The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1865-09-27

lar 70 W SiCfhO, lWo NOi.Ss, Bt NhM.
FORSYTH, A. NJ, AUTHOR OF a." IIISro-
EY OF TRIAL by JuRY," &C. ChAs.
ScmBNER & Co, New YoRK.
Mr.. Forsyth, in this work has per orm-
ed a service for which scholars should be
grateful he has filed gap in excluSve-
ly biographical literature, and given us
what we long nceded-a faithful portrait
Of the character of Cicero he has shown
that cnndor is possible on this subject, and
that rigid fidelity in narrative is not in
compatible with high appreciation Of
the great Romans talents and services.
Hitherto, English readers, to whom the
German works were not accessible, have
been driven TO accedt Middleton rs au-
thorily, bnt this "enemy of the church
IL always preiudiced, and seldom accur-
rate. 1t was his object 10 exhibit in Cic-
ero specimen of pure Pagan morality, to
which Christianity could give no add-
/ tional element Of valued and, consequent
| ly, he has not hestatcd to supply, omit
and gnrble, whenever it would further
his purpose so to do Mr.. Forsyth is I'M
biased by any relentless theory in politics
or religion, but proposed, simply, to
exhibit Cicero as he was, and rather
lcave conclusions to the reader. lie has
awaited himself of the work of Abcken,
and the exhaustive researches of Dru-
mann, so that, IA far as correctness of
detail is concerned, the book is perfectly
reliable. We think, however, that the
author has aimed too much mt brevity {;
as orator, as writer, philosopher and wit,
Cicero was unquestionably 'the foremost
man Of the Roman "world"; as a states
man he was second only to Caesar, and,
after the death of the latter, he was, by
far, the most eminent parsonage in the
state. Such a character should not be
shufiled off in two volumes, especially
when materials are so abundant why,
nowadays, we don't get the hero born
till the second volume. We should have
been better pleased if the back ground
had been more complete, if the narrative
of the times had been more full, so that,
by those readers who have only the aver
age acquaintance with the politics of the
last years of the Republic, the influence
Of Cicero upon events might be more dis
tinctly appreciated we should have liked
more numerous specimens of the clo-
qnence which stung Nerres, and lashed
Antony until he roared and especially
should we have liked, what the author
has failed almost entirely to give, an ex-
position of tho Ciceronian ethics and
philosophy. But, in spite of these defects,
there are advantages which far outweigh
them We are rcioced to find that, in
our opinions previously formed respecting
Cicero's political conduct, we agree with
so great scholar. The fact is there
was no one party in the state to which he
could sincerely and consistently attach
himself, and the Romans were too thor
oughly debauched for any considerable
party to follow a man like Cicero, with
the unhesitating obedience with which
they followed Caesar and Pompey. Cicero
was purist, and as such lie appealed to
principles rather than resort to bribery.
He was scholar and scholarship is
conservative =; it hates innovation because
it torcsccs the inevitable tumult which &C
companies every transition state, and it has
observed also how seldom strength and
progress have come out OF human weak
ness. But more than all he venerated
the Constitution and could endorse no plat
form that looked to the subversicn of that.
1t was this constitution he had saved when
the ground was followed beneath his feet
by conspiracy and hundred togas con-
cealcd daggers which were meant for his
breast The Senate House and the For
UNI had been the scenes of his mighty tri-
umphs. triumphs which are recognized
wherever the Roman name is known or
eloquencc has been studied, triumphs
which shall endure so long rs passionate
patriotism, tremendous Indignation, or
blasting denunclation of treason and in
justice can burst from human lips and
burn themselves into tho human heart -
Then as moralst, as scholar, as orator. he
sought to preserve the Republic with its
ancient forms on principles of justice.
OF the possibility of doing this, space does
not permit us to say anything; we refer
the reader to the work before US. We
are glad that Mr.. Forsyth has vindicated
the character of our favorite Roman from
the charges which DeQuincey and Nom
sen have cast upon it, and that lie has
done it with so much candor and fairness.
He knew he coud tell the truth and leave
n margin for eulogy.
If the deficiencies we have pointed out
had been supplied, we think the work be-
fore us would have been improved, but
as it is, we have two volumes of exceed
ingly interesting reading. As a picture
of Roman morals and manners, it is per-
feet. We have the entree of Roman
gcntleman's house; we can laugh at his
jokes, admire his compliments, listen to his
reflections and take liberties with his cor
respondence. We can recline at supper,
mngle in the cabals of the Senate, or sip
Falernian at his villa, and all withontrising
from the armchair III our study. We
a1yisa op a,.y bof1,- m Inv fh;s bDol- Il u,ll