BOOKS.
LIDDELL'S HISTORY OF ROHR..
THE necessity of new books for a new generation is not merely founded on change of fashions and manners, but on the progress of opinion, and in Balance, philosophy, and often in.history, on new discoveries ; the . necessity varying in. proportion to :the, rapidity with'which society has changed. A history of Rome, written be- tween the revival of learning and the opening of the eighteenth century, would have been widely different in its estimate of men and actions from that same history written in an age which was not ill represented by the sooffing scepticism of Voltaire, and the worldly, sensible mind of Chesterfield; as in our time—it is not too much to say it—a lodgment has grown up otueli sounder than the indiscriminate schoolboy admiration of the first period, or the undue depreciation of the last century—extreme. Liberals of the French Revolutionary kind, who still swore by Brutus being excepted. In like manner, a history for the' educated world would regard the facts respecting the first five centuries, after Beaufort published his _Dissertation cur ?Incertitude de l'Histoire Romaine, in a different ,way from a work produoed before the ap- pearance of that refaarhable.piece of critical inquiry.. reoep- -tion of Niebuhr's inductive reconstruction of early Remo marked another epoch, almost superseding the critical portion of preceding histories. The implicit confidence of Niebuhr's followers, coupled with the changeful opinions ' but unchanging dogmatism Of Niebuhr himself, have already brought about a reaction—perhaps, as Dr. Liddell intimates, an undue reaction ; for, be his errors what they may, he has undoubtedly given a. more living character to ancient story than it possessed before his time. These circumstances render a new history of Rome adapted to present opinions and received knowledge a necessity ; for there is really nothing of the kind. Had Arnold lived to complete his great work it would indeed not only have served for his ow-n age, be-probably endured to a tong posteiity. IndependentlY of his sound scholarship, his critical acumen, and his large sagacity, his own warmth of feeling, and a certain Homeric strength and sim- plicity, gave that living character to his narrative which, better than almost any' other quality, survives change of. nianners and
i opinions. His interest n humanity threw inte his book continual remarks on Roman ainduct and policy as applied to modern affairs, which had the effect without the formality of philosophizing. His work, however, was closed before its author reached the most instructive part of Roman story,—the internal dissensions, the accumulation of wealth in the hands of a few, the corruption of the rid), and the degradation of the poor, which produced the civil wars and the downfall of the republic. The scale of Arnold's Rome, had it been finished, would, how- ever, have militated againat its use by many, on account of the length to Which it must have extended. Dr. Liddell's History would not therefore-have been forestalled evenby Arnold ; for al- though it has grown beyond the author's original intention— which was to produce a book for the "upper forms" in schools— this "'History of Rome from the Earliest Times to the Establish- ment of the Empire" is still a work within the careful perusal of persons whose occupations scarcely allow the study of voluminous works on all the subjects they wish to become acquainted with.
It is not, however, the mere quality of length that renders Dr. tiddell's History adapted to the Purpose of readers who desire a knowledge of the "altered aspect which Roman history has as- sumed." By means of a skilfully-arranged structure, not only the different periods of the history, but their various subdivisions, are presented as distinct parts, yet each having a relation to a larger whole. The general treatment is also judicious. The alleged events, for instance, of the early period, are rapidly touched; while the social, political, and constitutional arrangements,- as evolved by Niebuhr from - the legendary stories or family ballads, are fully expounded. As events and their circumstances become more trustworthy, equal ability in arrangement is displayed ; particular branches of the history being separately carried on without in- terruption from other actions, till the fitting time arrives for a pause in the narrative, or the subject itself is terminated. At appropriate periods, the manners, social condition, morals, litera- ture, and arts of the people, are examined, so as to bring the life and character of the ancient Romans before the reader. Perhaps part of this treatment may be suggested as much by the author's nature as by art. He seems more at home in the handling of civil and political than of military affairs. Even in war, the political circumstances which directed the choice of commanders or influenced the. conduct of. the campaign, and the manner in which success or disaster operated upon home opini6n, are treated with greater fulness and gusto than the strategy of the • A History of Rome, from the Earliest Times to the Establishment of the Ern. pire. By Henry G. Liddell, Dean of Christ Church, Oxford; late Head Master of Westminster School. In two volumes. Published by Murray. campaign or the narrative of warlike exploits. The style, as may be-supposed from the author's natural taste, is rather close, clear, and equable, than very striking or picturesque. Indeed, he some- :times fails truly to exhibit the spirit of his original, This amount of Jugurtha's departure from Rome, with his memorable excla- mation,—" As he passed out of the gates, he looked back and said, .‘ A city for sale, if she can find a purelaser,' "—is an indifferent ver- sion. of the force and characteristic story of Ballast: " Bed post- quam Roma egressus eat, fertar, stope eo taeitus respiciens, postremo • dixisse, Urbem venalem et mature perituram, si emptorera invenerit.'"
The author's sympathy with the civil and intellectual as sub- jects of treatment, over violent or dazzling actions, affects his style. In estimating the character of a man, or describing an in- stitution, or expounding a social condition, there is a nicety of perception, a skilful selection of circumstances, and a choice of lan- guage, which are not so visible in mere narrative. The descrip- tion of Sylla in his retirement may be quoted as an example.
"All therefore seemed tranquil or likely to be tranquil ; and Sylla left Rome for ever, to seek at his villa near Puteoli on the Bay of Naples that
• which be loved better than political power or military glory,:—a life of voluptuous ease. Here he amused himself at will. Among his own im- mediate supporters none could be called his friend. He allowed Gramme, like other favourites, to enrich himself by buying up the property of the Proscribed: he satisfied Pompey with commands, and titles, and a triumph. But he trusted neither of them, and disliked the last. Metellus Pius, who had served him well in Italy, was absent in Spain. L. Lucullus, who had been one of his chief lieutenants in the Mithridatio war, and was found to be named executor of his will and guardian of his children, was still in the East. But if they had been present, they were not men with whom Syne could sympathize. He loved not statesmen, nor soldiers, nor earnest men of any kind. Ile was fond of genial humour and unrestrained licence and therefore- admitted jesters, actors, and humorists to unreserved intimacy. was fond of sensual pleasure ; and therefore, though ho always treated ' his wife Cecilia with respect, his doors were open to dancing-girls and singing-girls. Ho was fond of literature and philosophic diecussion, and therefore gave free invitation to men of letters. In company of this various kind ho passed hours lounging in a boat upon the Bay of -Naples, and hours at table or over his wine, sometimes conversing on art and literature and science, sometimes engaging in licentious jesting, or coarse buffoonery. At such times and in such company he would not suffer business to be named. Perfect self-indulgence and amusement were what he sought. In such a man nothing resembling real love or true friendship could find place.
"At times, however, his passions broke out ; and,. without any authority, he put to death an unfortunate magistrate of Puteoh, who bad offended him. "Rut ho did not long enjoy this life of luxurious ease. Ten years before, i during his campaigns n Greece, he had been threatened with paralysis. Since that time he had gone through great labours and great anxieties ; and the habits in which he was now indulging proved too great a contrast to his late life. • About a year after he had resigned the Dictatorship, he was attacked by a complication of disorders, which ended (it is said) in a i loathsome disease. His body, distempered by debauchery and labour, s Bait." to have engendered vermin. . Thus miserably died the great Dictator, in Gib sixtieth year of his age.
"Sylla was eminently what we call a man of genius. Nothing seemed difficult to him. In war and politics, in literature and encounters of wit, he -was a match for the masters of each art at their own weapons. That which gave him advantage was his perfect knowledge of men, and his just confi- dence in self, unalloyed by any tincture of personal vanity. In the art of war he was no doubt inferior to Marius, and probably to many of his own officers. But the command which he gained over the soldiery by his free and genial manners, and the adroitness with which he corrupted his opponenta, generally enabled him to weaken them before the actual shock of battle, and to avert impending disaaters. His rapid audacity sometimes gave him we- expected successes, although his temerity often exposed him to perils which a more cautious commander would have provided against. In the diploma- tic arts by which men are guided or deluded be was unequalled. But with all these qualities to fit him for active life, his inclinations lay not that way. He was poor at first, and his family was somewhat obscure. It is not sur- prising, therefore, that he roused himself from time to time to gather wealth and gain distinction. But he never continued his exertions for a longer time than was required for his immediate object. Circumstances compelled him to assert his claim to the command in the Mithridatic war,. to continue that war for several years, to engage in a hard struggle on his return to Italy, and after conquest to assume dictatorial power. But triumphs and power were not the objects for which he fought and laboured. Properly speaking he was not ambitious. He desired wealth and power, but only as a means ; his proper end being the facility of absolute self-indulgence. Nor, properly speaking, was he cruel. His passions were by nature fierce, and they were made fiercer by a distempered frame of body and by unjust oppo- sition. Before Marius endeavoured to rob him of the Mithridatie command, we hear not of any barbarities that can be attributed to him ; and after he had destroyed the party which had excited his fury, he relapsed into the easiness of temper which best suited his Epicurean principles."
A portion of the account of the Senate may be taken, not only as an example of the author's exposition, but for the political hints it contains to the constitution-maker.
"The Senate of Rome was perhaps the most remarkable assembly that the world has ever seen. Its members held their seats for life ; once Senators always Senators, unless they were degraded for some dishonourable cause. But the Senatorial Peerage was not hereditary. No father could transmit the honour to his son. Each man must win it for himself.
"The manner in which seats in the Senate were obtained is tolerably well ascertained. Many persons will be surprised to learn that the members of this august body, all—or nearly all—owed their places to the votes of the people. In theory, indeed, the Censors still possessed the power really. exer- cised by the Rings and early Consuls, of choosing the Senators at their own will and pleasure. But official powers, however arbitrary, are always limited in practice ; and the Censors followed rules established by ancient precedent. A notable example of the rule by which the list of the Senate was itutde occurs at a period when, if ever, there was wide room for the exercise of dis- cretion. After the fatal days of Trasimeno and Canine, it was found that to complete the just number of Senators, no less than one hundred and seventy were wanting. Two years were yet to pass before new Censors would be in office ; and to provide an extraordinary remedy for an extraordinary case, M. Fabius Buteo, an old Senator of high character, was named Dictator, for the sole purpose of recruiting the vacant ranks of his order. He thus discharged his duty. After reciting the names of all surviving Senators, he chose as new members, first, those who had held Curule offices since the last Censor- ship, according to the order of their election ; then those who had served as
es, Tribunes, or Qutestors ; then, of those who had not held office, such as had decorated their houses with spoils taken from the enemy, or with crowns bestowed for saving the lives of fellow citizens.'
In the interval between two Censorships, that is in the course of five years, the number of ex-Qutestors alone must have amounted to at least forty; and this was more than sufficient to fill the number of vacancies which would have occurred in ordinary times. The first qualification for a seat in the Senate then was that of office. It is probable that to the qualification of office there was added a second, of property. Such was certainly the case in later times. The Emperor Augustus fixed the property qualification of Se- nators at double that required of the Equestrian order. And so early as the Ilannibalic war we have seen that when all orders were required to contri- bute towards a fleet, the Senators were called upon to equip a larger number of seamen than the citizens of the first class; a requisition which seems absurd, unless Senators had been the wealthiest men in the state. A third limitation, that of age, followed from the rule that the Senate was recruited from the lists of official persons. No one could be a Senator till he was about thirty years of age."
Previous page
