186 ROMAN HISTORY : 



Of his other writings we most covet the satire of the Anti- 

 Cato, the treatise on Auguries and Presages, and his tragedy 

 of (Edipus. We venture no opinion as to the probable 

 merit of these works, beyond the general inference already 

 stated; but may hazard a conjecture that the poetical and 

 imaginative part would have added least to his reputation. 

 Mebuhr has somewhere remarked that there is no witty 

 saying of Caesar on record. It is difficult enough to define 

 wit in any form, and we should hardly go to a German 

 professor for aid in the definition ; but if pithy and pointed 

 expressions and retorts come under the term, we know that 

 Caesar had such at command. Some specimens live indeed 

 in every scholar's memory; and if his collection of apo- 

 phthegms the mucrones verborum, as Lord Bacon calls 

 them had reached us, we should probably have had 

 abundant evidence of his keen apprehension of those great 

 sayings, which form the true wit of every time and language 

 of man. 



We are surprised that Mr. Merivale takes such slight notice 

 of the oratorical fame of Caesar, seeing the strong impression 

 it made upon the best judges of his own age and country. 

 Where Cicero and Quintilian have testified their admiration 

 in terms so remarkable, it is hardly enough to despatch the 

 subject in a short sentence, without reference to these 

 eminent authorities. From one passage in the De Claris 

 Oratoribus, it may be seen how high a value Cicero attached 

 to the opinion of Caesar regarding his own oratorical powers. 

 What other commander or conqueror, how few statesmen 

 even, have obtained or merited tributes like these, and given 

 by such judges!* Nor can we fail to notice the portrait 

 they convey to us of the noble aspect, attitudes, and voice of 



* ' Csesar autem, rationem adhibens, consuetudinem vitiosam et corruptam 

 pura et incorrupta consuetudine emendat. Itaque cum ad hanc elegantiam 

 verborum Latinorum adjungit ilia oratoria ornamenta dicendi, turn videtur 



