PREFACE.

very foundation of our civilization. Without having as its foundation the love of fatherland and the passion for its independence, no State can subsist and ensure the life, security, and property of its citizens. Now, when do we see for the first time in history the breath of patriotism stir the almost unanimous mass of the inhabitants of the soil that is today France? It was in the year 52 BCEBefore the Common Era; the author uses "avant notre ère."; when at the call of VercingétorixThe leader of the Arverni who united the Gallic tribes against Julius Caesar., the largest part of a risen Gaul undertook to drive from the territory—until then barbarian and free—the civilized legions of Rome, victorious for six years (1).

Assuredly, Vercingétorix who, a citizen of a

(1) The sentiment of patriotism already appears, though powerless, at the time of Caesar's first campaign in 58 BCE. LiscosA high-ranking magistrate or "vergobret" of the Aedui tribe., the supreme magistrate of the AeduiA powerful Gallic tribe that was initially allied with Rome., told Caesar that there were, among the Aedui, private individuals more influential than the magistrates; that these conspirators said to the people: "If the Aedui cannot obtain, in preference to the ArverniThe rivals of the Aedui, who later led the resistance against Caesar., the leadership of Gaul, it is better to suffer the domination of the Arverni, Gauls like ourselves, than the domination of the Romans: original: "praestare, si jam principatum Galliae obtinere non possint, Gallorum quam Romanorum imperia perferre" it is better, if they can no longer hold the leadership of Gaul, to endure the rule of Gauls than that of Romans." But, in 58 BCE, among the Aedui, the Roman party of which Liscos was a member remained in power, whereas, among the Arverni in 52 BCE, this party was overthrown by the revolt of Vercingétorix, into which, after a short resistance, the Aedui were swept.