Roman culture

has a heroic tone, a great, nobel, natural majesty peculiar to ancient life which was swallowed up in humility by the sense of earthly vanity inculcated by Christianity.

There was about all the Romans a heroic tone peculiar to ancient life. Their virtues were great and noble, and these virtues made them great and noble. They possessed a natural majesty that was not put on and taken off at pleasure, as was that of certain eastern monarchs when they put on or took off their garments of Tyrian dye. It is hoped that this is not wholly lost from the world, although the sense of earthly vanity inculcated by Christianity may have swallowed it up in humility. Herman Melville

roman culture, n.All

roman culture