Which he did thrice REFUSE -Was THIS AMBITION? Yet BRUTUS says -he was AMBITIOUS And sure HE is an honourable man I speak not to disprove what BRUTUS spoke- You ALL did love him ONCE- -not without cause And I must pause- -till it come back to me At this point of pause, artfully introduced, the mob exhibits signs of being swayed by the speaker,—they are beginning to veer round again. 1st Cit. Methinks, there is much reason in his sayings. 2nd Cit. If thou consider rightly of the matter, Cæsar had great WRONG 3rd Cit. I fear there will a worse come in his place. 4th Cit. Marked ye his words crown Has he masters,— - he would not take the Therefore 'tis certain he was not AMBITIOUS 1st Cit. If it be found so, SOME will dear abide it. 2nd Cit. Poor soul- -his eyes are red as fire with WEEPING. 3rd Cit. There's not a nobler man in Rome than ANTONY. 4th Cit. Now mark him, he begins again to speak. The orator perceives the impression he has made, and now addresses himself to their great love for his friend and the memory of Cæsar's former greatness. His tones express profound emotion. But YESTERDAY- -the WORD of Cæsar might Have stood against the world--NOW-he lies THERE - O masters!- -if I were disposed to stir Your hearts-and minds- -to mutiny and rage- I will NOT do them wrong -I rather choose To wrong the dead- -to wrong myself—and You Than I will wrong SUCH honourable men— But here's a parchment—with the seal of CÆSAR- Let but the commons hear THIS testament Which-pardon me- -I do not mean to read- Unto their issue. 4th Cit. We'll hear the wILL.Cits. The WILL-the WILL -Read it, Mark Antony. -we will hear Cæsar's WILL. Ant. Have patience-gentle friends it It is not meet you know how Cæsar loved you- And being MEN -I MUST not read -but men -you are not STONES-hearing the will of CÆSARIt will inflame you— -it will make you MAD'T is good you know not that YOU are his HEIRSFor-if you SHOULD-O what would come of it! 4th Cit. Read the will-we'll hear it, AntonyYou shall read us the will-CESAR's will. Ant. Will you be patient?- -Will you stay awhile ?-I have o'ershot myself to tell you of it I fear I wrong the HONOURABLE men Whose DAGGERS have stabbed Cæsar-I DO fear it. 4th Cit. They were traitors Cits. The WILL -the TESTAMENT. -HONOURABLE men 2nd Cit. They were VILLAINS- -MURDERERS read the WILL. Ant. You will COMPEL me then to read the will?- Cit. Come down! 2nd Cit. Descend! The will 3rd Cit. You shall have leave. 4th Cit. A ring-stand round. Antony. If you have TEARSYou-ALL-do know this mantle -prepare to shed them now- The first time ever Cæsar put it on 'Twas on a summer evening- -in his tent That day he overcame the Nervii LOOK!- -in this place ran Cassius' DAGGER through— Through THIS -the well-beloved BRUTUS stabbed And as he plucked his CURSED steel away- If BRUTUS So unkindly knocked -or no For BRUTUS- -as you know- -was Cæsar's ANGEL- For when the noble Cæsar saw HIM stab- Even at the base of Pompey's statue That all the while ran BLOOD -great-CESAR Owhat a FALL was there- -my countrymen— KIND Souls -FELL -these are gracious drops- Our Cæsar's vesture wounded?- -Look you HERE 1st Cit. Oh piteous spectacle! 2nd Cit. Oh noble Cæsar! 4th Cit. Oh traitors-VILLAINS! about--seek-burn-fire-kill-slay--let not a traitor 1st Cit. Peace there -hear the noble Antony -let me not stir you up 2nd Cit. We'll hear him-we'll follow him—we'll die with him. Ant. GOOD friends- -SWEET friends To such a sudden flood of MUTINY They that have done this deed are honourable What PRIVATE griefs they have-alas !-I know not- I come not —friends—to steal away your hearts- I am no orator— But- -as you know me all-a plain-blunt man- MOUTHS And bid THEM speak for me- -But were I Brutus And Brutus ANTONY -there were an Antony Would ruffle up your spirits- -and put a tongue -that should make The STONES of ROME to rise--and MUTINY. dumb LETTER XLVI. SOCIAL ORATORY. I COME now to that which, until you have tried it, appears the easiest of all forms of oratory, but which is in truth the most difficult of all, and to which I propose to give the significant name of Social Oratory, meaning by that the speech-makings that are addressed to small parties assembled not for business, but for festive or other social purposes, so large a proportion of which is demanded at one kind of gathering, said to be so peculiarly English, that the title of "Dinner-table Oratory" might have been given to it with almost equal propriety. Doubtless you will exclaim, "A speech after dinner— a toast proposed-thanks returned-surely anybody who can say anything can do that!" You need not try it to be satisfied that it is very much more difficult than you have thought it to be. Sit at any table where toasts are given and responded to, and seeing what a mess four out of five of the speakers make of it, you will begin to suspect that it is not quite so easy an accomplishment. Vacuity of thought and confusion of |