174 ROMAN HISTORY: 



Rapidly traversing Thrace and Asia Minor, he embarked for 

 Egypt, where, though he found Pompey slain, no meaner 

 talent or fortitude than his own could have saved him from 

 the peril to which he exposed himself amidst the populace 

 of Alexandria, infuriated by his bold demands and interfer- 

 ence with their national affairs. Rescued from this danger, 

 the history of Caesar for a moment changes its complexion. 

 We find the warrior and statesman yielding himself to 

 the blandishments of Cleopatra, and the companion of the 

 Egyptian queen in the lawless and luxurious revelries of 

 the East. We hardly know in what degree this picture has 

 been coloured by hostile scandal or poetical embellishment. 

 Both, we suspect, have been at work with the story ; though 

 we must add that Mr. Merivale gives larger belief to it, and 

 describes the character of Caesar as permanently changed by 

 the vices and indulgences of his Egyptian life. Thus he says, 

 in a passage with which we cannot readily agree 



But the sorceress of the Nile had not only corrupted the Consul's 

 patriotism ; she had enchanted him with the poisoned cup of Canopic 

 luxury. She had taught him to despise as mean and homely the 

 splendour of the Circus and the Capitol ; she had imbued him with 

 the gorgeous and selfish principles of Oriental despotism, and de- 

 based him to the menial adulation of slaves, parasites, and eunuchs. 

 . ... If from henceforward we find his generosity tinged with os- 

 tentation, his courage with arrogance, his resolution with harshness ; 

 if lie becomes restless and fretful and impatient of contradiction ; if 

 his conduct is marked with contempt for mankind rather than with 

 indulgence to their weaknesses, it is to this impure source that the 

 melancholy change is to be traced. 



We confess that we always view antithetical writing with 

 distrust ; nor do we find in the remaining acts and events of 

 Caesar's life any evidence sufficient to justify the conclusion 

 here denoted. Though by no means exempt from human 

 weakness, we believe him to have been a man who could 

 dally with luxury and flattery without being subdued by 



