Unhurt amidst the war of elements, The wreck of matter, and the crush of worlds! MARC ANTONY'S APOSTROPHE* TO CÆSAR'S BODY.-SHAKS. O PARDON me, thou bleeding piece of earth, That ever lived in the tide of times! Woe to the hand that shed this costly blood, Which, like dumb mouths, do ope their ruby lips, That mothers shall but smile, when they behold * This apostrophe is a fine practice in intonation and powerful and impassioned declamation. The speaker should commence in the deep, solemn tone of grief; making a burst of passion as he prophesies the curse that is to follow; and increase in energy till he reach the climax at the close. 2 6 † Pronounced Ate-the goddess of discord. SCENE FROM JULIUS CÆSAR.-SHAKS. BRUTUS-CASSIUS. Cas.-Will you go see the order of the course? Cas. I pray you, do. Bru.-I am not gamesome; I do lack some part Of that quick spirit that is in Antony. Let me not hinder, Cassius, your desires: I'll leave you. Cas.-Brutus, I do observe you now of late; Bru.-Cassius, Be not deceived: If I have veil'd my look, Of late, with passions of some difference, Which give some soil, perhaps, to my behaviours; Nor construe any further my neglect, Than that poor Brutus, with himself at war, Forgets the shows of love to other men. Cas.--Then, Brutus, I have much mistook your passion; By means whereof, this breast of mine hath buried Thoughts of great value, worthy cogitations. Tell me, good Brutus, can you see your face? Bru.-No, Cassius; for the eye sees not itself, But by reflection, by some other things. Cas.-'Tis just: And it is very much lamented, Brutus, That you have no such mirror, as will turn Your hidden worthiness into your eye, That you might see your shadow—I have heard, Cas.-Therefore, good Brutus, be prepared to hear: Will modestly discover to yourself That of yourself which you yet know not of. To all the rout, then hold me dangerous, Bru.-What means this shouting?—I do fear the people Choose Cæsar for their king. Cas.-Ay, do you fear it? Then must I think, you would not have it so. Bru.-I would not, Cassius; yet I love him weil : But, wherefore do you hold me here so long? What is it that you would impart to me? If it be aught toward the general good, The name of honor more than I fear death. Cas. I know that virtue to be in you, Brutus, As well as I do know your outward favor. Well, honor is the subject of my story.→ I cannot tell, what you and other men In awe of such a thing as I myself. The troubled Tyber chafing with his shores, And bade him follow: so, indeed, he did. Did from the flames of Troy, upon his shoulders, Is now become a god; and Cassius is A wretched creature, and must bend his body, He had a fever when he was in Spain, And when the fit was on him, I did mark How he did shake: 'tis true, this god did shake; His coward lips did from their color fly; And that same eye, whose bend doth awe the world, Ay, and that tongue of his, that bade the Romans So get the start of the majestic world, Bru.-Another general shout! I do believe, that these applauses are For some new honors that are heap'd on Cæsar. Cas. edoth bestride the narrow world, mea Like a sve petty nur Walk under his huge legs and peep about, To find ourselv disboorable graves Men at some times. Keir fates: The fault, dear Brutus not in our stars, Brutus, and Cæsar: What should be in that Cæsar? Upon what meat doth this our Cæsar feed, That he has grown so great. A hou art shamed: Rome, thou hast lost the breed of oble bloods! When went there ge since the great flood, But it was famed with more than with one man! Bru.—That you do love me, I am nothing jealous; I would not-so with love I might entreat you→→→ |