And the Dean declares that Cicero himself was not, except once or twice, and for a "moment only, a real power in the State." Men who usurped authority, such as those I have named, were the "real powers," and it was in opposition to such usurpation that Cicero was always urgent.

Mr.
Forsyth, who, as I have said, strives to be impartial, tells us that "the chief fault of Cicero's moral character was a want of sincerity." Absence of sincerity there was not.

Deficiency of sincerity there was.
Who among men has been free from such blame since history and the lives of men were first written?
It will be my object to show that though less than godlike in that gift, by comparison with other men around him he was sincere, as he was also self-denying; which, if the two virtues be well examined, will indicate the same phase of character.
But of all modern writers Mr.Froude has been the hardest to Cicero.

His sketch of the life of Caesar is one prolonged censure on that of Cicero.
Our historian, with all that glory of language for which he is so remarkable, has covered the poor orator with obloquy.

There is no period in Cicero's life so touching, I think, as that during which he was hesitating whether, in the service of the Republic, it did or did not behoove him to join Pompey before the battle of Pharsalia.