Gibbon on horses

I’m posting this passage for the sole reason that it is beautiful:

“…the plains that stretch from the foot of Mount Argaeus to the banks of the Sarus bred a generous race of horses, renowned above all others in the ancient world for their majestic shape and incomparable swiftness. These sacred animals, destined for the service of the palace and the Imperial games, were protected by the laws from the profanation of a vulgar master.”

I know things get much worse after Constantine dies, but I’m ready to move on into the Empire’s phases of greater decadence. Constantine is starting to bore me a bit.