Prev | Current Page 67 | Next

De Quincey, Thomas, 1785-1859

"The Caesars"

His eyes were black and piercing. These
circumstances continued to be long remembered, and no doubt were
constantly recalled to the eyes of all persons in the imperial palaces, by
pictures, busts, and statues; for we find the same description of his
personal appearance three centuries afterwards, in a work of the Emperor
Julian's. He was a most accomplished horseman, and a master
(_peritissimus_) in the use of arms. But, notwithstanding his skill
in horsemanship, it seems that, when he accompanied his army on marches,
he walked oftener than he rode; no doubt, with a view to the benefit of
his example, and to express that sympathy with his soldiers which gained
him their hearts so entirely. On other occasions, when travelling apart
from his army, he seems more frequently to have rode in a carriage than on
horseback. His purpose, in making this preference, must have been with a
view to the transport of luggage. The carriage which he generally used was
a _rheda_, a sort of gig, or rather curricle, for it was a four-
wheeled carriage, and adapted (as we find from the imperial regulations
for the public carriages, &c.


Pages:
55 56 57 58 59 60 61 62 63 64 65 66 67 68 69 70 71 72 73 74 75 76 77 78 79
Mam Marzenie Pajacyk Fundacja Hobbit Podaruj Zycie Kidprotect