was at all comparable to that which Shakespeare has created for him: "Friends, Romans, countrymen, lend me your ears; I come to bury Cæsar, not to praise him. So are they all, all honourable men- He was my friend, faithful and just to me; And Brutus is an honourable man. He hath brought many captives home to Rome, Did this in Cæsar seem ambitious? When that the poor have cried, Cæsar hath wept. Yet Brutus says he was ambitious; And 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 ?— 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 cause: What 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; But yesterday the word of Cæsar might Have stood against the world;-now lies he there, O masters! if I were disposed to stir Let but the commons hear this testament- And, dying, mention it within their wills, If you have tears, prepare to shed them now. 'Twas on a summer's evening in his tent Look, in this place ran Cassius' dagger through: For when the noble Cæsar saw him stab, Ingratitude more strong than traitor's arms, Quite vanquished him; then burst his mighty heart; Even at the base of Pompey's statue, Which all the while ran blood, great Cæsar fell. Good friends, sweet friends, let me not stir you up They that have done this deed are honourable; 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 I tell you that which you yourselves do know; Show you sweet Cæsar's wounds, poor, poor dumb mouths, And Brutus Antony, there were an Antony THE ANTONY AND CLEOPATRA. HE death of Cæsar (B.c. 44) left Antony master of Rome. But a rival soon appeared in the person of Octavius, Cæsar's nephew and heir. Indeed, this Octavius was destined to reign as the first emperor of Rome, under the title of Cæsar Augustus. After the defeat and death of Brutus and Cassius at Philippi, Mark Antony and his rival divided the Roman world between them, Antony taking for his share the eastern provinces, and Octavius the western. Antony at once proceeded to make a tour through his dominions. At Tarsus he received a visit which proved his utter ruin. This was from Cleopatra, queen of Egypt, who had so long exercised her sway over the heart of the great Cæsar. She now came to meet Antony at Tarsus, resolved to conquer by her wit and beauty. She sailed along the river Cydnus1 in a most magnificent galley. The stern was covered with gold, the sails were of purple, and the oars were silver. These, in their motion, kept time to the music of flutes, and pipes, and harps. The queen, in the dress and character of Venus, lay under a canopy embroidered with gold, of the most exquisite workmanship, while boys, like painted Cupids, stood fanning her on each side of the sofa. Her maids were of the most distinguished beauty, and, habited like the Nereids and Graces, assisted in the steerage and conduct of the vessel. The fragrance of burning incense was diffused along the shores, which were covered with multitudes of people. 8 The queen invited the Roman ruler to her ship, and he complied. From that moment he was her slave, and lent his power to execute all her caprices. Oc casionally he broke the silken cord of the enchantress, and took the field as a veteran warrior. It is remarkable how this brave soldier, amid the hardships of war, could shake off his luxurious habits, and how cheerfully he would share with the meanest soldier all the toils and privations of the most disastrous campaign. 66 At length he sunk into an indolent voluptuary, and whiled away his time in silly amusements. At Alexandria, the capital of the infamous Cleopatra, the veteran warrior fell into every idle excess, and offered at the shrine of luxury what a philosopher has called the greatest of all sacrifices-the sacrifice of time. They visited each other on alternate days, and the profusion of their entertainments is almost incredible. Plutarch tells, in illustration of this remark, a story told to his grandfather by Philotas, a physician at that time studying at Alexandria. Being acquainted with one of Antony's cooks, he was invited to see the preparations for supper. When he came into the kitchen he observed, beside an infinite variety of other provisions, eight wild boars roasting whole, and expressed his surprise at the number of the company for whom this enormous provision must have been made. The cook laughed, and said that the company did not exceed twelve; but that as every dish was to be roasted to a single turn, and as he was uncertain as to the time when Antony might wish to sup, it was necessary to have a succession of suppers in readiness." G While Antony was rapidly losing the respect of the Romans by his worthless frivolous life, under the influence of Cleopatra's fascinating wit and manner, his rival (now called Octavian) was winning golden opinions by his patient industry and resolute persever. ance in the administration of his government. Before |