in which the boundless range, the infinite variety, the, atfirst sight, incongruous gorgeousness of the separate parts,nevertheless are all subordinate to one main and predominantidea, that Gibbon is unrivalled. We cannot but admire the mannerin which he masses his materials, and arranges his facts insuccessive groups, not according to chronological order, but totheir moral or political connection; the distinctness with whichhe marks his periods of gradually increasing decay; and the skillwith which, though advancing on separate parallels of history, heshows the common tendency of the slower or more rapid religiousor civil innovations. However these principles of compositionmay demand more than ordinary attention on the part of thereader, they can alone impress upon the memory the real c