VIII.-MARK ANTONY'S ORATION. FRIENDS, Romans, countrymen!-lend me your ears. He was my friend, faithful and just to me- And Brutus is an honourable man! He hath brought many captives home to Rome, When that the poor have cried, Cæsar hath wept. And Brutus is an honourable man! I thrice presented him a kingly crown; 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; But yesterday the word of Cæsar might Have stood against the world-now lies he there, O masters! if I were disposed to stir you, But here's a parchment with the seal of Cæsar-I found it in his closet-'tis his will! Let but the commons hear this testament- Unto their issue! If you have tears, prepare to shed them now. You all do know this mantle! I remember The first time ever Cæsar put it on; 'Twas on a summer's evening, in his tent— That day he overcame the Nervii ! Look! in this place ran Cassius' dagger through!— See what a rent the envious Casca made!- Through this the well-beloved Brutus stabb'd! And as he pluck'd his cursed steel away, For Brutus, as you know, was Cæsar's angel! For when the noble Cæsar saw him stab!- Quite vanquish'd him. Then burst his mighty heart; Even at the base of Pompey's statue Which all the while ran blood-great Cæsar fell! Then I, and you, and all of us fell down; Whilst bloody treason flourish'd over us! Good friends! sweet friends! let me not stir you up To such a sudden flood of mutiny! They that have done this deed are honourable !— I come not, friends, to steal away your hearts. But, as you know me all, a plain, blunt man, mouths! And bid them speak for me. But, were I Brutus, Shakespeare. CHAPTER VI. MODERN ORATORY. I.-MR. PITT'S REPLY TO HORACE WALPOLE. SIR,-The atrocious crime of being a young man, which the honourable gentleman has with such spirit and decency charged upon me, I shall neither attempt to palliate nor deny; but content myself with wishing that I may be one of those whose follies may cease with their youth, and not of those who continue ignorant in spite of age and experience. Whether youth can be attributed to any man as a reproach, I will not, Sir, assume the province of determining; but surely age may justly become contemptible, if the opportunities which it brings have passed away without improvement, and vice appear to prevail when the passions have subsided. The wretch, who, after having seen the consequences of a thousand errors, continues still to blunder, and in whom age has only added obstinacy to stupidity, is surely the object either of abhorrence or contempt, and deserves not that his grey head should secure him from insults. Much more, Sir, is he to be abhorred, who, as he has advanced in age, has receded from virtue, and become more wicked with less temptation; who prostitutes himself for money which he cannot enjoy, and spends the remains of his life in the ruin of his country. But youth, Sir, is not my only crime: I have been accused of acting a theatrical part. A theatrical part may either imply some peculiarities of gesture, or a dissimulation of my real sentiments, and the adoption of the opinions and language of another In the first sense, Sir, the charge is too trifling to be confuted, and deserves to be mentioned only that it may be despised. I am at liberty, like every other man, to use my own language; and though I may perhaps man. have some ambition to please this gentleman, I shall not lay myself under any restraint, nor very solicitously copy his diction or his mien, however matured by age, or modelled by experience. But if any man shall, by charging me with theatrical behaviour, imply that I utter any sentiments but my own, I shall treat him as a calumniator and a villain; nor shall any protection shelter him from the treatment which he deserves. I shall, on such an occasion, without scruple, trample upon all those forms with which wealth and dignity entrench themselves; nor shall anything but age restrain my resentment-age, which always brings with it one privilege, that of being insolent and supercilious without punishment. But with regard, Sir, to those whom I have offended, I am of opinion, that, if I had acted a borrowed part, I should have avoided their censure. The heat which offended them, is the ardour of conviction, and that zeal for the service of my country, which neither hope nor fear shall influence me to suppress. I will not sit unconcerned, while my liberty is invaded, nor look in silence upon public robbery. I will exert my endeavours, at whatever hazard, to repel the aggressor, and drag the thief to justice, whoever may protect him in his villainy, and whoever may partake of his plunder. II.-PITT'S CONDEMNATION OF RELIGIOUS You have been taught, indeed, that right belief, or orthodoxy, will, like charity, cover a multitude of sins; but be not deceived: belief of, or mere assent to, the truth of propositions upon evidence is not a virtue, nor unbelief a vice. Faith is not a voluntary act; it does not depend upon the will: every man must believe or disbelieve, whether he will or not, according as evidence appears to him. If, therefore, men, however dignified (or distinguished command us to believe, they are guilty of the highest folly and absurdity, because it is out of our power; |