wanted courage for the attempt ?-cord? When shall we have one inRome taken, whilst I was consul!-terest, and one common country? Of honours I had sufficient-of Victorious and triumphant, you show life enough-more than enough-I less temper than we under defeat. should have died in my third consu- When you are to contend with us, late. you can seize the Aventine hill, you But who are they that our dastard- can possess yourselves of the Mons ly enemies thus despise ?-the con- Sacer. suls, or you, Romans?-If we are in The enemy is at our gates, the fault, depose us, or punish us yet Esquiline is near being taken, and more severely. If you are to blame nobody stirs to hinder it. But against -may neither gods nor men punish us you are valiant, against us you can your faults! only may you repent! arm with diligence. Come on then, No, Romans, the confidence of our besiege the senate-house, make a enemies is not owing to their courage, camp of the forum, fill the jails with or to their belief of your cowardice: our chief nobles; and, when you have they have been too often vanquished, achieved these glorious exploits, then, not to know both themselves and you. at last, sally out at the Esquiline Discord, discord, is the ruin of this gate, with the same fierce spirits, city! The eternal disputes between against the enemy. Does your rethe senate and the people are the solution fail you for this? Go then, sole cause of our misfortunes. While and behold from our walls your lands we will set no bounds to our domi- ravaged, your houses plundered and nion, nor you to your liberty while in flames, the whole country laid you impatiently endure Patrician ma- waste with fire and sword. Have gistrates, and we Plebeian; our ene- you any thing here to repair these mies take heart, grow elated, and damages? Will the Tribunes make presumptuous. In the name of the up your losses to you? They will immortal gods, what is it, Romans, give you words as many as you please; you would have? You desired Tri- bring impeachments in abundance bunes; for the sake of peace we against the prime men in the state; granted them. You were eager to heap laws upon laws; assemblies you have Decemvirs; we consented to shall have without end: but will any their creation. You grew weary of of you return the richer from those these Decemvirs; we obliged them assemblies? Extinguish, O Romans, to abdicate. Your hatred pursued these fatal divisions; generously them when reduced to private men; break this cursed enchantment, which and we suffered you to put to death, keeps you buried in a scandalous inor banish, Patricians of the first rank action. Open your eyes, and consin the republic. You insisted upon der the management of those ambithe restoration of the Tribuneship; tious men, who, to make themselves we yielded: we quietly saw Consuls powerful in their party, study nothing of your own faction elected. You but how they may foment divisions have the protection of your Tribunes, in the commonwealth.-If you can and the privilege of appeal: the Pa- but summon up your former courage, tricians are subjected to the decrees if you will now march out of Rome of the Commons. Under pretence with your consuls, there is no punishof equal and impartial laws, you have ment you can inflict which I will not invaded our rights; and we have submit to, if I do not in a few days suffered it, and we still suffer it. drive those pillagers out of our terriWhen shall we see an end of dis-tory. This terror of war, with which

At

you seem so grievously struck, shall quality of his horse and arms. quickly be removed from Rome to the same time he was by far the best their own cities. foot and horse soldier in the army; Hooke. ever the foremost in a charge, and

the last who left the field after the

§ 42. The Character of HANNIBAL. battle was begun. These shining qualities were however balanced by

Livy.

43. The Character of MARTIN LU

THER.

Hannibal being sent to Spain, on great vices; inhuman cruelty; more his arrival there attracted the eyes of than Carthaginian treachery; no rethe whole army. The veterans be- spect for truth or honour, no fear of lieved Hamilcar was revived and re- the gods, no regard for the sanctity stored to them they saw the same of oaths, no sense of religion. With vigorous countenance, the same a disposition thus chequered with piercing eye, the same complexion virtues and vices, he served three and features. But in a short time years under Asdrubal, without nehis behaviour occasioned this resem-glecting to pry into, or perform any blance of his father to contribute the thing, that could contribute to make least towards his gaining their favour. him hereafter a complete general. And, in truth, never was there a genius more happily formed for two things, most manifestly contrary to each other--to obey and to command. This made it difficult to determine, whether the general or soldiers loved While appearances of danger daihim most. Where any enterprise re- ly increased, and the tempest which quired vigour and valour in the per- had been so long a gathering, was formance, Asdrubal always chose ready to break forth in all its viohim to command at the executing it; lence against the protestant church, nor were the troops ever more confi- Luther was saved by a seasonable dent of success, or more intrepid, than death, from feeling or beholding its when he was at their head. None destructive rage. Having gone, ever showed greater bravery in un- though in a declining state of health, dertaking hazardous attempts, or and during a rigorous season, to his more presence of mind and conduct native city of Eisleben, in order to in the execution of them. No hard-compose, by his authority, a dissenship could fatigue his body, or daunt sion among the counts of Mansfield, his courage he could equally bear he was seized with a violent inflamcold and heat. The necessary re-mation in his stomach, which in a fection of nature, not the pleasure of few days put an end to his life, in his palate, he solely regarded in his the sixty-third year of his age.—As meals. He made no distinction of he was raised up by Providence to day and night in his watching, or be the author of one of the greatest taking rest; and appropriated no time and most interesting revolutions reto sleep, but what remained after he corded in history, there is not any had completed his duty he never person, perhaps, whose character has sought for a soft or retired place of been drawn with such opposite corepose; but was often seen lying on lours. In his own age, one party, the bare ground, wrapt in a soldier's struck with horror and inflamed with cloak, amongst the sentinels and rage, when they saw with what a guards. He did not distinguish him- daring hand he overturned every self from his companions by the mag- thing which they held to be sacred, nificence of his dress, but by the or valued as beneficial, imputed to

ven.

him not only all the defects and vices his virtues. His mind, forcible and of a man, but the qualities of a de- vehement in all its operations, roused mon. The other, warmed with ad- by great objects, or agitated by viomiration and gratitude, which they lent passions, broke out, on many octhought he merited, as the restorer casions, with an impetuosity which of light and liberty to the Christian astonishes men of feebler spirits, or church, ascribed to him perfections such as are placed in a more tranquil above the condition of humanity, and situation. By carrying some praiseviewed all his actions with a venera- worthy dispositions to excess, he bortion bordering on that which should dered sometimes on what was culpabe paid only to those who are guided ble, and was often betrayed into acby the immediate inspiration of Hea- tions which exposed him to censure. It is his own conduct, not the His confidence that his own opinions undistinguishing censure, nor the were well founded, approached to arexaggerated praise of his contempo- rogance; his courage in asserting raries, which ought to regulate the them, to rashness; his firmness in opinions of the present age concern- adhering to them, to obstinacy; and ing him. Zeal for what he regarded his zeal in consulting his adversaries, as truth, undaunted intrepidity to to rage and scurrility. Accustomed maintain it, abilities both natural and himself to consider every thing as acquired to defend it, and unwearied subordinate to truth, he expected the industry to propagate it, are virtues same deference for it from other men ; which shine so conspicuously in and, without making any allowances every part of his behaviour, that even for their timidity or prejudices, he his enemies must allow him to have poured forth, against those who dispossessed them in an eminent de- appointed him in this particular, a gree. To these may be added, with torrent of invective mingled with equal justice, such purity, and even contempt. Regardless of any disausterity of manners, as became one tinction of rank or character, when who assumed the character of a re- his doctrines were attacked, he chasformer; such sanctity of life as suit- tised all his adversaries, indiscrimied the doctrine which he delivered; nately, with the same rough hand; and such perfect disinterestedness, neither the royal dignity of Henry as affords no slight presumption of VIII. nor the eminent learning and his sincerity. Superior to all selfish ability of Erasmus, screened them considerations, a stranger to the ele- from the same abuse with which he gancies of life, and despising its treated Tetzel or Eccius. pleasures, he left the honours and But these indecencies of which emoluments of the church to his dis- Luther was guilty, must not be imciples; remaining satisfied himself in puted wholly to the violence of his his original state of professor in the temper. They ought to be charged university, and pastor to the town of in part on the manners of the age. Wittemberg, with the moderate ap- Among a rude people, unacquainted pointments annexed to these offices. with those maxims, which, by putting His extraordinary qualities were al- continual restraint on the passions loyed with no inconsiderable mixture of individuals, have polished society, of human frailty, and human passions. and rendered it agreeable, disputes These, however, were of such a na- of every kind were managed with ture, that they cannot be imputed to heat, and strong emotions were utmalevolence or corruption of heart, tered in their natural language, withbut seem to have taken their rise out reserve or delicacy. At the same from the same source with many of time, the works of learned men were

all composed in Latin; and they he actually accomplished, he had newere not only authorized, by the ex- ver felt any sentiment of this kind ample of eminent writers in that lan- rising in his breast. guage, to use their antagonists with Some time before his death he felt the most illiberal scurrility: but, in his strength declining, his constitua dead tongue, indecencies of every tion being worn out by a prodigious kind appear less shocking than in a multiplicity of business, added to the living language, whose idioms and labour of discharging his ministerial phrases seem gross, because they are function with unremitting diligence, familiar. to the fatigue of constant study, be

In passing judgment upon the cha-sides the composition of works as voracters of men, we ought to try them luminous as if he had enjoyed unby the principles and maxims of interrupted leisure and retirement. their own age, not by those of an- His natural intrepidity did not forother. For although virtue and vice sake him at the approach of death: are at all times the same, manners his last conversation with his friends and customs vary continually. Some was concerning the happiness reservparts of Luther's behaviour, which to ed for good men in a future world, us appear most culpable, gave no of which he spoke with the fervour disgust to his contemporaries. It was and delight natural to one who exeven by some of those qualities which pected and wished to enter soon upon we are now apt to blame, that he was the enjoyment of it. The account fitted for accomplishing the great of his death filled the Roman Cathowork which he undertook. To rouse lic party with excessive as well as inmankind, when sunk in ignorance decent joy, and damped the spirits or superstition, and to encounter the of all his followers; neither party rage of bigotry, armed with power, sufficiently considering that his docrequired the utmost vehemence of trines were now so firmly rooted, as zeal, and a temper daring to excess. to be in a condition to flourish, inA gentle call would neither have dependent of the hand which first reached, nor have excited those to had planted them. His funeral was whom it was addressed. A spirit, celebrated by order of the Elector of more amiable, but less vigorous than Saxony, with extraordinary pomp. Luther's would have shrunk back He left several children by his wife, from the dangers which he braved Catharine Bore, who survived him: and surmounted. Towards the close towards the end of the last century, of Luther's life, though without a per- there were in Saxony some of his ceptible declension of his zeal or abi- descendants in decent and honourlities, the infirmities of his temper able stations. increased upon him, so that he daily

Robertson.

Character of ALFRED, King of England.

grew more peevish, more irascible, and more impatient of contradiction. 44. Having lived to be witness of his own amazing success; to see a great part of Europe embrace his doctrines; The merit of this prince, both in and to shake the foundation of the private and public life, may with adPapal throne, before which the migh-vantage be set in opposition to that tiest monarchs had trembled, he dis- of any monarch or citizen which the covered, on some occasions, symp- annals of any age or any nation can toms of vanity and self-applause. He present to us. He seems, indeed, must have been indeed more than to be the complete model of that perman, if, upon contemplating all that fect character, which, under the de

nomination of a sage or wise man, his conduct. His spirit was bold the philosophers have been fond of and enterprising, yet guided by prudelineating, rather as a fiction of dence. His ambition, which was their imagination, than in hopes of exorbitant, and lay little under the ever seeing it reduced to practice restraints of justice, and still less unso happily were all his virtues tem- der those of humanity, ever submitpered together, so justly were they ted to the dictates of reason and blended, and so powerfully did each sound policy. Born in an age when prevent the other from exceeding its the minds of men were intractable proper bounds. He knew how to and unacquainted with submission, conciliate the most enterprising spi- he was yet able to direct them to his rit with the coolest moderation; the purposes; and, partly from the asmost obstinate perseverance with the cendant of his vehement disposition, easiest flexibility; the most severe partly from art and dissimulation, to justice with the greatest lenity; the establish an unlimited monarchy. greatest rigour in command with Though not insensible to generosity, the greatest affability of deportment; he was hardened against compassion, the highest capacity and inclination and seemed equally ostentatious and for science, with the most shining ta- ambitious of eclat in his clemency lents for action. His civil and his and his severity. The maxims of his military virtues are almost equally administration were severe; but might the objects of our admiration, except- have been useful, had they been soleing only, that the former being more ly employed in preserving order in an rare among princes, as well as more established government; they were useful, seem chiefly to challenge our ill calculated for softening the rigours applause. Nature also, as if desirous which under the most gentle managethat so bright a production of her ment are inseparable from skill should be set in the fairest light, quest. His attempt against England had bestowed on him all bodily ac- was the last enterprise of the kind, complishments, vigour of limbs, dig- which, during the course of seven nity of shape and air, and a pleasant, hundred years, had fully succeeded engaging, and open countenance. in Europe; and the greatness of his Fortune alone, by throwing him into genius broke through those limits, that barbarous age, deprived him of which first the feudal institutions, historians worthy to transmit his fame then the refined policy of princes, to posterity; and we wish to see him have fixed on the several states of delineated in more lively colours, and Christendom. Though he rendered with more particular strokes, that we himself infinitely odious to his Enmay at least perceive some of those glish subjects, he transmitted his small specks and blemishes, from power to his posterity, and the throne which, as a man, it is impossible he is still filled by his descendants; a could be entirely exempted.

con

proof that the foundation which he Hume. laid was firm and solid, and that amongst all his violences, while he seemed only to gratify the present passion, he had still an eye towards futurity. Died Sept. 9, 1087, aged 63.

§ 45. Character of WILLIAM the Conqueror.

Few princes have been more fortunate than this great monarch, or

Ibid.

were better entitled to prosperity and $46. The Character of WILLIAM

grandeur for the abilities and vigour

of mind which he displayed in all

Rufus.

The memory of this monarch is