disengage itself from him； even in so unjust and so wicked a cause。
To return to his clemency： we have many striking examples in the time of
his government； when； all things being reduced to his power； he had no
more written against him which he had as sharply answered： yet he did not
soon after forbear to use his interest to make him consul。 Caius Calvus；
who had composed several injurious epigrams against him； having employed
many of his friends to mediate a reconciliation with him； Caesar
voluntarily persuaded himself to write first to him。 And our good
Catullus； who had so rudely ruffled him under the name of Mamurra； coming
to offer his excuses to him； he made the same day sit at his table。
Having intelligence of some who spoke ill of him； he did no more； but
only by a public oration declare that he had notice of it。 He still less
feared his enemies than he hated them； some conspiracies and cabals that
were made against his life being discovered to him； he satisfied himself
in publishing by proclamation that they were known to him； without
further prosecuting the conspirators。
As to the respect he had for his friends： Caius Oppius； being with him
upon a journey； and finding himself ill； he left him the only lodging he
had for himself； and lay all night upon a hard ground in the open air。
As to what concerns his justice； he put a beloved servant of his to death
for lying with a noble Roman's wife； though there was no complaint made。〃
Never had man more moderation in his victory； nor more resolution in his
adverse fortune。
But all these good inclinations were stifled and spoiled by his furious
ambition； by which he suffered himself to be so transported and misled
that one may easily maintain that this passion was the rudder of all his
actions； of a liberal man； it made him a public thief to supply this
bounty and profusion； and made him utter this vile and unjust saying；
〃That if the most wicked and profligate persons in the world had been
faithful in serving him towards his advancement； he would cherish and
prefer them to the utmost of his power； as much as the best of men。〃
It intoxicated him with so excessive a vanity； as to dare to boast in the
presence of his fellow…citizens； that he had made the great commonwealth
of Rome a name without form and without body； and to say that his answers
for the future should stand for laws； and also to receive the body of the
Senate coming to him； sitting； to suffer himself to be adored； and to
have divine honours paid to him in his own presence。 To conclude； this
sole vice； in my opinion； spoiled in him the most rich and beautiful
nature that ever was； and has rendered his name abominable to all good
men； in that he would erect his glory upon the ruins of his country and
the subversion of the greatest and most flourishing republic the world
shall ever see。
There might； on the contrary； many examples be produced of great men whom
pleasures have made to neglect the conduct of their affairs； as Mark
Antony and others； but where love and ambition should be in equal
balance； and come to jostle with equal forces； I make no doubt but the
last would win the prize。
To return to my subject： 'tis much to bridle our appetites by the
argument of reason； or； by violence； to contain our members within their
duty； but to lash ourselves for our neighbour's interest； and not only to
divest ourselves of the charming passion that tickles us； of the pleasure
we feel in being agreeable to others； and courted and beloved of every
one； but also to conceive a hatred against the graces that produce that
effect； and to condemn our beauty because it inflames others； of this； I
confess； I have met with few examples。 But this is one。 Spurina； a
young man of Tuscany：
〃Qualis gemma micat； fulvum quae dividit aurum；
Aut collo decus； aut cupiti： vel quale per artem
Inclusum buxo aut Oricia terebintho
Lucet ebur；〃
＇〃As a gem shines enchased in yellow gold； or an ornament on the
neck or head； or as ivory has lustre； set by art in boxwood or
Orician ebony。〃AEneid； x。 134。＇
being endowed with a singular beauty； and so excessive； that the chastest
eyes could not chastely behold its rays； not contenting himself with
leaving so much flame and fever as he everywhere kindled without relief；
entered into a furious spite against himself and those great endowments
nature had so liberally conferred upon him； as if a man were responsible
to himself for the faults of others； and purposely slashed and
disfigured； with many wounds and scars； the perfect symmetry and
proportion that nature had so curiously imprinted in his face。 To give
my free opinion； I more admire than honour such actions： such excesses
are enemies to my rules。 The design was conscientious and good； but
certainly a little defective in prudence。 What if his deformity served
afterwards to make others guilty of the sin of hatred or contempt； or of
envy at the glory of so rare a recommendation； or of calumny；
interpreting this humour a mad ambition！ Is there any form from which
vice cannot； if it will； extract occasion to exercise itself； one way or
another？ It had been more just； and also more noble； to have made of
these gifts of God a subject of exemplary regularity and virtue。
They who retire themselves from the common offices； from that infinite
number of troublesome rules that fetter a man of exact honesty in civil
life； are in my opinion very discreet； what peculiar sharpness of
constraint soever they impose upon themselves in so doing。 'Tis in some
sort a kind of dying to avoid the pain of living well。 They may have
another reward； but the reward of difficulty I fancy they can never have；
nor； in uneasiness； that there can be anything more or better done than
the keeping oneself upright amid the waves of the world； truly and
exactly performing all parts of our duty。 'Tis； peradventure； more easy
to keep clear of the sex than to maintain one's self aright in all points
in the society of a wife； and a man may with less trouble adapt himself
to entire abstinence than to the due dispensation of abundance。 Use；
carried on according to reason； has in it more of difficulty than
abstinence； moderation is a virtue that gives more work than suffering；
the well living of Scipio has a thousand fashions； that of Diogenes but
one； this as much excels the ordinary lives in innocence as the most
accomplished excel them in utility and force。
CHAPTER XXXIV
OBSERVATION ON THE MEANS TO CARRY ON A WAR ACCORDING TO JULIUS CAESAR
'Tis related of many great leaders that they have had certain books in
particular esteem； as Alexander the Great； Homer； Scipio Africanus；
Xenophon； Marcus Brutus； Polybius； Charles V。； Philip'de Comines； and
'tis said that； in our times； Machiavelli is elsewhere still in repute；
but the late Marshal Strozzi； who had taken Caesar for his man； doubtless
made the best choice； seeing that it indeed ought to be the breviary of
every soldier； as being the true and sovereign pattern of the military
art。 And； moreover； God knows with that grace and beauty he has
embellished that rich matter； with so pure； delicate； and perfect
expression； that； in my opinion； there are no writings in the world
comparable to his； as to that business。
I will set down some rare and particular passages of his wars that remain
in my memory。
His army； being in some consternation upon the rumour that was spread of
the great forces that king Juba was leading against him； instead of
abating the apprehension which his soldiers had conceived at the news and
of lessening to them the forces of the enemy； having called them all
together to encourage and reassure them； he took a quite contrary way to
what we are used to do； for he told them that they need no more trouble
themselves with inquiring after the enemy's forces； for that he was
certainly informed thereof； and then told them of a number much
surpassing both the truth and the report that was current in his army；
following the advice of Cyrus in Xenophon； forasmuch as the deception is
not of so great importance to find an enemy weaker than we expected； than
to find him really very strong； after having been made to believe that he
was weak。
It was always his use to accustom his soldiers simply to obey； without
taking upon them to control； or so much as to speak of their captain's
designs； which he never communicated to them but upon the point of
execution； and he took a delight； if they discovered anything of what he
intended； immediately to change his orders to deceive them； and to that
purpose； would often； when he had assigned his quarters in a place； pass
forward and lengthen his day's march； especially if it was foul and rainy
weather。
The Swiss； in the beginning of his wars in Gaul； having sent to him to
demand a free passage over the Roman territories； though resolved to
hinder them by force； he nevertheless spoke kindly to the messengers； and
took some respite to return an answer； to make use of that time for the
calling his army together。 These silly people did not know how good a
husband he was of hi