BRUTUS' HARANGUE ON THE DEATH OF CESAR. Romans, Countrymen, and Lovers!-Hear me for my cause; and be silent that you may hear. Believe me for mine honor; and have respect to mine honor, that you may believe. Censure me in your wisdom; and awake your senses, that you may the better judge. If there be any in this assembly, any dear friend of Cæsar's, to him I say, that Brutus' love to Cæsar was no less than his. If then that friend demand why Brutus rose against Cæsar, this is my answer: Not that I loved Cæsar less, but that I loved Rome more. Had you rather Cæsar were living, and die all slaves; than that Cæsar were dead, to live all freemen? As Cæsar loved me, I weep for him; as he was fortunate I rejoice at it; as he was valiant, I honor him; but as he was ambitious-I slew him. There are tears for his love, joy for his fortune, honor for his valor, and death for his ambition. Who is here so base that would be a bondman? if any, speak; for him have I offended. Who is here so rude, that would not be a Roman? if any, speak, for him have I offended. Who is here so vile, that would not love his country? if any, speak; for him have I offended. I pause for a reply None! Then none have I offended. I have done no more to Cæsar than you should do to Brutus. The question of his death is enrolled in the capitol; his glory not extenuated, wherein he was worthy; nor his offences enforced, for which he suffered death. Here comes his body, mourn'd by Mark Antony; who, though he had no hand in his death, shall receive the benefit of his dying, a place in the commonwealth; as which of you shall not?-With this I depart-that as I slew my best lover for the good of Rome, I have the same dagger for myself, when it shall please my country to need my death ANTONY'S ORATION OVER CESAR'S BODY. Friends, Romans, Countrymen! Lend me your ears. So are they all, all honorable men, He was my friend, faithful and just to me: And Brutus is an honorable man.. He hath brought many captives home to Rome, When that the poor have cried, Cæsar hath wept I thrice presented him a kingly crown; Which he did thrice refuse: Was this ambition? And sure, he is an honorable man. I speak not to disprove what Brutus spoke; You all did love him once; not without cause; But yesterday the word of Cæsar, might Have stood against the world! Now lies he there Your hearts and minds to mutiny and rage, I will not do them wrong-I rather choose But here's a parchment, with the seal of Cæsar; Let but the commons hear this testament, And they would go and kiss dead Cæsar's wounds, And, dying, mention it within their wills, Unto their issue If you have tears, prepare to shed them now. 'Twas on a summer's evening in his tent, That day he overcame the Nervii Look! In this place ran Cassius' dagger through- This, this was the unkindest cut of all! For when the noble Cæsar saw him stab, Ingratitude, more strong than traitor's arms, E'en at the base of Pompey's statue, Which all the while ran blood, great Cæsar fell. Here is himself-marr'd as you see, by traitors. To Good friends! Sweet friends! Let me not stir you up any 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 it! They are wise and honorable. And will, no doubt, with reason answer you. I come not friends, to steal away your I am no orator, as Brutus is; hearts! But as you know me all, a plain blunt man That love my friend-and that they know full well, I tell you that which you yourselves do know- And bid them speak for me. But, were I Brutus, EULOGY PRONOUNCED AT THE CITY OF WASHINGTON, Oct. 19, 1826. By WILLIAM WIRT. The scenes which have been lately passing in our country, and of which this meeting is a continuance, are full of moral instruction. They hold up to the world a lesson of wisdom by which all may profit, if Heaven shall grant them the discretion to turn it to its use. The spectacle, in all its parts, has indeed, been most solemn and impressive; and though the first impulse be now past, the time has not yet come, and never will it come, when we can contemplate it, without renewed emotion. In the structure of their characters; in the course of their action; in the striking coincidences which marked their high career; in the lives and in the deaths of the illustrious men, whose virtues and services we have met to commemorate-and in that voice of admiration and gratitude which has since burst, with one accord, from the twelve millions of freemen who people these States, there is a moral sublimity which overwhelms the mind, and hushes all its powers into silent amazement! The European, who should have heard the sound without apprehending the cause, would be apt to inquire, "What is the meaning of all this? what had these men done to elicit this unanimous and splendid acclamation? Why has the whole American nation risen up, as one man, to do them honor, and offer to them this enthusiastic homage of the heart? Were they mighty warriors, and was the peal that we have heard, the shout of victory? Were they great commanders, returning from their distant conquests, surrounded with the spoils of war, and was this the sound of their triumphal procession? Were they covered with martial glory in any form, and was this the noisy wave of the multitude rolling back at their approach ?" Nothing of all this: No; they were peaceful and aged patriots, who, having served their country together, through their long and useful lives, had now sunk together to the tomb. They had not fought battles; but they had formed and moved the great machinery of which battles were only a small, and, comparatively, trivial consequence. They had not commanded armies; but they had commanded the master springs of the nation, on which all its great political, as well as military movements depended. By the wisdom and energy of their counsels, and by the potent mastery of their spirits, they had contributed pre-eminently to produce a mighty Revolution, which has changed the aspect of the world. A Revolution which, in one half of that world has already restored man to his "long-lost liberty;" and government to its only legitimate object, the happiness |