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 : I come not, friends, to steal away your 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; Show you sweet Cæsar's wounds, poor, poor dumb mouths, 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, i.) 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 erator?" 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. 84.) 240. conspirators. Give the etymology of this word. 220 225 230 235 240 Antony. Yet hear me, countrymen ; yet hear me speak. You have forgot the will I told you of. Citizens. Most true; the will!-let's stay, and hear the will. To every Roman citizen he gives, To every several man, seventy-five drachmas. Second Citizen. Most noble Cæsar! Third Citizen. O royal Cæsar! Antony. Hear me with patience. All. Peace, ho! 245 250 We'll revenge his death. Antony. Moreover, he hath left you all his walks, 255 And to your heirs forever, common pleasures, To walk abroad and recreate yourselves. Here was a Cæsar! when comes such another? We'll burn his body in the holy place, First Citizen. Never, never!-Come, away, away! 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! 244. loves. The plural is here used to 250. seventy-five drachmas indicate that the feeling was fourteen dollars of our money. abroad in. shared severally by those ad- 259. to walk abroad: that is, to walk dressed. 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 260 265 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 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 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, Which is a pound of this poor merchant's flesh, 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 II. his envy's reach: that is, the reach 30. royal, a complimentary term to in of his malice. 21. remorse, relenting. 23. where whereas. 25. loose, release. 30. Enow = enough. dicate the wealth and power of Antonio. 35. gentle. A pun on Gentile is meant to be suggested. 36. possessed, informed. Upon your charter and your city's freedom. What if my house be troubled with a rat, To have it baned?* What, are you answered yet? 40 45 Some, that are mad if they behold a cat ; Some, when they hear the bagpipe: for affection, 50 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 ; A losing suit against him. Are you answered? T'excuse the current of thy cruelty. Shylock. I am not bound to please thee with my answers. Shylock. What, wouldst thou have a serpent sting thee twice? = 44. But, say but suppose; humor, 54, 55, 56. he... he... he: one, anwhim, caprice. 47. baned, poisoned. 48. a gaping pig: that is, a pig's head served up on the table. 50. affection. The word here signifies emotions produced through the senses by external objects. 53. firm, sound. other, another. 59. nor I will not. Observe the double negative, a common idiom in Shakespeare's time. 55 60 65 |