Does Cassius succeed any better by his second method of moving Brutus than by his first? Has he gained his end? Has he gained anything? What has he lost by the quarrel? How are the two men standing with respect to each other as the quarrel ends? Has the entrance of the poet, and the attendant noise and confusion a good dramatic effect? 131. The word "cynic" comes from the Greek word for dog, and it means one who snarls. Plutarch does not call the intruder a poet. He was "one Marcus Favonius, that had been a friend and follower of Cato while he lived, and took upon him to counterfeit a philosopher, not with wisdom and discretion, but with a certain bedlam and frantic motion." When this man burst into the presence of the generals, "Cassius fell a-laughing at him: but Brutus thrust him out of the chamber, and called him dog, and counterfeit cynic. Howbeit his coming in broke their strife at that time, and so they left each other." (Plutarch's Life of Brutus.) 133. It is not especially sweet and amiable in Cassius to make such a speech at just this time? 134. Paraphrase the line. 135. "Jigging fools are fools who make jigs, or ballads. 136. "Companion was a term of contempt. 136. Why does Cassius drive the man out immediately after asking Brutus to bear with him? 141. Why does Cassius recur to the unpleasant subject? Is he not lacking in self-respect? 143. Brutus was a follower of the stoic school. See introduction. 146. Which of the two men shows the more grief? 153. "Distract" means distracted. 154. Plutarch, in his life of Brutus, says Portia "took hot burning coals, and cast them into her mouth, and kept her mouth so close that she choked herself." However, Plutarch does not mention her death in connection with the quarrel between Brutus and Cassius. Why does Shakespeare do so? Concerning this quarrel, we must turn again to Plutarch, who indeed mentions two quarrels, the first of which ended in tears and in the interruption of Marcus Favonius, already mentioned. The second quarrel is thus narrated in the life of Brutus : "The next day after, Brutus, upon complaint of the Sardians, did condemn and noted Lucius Pella for a defamed person, that had been a prætor of the Romans, and whom Brutus had given charge unto: for that he was accused and convicted of robbery and pilfery in his office. This judgment much misliked Cassius: because he himself had secretly (not many days before) warned two of his friends, attainted and convicted of the like offences, and openly had cleared them: but yet he did not therefore leave to employ them in any manner of service as he did before. And therefore he greatly reproved Brutus, for that he would show himself so straight and severe in such a time, as was meeter to bear a little, than to take things at the worst. Brutus, in the contrary manner, answered that he should remember the Ides of March, at which time they slew Julius Cæsar: who neither pilled nor polled the country, but was only a favourer and suborner of all them that did rob and spoil, by his countenance and authority. And if there were any occasion whereby they might honestly set aside justice and equity: they should have had more reason to have suffered Cæsar's friends, to have robbed and done what wrong and injury they had would, than to bear with their own men. For then said he, they could but have said they had been cowards and now they may accuse us of injustice, besides the pains we take, and the danger we put ourselves into. And thus may we see what Brutus's intent and purpose was.' Why did Shakespeare combine both these quarrels into one? Find, in the quotation, some expressions that Shakespeare used in the play. Compare the quotation with the lines I and 28 inclusive: account for the superiority of Shakespeare's way of putting the story. 163. Phrase this line your own way. 164. As they seat themselves at a table in the tent, Cassius looks away into vacancy, apparently lost in his apologetic, conciliatory reverie. Does Brutus discover that he is not quite honest in his grief? 177. We are now approaching the end of the fourth act of this tragedy; within two pages we have learned of the death of Portia, and now we hear that Cicero is no more: do you see any reason why Shakespeare so arranged the play as to have these deaths mentioned just at this place? 181. "Writ" was a correct form in Shakespeare's day. 182. Why does Brutus deny any knowledge of Portia's death? What is his manner? 188-190. Show how this speech is in consonance with Brutus's philosophy of life. 192, 193. Phrase Cassius's answer in your own way. 194. "Alive" means with the living. 199. Explain "doing himself offence." 201. Brutus has always shown strong confidence in his own judgment; has it always been justified? 203. Explain "forced affection." 204. Scan. What does the line show of the manner of supporting armies in these times? ory. 216-222. The student should not fail to commit these lines to memWhy are they good poetry? 226. " Niggard" means to be stingy, or grudging. 231-234. Why does Cassius overdo the matter of reconciliation? 249. Express this line in your own way. 254. Does "heavy" add anything to the force of the line? 256. "An't" means if it. 259. Express the line in your own way. 264. The music begins feebly, and dies away as Lucius falls asleep. Notice the contrast between the stormy opening of the scene and this death-like quiet. Does not the silence rouse expectation of something unusual? Describe Brutus's action during the rest of the speech. 266. A mace was a heavy war-club used during the Middle Ages for breaking armor. Does the word "leaden" add anything to the force of the line? 273. Does not the expression, "How ill this taper burns!" reinforce the feeling aroused by the dying out of the music? It was believed that at the appearance of a ghost the lights would burn blue. 273-280. The ghost of Cæsar, let us suppose, appears mysteriously at the left, clad in white; Brutus sees it as he snuffs the wick. Considering his courageous character, how does he act? Does he speak slowly or rapidly? in a low tone or a loud one? what tone does the ghost speak? Does he show great fear? In 278. The meaning of "stare" is plain from the context. 281. Has not this line, as well as the previous speech of the ghost, a direct bearing on the main theme of the play? 236. Why should Brutus express such a wish? 287. After this silence as of death, and the very appearance of death itself, what is the effect of the loud shouts of Brutus? 293, 295, 301, 302. Explain why Brutus asks these questions. The passage in the life of Brutus from which Shakespeare made the ghost scene is as follows: "But as they both (Brutus and Cassius) prepared to pass over again, out of Asia into Europe: there went a rumour that there appeared a wonderful sign unto him. Brutus was a careful man, and slept very little, both for that his diet was moderate, as also because he was continually occupied. He never slept in the daytime, and in the night no longer than the time he was driven to be alone, and when everybody else took their rest. But now whilst he was in war, and his head ever busily occupied to think of his affairs, and what would happen: after he had slumbered a little after supper, he spent all the rest of the night in despatching of his weightiest causes, and after he had taken order for them, if he had any leisure left him, he would read some book till the third watch of the night, at what time the captains, petty captains and colonels, did use to come to him. So, being ready to go into Europe, one night very late (when all the camp took quiet rest) as he was in his tent with a little light, thinking of weighty matters: he thought he heard one come in to him, and casting his eye towards the door of the tent, that he saw a wonderful strange and monstrous shape of a body coming towards him, and said never a word. So Brutus boldly asked what he was, a god or a man, and what cause brought him thither. The spirit answered him, I am thy evil spirit, Brutus: and thou shalt see me by the city of Philippi. Brutus being no otherwise afraid, replied again unto it: Well, then I shall see thee again. The spirit presently vanished away: and Brutus called his men unto him, who told him that they heard no noise, nor saw anything at all. Thereupon Brutus returned again to think on his matters as he did before: and when the day broke, he went unto Cassius, to tell him what vision had appeared unto him in the night.” What expression has Shakespeare quoted exactly? What incident has he added to heighten the dramatic interest? What superstition has he used for the same purpose? Contrast the prose account with the scene in the play, and show what words and expressions in the latter make a strong appeal to the emotions and the imagination. What sentence near the end of Plutarch's account has Shakespeare lengthened and elaborated with strong dramatic effect? General Questions. 1. Has the quarrel between Brutus and Cassius a vital bearing on the general theme of the play? 2. What does it show of the relative strength of the two men? 3. Find a passage in which Brutus correctly estimates the character of Cassius. 4. Where does Cassius begin to weaken? 5. Does Brutus lose any dignity by the quarrel? 6. Which of the two men shows the greater variety of action? 7. In the beginning of the play, Cassius seemed to work Bru 8. Modern actors often tus to his own desires; why does he fail here? shorten Shakespeare's scenes, and always, if possible, at a climax; might this one be brought to an end sooner? General Questions on the Act. 1. What step or steps of the story are accomplished in the act? 2. Does the murder of Cæsar seem to have improved the health of the dying Republic? 3. Do you see any reason why a government should not have more than one head? 4. Do you see the hand of Nemesis in the act? 5. Is the appearance of the ghost of Cæsar a matter of primary, or only of secondary, importance? 6. Show that tenderness was a part of Brutus's character. Has he manifested it before in the play? ACT V. Scene I. Suggestion of Scene. In the foreground the level plain, interrupted on the right by a single rock-crowned hill; in the left distance, the walls of Philippi; in the right distance, the hills, upon whose sides are seen many soldiers and many waving banners. From all sides resound the clamor of two hostile armies and the clangor of arms. 4. What figure in "battles"? 5. "Warn" means to summon to battle. It may be interesting to know that Philippi has more claim to distinction than the defeat of Brutus and Cassius; nearly a hundred years later, the Apostle Paul here preached for the first time in Europe. 7. Explain, "I am in their bosoms.' 8. "They could," etc., means,- They could be pleased to slip out of our way. 66 IO. Bravery means bravado, assumed courage. II. Is "fasten" a well-selected word? 14. The "bloody sign," according to Plutarch, was a scarlet coat. 16. What does "softly " imply that slowly would not? 19. "Exigent means exigency, or emergency. 20. When you consider that Antony was an old and experienced soldier and Octavius a mere boy, what does this show of the latter's character? Has this trait of his appeared before? The narrow limits of the stage must be taken into consideration here; only the generals, their leading officers, and a few soldiers can |