Who is it?
He was one of those men whom it is an honour to meet, in whom Nature seems to have achieved a masterpiece, not so rare as might be supposed, but who rise to eminence but rarely, since neither men nor circumstances conspire to make their value felt. Their strength of character, firm and lofty convictions, fine generosity and nobility of spirit shine out all the more resplendent because those connected with their history, beginning with their illustrious foe, display a mediocre, shriveled spirit, with a selfish outlook.
No, he’s not a candidate this year, and no, he is not alive. Mrs. Buce guessed “Aaron Burr?” which was either daringly imaginative or a crude attempt at mockery. No, the correct answer is (drum roll) Vercingetorix, chieftain of the Arveni who led the Gauls in their unsuccessful war against Julius Caesar. It’s quoted from A History of Gaul (p. 102, Barnes & Noble ed. 1993), authored by on Fr. Funck-Brentano, unknown to me but if you ask my friend Gail to recommend a history of Gaul, this is what you will get (I assume he is this guy). Vercingetorix is also, I assume, the progenitor of all those “ix” names in that greatest of all story comics, Asterix the
This is as good a time as any to recall the only song I know about Caesar’s Gallic Wars. It has been rattling around in my head for a little more than 50 years now. I have it on good authority (but don’t ask me to explain) that this was written for the class musical show at
Caesar fought in
Heduans et alia
Thought that he was Edward R. Murrow.
Could be Caesar’s rhetoric
Stumped poor Vercingetorix,
That’s what gave my forehead this furrow.
He spent his life
In civil strife
And got the knife
Outside the Se-nate.
While Caesar held his battle line,
Bless our mountain greenery,
That’s it. Resume normal idling.
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