CHAP. 25. (25.)—VIGOUR OF MIND
The most remarkable instance, I think, of vigour of mind in
any man ever born, was that of Cæsar, the Dictator. I am not
at present alluding to his valour and courage, nor yet his exalted genius, which was capable of embracing everything under
the face of heaven, but I am speaking of that innate vigour
of mind, which was so peculiar to him, and that promptness
which seemed to act like a flash of lightning. We find it stated
that he was able to write or read, and, at the same time, to
dictate and listen. He could dictate to his secretaries four
letters at once, and those on the most important business; and,
indeed, if he was busy about nothing else, as many as seven.
He fought as many as fifty pitched battles, being the only commander who exceeded M. Marcellus, [Note] in this respect, he having
fought only thirty-nine. [Note] In addition, too, to the victories
gained by him in the civil wars, one million one hundred and
ninety-two thousand men were slain by him in his battles.
For my own part, however, I am not going to set it down as a
subject for high renown, what was really an outrage committed
upon mankind, even though he may have been acting under
the strong influence of necessity; and, indeed, he himself
confesses as much, in his omission to state the number of persons
who perished by the sword in the civil wars.