the obstacles the better was he pleased, and the greater was the scope for his genius,—­which at first was not appreciated, for the best part of his life had been passed in Rome as a lawyer and orator and statesman.  But he had a fine constitution, robust health, temperate habits, and unbounded energies.  He was free to do as he liked with several legions, and had time to perfect his operations.  And his legions were trained to every kind of labor and hardship.  They could build bridges, cut down forests, and drain swamps, as well as march with a weight of eighty pounds to the man.  They could make their own shoes, mend their own clothes, repair their own arms, and construct their own tents.  They were as familiar with the axe and spade as they were with the lance and sword.  They were inured to every kind of danger and difficulty, and not one of them was personally braver than the general who led them, or more skilful in riding a horse, or fording a river, or climbing a mountain.  No one of them could be more abstemious.  Luxury is not one of the peculiarities of successful generals in barbaric countries.

To give a minute sketch of the various encounters with the different tribes and nations that inhabited the vast country he was sent to conquer and govern, would be impossible in a lecture like this.  One must read Caesar’s own account of his conflicts with Helvetii, Aedui, Remi, Nervii, Belgae, Veneti, Arverni, Aquitani, Ubii, Eubueones, Treveri, and other nations between the Alps, the Pyrenees, the Rhine, and the sea.  Their numbers were immense, and they were well armed, and had cavalry, military stores, efficient leaders, and indomitable courage.  When beaten in one place they sprang up in another, like the Saxons with whom Charlemagne contended.  They made treaties only to break them.  They fought with the desperation of heroes who had their wives and children, firesides and altars, to guard; yet against them Caesar was uniformly successful.  He was at times in great peril, yet he never lost but one battle, and this through the fault of his generals.  Yet he had able generals, whom he selected himself,—­Labienus, who afterwards deserted him, Antony, Publius Crassus, Cotta, Sabinus,—­all belonging to the aristocracy.  They made mistakes, but Caesar never.  They would often have been cut off but for Caesar’s timely aid.

When we consider the dangers to which he was constantly exposed, the amazing difficulties he had to surmount, the hardships he had to encounter, the fears he had to allay, the murmurs he was obliged to silence, the rivers he was compelled to cross in the face of enemies, the forests it was necessary to penetrate, the swamps and mountains and fortresses which impeded his marches, we are amazed at his skill and intrepidity, to say nothing of his battles with forces ten times more numerous than his own.  His fertility of resources, his lightning rapidity of movement, his sagacity and insight, his perfection of discipline, his careful