188 ROMAN HISTORY : JULIUS dESAR. 



exacting from our author the rigorous brevity of Tacitus, 

 which would be rendered impossible by a regard to modern 

 taste, as well as to the larger field of critical history over 

 which his course lies, we still think that something may be 

 gained from this great model; whom it is impossible to 

 study without acquiring vigour from his style ; or without 

 sympathising in that high spirit of philosophy, and utter 

 disdain of all that is false and frivolous in the world, which 

 marks everything he has written. 



