Antony. Good friends, sweet friends, let me not stir you up

To such a sudden flood of mutiny.

They that have done this deed are honorable :
What private griefs they have, alas, I know not,
That made them do 't; they're wise and honorable,
And will, no doubt, with reasons answer you.

I come not, friends, to steal away your hearts:
I am no orator, as Brutus is;

But, as you know me all, a plain blunt man,

That love my friend; and that they know full well
That gave me public leave to speak of him.
For I have neither wit,* nor words, nor worth,
Action, nor utterance, nor the power of speech,
To stir men's blood: I only speak right on;

I tell you that which you yourselves do know;

Show you sweet Cæsar's wounds, poor, poor dumb mouths,
And bid them speak for me: but were I Brutus,

220

225

230

And Brutus Antony, there were an Antony

Would ruffle up your spirits, and put a tongue

In every wound of Cæsar, that should move

The stones of Rome to rise and mutiny.

Citizens. We'll mutiny.

First Citizen. We'll burn the house of Brutus.

Third Citizen. Away, then! come, seek the conspirators.*

220. griefs, grievances.

| 228. wit, intellectual power.

LITERARY ANALYSIS.-217-237. In this speech of twenty-one lines (one hundred and eighty-three words), only fourteen words-proper names excepted -are of other than Anglo-Saxon origin. (See Def. 49, 1.) Point out these exceptions. Why does Shakespeare here use so large a proportion of native words?-Point out an example of alliteration (see Def. 37) in this speech. 218. such a sudden flood of mutiny. From what is the metaphor taken? 221, 222. they're wise... answer you. What three words are used ironically? 223. to steal away your hearts. Change this into plain language.

224-230. What do you suppose to be Antony's purpose in seeking to make the audience think he was " no orator?"

228. wit. How does " wit" as here used differ from its modern meaning?

230. To stir men's blood. Change into plain language.

235. Would ruffle up your spirits. Explain this expression.

236, 237. should move The stones, etc. What figure of speech? (See Def. 34.) 240. conspirators. Give the etymology of this word.

235

240

Antony. Yet hear me, countrymen; yet hear me speak.
Citizens. Peace, ho! hear Antony; most noble Antony.
Antony. Why, friends, you go to do you know not what.
Wherein hath Cæsar thus deserved your loves?
Alas, you know not :-I must tell you, then.

You have forgot the will I told you of.

Citizens. Most true; the will!—let's stay, and hear the will.
Antony. Here is the will, and under Cæsar's seal.

To every Roman citizen he gives,

To every several man, seventy-five drachmas.

Second Citizen. Most noble Cæsar! We'll revenge his death. Third Citizen. O royal Cæsar !

Antony. Hear me with patience.

All. Peace, ho!

Antony. Moreover, he hath left you all his walks,

On this side Tiber-he hath left them you,

His private arbors and new-planted orchards,

And to your heirs forever, common pleasures,

Here was a Cæsar! when comes such another?

To walk abroad and recreate yourselves.

First Citizen. Never, never!-Come, away, away!

We'll burn his body in the holy place,

And with the brands fire the traitors' houses.

Take up the body.

Second Citizen. Go fetch fire.

Third Citizen. Pluck down benches.

Fourth Citizen. Pluck down forms, windows, anything.

[Exeunt Citizens with the body.

Antony. Now let it work. Mischief, thou art afoot, Take thou what course thou wilt!

thirteen or fourteen dollars of our money.

244. loves. The plural is here used to 250. seventy-five drachmas = indicate that the feeling was shared severally by those ad- 259. to walk abroad: that is, to walk dressed.

abroad in.

246. have forgot. See note to line 62, 263. fire. The word "fire" is here "spoke." pronounced as a dissyllable.

LITERARY ANALYSIS.-266. Pluck down benches, etc.

The incidents in the

play of Julius Cæsar are largely taken from Plutarch's Lives. It is well known

245

250

255

26c

265

II-TRIAL SCENE FROM THE MERCHANT OF VENICE.

[INTRODUCTION.-The Trial Scene forms the second scene, act iv., of the Merchant of Venice, first published in 1600. It has always been one of the most popular of Shakespeare's comedies, both with readers and audiences—a popularity justified by the fact that it stands in the first rank for the almost tragic interest of its main plot, for the variety and strongly marked discrimination of its characters, and for the sweetness, beauty, and grace that pervade it.] Scene-A Court of Justice. Present-The DUKE, the Magnificoes, ANTONIO, BASSANIO, GRATIANO, SALERIO, and others.

I.

Duke. What, is Antonio here?

Antonio. Ready, so please your grace.

Duke. I am sorry for thee: thou art come to answer A stony adversary, an inhuman wretch

Uncapable of pity, void and empty

From any dram of mercy.

Your grace hath ta'en great pains to qualify

His rigorous course; but since he stands obdurate

=

NOTES.-2. so please
5. Uncapable, incapable.

if it so please.

speare always uses of, as we do with void and empty.

5, 6. empty From. Elsewhere Shake-8. qualify, modify.

that Shakespeare used this work, for one of the few existing autographs of the great poet is found in a copy of Sir Thomas North's translation of Plutarch. The following passage from North's text will illustrate what Shakespeare had "to go on" in writing Julius Cæsar: “Afterwards, when Cæsar's body was brought into the market-place, Antonius making his funeral oration in praise of the dead, according to the ancient custom of Rome, and perceiving that his words moved the common people to compassion, he framed his eloquence to make their hearts yearn the more; and, taking Cæsar's gown all bloody in his hand, he laid it open to the sight of them all, showing what a number of cuts and holes it had upon it. Therewithal the people fell presently into such a rage and mutiny that there was no more order kept amongst the common people. For some of them cried out, 'Kill the murtherers !' others plucked up forms, tables, and stalls about the market-place, and having laid them all on a heap together, they set them on fire, and thereupon did put the body of Cæsar, and burnt it in the midst of the most holy places. And, furthermore, when the fire was throughly kindled, some here, some there, took burning fire-brands, and ran with them to the murtherers houses that killed him, to set them on fire."

5

And that no lawful means can carry me
Out of his envy's* reach, I do oppose
My patience to his fury, and am armed
To suffer, with a quietness of spirit,
The very tyranny and rage of his.

Duke. Go one, and call the Jew into court.

Salerio. He is ready at the door: he comes, my lord.

Enter SHYLOCK.

Duke. Make room, and let him stand before our face.

Shylock, the world thinks, and I think so too,
That thou but lead'st this fashion of thy malice
To the last hour of act; and then 'tis thought
Thou'lt show thy mercy and remorse* more strange
Than is thy strange apparent cruelty ;
And where thou now exact'st the penalty,
Which is a pound of this poor merchant's flesh,
Thou wilt not only loose the forfeiture,
But, touched with human gentleness and love,
Forgive a moiety* of the principal;
Glancing an eye of pity on his losses,
That have of late so huddled on his back,
Enow to press a royal merchant down

And pluck commiseration of his state

From brassy bosoms and rough hearts of flint,

From stubborn Turks and Tartars, never trained
To offices of tender courtesy.

We all expect a gentle answer, Jew.

Shylock. I have possessed* your grace of what I purpose,

And by our holy Sabbath have I sworn

To have the due and forfeit of my bond.

If you deny it, let the danger light

11. his envy's reach: that is, the reach 30. royal, a complimentary term to in

Upon your charter and your city's freedom.
You'll ask me, why I rather choose to have
A weight of carrion flesh than to receive
Three thousand ducats. I'll not answer that;
But, say it is my humor: is it answered?
What if my house be troubled with a rat,
And I be pleased to give ten thousand ducats
To have it baned?* What, are you answered yet?
Some men there are love not a gaping pig;

Some, that are mad if they behold a cat ;

Some, when they hear the bagpipe: for affection,
Mistress of passion, sways it to the mood

Of what it likes or loathes. Now, for your answer:
As there is no firm reason to be rendered,
Why he cannot abide a gaping pig ;
Why he, a harmless necessary cat;
Why he, a woollen bagpipe; but of force
Must yield to such inevitable shame
As to offend, himself being offended;
So can I give no reason, nor I will not,
More than a lodged hate and a certain loathing
I bear Antonio, that I follow thus

A losing suit against him. Are you

answered?

Bassanio. This is no answer, thou unfeeling man,

T'excuse the current of thy cruelty.

Shylock. I am not bound to please thee with my answers.
Bassanio. Do all men kill the things they do not love?
Shylock. Hates any man the thing he would not kill?

Bassanio. Every offence* is not a hate at first.

Shylock. What, wouldst thou have a serpent sting thee twice?

44. But, say but suppose; humor, 54, 55, 56. he ... he... he: one, an