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JULIUS CÆSAR.

NINE PLATES.

DRAWN AND ENGRAVED

BY FRANK HOWARD.

B

REFERENCES DESCRIPTIVE OF THE

PLATES.

JULIUS CESAR.

HAVING entered upon the historical plays, it may be necessary to premise some of the restrictions within which the work will be kept, and the reasons for so doing. Many events are alluded to in the conduct of the play which, though totally unconnected with the main plot, are necessary for the development of character-filling up the inferior parts of the scenes and giving an historical air to the whole. These, if represented, would only distract the attention, and serve to confuse, rather than to elucidate, the principal subject. The scenes, therefore, which have been taken from JULIUS CÆSAR are only those of the highest rank in the play. The acts of the mob, the "portents," battles, &c. have been omitted, unless a principal character is involved, as ANTONY in his funeral oration over CÆSAR's body, and BRUTUS with the ghost of CESAR in his tent. PORTIA's death has also been omitted, as totally unfit for pictorial representation. JULIUS CESAR, BRUTUS, and ANTONY are portraits.

B 2

I. .

ANTONY offering the crown to CÆSAR.-CASSIUS

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endeavouring to rouse BRUTUS.

Mark Antony offered him a crown; he put it by once; but, for all that, to my thinking, he would fain have had it. Then he offered it to him again; then he put it by again: but, to my thinking, he was very loath to lay his fingers off it. And then he offered it the third time; he put it the third time by: and still as he refused it, the rabblement hooted and clapped their chopped hands, and threw up their sweaty nightcaps, and uttered such a deal of stinking breath because Cæsar refused the crown, that it had almost choked Cæsar.

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When many of the best respect in Rome,

(Except immortal Cæsar), speaking of Brutus, And groaning underneath this age's yoke,

Have wish'd that Brutus had his eyes.

BRU. Into what dangers would you lead me, Cassius, would have me seek into myself

That

you

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What means this shouting? I do fear, the people

Choose Cæsar for their king.

CASS.

Ay, do you fear it?

Then must I think you would not have it so.

BRU. I would not, Cassius; yet I love him well."

ACT I. S. 2.

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