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142
Hereditary Genius
opinions, much less to act, contrary to the prevailing sentiments of the
day.
Alexander the Great began his career of conquest at the age of
twenty, having previously spent four years at home in the exercise of
more or less sovereign power, with a real statesmanlike capacity. His
life's work was over aet. 32. Bonaparte, the Emperor Napoleon I.,
was general of the Italian army aet. 26, and thenceforward carried
everything before him, whether in the field or in the State, in rapid
succession. He was made emperor aet. 35, and had lost Waterloo
aet. 46. Caesar, though he was prevented by political hindrances
from obtaining high office and from commanding in the field till aet.
42, was a man of the greatest political promise as a youth; nay, even
as a boy. Charlemagne began his wars aet. 30. Charles XII. of
Sweden began his, aet. 18; and the ability showed by him at that early
period of life was of the highest order. Prince Eugene commanded
the imperial army in Austria aet. 25. Gustavus Adolphus was as
precocious in war and statesmanship as his descendant Charles XII.
Hannibal and his family were remarkable for their youthful
superiority. Many of them had obtained the highest commands, and
had become the terror of the Romans, before they were what we call
“of age.” The Nassau family are equally noteworthy. When William
the Silent was a mere boy, he was the trusted confidant, even
adviser, of the Emperor Charles V. His son, the great general
Maurice of Nassau, was only eighteen when in chief command of the
Low Countries, then risen in arms against the Spaniards. His
grandson, Turenne, the gifted French general, and his great-grandson,
our William III., were both of them illustrious in early life.
Marlborough was from 46 to 50 years of age during the period of his
greatest success, but he was treated much earlier as a man of high
mark. Scipio Africanus Major was only 24 when in chief command
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