LESSON CXLVIII.

Cassius instigating Brutus to join the Conspiracy against TRAGEDY OF JULIUS CESAR.

Cesar.

1. HONOR is the subject of my storyI cannot tell what you and other men Think of this life; but for my single self, I had as lief not be, as live to be

In awe of such a thing as myself.

I was born free as Cesar;† so were you:
We both have fed as well; and we can both
Endure the winter's cold as well as he.

2. For once upon a raw and gusty day,
The troubled Tibert chafing with his shores,
Cesar says to me, "Dar'st thou, Cassius, now
Leap in with me into this angry flood,

And swim to yonder point?"-Upon the word,
Accoutred as I was, I plunged in,

And bade him follow; so indeed he did.
The torrent roar'd, and we did buffet it;
With lusty sinews throwing it aside,

And stemming it with hearts of controversy.

3. But ere we could arrive the point propos'd, Cesar cry'd, "Help me, Cassius, or I sínk.'

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*Caius Cassius, a celebrated Roman, who was attached to the interests of Pompey, and when Cesar obtained the victory in the plains of Pharsalia, Cassius owed his life to the mercy of the conqueror. He was an artful and ambitious man, and was at the head of the conspiracy against Cesar. At the battle of Philippi, fearful of falling into the hands of his enemies, he caused one of his slaves to slay him with the very sword with which he had given wounds to Cesar, B. C. 42.

+ Caius Julius Cesar, an illustrious Roman general and historian, was born B. C. 98. He was famous for his learning, his ambition, his valor, and his tragical death. By his valor and eloquence he acquired the highest reputation in the field and in the senate; and enjoyed every magisterial and military honor that the republic could bestow. In 59 B. C. the government of the Roman Commonwealth was divided between Cesar, Crassus, and Pompey. Jealousies soon arose, which terminated in a civil war. Cesar subdued Pompey, and became master of the Commonwealth. His ambition became boundless-he grasped at sovereign power. But he was beloved by the Roman people, and they thougl.t no honor, except that of king, too great to be conferred on him. In the midst of his ambitious projects, a conspiracy was formed against him, headed by Cassius and Brutus, and he was assassinated in the senate-house, B. C. 43, in the 56th year of his age. It is said that he conquered 300 nations, took 800 cities, and defeated 3,000,000 of people, 1,000,000 of which fell in battle.

Tiber, a river of Italy, on whose banks the city of Rome was built.

I, as Æneas, our great ancestor,

Did from the flames of Troy upon his shoulder
The old Anchises bear, so, from the waves of Tiber
Did I the tired Cesar; and this man

Is now become a god; and Cassius is

A wretched creature, and must bend his body
If Cesar carelessly but nod or him.

4. He had a fever when he was in Spain, And when the fit was on him, I did mark

How he did shake; 'tis true; this god did shake;
His coward lips did from their color fly;

And that same eye, whose bend doth awe the world,
Did lose its lustre; I did hear him groan,

Aye, and that tongue of his, that bade the Romans
Mark him, and write his speeches in their books,
"Alas!" it cry'd "Give me some drink, Titinius”-
As a sick girl.

5.

Ye gods, it doth amaze me,
A man of such a feeble temper should
So get the start of the majestic world,
And bear the palm alone.-

Brutus and Cesar!-What should be in that Cesar?
Why should that name be sounded more than yours?
Write them together; yours is as fair a name :
Sound them; it doth become the mouth as well:
Weigh them; it is as heavy: conjure with 'em;
Brutus will start a spirit as soon as Cesar.

6. Now in the name of all the gods at once,
Upon what meats doth this our Cesar feed,
That he has grown so great? Age, thou art sham'd;
Rome, thou hast lost the breed of noble bloods.
When went there by an age, since the great flood,
But it was fam'd with more than with one man?
When could they say, till now, that talk'd of Rome,
That her wide walls encompass'd but one man?
Oh! you and I have heard our fathers say,
There was a Brutus once, that would have brook'd
Th' infernal devil, to keep his state in Rome,
As easily as a king.

Eneas, a Trojan prince, son of Anchises and Venus.

LESSON CXLIX.

Brutus Speech on the Death of Cesar.-TRAGEDY OF JULIUS CESAR.

1. ROMANS, Countrymen, and Lovers, Hear me, for my cause; and be silent, that you may hear. Believe me, for mine honor; and have respect for mine honor, that you may believe. Censure me, in your wisdom; and awake your senses, that you may the better judge.

2. If there be any in this assembly, any dear friend of Cesar, to him I say, that Brutus' love to Cesar was no less than his, If then, that friend demand, why Brutus rose against Cesar, this is my answer; not that I loved Cesar less, but that I love Rome

more.

3. Had you rather Cesar were living, and die all slaves, than that Cesar were dead, to live all freemen? As Cesar loved me, I weep for him; as he was fortunate, I rejoice at it; as he was valiant, 1 honor him; but, as he was ambitious, I slew him.

4. There are tears for his love, joy for his fortune, honor for his valor, and death for his ambition. Who's here so base, that he would be a bondman? If any, speak; for him have I offended.

5. Who's here so rude, that he would not be a Roman? If any, speak; for him have I offended. Who's here so vile, that he will not love his country? If any, speak; for him have I offended. I pause for a reply.

6. None? Then none have I offended. I have done no more to Cesar, than you should do to Brutus. And as I slew my best lover for the good of Rome, I reserve the same dagger for myself, whenever it shall please my country to need my death.

* Marcus Brutus, a brave, virtuous, and honorable Roman-but a blind politician. He was the dupe of Cassius' flattery and art,—and was instigated by him, to join the conspiracy against Cesar, that his virtues and popularity might sanction the atrocious deed. Cesar was Brutus' best and most intimate friend. After the assassination of Cesar, Brutus fled with the other conspirators, collected an army, was defeated at the decisive battle of Philippi, fell upon his sword, and died B. C. 42.

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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.
If it were so, it was a grievous fault;
And grievously hath Cesar answer'd 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 Cesar's funeral

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,
Whose ransoms did the general coffers fill:

Did this în 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;
And Brutus is an honorable man.

You all did see, that, on the Lupercal,†

I thrice presented him a kingly crown;

Which he did thrice refuse: Was this ambition?
Yet Brutus says he was ambitious;

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;
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:
My heart is in the coffin there with Cesar;
And I must pause till it come back to me.

6. But yesterday, the word of Cesar might Have stood against the world! now lies he there, And none so poor to do him reverence.

O masters! If I were dispos'd to stir

Your hearts and minds to mutiny and rage,
I should do Brutus wrong, and Cassius wrong;.
Who, you all know, are honorable men.
I will not do them wrong—I rather choose
To wrong the dead, to wrong myself and
Than I will wrong such honorable men.

you,

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,

(Which, pardon me, I do not mean to read)

And they would go and kiss dead Cesar's wounds,
And dip their napkins in his sacred blood-

Yea, beg a hair of him for memory,

And dying, mention it within their wills,
Bequeathing it, as a rich legacy,

Unto their issue.

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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-
See what a rent the envious Casca made-
Through this the well beloved Brutus stabb'd;
And as he pluck'd his cursed steel away,
Mark how the blood of Cesar follow'd it!

9. This, this was the unkindest cut of all.
For when the noble Cesar saw him stab,
Ingratitude, more strong than traitor's arms,
Quite vanquish'd him! Then burst his mighty heart,
And in his mantle muffling up his face,

* Pronounced Nér-ve-i, a warlike people of Gaul, whom Cesar attacked and totally defeated.