BOOK I

fall which no eminence can escape; it was the
grievous collapse of excessive weight, and Rome
unable to support her own greatness. Even so,
when the framework of the world is dissolved and the
final hour, closing so many ages, reverts to primeval
chaos, then [all the constellations will clash in confusion,] the fiery stars will drop into the sea, and earth,
refusing to spread her shores out flat,1 will shake
off the ocean; the moon will move in opposition to
her brother, and claim to rule the day, disdaining to
drive her chariot2 along her slanting orbit; and the
whole distracted fabric of the shattered firmament
will overthrow its laws. Great things come crash-
ing down upon themselves—such is the limit of
growth ordained by heaven for success. Nor did
Fortune lend her grudge to any foreign nations, to
use against the people that ruled earth and sea: the
doom of Rome was due to Rome herself, when she
became the joint property of three masters,3 and
when despotism, which never before was shared
among so many, struck its bloody bargain. Blinded
by excess of ambition, the Three joined hands for
mischief. What boots it to unite their strength and
rule the world in common? As long as earth
supports the sea and air the earth; as long as his
unending task shall make the sun go round, and
night shall follow day in the heavens, each passing
through the same number of signs4—so long will
loyalty be impossible between sharers in tyranny,
and great place will resent a partner. Search not
the history of foreign nations for proof, nor look far
for an instance of Fate’s decree: the rising walls of
Rome were wetted with a brother’s blood. Nor was
such madness rewarded then by lordship over land