2. A LEGUME, which splits into two pieces. The pea and the lupine are examples.

3. A CAPSULE, of which the thorn apple (Fig. 106) or the meadow saffron (Fig. 107) offer examples.

4. Some capsules have special names.

(1) A silique. This form of capsule is slender and splits into two pieces, leaving a partition which bears the seeds. (Fig. 108.)

(2) A silicle, or pouch, is only a silique not much longer than it is broad. (Fig. 109.)

(3) A pyxis, which is a pod opening crosswise, the top separating like a lid. (Fig. 110.)

Some other kinds of compound fruits are classed under various names. They are:

1. AGGREGATED FRUITS, which are clusters of simple fruits all of the same flower. The raspberry and the blackberry are examples.

2. ACCESSORY FRUITS are those on which the flesh or conspicuous part belongs to some added or altered part, separate from the seed-vessel. A rose-hip is an example of this variety-so is a strawberry. The strawberry is only the receptacle of the flower, or the end of the flower-stalk, grown very large and juicy, and not a seed-vessel at all. The fruit consists of the little yellow specks which cover this body.

Fig. 111. Strawberry.

3. MULTIPLE FRUITS are masses of accessory fruits belonging to different flowers, all compacted together. The fir-cone, the pine-apple, and the mulberry are examples.

Thus, under the name of fruit, very different things are eaten. In figs it is a hollow flower stalk; in pineapples and mulberries, clusters of flower leaves, as well as the stalks they cover; in strawberries, the receptacle of a flower; in blackberries, the same, though smaller, and a cluster of little stone fruits that cover it; in raspberries, the little stonefruits in a cluster, without the receptacle. In quinces, and, as to all but the core in apples and pears, we eat a fleshy enlarged calyx; in peaches and other stone-fruits, the outer part of a seed-vessel; in grapes, gooseberries, cranberries, &c., the whole seed-vessel, grown rich and pulpy.

INTRODUCTORY NOTE.-Shakspere's tragedy of Julius Cæsar embraces the period from the festival of the Lupercalia, 13th February, B.C. 44, to the battle of Philippi in (October?) B.C. 42. Cæsar had returned from Spain in October, 45 B.C., and had been appointed Consul for the next ten years, and Dictator for life.

Rome had for centuries been divided into two parties-the Patricians and the Plebs, that is, the nobles and the people. Though in name a Republic it had always, in reality, been an Oligarchy. A small governing class of noble families shared the higher offices of the State among them. With the vast increase of national wealth, which began with the conquest of Macedon (B.c. 168) and Greece (B.c. 146), and the fall of Carthage, in the latter year, the citizens of Rome had become more and more corrupt. Elections to the highest offices were gained only by those who could bribe most heavily, and this corruption paved the way for a political change, which would concentrate authority in the single hand of a leader of the one party or the other, the nobles or the people. Tiberius Gracchus (B.c. 133), and his brother Caius (B.c. 128-121), as Tribunes of the people, had headed the popular party in their day. Then came Marius, seven times Consul, a rough soldier, in whose later days the rivalry of the two parties broke out in the first Civil War, which ended, four years after his death, in 82 B.C., in the defeat of his party and the ferocious dictatorship of Sylla, the head of the nobility. Pompey the Great succeeded to Sylla's leadership, but a new leader of the people was now at hand-Julius Caesar, the nephew of Julia, wife of Marius. Step by step, from the year 67 B.C. to the 6th June, B.C. 48, when he utterly crushed Pompey at the battle of Pharsalia, Cæsar steadily set himself to overthrow the Patrician and raise the Marian, or popular, party, once more. When Pompey fell, Cæsar thus became "the foremost man in all the world," and gradually attained imperial dignity, in all but the name.

The defeated nobility, or Tories as we might call them, were not willing to

surrender their power finally, without a struggle. It was determined to murder Cæsar, who stood in their way, and to cover the shame and danger of such a crime by professions of zeal for liberty, the only liberty for which they cared being that of their high-born party. The people were nothing in their eyes; they themselves, only, were Rome.

The conspirators were headed by M. Junius Brutus, the nephew of Cato, a young man, whom Cæsar had treated almost like a son, and whose father had been put to death in cold blood by Pompey, the head of the Patricians. The time fixed for the murder was the 15th March, B.C. 44.

Cæsar has just been murdered, in the Senate House, by Casca, Brutus and other conspirators. While they are still there Antony enters.

Brutus.

Welcome, Mark Antony.

Antony. O mighty Cæsar! dost thou lie so low?
Are all thy conquests, glories, triumphs, spoils,
Shrunk to this little measure ?-Fare thee well.—
I know not, gentlemen, what you intend,
Who else must be let blood, who else is rank:

If I myself, there is no hour so fit

As Cæsar's death hour; nor no instrument

Of half that worth as those your swords, made rich
With the most noble blood of all this world.

I do beseech ye, if you bear me hard,

Now, whilst your purpled hands do reek and smoke,
Fulfil your pleasure. Live a thousand years,
I shall not find myself so apt to die:

No place will please me so, no mean of death,
As here by Cæsar, and by you cut off,
The choice and master spirits of this age.

Bru. O Antony! beg not your death of us.
Though now we must appear bloody and cruel,
As, by our hands and this our present act,
You see we do; yet see you but our hands,
And this the bleeding business they have done :
Our hearts you see not, they are pitiful;
And pity to the general wrong of Rome
(As fire drives out fire, so pity, pity)

Hath done this deed on Cæsar. For your part,

To you our swords have leaden points, Mark Antony :
Our arms, in strength of malice, and our hearts,

Of brothers' temper, do receive you in
With all kind love, good thoughts, and reverence.
Casca. Your voice shall be as strong as any man's

In the disposing of new dignities.

Bru. Only be patient, till we have appeas'd
The multitude, beside themselves with fear;

Why I, that did love Cæsar when I struck him,
Have thus proceeded.

Ant.

I doubt not of your wisdom.

Let each man render me his bloody hand:
First, Marcus Brutus, will I shake with you;

Now, Decius Brutus, yours;-now yours, Metellus; Yours, Cinna;-and, my valiant Casca, yours;Though last, not least in love, yours, good Trebonius. Gentlemen all,-alas! what shall I say?

My credit now stands on such slippery ground,