The other was a handsome man, —or you, Much more so than you,-or you,- This handsome man stood at the door And the way he took the quarters And when the time of show had come, And our friend without a palate, Stood in all his pomp and pride. And in his brawny hand he held Of shoemaker's wax, which he Had some time made before. He began to work it, And his audience thus addressed, And the people looked and listened;— Let their great surprise be guessed! Said he, "My friends, how some folks cheat. I never could conceive; But this is the real wax work, For I stoop not to deceive: This is your real wax work, For your quarters and your twelves;Ladies and gentlemen, just walk up And examine for yourselves!" But when the people saw the joke, But he had an open window, And, holding up the wax to view, "My friends here's no deception, This is real wax work, For your quarters and your twelves;- QUARREL OF BRUTUS AND CASSIUS.—Shakspeare. Julius Cæsar.-Act IV. Scene III. Cassius-That you have wronged me doth appear in this: You have condemned and noted Lucius Pella For taking bribes here of the Sardians, Brutus-You wronged yourself to write in such a case. That every nice offence should bear its comment. To undeservers. Cassius-I an itching palm? You know that you are Brutus that speak this, Or, by the gods, this speech were else your last. Brutus The name of Cassius honors this corruption, And chastisement doth therefore hide his head. Cassius-Chastisement! Brutus-Remember March, the Ides of March remember! Did not great Julius bleed for justice' sake? What villian touched his body, that did stab, And not for justice? What, shall one of us, That struck the foremost man of all this world But for supporting robbers; shall we now Contaminate our fingers with base bribes, And sell the mighty space of our large honors, For so much trash as may be grasped thus? I had rather be a dog, and bay the moon Than such a Roman. Cassius-Brutus, bay not me. I'll not endure it: you forget yourself, Brutus-Go to; you are not, Cassius. Brutus-I say you are not. NNN* Cassius-Urge me no more, I shall forget myself; Brutus-Hear me for I will speak. Must I give way and room to your rash choler? Cassius-O ye gods! ye gods! must I endure all this? Brutus-All this? Ay, more; fret till your proud heart break; Go, show your slaves how choleric you are, And make your bondmen tremble. Must I budge? Must I observe you? Must I stand and crouch Cassius-Is it come to this? Brutus-You say you are a better soldier: I shall be glad to learn of noble men. Cassius-You wrong me every way; you wrong me, Brutus; I said an elder soldier, not a better; Did I say "better"? Brutus-If you did, I care not. Cassius-When Cæsar liv'd, he durst not thus have rov'd me. Brutus-Peace, peace! you durst not thus have tempted him Cassius-I durst not? Brutus-No. Cassius- What? Durst not tempt him? Brutus-For your life you durst not. Cassius-Do not presume too much upon my love; I may do that I shall be sorry for. Brutus--You have done that you should be sorry for. There is no terror, Cassius, in your threats; For I am armed so strong in honesty That they pass by me as the idle wind, Which I respect not. I did send to you For certain sums of gold, which you denied me; By heaven, I had rather coin my heart, And drop my blood for drachmas, than to wring From the hard hands of peasants their vile trash To you for gold to pay my legions, Which you denied me: Was that done like Cassius? When Marcus Brutus grows so covetous, To lock such rascal counters from his friends, Be ready, gods, with all your thunderbolts; Cassius-I denied you not Cassius-I did not: he was but a fool That brought my answer back. Brutus hath rived my heart. A friend should bear his friend's infirmities, But Brutus makes mine greater than they are. Brutus-I do not, till you practice them on me. Brutus-I do not like your faults. Cassius—A friendly eye could never see such faults. Brutus-A flatterer's would not, though they do appear As huge as high Olympus. Cassius-Come, Antony, and young Octavius, come! Revenge yourselves alone on Cassius, For Cassius is aweary of the world: Hated by one he loves; braved by his brother; When thou didst hate him worst, thou lovedst him better Brutus-Sheathe your dagger: Be angry when you will, it shall have scope; O Cassius, you are yoked with a lamb That carries anger as the flint bears fire: Cassius-Hath Cassius lived To be but mirth and laughter to his Brutus, When grief and blood ill-tempered, vexeth him? Brutus-When I spoke that I was ill-tempered, too. Cassius-Do you confess so much? Give me your hand Brutus-And my heart, too. [Embracing.] Cassius-O Brutus! Brutus-What's the matter? Cassius-Have you not love enough to bear with me, When that rash humor which my mother gave me Makes me forgetful? Brutus-Yes, Cassius; and, from henceforth, When you are over-earnest with your Brutus, He'll think your mother chides, and leave you so "FATHER, TAKE MY HAND."-HENRY N. COBB. The way is dark, my Father! Cloud on cloud The day goes fast, my Father! and the night The way is long, my Father! and my soul Lead to heaven's gate The path is rough, my Father! Many a thorn Then, safe and blest, Lead up to rest Thy child! The throng is great my Father! Many a doubt And fear and danger compass me about; And foes oppress me sore. I cannot stand Or go alone. O Father! take my hand, The cross is heavy, Father! I have borne Lead to the crown |