J.98 THE WOlil.D AT IHE ADVE.M. 



rifices to tlie shades of CcEsar. He divorced liis own wife to marry 

 the wife of another, from whom she was taken by force. The winning 

 graces of his manner and address were but accessories to his scheme of 

 making himself supreme in the Roman empire. He gave a splendid 

 burial to Anthony and Cleopatra, though it was to escape from his 

 hands they had slain themselves. As though this were not enough to 

 satify his restless apprehensions, he murdered the two sons of Cleopat- 

 ra, one of whom she had by Anthony, ihe other by Caesar. His ef- 

 forts were successful. With a show of submission to the Senate, he 

 stepped into the throne. The splendor of royalty hides all defects. A 

 prince who was at once cruel and sensual, had altars erected to him du-^ 

 ring his life, received the title of Father of his Country after his death, 

 and has been handed down to posterity with a character, in which every 

 virtue is blended with every grace. 



Yet we do not find fault with Augustus because he had a power as 

 absolute in degree as it was wide in extent. Who would not reign if 

 he could ^ Nor do we blame the Emperor for all the evils, which un- 

 questionably existed under his government. \n a kingdom so unboun- 

 ded in extent, no principles could be perfectly exhibited, and no form 

 invariably carried out. But when extensive provinces, many languages, 

 conflicting claims pressed by stupidity, avarice and cruelty, concur, of- 

 I'ences inevitably arise. It is enough in excusing Augustus and the Ro- 

 man empire, to be satisfied that mild and humane laws were provided, 

 which exhibited equitable constitutional principles. Such doubtless 

 they meant them to be, and such, perhaps, we should allow they 

 succeeded in the main in making them. Yet the truth cannot be 

 hidden, that scarcely louder cries were ever wrung by despotism froni 

 any people. It was a proof that good governments do not necessarily 

 govern well. Mild when his own ambition was not concerned, and de- 

 voted as he was to the humanizing arts, had the body of Augustus beei^ 

 as ubiquitous as his mmd, or his arm able to keep company with his 

 heart, his would have been a people as little misruled and as happy as 

 is possible under an uncontrolled despotism. But his body had not as 

 many atoms, as the Empire had families, and the bounds of his domains no 

 created arms could encompass. The ripeness of the fruit is the precur- 

 sor of its rotting. In many constitutions, too, the secret decay of some 

 vital power is not only unattended by aught external that seems to mark 

 its decline, but that very disease may give a more brilliant hue to the 

 eheek. The face whose flush is deepest and whose eye is brightest, is 

 that of her whose frame shall soon grow wan, until she draws the last 

 faint breath, whilst treacherous Consumption, who laid the gem on 



