When Julius Caesar was celebrating his triumph at Rome after his Gaulish victories, we are informed that the soldiery marched singing out:—
"Gallias Cæsar subegit
Mithridates Cæsarem.
Ecce Cæsar mine triumphal,
Qui subegit Gallias,
Nicomedes non triumphat,
Qui subegit Cæsarem."
This must have been sung to a formal melody, to which the soldiers tramped in time.
So also Cæsar, in B.C. 49, like a liberal-minded man, desired to admit the principal men of Cisalpine Gaul into the Senate. This roused Roman prejudice and mockery. Prejudice, because the Gauls were esteemed barbarians; mockery, because of their peculiar costume—their baggy trousers. So the Roman rabble composed and sang verses, "ilia vulgo canebantur." These may be rendered in the same metre:—
"Cæsar led the Gauls in triumph,
Then to Senate-house admits.
First must they pull off their trousers,
Ere the laticlavus fits."
Now, it may be noted that in both instances the rhythm is not at all that of the scientifically constructed metric lines of Horace, Tibullus, and Catullus, but is neither more nor less than our familiar 8.7. time. The first piece of six lines in 8.7. is precisely that of "Lo! He comes in clouds descending." The second of four lines is that of the familiar Latin hymn, Tantum ergo,
