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gives only a very partial delineation of the dictator's character; but he does so that he may manifest prominently that spirit against which the conspiracy was directed. It is dramatically expedient that something specially offensive in the behaviour of Cæsar should immediately precede the assault of the conspirators, to relieve, by the occurrence of some irritating provocation, the horror of an act of murder in which the gentle and noble Brutus participates. But while Shakspeare has in this play made Cæsar manifest himself as history describes him at the particular time to which the action of the play belongs, the better qualities of the great ruler are set forth in just eulogium by other "persons of the drama." Brutus acknowledges him to have had virtues for which he deserved to be both loved and honoured, and gives high testimony to his merit in saying, "I have not known when his affections swayed more than his reason;" and even Antony, amidst all his hypocrisy, is found ascribing with sincerity to Cæsar much excellence which we know that Cæsar really possessed.

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Of Antony's address to the citizens we may freely affirm that it is one of the finest specimens of eloquence that ever were uttered by human tongue. It is so consummately skilful as regards the poet's conception and construction of it, that while we are enabled to discern most distinctly the speaker's desire of reviving, in his own person, that dignity which, by Cæsar's fall, has been extinguished, we cannot for a moment imagine that even the most intelligent of the citizens should be able to exercise the same discernment, nor, mean-hearted though many of them were, can we think it any disparagement of their tempers that they should be swayed so strongly by an harangue so truly and persuasively eloquent. Brutus is incapable of such oratory; in the ordinary dialogue he is indeed eloquent, but there is not much of the orator in his set speech to the citizens, supposed by some critics to have been intended by the poet as an exemplification of the sententious and laconic style which Plutarch says that Brutus affected when he expressed his thouhts in Greek. It was part, then, of Antony's subtlety to say, "I am no orator as Brutus is;" and it is interesting to observe

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how ingenious is the subtlety which pervades the whole of his address. "I come," he says, "to bury Cæsar, not to praise him;" yet how artfully does he contrive to give his language all the effect of the most laudatory panegyric. He had promised to say nothing in dispraise of the conspirators, yet, while he formally keeps his word, he most effectively excites the people's indignation against the "honourable men ; "____" I will not do them wrong," he says, "I rather choose to wrong the dead, to wrong myself and you, than I will wrong such honourable men; " and again, "I fear I wrong the honourable men whose daggers have stabbed Cæsar; I do fear it." He seeks to avoid what could be imputed as a breach of promise, by showing Caesar's wounds, "poor, poor dumb mouths," and bidding them speak for him, and by affirming that were he Brutus and Brutus Antony, that is, were he Brutus with the soul of Antony, so that the solicitude he is now obliged to feel for Brutus's welfare might be done away with, there would then be an Antony that would " move the stones of Rome to rise and mutiny." The craftiness, too, with which he introduces Cæsar's testament*, as a means of exciting the citizens to avenge the murder, is exhibited with admirable dramatic skill; and when he thereby succeeds in making them rush off in frantic rage to inflict retribution on the assassins, how mightily does the unprincipled advocate proclaim himself to his own ear, in the exulting words, "Now let it work; mischief, thou art afoot; take thou what course thou wilt!"

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The Fourth and Fifth Acts of this noble play contain much to tempt us to a considerable extension of these Introductory Remarks. The quarrel scene between Brutus and Cassius, bringing out so admirably the mild and virtuous dignity of Brutus's character, and showing us that love does not blind him to the faults of his less scrupulous and too impetuous friend; — the

"In the course of the night Calpurnia contrived to remove treasure to the amount of 4000 talents to the consul's dwelling, and therewith another deposit, which became of still greater importance to him, the private papers of the deceased. Possessed of these instruments, among which were the testament and other memorials of the dictator's views, Antonius felt at once the vantage ground on which he stood, and conceived a deep scheme for securing efficient support to his own pretensions."-Merivale's Roman Empire.

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development of that worthy nobility of soul, which has all along been in Cassius, notwithstanding his faults, but which eventually predominates in his behaviour; the ingenious raillery on the occasion of the parley between the republican generals and the triumvirs; the affectionate interchange of sentimental thought between Brutus and Cassius in anticipation of their being soon parted for ever; these and other topics might be commented on, so as to evince more and more the wondrous force and beauty of this dramatic composition. But by a comparison of the play with the corresponding extracts from Plutarch which are here supplied, the reader may now be enabled to form judicious comments of his own, in addition to the few Introductory Remarks, which we now bring to a conclusion with the following observations of Dr. Schmitz :

"The death of Cæsar was an irreparable loss, not only to the Roman people, but to the whole civilised world; for the republic was utterly ruined, and no earthly power could restore it. Cæsar's death involved the state in fresh struggles, and civil wars, for many a year, until in the end it fell again (and this was the best that, under the circumstances, could have happened to it,) under the supremacy of Augustus, who had neither the talent, nor the will, nor the power, to carry out all the beneficial plans which his great-uncle had formed. It has been truly said that the murder of Cæsar was the most senseless act the Romans ever committed. Had it been possible at all to restore the republic, it would unavoidably have fallen into the hands of a most profligate aristocracy, who would have sought nothing but their own aggrandisement, would have demoralised the people still more, and would have established their own greatness upon the ruins of their country. It is only necessary to recollect the latter years of the republic, the depravity and corruption of the ruling class, the scenes of violence and bloodshed which constantly occurred in the streets of Rome, to render it evident to every one that peace and security could not be restored, except by the strong hand of a sovereign; and the Roman world would have been fortunate indeed, if it had submitted to the mild and beneficent sway of Cæsar.”—History of Rome, chap. xxxv.

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I. Extracts from Plutarch's Life of Julius Cæsar.

"The consuls and prætors, with the whole assembly of the senate, went unto him in the market-place, where he was set by the pulpit for orations, to tell him what honours they had decreed for him in his absence. But he, sitting still in his majesty, answered them, that his honours had more need to be cut off than enlarged. This did not only offend the senate, but the common people also, to see that he should so lightly esteem of the magistrates of the commonwealth; insomuch as every man that might lawfully go his way departed thence very sorrowfully. Thereupon also Cæsar rising departed home to his house, and, tearing open his doublet collar, making his neck bare, he cried out aloud to his friends, that his throat was ready to offer to any man that would come and cut it. Notwithstanding it is reported, that afterwards, to excuse his folly, he imputed it to his disease, saying, that their wits are not perfect which have this disease of the falling evil, when standing on their

* In these selections the old spelling is modernised.

feet they speak to the common people, but are soon troubled with a trembling of their body, and a sudden dimness and giddiness."

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"At that time the feast Lupercalia was celebrated. Cæsar sat to behold that sport upon the pulpit for orations, in a chair of gold, apparelled in triumphant manner. Antonius, who was consul at that time, was one of them that ran this holy course. So when he came into the market-place, the people made a lane for him to run at liberty, and he came to Cæsar and presented him a diadem wreathed about with laurel. Whereupon there rose a certain cry of rejoicing, not very great, done only by a few appointed for the purpose. But when Cæsar refused the diadem, then all the people together made an outcry of joy. Then Antonius offering it again, there was a second shout of joy, but yet of a few. But when Cæsar refused it again the second time, then all the whole people shouted. Cæsar having made this proof, found that the people did not like of it,. and thereupon rose out of his chair, and commanded the crown to be carried unto Jupiter in the capitol. After that there were 3 set up images of Cæsar in the city, with diadems upon their heads like kings. These the two tribunes, Flavius and Marullus*, went and pulled down, and furthermore, meeting with them that first saluted Cæsar as king, they committed them to prison. The people followed them rejoicing at it, and called them Brutes, [i. e. Bruti or Brutuses,] because of Brutus who' had in old times driven the kings out of Rome, and that brought the kingdom of one person unto the government of the senate and people. Cæsar was so offended withal, that he deprived Marullus and Flavius of their tribuneships, and accusing them he spake also against the people, and called them Bruti and Cumanit, to wit, beasts, and fools.”

*By Suetonius (I. 79) these two tribunes of the people are called Epidius Marullus and Cæsetius Flavus.

+ The word Brutus is a Latin adjective, meaning irrational or stupid; hence the application brute animals. It is said that Lucius Junius Brutus, who drove Tarquinius Superbus from the throne, had, in consequence of his parents having been murdered by that tyrant, resorted to the expedient of feigning himself to be very dull and stupid, in order to avert Tarquin's suspicion, and that hence the name

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