It is singular how he passes over facts which were plain before him, which he knew quite well, as he knew nearly everything connected with his subject, but the real significance of which he missed.

Thus he attributes to the scepticism of the pagan world the easy introduction of Christianity.

Misled by the "eloquence of Cicero and the wit of Lucian," he supposes the second century to have been vacant of beliefs, in which a "fashion of incredulity" was widely diffused, and "many were almost disengaged from artificial prejudices." He was evidently unaware of the striking religious revival which uplifted paganism in the age of Hadrian, and grew with the sinking empire: the first stirrings of it may even be discerned in Tacitus, and go on increasing till we reach the theurgy of the Neoplatonists.

A growing fear of the gods, a weariness of life and longing for death, a disposition to look for compensation for the miseries of this world to a brighter one beyond the grave--these traits are common in the literature of the second century, and show the change which had come over the minds of men.

Gibbon is colour-blind to these shades of the religious spirit: he can only see the banter of Lucian.[13] In reference to these matters he was a true son of his age, and could hardly be expected to transcend it.
FOOTNOTES: [Footnote 13: On the religious revival of the second century, see Hausrath's _Neutestamentliche Zeitgeschichte_, vol.iii., especially the sections, "Hadrian's Mysticismus" and "Religioese Tendenzen in Kunst und Literatur," where this interesting subject is handled with a freshness and insight quite remarkable.] He cannot be cleared of this reproach.