But when? or where? This world-was made for Cæsar. I'm weary of conjectures-this must end them. [Laying his hand on his sword. Thus am I doubly arm'd. My death and life, The wreck of matter, and the crush of worlds! Brutus on the Death of Cæsar. Addison. ROMANS, Countrymen, and Lovers!-hear me for my cause; and be silent, that you may hear. Believe me for mine honour; and have respect to mine honour, 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's love to Cæsar was no 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, Í honour him; but as he was ambitious, I slew him! There are tears for his love, joy for his fortune, honour for his valour, and death for his ambition!-Who's here so base. that would be a bondman? if any, speak! for him have I offended. Who's here so rude, that would not be a Roman? if any, speak! for him have I offended. Who's 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 should 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. Hamlet's Soliloquy on Death. To be or not to be?-that is the question.-- To sleep?-perchance to dream!-ay, there's the rub! For who would bear the whips and scorns of time, Is sicklied o'er with the pale cast of thought; 1bid. Mark Antony's Oration. FRIENDS, Romans, Countrymen! lend me your ears, So are they all! all honourable men— He was my friend, faithful and just to me— And Brutus is an honourable man! He hath brought many captives home to Rome, When that the poor have cried, Cæsar hath wept. Yet Brutus says he was ambitious; And Brutus is an honourable man! You all did see, that, on the Lupercal, I thrice presented him a kingly crown, Which he did thrice refuse: was this ambition ?— And sure he is an honourable man! 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: But yesterday, the word of Cæsar might Have stood against the world—now lies he there, I will not do them wrong: I rather choose Let but the commons hear his testament— Unto their issue! If you have tears, prepare to shed them now. You all do know this mantle? I remember The first time ever Cæsar 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 — Through this-the well-beloved Brutus stabb'd! For Brutus, as you know, was Cæsar's angel!- For when the noble Cæsar saw him stab!- Quite vanquish'd him. Then burst his mighty heart, 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 honourable!— I come not, friends, to steal away your hearts: But, as you know me all, a plain, blunt man, Show you sweet Cæsar's wounds, poor, poor, dumb mouths! Would ruffle up your spirits, and put a tongue Shylock justifying his Meditated Revenge. Ibid. If it will feed nothing else, it will feed my revenge. He hath disgraced me, and hindered me of half a million! laughed at my losses, mocked at my gains, scorned iny nation, thwarted my bargains, cooled my friends, heated my enemies! And what's his reason? I am a Jew! Hath not a Jew eyes? Hath not a Jew hands? organs, dimensions, senses, affections, passions? Is he not fed with the same food, hurt with the same weapons, subject to the same diseases, healed by the same means, warmed and cooled by the same summer and winter, as a Christian is? If you stab us, do we not bleed? If you tickle us, do we not laugh? If you poison us, do we not die? and if you wrong us, shall we not revenge? If we are like you in the rest, we will resemble you in that! If a Jew wrong a Christian, what is his humility? Revenge. If a Christian wrong a Jew, what should his sufferance be by Christian example? Why, Revenge! The villany you teach me I will execute; and it shall go hard, but I will better the instruction. Ibid. |