Englishman, is still congenial with, and makes part of his being that feeling, which tells him, that man was never made to be the property of man; but that when through pride and insolence of power, one human creature dares to tyrannize over another, it is a power usurped, and resistance is a duty-that feeling, which tells him, that all power is delegated for the good, not for the injury of the people, and that when it is converted from the original purpose, the compact is broken, and the right is to be resumed—that principle, which tells him, that resistance to power usurped, is not merely a duty which he owes to himself and to his neighbour, but a duty which he owes to his God, in asserting and maintaining the rank which he gave him in the creation!-to that common God, who, where he gives the form of man, whatever may be the complexion, gives also the feelings and the rights of manthat principle, which neither the rudeness of ignorance can stifle, nor the enervation of refinement extinguish!--that principle, which makes it base for a man to suffer when he ought to act, which, tending to preserve to the species the original designations of providence, spurns at the arrogant distinctions of man, and vindicates the independent qualities of his race! LEONIDAS AT THERMOPYLE. THREE hundred-and they stood Their swords unsheathed, and unsubdued, Their cities all were sack'd, Destruction's flames had clasp'd them; Their foot was on the hill Which in happier moments bore them; Hope's meteor gleam had set, They've javelins that can smite, And fame that still may flourish, And blades that yet in blood can write Their latest stand sublime, The mountains dark seem viewing, And they are monuments that time Can never lay in ruin: Each blue and icy peak That splits the far clouds floating, From nature's page their fame will speak When they and theirs are rotting. Brush'd by the dancing air, Meets freedom, when she charges- They came, they little knew Ay, strike! your fathers' ghosts 'Tis eve-the sun's warm lip Hath kiss'd the smiling waters;— 'Tis night-and the broad moon is up, And all her laughing daughters. Though Persia's hosts are nigh, Let other minions serve them; The men of Greece have learn'd to die, Death cannot now unnerve them. As floats the eagle, when K Fierce as the bolts that fringe Of crags, like one who knew her;- The heralds came -the power Of empires were behind them; They bade Greece yield her swords, and cower The Spartan chief exclaim'd— "No! not while we can make them Dig graves for Persia's proud and famed— But let them come and take them!" MARK ANTONY'S ORATION. FRIENDS! Romans! countrymen! lend me your ears: If it were so, it was a grievous fault; Here, under leave of Brutus and the rest(For Brutus is an honourable man; So are they all-all honourable men!) He was my friend; faithful and just to me:- He hath brought many captives home to Rome, Whose ransoms did the general coffers fill: Did this in Cæsar seem ambitious?— When that the poor have cried, Cæsar hath weptAmbition should be made of sterner stuff;Yet Brutus says, he was ambitiousAnd Brutus is an honourable man! You all did see, that on the Lupercal 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 here I am to speak what I do know: You all did love him once-not without causeWhat cause withholds you, then, to mourn for him? O judgment! thou art fled to brutish beasts; And men have lost their reason! Bear with me: My heart is in the coffin there with Cæsar, But yesterday the word of Cæsar might O masters!-if I were disposed to stir Your hearts and minds to mutiny and rage, -I should do Brutus wrong; and Cassius wrong; Who, you all know, are honourable men! I will not do them wrong: I rather choose To wrong the dead-to wrong myself—and you, But here's a parchment, with the seal of Cæsar: Let but the commons hear this testament— (Which, pardon me, I do not mean to read,) |