narrative is rich, abundant, and varied; it gives the proper colour to the events it recalls, to the passions it represents, and to the character it depictures. Does he relate the combat of the Horatii and the Curiatii, we fancy ourselves on the field of battle; if Rome be pourtrayed on the point of surrendering to the Gauls, he makes us partake of the gratitude and the admiration of the Romans for Camillus, and to sympathize in the fate of Manlius; does he paint the triumphs of Marcellus over the Syracusans, he ennobles that fortunate hero, by making him weep over the deserters of the capital of Sicily. With what felicity of expression does he describe Hannibal crossing the Alps! what majesty does he give to the conference of the African hero with the magnanimous Scipio! He has all the forms of eloquence, he possesses all the riches of elocution, he unites all the qualities of a great historian. Unfortunately, there exists only a small portion of that vast edifice which he raised to the glory of Rome: pieces of uncommon interest are wanting; the conspiracies of the Gracchi, which he doubtless so nobly detailed, have not reached our hands: we have neither the Servilian war, in which despair rendered the slaves so great, nor that between Cæsar aud Pompey, which decided the destiny of the world. It is certain that Livy was not favourable to the Conqueror, since Augustus called him a Pompeian, which, of itself, is an incontestible proof that he was exempt from the censure thrown by Machiavelli on the panegyrists of the Dictator. Livy is not so great a philosopher, as a good writer; an enthusiast in the cause of Rome, all her conquests. appear lawful; in his eyes, the tyrants of the world are almost its benefactors. We will not reproach him for the prodigies he recounts: he unfolds popular tradititions, the probability of which he did not give himself time to discuss. His political opinions may be easily embraced: he shews himself the declared partizan of the senate, and the adversary of the Plebeans. In this respect he differs from Sallust, who glosses over the vices and the excesses of the nobles, and who is never more eloquent than when he pourtrays the resentment of the tribunes against the pride of illustrious families. History furnishes us but with few details of the life of this distinguished historian: all that we can confidently assert is, that he was born at Padua, about fifty years before the christian æra. He was neither a warrior nor a public character. He passed the greater part of his life at Naples and Rome, but more particularly at the court of Augustus, who liberally patronized the learned, and encouraged the progress of literature. His fame was so universally spread, even in his life-time, that an inhabitant of Gades traversed Spain, Gaul, and Italy, merely to see the man whose writings had given him so much pleasure and satisfaction in the perusal. Only thirty-five books of his history, which contained one hundred and forty, have descended to us. J. Freinshemius, a learned German, of the 17th century, endeavoured, with great attention and industry, to supply this immense chasm by suppléments, which are incorporated with the existing books. The third decade seems to be superior to the others, yet the author has not scrupled to copy from his cotemporaries and predecessors, particularly Polybius, who has, however, shewn himself more informed in military affairs, and superior to his imitator. Livy died at Padua, in the 67th year of his age, A. D. 17. In point of grandeur of subject, and majesty of style, Livy may be compared to Herodotus; but he surpasses the Greek historian in eloquence, colouring, and force. The best editions of Livy, are those of Maittaire, 6 vols. 12mo. London, 1722; of Drakenborch, 7 vols. 4to. Amst. 1738; and of Ruddiman, 4 vols. 12mo. Edin. 1751. |