JULIUS CLESAR, 167 



served by his generals as by his soldiers. Yet, as in the 

 case of Napoleon's marshals, their fame was little more than 

 the reflection of his. Labienus, the most noted of them, 

 deserted the standard of Csesar at the time he passed the 

 Rubicon ; an act which served but to show how entirely it 

 was the spirit of the great commander which ruled and in- 

 vigorated his army. Though Labienus served the enemies 

 of Csesar until he perished in the battle of Munda, his name 

 never again appears before us associated with any great 

 action of war. Other causes may be conceived for this ; but 

 the main one doubtless was, the absence of that inspiration 

 which came from the genius of Caesar. 



Our author's account of these military transactions is 

 spirited, and fairly illustrated by reference to existing locali- 

 ties ; though such is the life which illustrations of this kind 

 impart that we could have wished them carried still much 

 farther. We draw our chief acquaintance with the Gallic 

 wars, it is needless to say, from the books which have come 

 down to us under the name of the great chief himself. His 

 Commentaries have ever held a high place among historical 

 records ; and no wonder, considering his fame, the masculine 

 simplicity of his writings, and the greatness of the deeds 

 recorded. Even here, however, the bold spirit of modern 

 criticism has flung its doubts on the theme of our schoolboy 

 exercise and delight. We have already adverted to a general 

 suspicion of partiality in the narrative. Other charges have 

 been made impeaching the accuracy even of the military 

 details, which we are surprised to find that Mr. Merivale 

 passes over without notice. Long ago M. Puysegur, a 

 French general, had broached this scepticism as to certain 

 parts of the work. Frederic of Prussia, sceptic and warrior 

 by profession, and fresh from his own bloody campaigns, 

 avowed that he read the Commentaries in later life with 

 altered faith from that of his earlier days. His friend 



