philosophy; and who, in a state of human imperfection, had aspired to
imitate the moral attributes of the Deity. The value of this agreeable
composition (the Caesars of Julian) is enhanced by the rank of the
author. A prince, who delineates, with freedom, the vices and virtues of
his predecessors, subscribes, in every line, the censure or approbation
of his own conduct.

[Footnote 1: See this fable or satire, p. 306-336 of the Leipsig edition
of Julian's works. The French version of the learned Ezekiel Spanheim
(Paris, 1683) is coarse, languid, and correct; and his notes, proofs,
illustrations, &c., are piled on each other till they form a mass of
557 close-printed quarto pages. The Abbe' de la Bleterie (Vie de Jovien,
tom. i. p. 241-393) has more happily expressed the spirit, as well as
the sense, of the original, which he illustrates with some concise and
curious notes.]

[Footnote 2: Spanheim (in his preface) has most learnedly discussed the
etymology, origin, resemblance, and disagreement of the Greek satyrs,
a dramatic piece, which was acted after the tragedy; and the Latin
satires, (from Satura,) a miscellaneous composition, either in prose or
verse. But the Caesars of Julian are of such an original cast, that the
critic is perplexed to which class he should ascribe them. * Note: See
also Casaubon de Satira, with Rambach's observations.--M.]

[Footnote 3: This mixed character of Silenus is finely painted in the
sixth eclogue of Virgil.]

[Footnote 4: Every impartial reader must perceive and condemn the
partiality of Julian against his uncle Constantine, and the Christian
religion. On this occasion, the interpreters are compelled, by a most
sacred interest, to renounce their allegiance, and to desert the cause
of their author.]

[Footnote 5: Julian was secretly inclined to prefer a Greek to a
Roman. But when he seriously compared a hero with a philosopher, he was
sensible that mankind had much greater obligations to Socrates than to
Alexander, (Orat. ad Themistium, p. 264.)]

In the cool moments of reflection, Julian preferred the useful and
benevolent virtues of Antoninus; but his ambitious spirit was inflamed
by the glory of Alexander; and he solicited, with equal ardor, the
esteem of the wise, and the applause of the multitude. In the season of
life when the powers of the mind and body enjoy the most active vigor,
the emperor who was instructed by the experience, and animated by the
success, of the German