by his valour and his own arms;" wherein he cites examples from the greatest personages of antiquity, whom he points out as models for future conquerors. From the slightest survey of the contents of this chapter, the reader will perceive that Buonaparte has its lessons continually in his eye. The book of antiquity is ever before him, and he professes to emulate the glory of the greatest heroes of the ancient world; and as he owes his elevation more to splendid talents than to fortune, his throne is seated on a stable foundation. As to fortune, indeed, Buonaparte professes to chain her to his car his fortune was the opportunity of displaying his talents, which the French Revolution afforded; he owes the rest to his own genius, and his mental superiority over all the sovereigns of continental Europe. "Without opportunity, his talents and his courage would have been useless,
ped of support, and the system discovered, he is inevitably lost past recovery."—Reflections on Livy, lib. 1. ch. 41.
