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 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 Cæsar less, but that I loved Rome more. ; 3. 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, I 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 is here so base, that he would be a bondman? 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. 5. 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. 6. 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. Marcus Brutus, whom Cassius made the dupe of his flattery and art, and who joined the conspiracy against Cæsar, his best and most intimate friend, after the assassination which occurred in the senate house, in the 56th year of Cæsar's age, and in which "he had a hand," fell upon his own sword, and died 42 years before Christ. Cæsar's ambition was boundless; but he ought not to have" suffered death." Aside from this act of baseness and ingratitude, Brutus seems to have been an honorable Roman. The elocution of Brutus' oration, requires a low key, slow time, and long quantity. ANTONY'S ORATION OVER CÆSAR'S BODY. 1. Friends, Romans, countrymen, lend me your ears: 2. Here, under leave of Brutus, and the rest, So are they all; all honorable men,) 3. 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 honorable man. 4. 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; I speak not to disprove what Brutus spoke ; 5. You all did love him once, not without cause; 6. But yesterday, the word of Cæsar might O masters! if I were dispos'd to stir 7. But here's a parchment, with the seal of Cæsar, And, dying, mention it within their wills, Unto their issue. 8. 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; 9. This was the most unkindest cut of all; Even at the base of Pompey's statue, Which all the while ran blood, great Cæsar fell. 10. O, what a fall was there, my countrymen ! 11. Good friends, sweet friends, let me not stir you up They that have done this deed, are honorable : 12. I come not, friends, to steal away your hearts; But as you know me all, a plain, blunt man, 13. For I have neither wit, nor words, nor worth, I tell you that, which you yourselves do know; mouths, And bid them speak for me. But were I Brutus, The stones of Rome to rise and mutiny.-Shakspeare. Marcus Antony, a brave and unprincipled Roman, who, for the purpose of elevating himself to power, procured a public funeral for Cæsar, in favor of whom, the above oration which he made, so much inflamed the populace against the conspirators, that they were obliged to leave the city, rather than to fall into the hands of the other members of the triumvirate. He afterwards went to Egypt, where, through love to queen Cleopatra, he terminated his own existence, 30 years before Christ. The reader is referred to my remarks in reference to Antony's oration, in the chapter on Irony. The oration is highly rhetorical. A portion of it requires a high key, some parts of it a low, others a middle key. The reader or declaimer must both understand its sentiments, and feel as if they were his own. He must imagine himself to be employed in delivering a funeral discourse over the body of a beloved friend, who had been murdered. The pathetic portion of the oration requires slow time and quantity. There is no better piece for an elocutionary exercise, with which I am acquainted. THE BURIAL OF SIR JOHN MOORE. 1. Not a drum was heard, nor a funeral note, 3. No useless coffin enclosed his breast, Nor in sheet nor in shroud we bound him; But he lay like a warrior taking his rest, With his martial cloak around him. 4. Few and short were the prayers we said— But steadfastly gaz'd on the face of the dead, 5. We thought as we hollow'd his narrow bed, That the foe and the stranger would tread o'er his head, And away o'er the billow. we, far 6. Lightly they'll speak of the spirit that's gone, And o'er his cold ashes upbraid him; But little he'll reck, if they let him sleep on, In the grave where his comrades have laid him. 7. Not the half of our heavy task was done When the bell toll'd the hour for retiring: And we knew by the distant, random gun, That the foe was then suddenly firing. |