5 ΙΟ * MARK ANTONY'S ORATION.-Shakspeare. FRIENDS, Romans, countrymen ! lend me your ears; * I come to bury Cæsar,* not to praise him. He was my friend-faithful and just to me- 15 And Brutus is an honourable man! 20 Cæsar was the leader of the popular party among the Romans. He became the foremost man in all the world, and the greatest general of his time. Brutus, the nephew of Cato, was a young man, whom Cæsar had treated almost like a son. The rest, the other Roman senators, some of whom had helped to murder Cæsar. To speak, &c. It was the custom in Rome He hath brought many captives home to Rome, for the nearest friend When that the poor have cried, Cæsar hath Ambition should be made of sterner stuff!- * * of any great man to attend his funeral and deliver a speech in his praise. Coffer, a chest to hold money. Lupercal, the place in Rome where Romulus and Remus, 25 Which he did thrice refuse was this am- the founders of the bition ? Yet Brutus says he was ambitious; I speak not to disprove what Brutus spoke; O judgment! thou hast fled to brutish beasts, And men have lost their reason!-Bear with me; My heart is in the coffin there with Cæsar; 35 And I must pause till it come back to me ! city, were said to have been suckled by a shewolf. * Mark Antony was connected with the family of Cæsar through his mother. being defeated by Augustus at Actium, B. C. 31, he stabbed himself. This famous speech is taken from Shakspeare's "Julius Cæsar," Act III., Scene II. After Against the world, the Roman Empire, over which Cæsar ruled, included nearly the whole of the then known world. Cassius was a Roman noble, upon whom Cæsar bestowed great honours. He was the author of the conspi racy to murder his Parchment, the skin on. But yesterday, the word of Cæsar might Have stood against the world *-now lies he there, 40 45 And none so poor as to do him reverence! Legacy, anything left Bequeathing it, as a rich legacy,* by will. The Nervii were the most warlike of the country was in the north-eastern portion of France. In 57 B.C. Cæsar so totally defeated them, that they had only 500 fighting men left out of 60,000. Casca was the con the first thrust at Cæsar. Unto their issue! * If you have tears, prepare to shed them now. See what a rent the envious Casca * made!— Traitor, one who plots against his sove reign or the Govern ment. * And, in his mantle muffling up his face, fell! Oh! what a fall was there, my countrymen! 55 60 65 70 75 Whilst bloody treason* flourished over us! Our Cæsar's vesture wounded? look you here! 85 Good friends! sweet friends! let me not stir To such a sudden flood of mutiny! They that have done this deed are honourable ! That made them do it: they are wise and 90 And will, no doubt, with reason answer you. But, as you know me all, a plain blunt * man, 95 That gave me public leave to speak of him— And bid them speak for me. But, were I And Brutus Antony,* there were an Antony Bloody treason, &c., the treason which caused Cæsar's blood to be shed, triumphed for the time being. Dint of pity, the efcauses you to shed fect of pity which tears. Mared, disfigured. Orator, one who is able to make a good speech, a public speaker. Blunt, honest and straightforward. Worth, influence. Dumb mouths, here power of speech. &c. If Antony were as clever a speaker as Brutus, he would so work upon their feelings as to make them instantly rise up against the traitors who had so foully murdered their greatest benefactor. FLEETING PLEASURES.—Burns. BUT pleasures are like poppies spread, That flit ere you can point their place : K MERCHANT OF VENICE,* ACT IV., SCENE I. Shakspeare. Magnificoes were Enter the DUKE; the MAGNIFICOES; ANTONIO, BASSANIO, GRATIANO, SALARINO, SALANIO, and others. the higher or chief nobles of Venice. Antonio, a young merchant, who used to lend money to dis tressed people any interest for Duke. What, is Antonio * here? Ant. Ready, so please your grace. Duke. I am sorry for thee; thou art come to answer without receiving A stony adversary,* an inhuman wretch Uncapable of pity, void and empty From any dram of mercy. it. Adversary, an enemy. Uncapable (now written incap able), not being able to pity. Dram, the small est quantity. to turn him from tion. Rigorous, severe, stern, cruel. Obdurate, harsh, very cruel, stubborn. The Jew, Shylock, who hated Antonio because the latter had often insulted him in the streets and public places, and found fault with him for lending money at a high rate of interest. The world, those interested in the matter. Where, whereas. Ant. * * I have heard, Duke. Go one, and call the Jew* into the court. lord. Enter SHYLOCK. Duke. Make room, and let him stand before our face. * Shylock, the world thinks, and I think so too, And, where* thou now exact'st the penalty, But, touch'd with human gentleness and love, Moiety, portion. Forgive a moiety of the principal, Glancing an eye of pity on his losses, That have of late brought down such ruin on him, 5 ΙΟ 15 20 25 * Venice was once an important commercial city. It is situated on the islands at the mouth of the river Po, in northern Italy. It has canals for streets, and above 300 bridges over them, the chief of which is the Rialto, built of white marble. 30 Enough to press a royal merchant* down. We all expect a gentle answer, Jew. Royal merchant, the great Italian merchants who Shy. I have possess'd* your grace of what I had claims on purpose; And by our holy Sabbath have I sworn To have the due and forfeit of my bond.* 35 If you deny it, let the danger light * Upon your charter and your city's freedom. * And I be pleased to give ten thousand ducats Shy. I am not bound to please thee with my answer. Ant. I pray you, think you question with the You may as well go stand upon the beach, kingdoms, and sometimes acquired principalities for themselves. Possessed, informed. Bond, a binding agreement. Charter, that on which the laws were written. Ducat, a silver coin, varying in value in different countries, so called because coined in the dominions of a Duke. Baned, destroyed, poisoned. Current, course. Think you ques- ocean. Bate, or abate, Why he hath made the ewe * bleat for the lamb, 55 Were in six parts, and every part a ducat, I would not draw them; I would have my bond. Shy. What judgment* shall I dread, doing no The pound of flesh, which I demand of him, There is no force in the decrees* of Venice: answer; Ishall I have it? Duke. Upon my power* I may dismiss this court, 65 Unless Bellario,* a learned doctor, Whom I have sent for to determine * this, Salar. My lord, here stays without 70 New come from Padua.* Duke. Bring us the letters; call the messenger. Ewe, a female sheep. Judgment, punishment, sentence. Decrees, laws. Judgment here means a verdict. Upon my power, on my authority. Bellario, a cele brated doctor of laws. Determine, de cide. Padua, a cele brated and an cient city in Lom bardy, about twenty miles from Venice. |