Ch. 22 - The Banquet of Famine

Of all prophecies, none are, perhaps, so frequently erroneous as those
on which we are most apt to venture in endeavouring to foretell the
effect of outward events on the characters of men. In no form of our
anticipations are we more frequently baffled than in such attempts to
estimate beforehand the influence of circumstance over conduct, not only
in others, but also even in ourselves. Let the event but happen, and
men, whom we view by the light of our previous observation of them, act
under it as the living contradictions of their own characters. The
friend of our daily social intercourse, in the progress of life, and the
favourite hero of our historic studies, in the progress of the page,
astonish, exceed, or disappoint our expectations alike. We find it as
vain to foresee a cause as to fix a limit for the arbitrary
inconsistencies in the dispositions of mankind.

But, though to speculate upon the future conduct of others under
impending circumstances be but too often to expose the fallacy of our
wisest anticipations, to contemplate the nature of that conduct after it
has been displayed is a useful subject of curiosity, and may perhaps be
made a fruitful source of instruction. Similar events which succeed
each other at different periods are relieved from monotony, and derive
new importance from the ever-varying effects which they produce on the
human character. Thus, in the great occurrence which forms the
foundation of our narrative, we may find little in the siege of Rome,
looking at it as a mere event, to distinguish it remarkably from any
former siege of the city--the same desire for glory and vengeance,
wealth and dominion, which brought Alaric to her walls, brought other
invaders before him. But if we observed the effect of the Gothic
descent upon Italy on the inhabitants of her capital, we shall find
ample matter for novel contemplation and unbounded surprise.

We shall perceive, as an astonishing instance of the inconsistencies of
the human character, the spectacle of a whole people resolutely defying
an overwhelming foreign invasion at their very doors, just at the period
when they had fallen most irremediably from the highest position of
national glory to the lowest depths of national degradation; resisting
an all-powerful enemy with inflexible obstinacy, for the honour of the
Roman name, which they had basely dishonoured or carelessly forgotten
for ages past. We shall behold men who have hitherto laughed at the
very name of patriotism, now starving resolutely in their country's
cause; who stopped at no villainy to obtain wealth, now hesitating to
employ their ill-gotten gains in the purchase of the most important of
all gratifications--their own security and peace. Instances of the