[The Miscellaneous Writings and Speeches of Lord Macaulay Vol. 1 (of 4) by Thomas Babington Macaulay]@TWC D-Link bookThe Miscellaneous Writings and Speeches of Lord Macaulay Vol. 1 (of 4) BOOK XII 11/52
Their favourite heroes are those who have sacrificed, for the mere name of freedom, the prosperity--the security--the justice--from which freedom derives its value. There is another remarkable characteristic of these writers, in which their modern worshippers have carefully imitated them--a great fondness for good stories.
The most established facts, dates, and characters are never suffered to come into competition with a splendid saying, or a romantic exploit.
The early historians have left us natural and simple descriptions of the great events which they witnessed, and the great men with whom they associated.
When we read the account which Plutarch and Rollin have given of the same period, we scarcely know our old acquaintance again; we are utterly confounded by the melo-dramatic effect of the narration, and the sublime coxcombry of the characters. These are the principal errors into which the predecessors of Mr Mitford have fallen; and from most of these he is free.
His faults are of a completely different description.
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