It had become thoroughly epicurean; its maxim was, that life should be made a feast, that virtue is only the seasoning of pleasure, and temperance the means of prolonging it.

Dining-rooms glittering with gold and incrusted with gems, slaves in superb apparel, the fascinations of female society where all the women were dissolute, magnificent baths, theatres, gladiators, such were the objects of Roman desire.

The conquerors of the world had discovered that the only thing worth worshiping is Force.

By it all things might be secured, all that toil and trade had laboriously obtained.

The confiscation of goods and lands, the taxation of provinces, were the reward of successful warfare; and the emperor was the symbol of force.