In these latter volumes he frees himself from the trammels of regular annalistic narrative, deals with events in broad masses according to their importance, expanding or contracting his story as occasion requires; now painting in large panoramic view the events of a few years, now compressing centuries into brief outline.

Many of his massive chapters afford materials for volumes, and are well worthy of a fuller treatment than he could give without deranging his plan.

But works of greater detail and narrower compass can never compete with Gibbon's history, any more than a county map can compete with a map of England or of Europe.
The variety of the contents of these last three volumes is amazing, especially when the thoroughness and perfection of the workmanship are considered.

Prolix compilations or sketchy outlines of universal history have their use and place, but they are removed by many degrees from the _Decline and Fall_, or rather they belong to another species of authorship.

It is not only that Gibbon combines width and depth, that the extent of his learning is as wonderful as its accuracy, though in this respect he has hardly a full rival in literature.