Of HISTORICAL COMPOSITION. 183 



IN the annals of TACITUS, which were the lafl of his works, 

 though their fubjedl be prior to that of his hiflory, a more di- 

 ftinct arrangement is to be found than could well be expected 

 from their title. From the author's ability, the narration in 

 them is better conducted than that in eafier fubjecls is by 

 the generality of thofe who have wifely adopted them. He 

 was, at the fame time, thoroughly aware of the difficulties he 

 encountered. He infinuates, that the period chofen prefents 

 a multiplicity of facls too inconfiderable to be the foundation 

 of a legitimate hiftory ; and that thofe great events no longer 

 exifted, which as often hide the hiftorian's defects, as they re- 

 ceive embellifhment from the force of his talents. " Nobis in 



' arclo, et inglorius labor. Immota quippe aut modice laceffita 

 '* pax, mceftae urbis res, et princeps proferendi imperil incurio- 

 " fus erat. Non tamen fine ufu fuerit, introfpicere ilia primo 



' afpeclu levia, ex quis magnarum faepe rerum niotus oriun- 

 " tur*." 



As an impartial hiflorian, TACITUS is, without doubt, en- 

 titled to high praife. He arraigns the conduct of the unde- 

 ferving, without regard to their rank ; and appears to have been, 

 in every cafe, devoid of prejudice. At the beginning of his 

 hiftory, he lays down a rule for other writers, to which he 

 gives reafon to think that he himfelf will rigidly adhere, 

 Mihi GALBA, OTHO, VITELLIUS, nee beneficio nee injuria 



' cogniti. Dignitatem noftram a VESPASIANO inchoatara, a 

 TITO auclam, a DOMITIANO longius proveclam non abnu- 



' erim ; fed incorruptam fidem profeffis, neque amore quif- 

 " quam, et fine odia dicendus eft f."' A beautiful ftruggle is 

 here exhibited between the emotions of his gratitude and his 

 fenfe of what was right ; but he holds it dishonourable even to 

 be grateful at the expence of truth. 



THAT the views of TACITUS upon human affairs are pro*- 

 found and juft, muft be obvious to every perfon who has judg- 

 ment 



* Ann. lib. 4. cap. 32. \ Hift. lib. i. cap. i. 



