He call'd his children round his bed, way, Obedient to the good old man, They tugg'd they strain'd, and tried again, The faggot every effort thwarted; Again the good old man proceeded To give the instruction which they needed : "Untwist," said he, “the hazel bind, And let the faggot be disjoined." Then stick by stick, and twig by twig, The little children and the big, Following the words their father spoke, Each sprig and spray they quickly broke; 66 There father!” all began to cry, “I've broken mine!—and I! and I!” While you are join'd in friendship's throng, You undermine affection's root, And thus the strength'ning cord divide, The father having clos'd his lesson, H. MORE. JULIUS CÆSAR. ACT III. SCENE 4.-The Forum. Enter a throng of CITIZENS bawling "Silence!"BRUTUS, and another crowd of CITIZENS. goes into the rostrum. CITIZENS. Silence! silence! 2ND CITIZENS. Silence! BRUTUS The noble Brutus is ascended: BRUTUS. Be patient till the last.-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' 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 Had you Cæsar less, but that I loved Rome more. rather Cæsar were living, and die all slaves, than that Cæsar were dead, to live all free men? As Cæsar loved me, I weep for him; as he was fortunate, I rejoice at it; as he was valiant, I 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 is here so base that would be a bond-man? 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. CITIZENS. None, Brutus, 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 enroll'd in the Capitol; his glory not extenuated, wherein he was worthy; nor his offences enforced, for which he suffered death. ALL THE CITIZENS. Brutus! Brutus! Brutus ! BRUTUS. Here comes Cæsar's body mourned by Mark Antony. Enter four GUARDS bearing CÆSAR'S BODY on a hearse. Good countrymen, let me withdraw alone; Do grace to Cæsar's corpse; and grace his speech I do entreat you, not a man depart Save I alone, till Antony have spoke. (BRUTUS descends from the rostrum) With this I leave-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. Exit BRUTUS. ALL THE CITIZENS. Live Brutus ! live! live! 1ST CITIZEN. Stay ho! and let us hear Mark Antony. ANTONY. For Brutus' sake, I am beholden to you. (He goes into the rostrum) He says, for Brutus' sake, 2ND CITIZEN. What does he say of Brutus? 1ST CITIZEN. He finds himself beholden to us all. 2ND CITIZEN. 'Twere best to speak no harm of Brutus here. 1ST CITIZEN. This Cæsar was a tyrant. 2ND CITIZEN. Nay, that's certain : We are bless'd that Rome is rid of him. ANTONY. You gentle Romans 1ST CITIZEN. Peace, oh! let us hear him. ANTONY. Friends, Romans, countrymen, lend me your ears: I come to bury Cæsar, not to praise him. |