BRUTUS ON THE DEATH OF CÆSAR. Romans, countrymen, and lovers! Hear me for my cause; and be silent, that you may hear. Believe me for mine honor; and have respect to mine honor, that you may believe. Censure me in your wisdom; and awake your senses, that you may the better judge. If there be any in this assembly,-any dear friend of Cæsar's,to him I say, that Brutus' love to Cæsar was not less than his. If, then, that friend demand why Brutus rose against Cæsar, this is my answer: Not that I loved Cæsar less, but that I loved Rome more. Had you rather Cæsar were living, and die all slaves, than that Cæsar were dead, to live all freemen? As Cæsar loved me, I weep for him; as he was fortunate, I rejoice at it; as he was valiant, I honor him; but as he was ambitious, I slew him. There are tears for his love, joy for his fortune, honor for his valor, and death for his ambition. Who is here so base, that would be a bondman? If any, speak; for him have I offended. Who is here so rude, that would not be a Roman? If any, speak; for him have I offended. Who is here so vile, that will not love his country? If any, speak; for him have I offended. I pause for a reply.. None? Then none have I offended. I have done no more to Cæsar than you shall do to Brutus. The question of his death is enrolled in the Capitol; his glory not extenuated, wherein he was worthy; nor his offences enforced, for which he suffered death. Here comes his body, mourned by Mark Antony, who, though he had no hand in his death, shall receive the benefit of his dying,-a place in the commonwealth; as which of you shall not? With this I depart:-That, as I slew my best lover for the good of Rome, I have the same dagger for myself, when it shall please my country to need my death. Shakspeare. ANTONY'S ADDRESS TO THE ROMANS. Friends, Romans, countrymen! lend me your ears; I come to bury Cæsar, 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 Cæsar. The noble Brutus Hath told you, Cæsar was ambitious; If it were so, it was a grievous fault, And grievously hath Cæsar answered it. Here, under leave of Brutus, and the rest,For Brutus is an honorable man, So are they all, all honorable men,Come I to speak in Cæsar's funeral. 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, When that the poor have cried, Cæsar hath wept; Yet Brutus says he was ambitious, You all did see, that, on the Lupercal, Was this ambition? Yet Brutus says he was ambitious, I speak not to disprove what Brutus spoke, But here I am to speak what I do know. You all did love him once, not without cause: What cause withholds you then to mourn for him? O judgment, thou art fled to brutish beasts, And men have lost their reason!-Bear with me; But yesterday the word of Cæsar might Have stood against the world; now lies he there, O Masters! if I were disposed to stir Than I will wrong such honorable men. But here's a parchment, with the seal of Cæsar; Let but the commons hear this testament,— And, dying, mention it within their wills, Unto their issue. If you have tears, prepare to shed them now. 'Twas on a summer's evening, in his tent; Look! In this place ran Cassius' dagger through; Through this, the well-beloved Brutus stabbed, Ingratitude, more strong than traitors' arms, Quite vanquished him. Then burst his mighty heart; And, in his mantle muffling up his face, Even at the base of Pompey's statue, Which all the while ran blood, great Cæsar fell. 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! . That made them do it. They are wise and honorable, Bat as you all know me, a plain, blunt man, Shakspeare. GRIZZLY GRUMBLER'S ADVICE. MY DEAR FELLOW-GRUMBLERS:-Poets, philosophers, und fools, in all ages, have been writing and preaching on the art of being happy, without a mighty sight of seals to their ministry, I guess. But, as many can't be satisfied unless miserable in body and mind, I am going to show all such persons the several means to be used for the attainment of such a desirable end. In the first place, my beloved whiners, in order to attain any end, you must get up a stiff resolution and determination to conquer. Yes, my hearers, you must set down your foot, grit your teeth, let your resolution be as stiff as boiler-plate, let your firmness be as unwavering as the rocks of Gibraltar. Be determined to be miserable, and you shall get your desires. Never mind what people tell you about the bounties of Providence and the beauties of Nature, the balmy breezes of spring, the twittering and warbling of birds, you must sheer off from them like a wealthy upstart from a poor relation. Put on a sour, savage, snapping-turtle physiognomy; look daggers, and act out your feelings; this is the first great commandment with misery: Think you are the most forsaken mortal that misery ever held a mortgage Hate mankind; call 'em all liars, cheats, swindlers, villains. Look at everything on the wrong side. If it on. has no dark side, make one, just so as to enjoy yourself looking at it. Take it for granted that everybody about is especially interested to torment you. Fight everybody and everything. You can't hit amiss. The world is all wrong. Everybody is a villain but yourself, and it is your duty to teach mankind manners. Go at 'em. can't fail to be miserable. You THE YOUNG GRAY HEAD. I'm thinking that to-night, if not before, And such a sudden thaw! If rain comes on, As threats, the water will be out anon. That path by the ford is a nasty bit of way,— Best let the young ones bide from school to-day. The children join in this request; but the mother resolves that they shall set out,-the two girls, Lizzy and Jenny, the one five, the other seven. As the dame's will was law, so,-One last fond kiss, "God bless my little maids," the father said, And cheerily went his way to win their bread. Prepared for their journey, they depart, with the mother's admonition to the elder: 66 Now, mind and bring Jenny safe home," the mother said. To pull a bough or berry by the way; "Don't stay And when you come to cross the ford, hold fast That plank is so crazy, and so slippery, If not overflowed, the stepping-stones will be; And amply little Jenny's lack supplied With her own warmest shawl. "Be sure," said she, Like this, when you come home, just leaving free |