erius Gracchus
himself, though my personal enemy, thought it became him to stop the
proceedings against me, not for my sake, but for the honour of my
country, whose dignity suffered with mine. Nevertheless I acknowledge my
conduct in that business was not absolutely blameless. The generous
pride of virtue was too strong in my mind. It made me forget I was
creating a dangerous precedent in declining to plead to a legal
accusation brought against me by a magistrate invested with the majesty
of the whole Roman people. It made me unjustly accuse my country of
ingratitude when she had shown herself grateful, even beyond the true
bounds of policy and justice, by not inflicting upon me any penalty for
so irregular a proceeding. But, at the same time, what a proof did I
give of moderation and respect for her liberty, when my utmost resentment
could impel me to nothing more violent than a voluntary retreat and quiet
banishment of myself from the city of Rome! Scipio Africanus offended,
and living a private man in a country-house at Liternum, was an example
of more use to secure the equality of the Roman commonwealth than all the
power of its tribunes.

_Caesar_.--I had rather have been thrown down the Tarpeian Rock than have
retired, as you did, to the obscurity of a village, after acting the
first part on the greatest theatre of the world.

_Scipio_.--A usurper exalted on the highest throne of the universe is not
so glorious as I was in that obscure retirement. I hear, indeed, that
you, Caesar, have been deified by the flattery of some of your
successors. But the impartial judgment of history has consecrated my
name, and ranks me in the first class of heroes and patriots; whereas,
the highest praise her records, even under the dominion usurped by your
family, have given to you, is, that your courage and talents were equal
to the object your ambition aspired to, the empire of the world; and that
you exercised a sovereignty unjustly acquired with a magnanimous
clemency. But it would have been better for your country, and better for
mankind, if you had never existed.

DIALOGUE XXX.

PLATO--DIOGENES.

_Diogenes_.--Plato, stand off. A true philosopher as I was, is no
company for a courtier of the tyrant of Syracuse. I would avoid you as
one infected with the most noisome of plagues--the plague of slavery.

_Plato_.--He who can mistake a brutal pride and savage indecency of
manners for freedom may naturally th