Затруднение возникает с переводом " fail especially in character-drawing...

2.These studies could not fail to throw light upon many an aspect of history and archeology, but their immediate interest lay in what they told about human speech.

Здесь затруднение в " what they told about human speech".

3. The evidence seems to show that urban life, as understood by the Roamns, disappeared; the decay of the towns now becam complete.

Здесь вопрос в том, как перевести " decay of the towns now became complete"

4. All he could feel was the despair and the bitterness, the sweet sickly smell of the dying man.

Здесь затруднение в " sweet sickly smell"

Буду признателен за вашу помощь!!! Спасибо заранее.

what they told about human speech - больше контекста - какие именно стадиз... возможно, имеется в виды их лингвистический аспект

decay of the towns now became complete - упадок городской жизни - как ее понимали римляне - достиг крайней степени

sweet sickly smell of the dying man - сладковатый тошнотворный запах умирающего человека