aster spirit of this age!"_

Brutus gave orders for a grand funeral, turning the body of the dead lion
over to Antony, who might make the funeral oration to the people within
such bounds of discretion as the conspirators dictated.

Standing alone, by the dead body of Caesar in the Senate, Antony pours out
thus, the overflowing vengeance of his soul:

_"O pardon me, thou bleeding piece of earth,
That I am meek and gentle with these butchers;
Thou art the ruins of the noblest man
That ever lived in the tide of times.
Woe to the hand that shed this costly blood!
Over thy wounds now do I prophesy--
Which like dumb mouths, do ope their ruby lips
To beg the voice and utterance of my tongue;
A curse shall light upon the limbs of men;
Domestic fury and fierce civil strife
Shall cumber all the parts of Italy;
Blood and destruction shall be so in use,
And dreadful objects so familiar,
That mothers shall but smile when they behold
Their infants quartered with the hands of war;
All pity choked with custom of fell deeds;
And Caesar's spirit, ranging for revenge,
With Ate by his side, come hot from hell,
Shall in these confines, with a monarch's voice,
Cry, 'Havoc!' and let slip the dogs of war!"_

The wild citizens of Rome clamored for the reason of Caesar's death, and
Brutus mounted the rostrum in the Forum and delivered this cunning and bold
oration in defense of the conspirators:

"Romans, countrymen and lovers, hear me for my cause, and be silent that ye
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 Caesar's, to him I say
that Brutus' love to Caesar was no less than his.

"If then that friend demand why Brutus rose against Caesar, this is my
answer. Not that I loved Caesar less; but that I loved Rome more!

"Had you rather Caesar were living, and die all slaves, than Caesar were
dead, to live all free men?

"As Caesar 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 is 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