Word: rome
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Dates: during 1970-1979
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...time when the British Empire is being rent asunder, Edward Gibbon has produced an eloquent and authoritative account of the ruin of Imperial Rome. This is somewhat surprising, since Gibbon, 39, an inconspicuous Member of Parliament, has previously written only some brief essays and two minor volumes of literary criticism. Yet his new work is not mere history but high tragedy, as the course of Rome's decay is hurried forward by fools and villains, and only briefly impeded by the strivings of worthy...
...second century of the Christian era, the Empire of Rome comprehended the fairest part of the earth, and the most civilized portion of mankind ... [The] peaceful inhabitants enjoyed and abused the advantages of wealth and luxury. The image of a free constitution was preserved with decent reverence; the Roman senate appeared to possess the sovereign authority...
...every parliamentary committee, and has played a large part in drafting and passing progressive legislation, such as the divorce bill and the proposed democratization of the armed forces. On the regional and municipal levels the PCI--who now govern all of the major cities of mainland Italy except Rome--have proved themselves to be comparatively honest and efficient administrators. What was contested during these elections was, in one sense, merely a formality, an admission of a change in the balance of power which has in reality already occurred, a change that has been gradually evolving since the workers' strikes...
...Cleopatra, "Age cannot wither nor custom stale her infinite variety ... other women cloy the appetites they feed; but she makes hungry/ Where most she satisfies." Even the vows that she and Antony swear in lovers' defiance of the world are thunderously imperial. Says Antony: "Let Rome in Tiber melt, and the wide arch of the ranged empire fall!" and Cleopatra echoes, "Melt Egypt into Nile...
...polar conflict of the play is be tween love and empire or desire and duty, with Egypt symbolizing one and Rome the other. Director Phillips sets up a telling counterpoint between the brisk, businesslike military scenes and the perfumed enchantment of the amorous interludes...