Page images
PDF
EPUB

We both have fed as well, and we can both
Endure the winter's cold as well as he :
For once, upon a raw and gusty day,

The troubled Tiber chafing with her shores,
Cæsar said to me 'Darest thou, Cassius, now
Leap in with me into this angry flood,

And swim to yonder point?' Upon the word,
Accoutred as I was, I plunged in

And bade him follow; so indeed he did.
The torrent roared, and we did buffet it
With lusty sinews, throwing it aside
And stemming it with hearts of controversy;
But ere we could arrive the point proposed,
Cæsar cried 'Help me, Cassius, or I sink!'
I, as Æneas, our great ancestor,

Did from the flames of Troy upon his shoulder
The old Anchises bear, so from the waves of Tiber
Did I the tired Cæsar. And this man

Is now become a god, and Cassius is

A wretched creature and must bend his body,
If Cæsar carelessly but nod on him.

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 colour fly,

And that same eye whose bend doth awe the world
Did lose his lustre : I did hear him groan :
Ay, and that tongue of his that bade the Romans
Mark him and write his speeches in their books,
Alas, it cried 'Give me some drink, Titinius,'
As a sick girl. Ye gods, it doth amaze me
A man of such a feeble temper should
So get the start of the majestic world
And bear the palm alone.

Bru. Another general shout!

[Shout.

Flourish.

I do believe that these applauses are

For some new honours that are heaped on Cæsar.

Cas. Why, man, he doth bestride the narrow world Like a Colossus, and we petty men

Walk under his huge legs and peep about

To find ourselves dishonourable graves.

Men at some time are masters of their fates :

The fault, dear Brutus, is not in our stars,

But in ourselves, that we are underlings.

Brutus and Cæsar: what should be in that 'Cæsar'?
Why should that name be sounded more than yours?
Write them together, yours is as fair a name ;
Sound them, it doth become the mouth as well;
Weigh them, it is as heavy; conjure with them,
Brutus will start a spirit as soon as Cæsar.
Now, in the names of all the gods at once,
Upon what meat doth this our Cæsar feed,
That he is grown so great? Age, thou art shamed!
Rome, thou hast lost the breed of noble bloods!
When went there by an age, since the great flood,
But it was famed with more than with one man ?
When could they say till now, that talked of Rome,
That her wide walls encompassed but one man?
Now is it Rome indeed and room enough,

When there is in it but one only man.

O, you and I have heard our fathers say,

There was a Brutus once that would have brooked
The eternal devil to keep his state in Rome
As easily as a king.

Bru. That you do love me, I am nothing jealous ;
What you would work me to, I have some aim :
How I have thought of this and of these times,
I shall recount hereafter; for this present,
I would not, so with love I might entreat you,
Be any further moved. What you have said
I will consider; what you have to say

I will with patience hear, and find a time
Both meet to hear and answer such high things.
Till then, my noble friend, chew upon this :

Brutus had rather be a villager

Than to repute himself a son of Rome
Under these hard conditions as this time

Is like to lay upon us.

Cas. I am glad that my weak words

Have struck but thus much show of fire from Brutus.
Bru. The games are done and Cæsar is returning.
Cas. As they pass by, pluck Casca by the sleeve ;
And he will, after his sour fashion, tell you
What hath proceeded worthy note to-day.

Enter CESAR and his Train.

Bru. I will do so.

But, look you, Cassius,

The angry spot doth glow on Cæsar's brow,
And all the rest look like a chidden train :
Calpurnia's cheek is pale; and Cicero
Looks with such ferret and such fiery eyes
As we have seen him in the Capitol,

Being crossed in conference by some senators.
Casca will tell us what the matter is.
Antonius !

Cas.

Cæs.

Ant.

Cæs.

Cæsar?

Let me have men about me that are fat: Sleek-headed men and such as sleep o'nights: Yond Cassius has a lean and hungry look; He thinks too much such men are dangerous. Ant. Fear him not, Cæsar; he's not dangerous; He is a noble Roman and well given.

Cæs. Would he were fatter! But I fear him not: Yet if my name were liable to fear,

I do not know the man I should avoid

So soon as that spare Cassius. He reads much;

He is a great observer and he looks

Quite through the deeds of men; he loves no plays;
As thou dost, Antony; he hears no music;
Seldom he smiles, and smiles in such a sort

As if he mocked himself and scorned his spirit

That could be moved to smile at any thing.
Such men as he be never at heart's ease
Whiles they behold a greater than themselves,
And therefore are they very dangerous.

I rather tell thee what is to be feared
Than what I fear; for always I am Cæsar.
Come on my right hand, for this ear is deaf,
And tell me truly what thou think'st of him.
W. Shakespeare.

LXXXVII.

GOD SAVE THE QUEEN.*

OD save our gracious Queen,
Long live our noble Queen.
God save the Queen.

Send her victorious,

Happy and glorious,

Long to reign over us,

God save the Queen.

Oh Lord our God, arise,

Scatter her enemies,

And make them fall:

Confound their politics,

Frustrate their knavish tricks,
On her our hopes we fix,
God save us all.

Thy choicest gifts in store,
On her be pleased to pour,
Long may she reign.

May she defend our laws,

And ever give us cause,

With heart and voice to sing,

God save the Queen.

* The national song of 'God save the King' is generally believed to have

been composed by Dr. John Bull for King James the First, A.D. 1667.

Oh grant her long to see
Friendship and amity

Always increase!

May she her sceptre sway,

All loyal souls obey,

Join heart and voice, Hurrah!
God save the Queen!

LXXXVIII.

RULE, BRITANNIA!

HEN Britain first, at Heaven's command,
Arose from out the azure main,

This was the charter of the land,
And guardian angels sung this strain :
Rule, Britannia, rule the waves,
Britons never will be slaves !

The nations, not so blessed as thee,
Must in their turn to tyrants fall;

While thou shalt flourish great and free,
The dread and envy of them all.
Rule, Britannia, &c.

Still more majestic shalt thou rise,

More dreadful from each foreign stroke; As the loud blast that tears the skies, Serves but to root thy native oak. Rule, Britannia, &c.

Thee haughty tyrants ne'er shall tame :
All their attempts to bend thee down
Will but arouse thy generous flame;
But work their woe and thy renown.
Rule, Britannia, &c.

« ՆախորդըՇարունակել »