mistake. At another time, whilst halting at a little _cabaret_,
when one of his retinue was suddenly taken ill, Caesar resigned to his
use the sole bed which the house afforded. Incidents, as trifling as
these, express the urbanity of Caesar's nature; and hence one is the
more surprised to find the alienation of the Senate charged, in no
trifling degree, upon a failure in point of courtesy. Caesar neglected
to rise from his seat, on their approaching him in a body with an
address of congratulation. It is said, and we can believe it, that he
gave deeper offence by this one defect in a matter of ceremonial
observance, than by all his substantial attacks upon their privileges.
What we find it difficult to believe, however, is not that result from
the offence, but the possibility of the offence itself, from one so
little arrogant as Caesar, and so entirely a man of the world. He was
told of the disgust which he had given, and we are bound to believe
his apology, in which he charged it upon sickness, which would not at
the moment allow him to maintain a standing attitude. Certainly the
whole tenor of his life was not courteous only, but kind; and, to his
enemies, merciful in a degree which implied so much more magnanimity
than men in general could understand, that by many it was put down to
the account of weakness.

* * * * *

We find that though sincerely a despiser of superstition, and with a
frankness which must sometimes have been hazardous in his age, Caesar
was himself superstitious. No man could have been otherwise who lived
and conversed with that generation and people. But if superstitious,
he was so after a mode of his own. In his very infirmities Caesar
manifested his greatness; his very littlenesses were noble.

"Nec licuit populis parvum te, Nile, videre."

That he placed some confidence in dreams, for instance, is certain;
because, had he slighted them unreservedly, he would not have dwelt
upon them afterwards, or have troubled himself to recall their
circumstances. Here we trace his human weakness. Yet again we are
reminded that it was the weakness of Caesar; for the dreams were noble
in their imagery, and Caesarean (so to speak) in their tone of moral
feeling. Thus, for example, the night before he was assassinated, he
dreamt at intervals that he was soaring above the clouds on wings, and
that he placed his hand within the right hand of Jove. It would seem
that perhaps