XXXII. BRUTUS TO THE ROMAN POPULACE.

FROM "JULIUS CAESAR," ACT III, SCENE II, BY WILLIAM SHAKE

The greatest dramatic genius that ever lived was William Shakespeare, who was born at Stratford-on-Avon, England, in 1564, and died in 1616. Little is known of his childhood and early youth. In his nineteenth year he was married to Anne Hathaway, and three years thereafter he went to London, where he became in turn an actor, theatrical manager, and dramatic author.

His writings include a large number of sonnets, poems, and plays, the latter the most famous in the world's literature. The English historian Hallam says of him: "The name of Shakespeare is the greatest in our literature, —it is the greatest in all literature. No man ever came near him in the creative powers of the mind; no man ever had such strength at once and such variety of imagination.”

"Julius Cæsar," like several other of his plays, is semi-historical in character. Its scene is laid in Rome, 44 B.C., and its chief characters were prominent men at the time Cæsar was assassinated in the senate house by Brutus, Cassius (¤ăsh' i ŭs), and other members of the Roman Senate.

The eloquence of the address which the patriotic Brutus delivered to the Roman populace is only equaled by the masterly appeal which the adroit Antony made to the same audience after Cæsar's body had been borne into the forum.

[Scene: the Forum in Rome; BRUTUS, CASSIUS, and a throng of Citizens enter.]

Citizens. We will be satisfied; let us be satisfied.

Brutus. Then follow me, and give me audience, friends.

Cassius, go you into the other street,

And part the numbers.

Those that will hear me speak, let them stay here;
Those that will follow Cassius, go with him;

And public reasons shall be rendered

Of Cæsar's death.

1 Cit. I will hear Brutus speak.

2 Cit. I will hear Cassius; and compare their reasons, When severally we hear them rendered.

[Exit CASSIUS, with some of the Citizens. BRUTUS goes into the Rostrum.]

3 Cit. The noble Brutus is ascended: silence! 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 honor, and have respect to mine honor, 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 Cæsar less, but that I loved Rome more. 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. There is tears for his love; joy for his fortune; honor for his valor; and death for his ambition. Who is here so base, that 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.

Citizens. None, Brutus, none.

Brutus. Then none have I offended. I have done no more to Cæsar than you shall do to Brutus. The question of his death is enrolled in the Capitol; his glory not extenuated, wherein he was worthy, nor his offenses enforced, for which he suffered death. 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.

[Enter ANTONY and others with CAESAR's body.]

Citizens. Live, Brutus! live, live!

1 Cit. Bring him with triumph home unto his house. 2 Cit. Give him a statue with his ancestors.

3 Cit. Let him be Cæsar.

4 Cit.

Cæsar's better parts

Shall now be crowned in Brutus.

1 Cit. We'll bring him to his house with shouts and

Brutus. Good countrymen, let me depart alone,
And, for my sake, stay here with Antony:

Do grace to Cæsar's corpse, and grace his speech
Tending to Cæsar's glories, which Mark Antony,
By our permission, is allow'd to make.

I do entreat you, not a man depart,

Save I alone, till Antony have spoke.

1 Cit. Stay, ho! and let us hear Mark Antony.

3 Cit. Let him go up into the public chair;

We'll hear him. Noble Antony, go up.

[Exit.

Ant. For Brutus' sake, I am beholden to you. [Ascends. 4 Cit. What does he say of Brutus?

3 Cit.

He says, for Brutus' sake,

He finds himself beholden to us all.

4 Cit. 'Twere best he speak no harm of Brutus here. 1 Cit. This Cæsar was a tyrant.

3 Cit.

Nay, that's certain:

We are bless'd that Rome is rid of him.

2 Cit. Peace! let us hear what Antony can say.
Antony. You gentle Romans, —
Citizens.

Peace, ho let us hear him.

I. Notes: The Fō'rum was a public place in Rome where causes were judicially tried and orations delivered to the people. It was there that Brutus addressed the public and gave 66 reasons of Cæsar's death."

The Căp'i tol at Rome was the temple of Jupiter; it was located on one of the seven hills, and was the building in which the Senate met. It was in the Capitol, and during a session of the Senate, that Cæsar was killed by the conspirators. Shortly after his death his body was carried by Mark Antony and other friends of Cæsar's to the Forum.

II. Suggestions and Questions: In order to render this selection from "Julius Cæsar" with success, the reader must have prepared every line of it by careful study; and also he must be able to picture in his imagination the different speakers and the circumstances under which they are acting. This preparation is necessary to get the thought, and then drill is required that appropriate gestures, tones, and inflections may be employed in giving the thought to the hearer.

Why do you think Brutus and Cassius agreed that "public reasons shall be rendered of Cæsar's death"? What reasons did Brutus give for "rising against Cæsar"? What effect did these reasons have on the citizens who heard Brutus' address? Were they satisfied that Brutus had acted from high and patriotic motives? Why do you think so? What impression of the character of Brutus do you get from his address?

Compare the address of Brutus with that of Antony which is given in the next lesson. Remember that both addresses were delivered to the same people and note the results. Can you explain why Brutus carried his hearers with him?