LESSON CL. Antony's Speech over the Body of Cesar.-TRAGEDY OF JULIUS CESAR. 1. FRIENDS, Romans, Countrymen!-Lend me your ears. I come to bury Cesar, not to praise him. The evil that men do, lives after them: The good is oft interred with their bones: So let it be with Cesar! 2. Noble Brutus Hath told you Cesar was ambitious. 3. He was my friend, faithful and just to me: But Brutus says he was ambitious; And Brutus is an honorable man. He hath brought many captives home to Rome, Did this in Cesar seem ambitious? 4. When that the poor hath cried, Cesar hath wept! Ambition should be made of sterner stuff. Yet Brutus says he was ambitious; You all did see, that, on the Lupercal,t I thrice presented him a kingly crown; Which he did thrice refuse: Was this ambition? And sure he is an honorable man. 5. I speak not to disprove what Brutus spoke; But here I am to speak what I do know. * Marcus Antony, a brave, ambitious, artful, and designing Roman. He was warmly attached to Cesar, and after his assassination he resolved to seize the opportunity for raising himself to power. He artfully procured a public funeral for Cesar, and took this occasion to harangue the soldiers and populace in his favor,-and he inflamed them so much against the conspirators, that Brutus and Cassius were obliged to leave the city. He led an army against the conspirators, and defeated them at Philippi. He obtained a share of the Roman empire in the triumvirate which he formed with Augustus Cesar and Marcus Lepidus. But dissensions arising between these three, a civil war commenced, and Antony, defeated at the battle of Actium, fled to Egypt, and killed himself, B. C. 30 + Lupercal, a feast among the Romans. You all did love him once; not without cause; 6. But yesterday, the word of Cesar might Your hearts and minds to mutiny and rage, I will not do them wrong-I rather choose 7. But here's a parchment, with the seal of Cesar I found it in his closet: 'tis his will. Let but the commons hear this testament, Yea, beg a hair of him for memory, And dying, mention it within their wills, Unto their issue. 8. If you have tears, prepare to shed them now. You all do know this mantle: I remember The first time ever Cesar put it on; 'Twas on a summer's evening in his tent, That day he overcame the Nervii* Look! in this place ran Cassius' dagger through- 9. This, this was the unkindest cut of all. * Pronounced Nér-ve-i, a warlike people of Gaul, whom Cesar attacked and totally defeated. E'en at the base of Pompey's statue, (Which all the while ran blood,) great Cesar fell. 11. Good friends' Sweet friends! Let me not stir you up To such a sudden flood of mutiny! They that have done this deed are honorable! What private griefs they have, alas, I know not, That made them do it! They are wise and honorable, 12. I come not, friends, to steal away your hearts! I am no orator, as Brutus is; But, as you know me all, a plain, blunt man, That love my friend-and that they knew full well, 13. I only speak right on, I tell you that which you yourselves do know-- Show you sweet Cesar's wounds, poor, poor dumb mouths, And Brutus Antony, there were an Antony LESSON CLI. / L Othello's Apology for his Marriage.-TRAGEDY OF OTHELLO 1. Most potent, grave and reverend seigniors; 2. And little of this great world can I speak, Of my whole course of love; what drugs, what charms, (For such proceedings I am charg'd withal) won his daughter with. 3. Her father lov'd me; oft invited me; Still question'd me the story of my life From year to year: the battles, sieges, fortunes, I ran it through, e'en from my boyish days Of hair breadths 'scapes in the imminent deadly breach: And sold to slavery; of my redemption thence, And with it all my travel's history. 4. -All these to hear Would Desdemona seriously incline; But still the house affairs would draw her thence⚫ 5. I did consent; And often did beguile her of her tears, When I did speak of some distressful stroke That my youth suffer'd. My story being done, She gave me for my pains a world of sighs. She swore in faith, 'twas strange, 'twas passing strange; "Twas pitiful; 'twas wond'rous pitiful: She wish'd she had not heard it; yet she wish'd 6. LESSON CLII. S Soliloquy of Hamlet* on Death.-TRAGEDY Of Hamlet Devoutly to be wish'd.-To die—to sleep To sleep, perchance to dream-ay, there's the rub— Must give us pause. 3. There's the respect, For, who would bear the whips and scorns of time, 4. Who would fardels bear, * A Prince of Denmark. + Quietus, rest, repose + Fardel, a bundle, or little pack. |