Had got for making spectacles a fame, Or "Helps to read," as, when they first were sold, And, for all uses to be had from glass, There came a man into his shop one day: And book produced, to see how they would fit - "Then, sir, I fancy-if you please to tryThese in my hand will better suit your eye." "No, but they don't."-"Well, come, sir, if you please, Here is another sort: we'll e'en try these; Still somewhat more they magnify the letter: Now, sir?"" Why, now, I'm not a bit the better!" "No? here, take these that magnify still more: How do they fit?". "Like all the rest before." 1 writ, written. In short, they tried the whole assortment through, But all in vain, for none of 'em would do. The operator, much surprised to find So odd a case, thought, "Sure the man is blind." 66 What sort of eyes can yours be, friend?" said he. Why, very good ones, friend, as you may see." "Yes, I perceive the clearness of the ball: Pray, let me ask you, can you read at all?” "No, you great blockhead! if I could, what need Of paying you for any Helps to Read?" And so he left the maker in a heat,1 Resolved to post him for an arrant2 cheat. DR. BYROM. 115.- Mark Antony's Address over the Dead Body of Cæsar. This celebrated speech is from Shakespeare's play of "Julius Cæsar," Act III. Scene 2. Mark Antony was a friend of Cæsar, who had just been assassinated (B.C. 44), and had been permitted by Brutus and Cassius, the leaders of the anti-Cæsar party, "to speak in Cæsar's funeral." Friends, Romans, countrymen, lend me your ears: I come to bury Cæsar, not to praise him. If it were so, it was a grievous fault,- Here, under leave of Brutus and the rest- Come I to speak in Cæsar's funeral. 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: Yet Brutus says he was ambitious, And Brutus is an honorable 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 honorable man. I speak not to disprove what Brutus spoke, 1 answered it, atoned for it. 2 honorable. Note that this is ironical, and, together with the subsequent uses of the word, should be read so as to convey this fact. 8 general coffers; i.e., the public treasury. 4 Lupercal, the Roman annual festival-day in honor of the god Pan. You all did love him once, not without cause; What cause withholds you, then, to mourn for him? But yesterday the word of Cæsar might O masters! if I were disposed to stir 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 commons1 hear this testament,2- Unto their issue! 1 commons; i.e., the common people or plebeians. 2 testament, will. 3 napkins, handkerchiefs. 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! 2 This was the most unkindest cut of all; For, when the noble Cæsar saw him stab, Quite vanquished him. Then burst his mighty heart; E'en at the base of Pompey's statuë, 3 Which all the while ran blood, great Cæsar fell. O, what a fall was there, my countrymen ! 1 Nervii, one of the Gallic tribes conquered by Cæsar. 2 most unkindest, the double superlative, of which this is an example, was common with the writers of the Elizabethan age. 3 statue. This word is here pronounced as a trisyllable. Pompey was a son-in-law of Cæsar, having married his daughter Julia. 4 dint (literally, dent), impression, emotion. |