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determined to omit these papers； not because he is disposed to retract a
single doctrine which they contain； but because he is unwilling to offer
what might be regarded as an affront to the memory of one from whose
opinions he still widely dissents； but to whose talents and virtues he
admits that he formerly did not do justice。 Serious as are the faults of the
Essay on Government； a critic； while noticing those faults； should have
abstained from using contemptuous language respecting the historian of
British India。 It ought to be known that Mr Mill had the generosity； not
only to forgive； but to forget the unbecoming acrimony with which he had
been assailed； and was； when his valuable life closed； on terms of cordial
friendship with his assailant。〃
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THE MISCELLANEOUS WRITINGS AND SPEECHES OF LORD MACAULAY
Under these circumstances； considerable doubt has been felt as to the
propriety of republishing the three Essays in the present collection。 But
it has been determined； not without much hesitation； that they should
appear。 It is felt that no disrespect is shown to the memory of Mr Mill；
when the publication is accompanied by so full an apology for the tone
adopted towards him； and Mr Mill himself would have been the last to
wish for the suppression of opinions on the ground that they were in
express antagonism to his own。 The grave has now closed upon the
assailant as well as the assailed。 On the other hand； it cannot but be
desirable that opinions which the author retained to the last； on important
questions in politics and morals； should be before the public。
Some of the poems now collected have already appeared in print；
others are supplied by the recollection of friends。 The first two are
published on account of their having been composed in the author's
childhood。 In the poems； as well as in the prose works； will be
occasionally found thoughts and expressions which have afterwards been
adopted in later productions。
No alteration whatever has been made from the form in which the
author left the several articles； with the exception of some changes in
punctuation； and the correction of one or two obvious misprints。
T。F。E。 London； June 1860。
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THE MISCELLANEOUS WRITINGS AND SPEECHES OF LORD MACAULAY
FRAGMENTS OF A ROMAN
TALE。
（June 1823）
It was an hour after noon。 Ligarius was returning from the Campus
Martius。 He strolled through one of the streets which led to the Forum；
settling his gown； and calculating the odds on the gladiators who were to
fence at the approaching Saturnalia。 While thus occupied； he overtook
Flaminius； who； with a heavy step and a melancholy face； was sauntering
in the same direction。 The light…hearted young man plucked him by the
sleeve。
〃Good…day； Flaminius。 Are you to be of Catiline's party this
evening？〃
〃Not I。〃
〃Why so？ Your little Tarentine girl will break her heart。〃
〃No matter。 Catiline has the best cooks and the finest wine in Rome。
There are charming women at his parties。 But the twelve… line board and
the dice…box pay for all。 The Gods confound me if I did not lose two
millions of sesterces last night。 My villa at Tibur； and all the statues that
my father the praetor brought from Ephesus； must go to the auctioneer。
That is a high price； you will acknowledge； even for Phoenicopters； Chian；
and Callinice。〃
〃High indeed； by Pollux。〃
〃And that is not the worst。 I saw several of the leading senators this
morning。 Strange things are whispered in the higher political circles。〃
〃The Gods confound the political circles。 I have hated the name of
politician ever since Sylla's proscription； when I was within a moment of
having my throat cut by a politician； who took me for another politician。
While there is a cask of Falernian in Campania； or a girl in the Suburra； I
shall be too well employed to think on the subject。〃
〃You will do well；〃 said Flaminius gravely； 〃to bestow some little
consideration upon it at present。 Otherwise； I fear； you will soon renew
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THE MISCELLANEOUS WRITINGS AND SPEECHES OF LORD MACAULAY
your acquaintance with politicians； in a manner quite as unpleasant as that
to which you allude。〃
〃Averting Gods！ what do you mean？〃
〃I will tell you。 There are rumours of conspiracy。 The order of
things established by Lucius Sylla has excited the disgust of the people；
and of a large party of the nobles。 Some violent convulsion is expected。〃
〃What is that to me？ I suppose that they will hardly proscribe the
vintners and gladiators； or pass a law compelling every citizen to take a
wife。〃
〃You do not understand。 Catiline is supposed to be the author of the
revolutionary schemes。 You must have heard bold opinions at his table
repeatedly。〃
〃I never listen to any opinions upon such subjects； bold or timid。〃
〃Look to it。 Your name has been mentioned。〃
〃Mine！ good Gods！ I call Heaven to witness that I never so much as
mentioned Senate； Consul； or Comitia； in Catiline's house。〃
〃Nobody suspects you of any participation in the inmost counsels of
the party。 But our great men surmise that you are among those whom he
has bribed so high with beauty； or entangled so deeply in distress； that they
are no longer their own masters。 I shall never set foot within his
threshold again。 I have been solemnly warned by men who understand
public affairs； and I advise you to be cautious。〃
The friends had now turned into the Forum； which was thronged with
the gay and elegant youth of Rome。 〃I can tell you more；〃 continued
Flaminius； 〃somebody was remarking to the Consul yesterday how loosely
a certain acquaintance of ours tied his girdle。 'Let him look to himself；'
said Cicero； 'or the state may find a tighter girdle for his neck。'〃
〃Good