The crowd  of  writers  of  every nation, who impute the
          destruction of the  Roman  monuments  to  the  Goths and the
          Christians, have neglected  to  inquire  how  far  they were
          animated by a  hostile principle, and how far they possessed
          the means and  the  leisure to satiate their enmity.  In the
          preceding volumes of  this  History,  I  have  described the
          triumph of barbarism and religion; and I can only resume, in
          a few words,  their  real  or  imaginary connection with the
          ruin of ancient  Rome.   Our  fancy  may create, or adopt, a
          pleasing romance, that  the  Goths  and Vandals sallied from
          Scandinavia, ardent to  avenge  the  flight  of Odin; (20) to
          break  the  chains,  and  to  chastise  the  oppressors,  of
          mankind; that they  wished  to  burn  the records of classic
          literature, and to  found their national architecture on the
          broken members of  the Tuscan and Corinthian orders.  But in
          simple  truth,  the   northern   conquerors   were   neither
          sufficiently savage, nor  sufficiently refined, to entertain
          such  aspiring  ideas   of  destruction  and  revenge.   The
          shepherds of Scythia  and  Germany  had been educated in the
          armies of the  empire,  whose  discipline they acquired, and
          whose weakness they  invaded:  with  the familiar use of the
          Latin tongue, they  had  learned  to  reverence the name and
          titles of Rome;  and,  though  incapable  of emulating, they
          were more inclined  to admire, than to abolish, the arts and
          studies of a  brighter  period.  In the transient possession
          of a rich  and  unresisting  capital, the soldiers of Alaric
          and Genseric were stimulated by the passions of a victorious
          army; amidst the  wanton  indulgence  of  lust  or  cruelty,
          portable wealth was  the  object  of their search; nor could
          they derive either  pride  or pleasure from the unprofitable
          reflection, that they  had  battered to the ground the works
          of the consuls  and  Caesars.   Their  moments  were  indeed
          precious; the Goths  evacuated  Rome  on  the sixth, (21) the
          Vandals on the  fifteenth,  day:  (22)  and, though it be far
          more difficult to build than to destroy, their hasty assault
          would have made  a  slight  impression on the solid piles of
          antiquity.  We may  remember,  that both Alaric and Genseric
          affected to spare  the  buildings  of  the  city;  that they
          subsisted  in  strength  and  beauty  under  the  auspicious
          government  of  Theodoric;   (23)   and  that  the  momentary
          resentment of Totila  (24) was disarmed by his own temper and
          the advice of  his  friends and enemies. From these innocent
          Barbarians, the reproach may be transferred to the Catholics
          of Rome.  The  statues,  altars, and houses, of the daemons,
          were an abomination  in  their  eyes;  and  in  the absolute
          command  of  the  city,  they  might  labor  with  zeal  and
          perseverance to erase  the idolatry of their ancestors.  The
          demolition of the temples in the East (25) affords to them an
          example of conduct,  and to us an argument of belief; and it
          is probable that  a portion of guilt or merit may be imputed
          with justice to  the Roman proselytes.  Yet their abhorrence
          was confined to  the  monuments of heathen superstition; and
          the civil structures  that were dedicated to the business or
          pleasure of society  might  be  preserved  without injury or
          scandal.  The change  of religion was accomplished, not by a
          popular tumult, but  by  the decrees of the emperors, of the
          senate,  and of  time.   Of  the  Christian  hierarchy,  the
          bishops of Rome  were  commonly  the  most prudent and least
          fanatic; nor can  any  positive  charge  be  opposed  to the
          meritorious  act  of   saving  or  converting  the  majestic
          structure of the  Pantheon. (26)  

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