New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1907-07-13
Literary .Nesvs and Criticism,

washington Pompey is portrayed as "a per-
.cct specimen Of the man of talent who though
l1iiseu devoid Of any real originality or creative
Po"er' Is quick to pick up and to profit by new
iueas brought within his reach by men Of
genus But, aside from the elaborate pen
pictures OF Caesar, none that Ferrero gives is
more carefully done and sensitive than that Of
Cicero The description of the great orator
mere rendered is not unlike that drawn some
years ago by M BOissier in his 'Clceron ct ses
Anlis' Cicero is made to appear as a man suf-
iering from decisions brought on by phenomenal
success in swayng the masses by his oratory.
He fancied himself 10 be by destiny great ad-
ministrator.
Yet. all the time for each OF the separate indi-
viduals out of whom the huge crowds which ne
held spellbound with his eloqUence were composed,
Cicero was little mora than a weak and con-
tempuble figure in the rough arena Of politics; not
all his fine moral qualities could shield him
against the arts of intrigue and intimidation. He
was neither cruel nor rapacious insincere; his
morals pure, and his affections strong and
deeply rooted. But he OF a mOrbidy nervous
and susceptible disposition tormented by the PIN
pricks OF an almost feminine vanity and by q
sibity that was alive TO every petty annoyance.
After moments OF exaltation in which he felt him
self to be a leader OF men and made display of
his self-confdence in mordant criticism and the
boldest and most complacent professions Of am
bition he would periodically collapse into fits Of
the most abject detection. suspecting possible
enemy in every about him, and laViShing the
most pitifuI and humiliating thanks on the first
mediocrity who happened make banal OBJ
servation in his favor Above all, he
able free himself a certain attitude OF
snobbishness toward the upper classes. He re-
manned a small bourgeois from a country town,
whose vanity fell easy prey 10 the compliments
OF the plutocracy and the nobility.
The central figure in Ferreros two volumes is
Julius Caesar; but the picture given of him is
too extended, and too closely interviewer with
the narrative of his deeds to permit salts
factory reproduction on a small scale. Suf-
fee it TO say that the historian directly con-
tradicts Mommsens verdict that Cesar was
a great orator, a great writer. and a great
general; but he became all these because
he was an incompatible statesman" And he
denies the opinion of other historians that
Caesar was an Incompatible opportunist Fer
zero points out that the three great aims Of the
emperor were the reconstruction of the Consti-
tut!onal Democratic party In 80, the adoption of
Lucullus's imperialism in SO, and the regenera-
ton of the Roman world by the conquest Of
Parttia after the death Of Pompey; and Caesar
failed in all three because the times were against
him and he knew not how 70 adjust himself 20
them.
Cesar was not a great statesman, but he was
great destroyer. In him We're personiied ali the
revolutionary forces. the magnificent but devastat-
ing forces OF mercantile age III conflict with the
traditions of an old-world society-!ts rehsloG5
skepcism. its Indifference 10 morality. its insensi-
bility family affection. its opportunst and I'M
disciplined politics its contempt for precedent ana
tradition. Its Eastern luxury, its graspng mltaT-
ism. It's passion for the baser forms of commerce
and speculation. The true significance OF Caesars
career that his mission primarily destructive
to complete the disorganigation and dissolution
of the old world. But when he imagined that he
could apply his unr!valled powers Of mind and Will
all the intellectual and social influences Of the
time, direct them to his own purposes. he dis
pleased all parties and was removed from the
scene.
To the student OF Roman history these words
will give the clew TO Ferrero's Interpretation Of
all the crucial events in the emperor's life, IN
Guiding the assassination. which was. in the his
torian's opinion. not a mere private plot OF a
small clique but TIE outcome Of a genuine ALI
ance between the surviving Conservatives and
the right wing OF Caesars party. This view Of
Caesar may be taken as typical of the writer's
feeling toward all the great men Of the empire
building epoch; Ferrero displays nowhere the
faintest trace of hero worship, but inclines uni
forrnly toward censorious judgments. When we
consider the moral spirit OF the times about
which he is writing. this attitude appears the
safer one, in spite OF its occasional dangers.
Mr. Leage's digest and commentary Of Roman
law is intended primarily for oxford students,
and aims give in simple form the content of
the Institutes of Gaius and Justinian The
volume is a lucid exposition Of It's topic follow
ing the plan Of the Institutes with considerable
fidelity and interfering explanatory comments
freely enough TO make the book valuable 70 his
torical students who ignorant Of the details and
Technology of Roman law. find themselves
obliged TO study passages in 1t. After an intro
duction on the sources of law and the nature OF
Justinian's codifcation, the three classical sub
jects are taken up; laws relating 10 persons,
laws relating 70 things and laws relating to ac-
tons Mr. Leage's outline suffers only slightly
from the common fault Of injecting into the text
too many unexplained Latin phrases; the COM
mentator almost invariably explains or trans
lates with fulness and clarity.