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THE DECLINE AND FALL
CHAP. II.
_____roads were accurately divided by mile-stones, and ran in a direct line from one city to another, with very little respect for the obstacles either of nature or private property. Mountains were perforated, and bold arches thrown over the broadest and most rapid streams[1]. The middle part of the road was raised into a terrace which commanded the adjacent country, consisted of several strata of sand, gravel, and cement, and was paved with large stones, or in some places near the capital, with granite[2]. Such was the solid construction of the Roman highways, whose firmness has not entirely yielded to the effort of fifteen centuries. They united the subjects of the most distant provinces by an easy and familiar intercourse ; but their primary object had been to facilitate the marches of the legions ; nor was any country considered as completely subdued, till it had been rendered, in all its parts, pervious to the Posts.arms and authority of the conqueror. The advantage of receiving the earliest intelligence, and of conveying their orders with celerity, induced the emperors to establish throughout their extensive dominions the regular institution of posts[3]. Houses were everywhere erected at the distance only of five or six miles ; each of them was constantly provided with forty horses, and by the help of these relays, it was easy to travel an hundred miles in a day along the Roman roads[4]. The use of the posts was allowed to those who claimed
_____roads were accurately divided by mile-stones, and ran in a direct line from one city to another, with very little respect for the obstacles either of nature or private property. Mountains were perforated, and bold arches thrown over the broadest and most rapid streams[1]. The middle part of the road was raised into a terrace which commanded the adjacent country, consisted of several strata of sand, gravel, and cement, and was paved with large stones, or in some places near the capital, with granite[2]. Such was the solid construction of the Roman highways, whose firmness has not entirely yielded to the effort of fifteen centuries. They united the subjects of the most distant provinces by an easy and familiar intercourse ; but their primary object had been to facilitate the marches of the legions ; nor was any country considered as completely subdued, till it had been rendered, in all its parts, pervious to the Posts.arms and authority of the conqueror. The advantage of receiving the earliest intelligence, and of conveying their orders with celerity, induced the emperors to establish throughout their extensive dominions the regular institution of posts[3]. Houses were everywhere erected at the distance only of five or six miles ; each of them was constantly provided with forty horses, and by the help of these relays, it was easy to travel an hundred miles in a day along the Roman roads[4]. The use of the posts was allowed to those who claimed
- ↑ Montfaucon, (PAntiquit^ Expliquee, torn. iv. p. 2. 1. i. c. 5.) has described the bridges of Narni, Alcantara, Nismes, etc.
- ↑ Bergier, Histoire des Grands Chemins de I'Empire Romain, 1. ii. c. 1—28.
- ↑ Procopius in Hist. Arcana, c. 30 ; Bergier, Hist, des Grands Chemins, 1. iv. ; Codex Theodosian. 1. viii. tit. v. vol. ii. p. 506 — 563 ; with Godefroy's learned commentary.
- ↑ In the time of Theodosius, Caesarius, a magistrate of high rank, went post from Antioch to Constantinople. He began his journey at night, was in Cappadocia, (one hundred and sixty five miles from Antioch,) the ensuing evening, and arrived at Constantinople the sixth day about noon. The whole distance was seven hundred and twenty-five Roman, or six hundred and sixty-five English miles. See Libanius Orat. xxii. and the Itineraria, p. 572 — 581.
