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are on leading men of letters and afford most interesting introductions to literary history. The remainder of Macaulay's life was devoted to his History of England. The first two volumes in 1848 sold like a popular novel in England and America; two volumes more in 1856 brought him $100,000 in a single year. He was made Baron Macaulay of Rothby in 1851, and died eight years later. Trevelyan's Life and Letters gives a most interesting account of Macaulay's life, of his amiability and energy, his devotion to his parents, and his kindness as an uncle to his nephews and nieces.

Here is an extract from a letter which he wrote to his father when he was a schoolboy of thirteen. The fondness which he expresses for mathematics did not last long.

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As to my examination preparations, I will, if you please, give you a sketch of my plan. On Monday, the day on which the examination subjects are given out, I shall begin. My first performance will be my verses and my declamation. I shall then translate the Greek and Latin. The first time of going over I shall mark the passages which puzzle me, and then return to them again. But I shall have also to rub up my mathematics (by-the-bye, I begin the second book of Euclid to-day), and to study whatever history may be appointed for the examination. I shall not be able to avoid trembling whether I know my subjects or not. I am, however, intimidated at nothing but Greek. Mathematics suit my taste, although, before I came, I declaimed against them, and asserted that, when I went to college, it should not be to Cambridge. I am occupied with the hope of lecturing Mama and Selina upon mathematics as I used to do upon heraldry, and to change Or, and Argent, and Azure, and Gules, for squares, and points, and circles, and angles, and triangles, and rectangles, and rhomboids, and, in a word, 'all the pomp and circumstance' of Euclid. When I come home, I shall, if my purse is sufficient, bring a couple of rabbits for Selina and Jane.

Your affectionate son,

THOMAS B. MACAULAY."

MARK ANTONY AT CÆSAR'S FUNERAL

Julius Cæsar, who was born about one hundred years before Christ, was one of the greatest of the Romans. As a general he conquered all of what is now France, and even led his legions across the channel into Britain. After a brief civil war he won the highest position in the government and ruled with remarkable ability. Many of his old opponents, however, were jealous of his power, and formed a conspiracy to murder him, on the ground that he intended to destroy the republic and make himself king. Cassius, one of the conspirators, succeeded in winning over to their cause Cæsar's friend, the noble and patriotic Brutus. When the conspirators attacked Cæsar he defended himself until he saw Brutus among them, and then cried, "You too, Brutus" and gave up without further struggle.

One of Shakespeare's greatest plays, Julius Cæsar, tells of the conspiracy and assassination of Cæsar, and also of the defeat and punishment of Cassius and Brutus. The scene which follows occurs in the forum or market place just after the assassination. Brutus has been induced to permit Mark Antony, Cæsar's loyal friend, to speak to the citizens. Brutus is to speak first, justifying the conspirators, then Antony is to give a funeral oration.

Enter BRUTUS and CASSIUS, and a throng of Citizens

Citizens. We will be satisfied; let us be satisfied.
Bru. Then follow me, and give me audience, friends.
Cassius, go you into the other street,

And part the numbers.

Those that will hear me speak, let 'em stay here;
Those that will follow Cassius, go with him;

And public reasons shall be rendered

Of Cæsar's death.

5

First Cit.

I will hear Brutus speak.

Sec. Cit. I will hear Cassius; and compare their reasons, When severally we hear them rendered.

[Exit CASSIUS, with some of the Citizens. BRUTUS goes into the pulpit.

Third Cit. The noble Brutus is ascended: silence!

5 Bru. Be patient till the last.

Romans, countrymen, and lovers! hear me for my cause, and be silent, that you 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 10 you may the better judge. If there be any in this assembly, any dear friend of Cæsar's, to him I say that Brutus' love to Cæsar was no less than his. If then that friend demand why Brutus rose against Cæsar, this is my answer: not that I loved Cæsar less, but that I loved Rome more. Had 15 you rather Cæsar were living, and die all slaves, than that Cæsar were dead, to live all freemen? As Cæsar 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 for20 tune; 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 would not be a Roman? If any, speak; for him have I offended. Who is here so vile that will not love 25 his country? If any, speak; for him have I offended. I pause for a reply.

All. None, Brutus, none.

Bru. Then none have I offended. I have done no more to Cæsar than you shall do to Brutus.

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Enter ANTONY and others, with CESAR's body.

Here comes his body, mourned by Mark Antony; who, though he had no hand in his death, shall receive the benefit 5 of his dying, a place in the commonwealth; as which of you shall not? With this I depart, - that, as I slew my best love for the good of Rome, I have the same dagger for myself, when it shall please my country to need my death. All. Live, Brutus! live, live!

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First Cit. Bring him with triumph home unto his house. Sec. Cit. Give him a statue with his ancestors.

Third Cit. Let him be Cæsar.

Fourth Cit.

Shall be crown'd in Brutus.

Cæsar's better parts

First Cit. We'll bring him to his house with shouts and

clamors.

Bru. My countrymen,

Sec. Cit.

First Cit. Peace, ho!

Peace! silence! Brutus speaks.

Bru. Good countrymen, let me depart alone,
And, for my sake, stay here with Antony:

Do grace to Cæsar's corpse, and grace his speech
Tending to Cæsar's glories, which Mark Antony
By our permission is allow'd to make.

I do entreat you, not a man depart.

First Cit. Stay, ho! and let us hear Mark Antony.

K

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Third Cit. Let him go up into the public chair; We'll hear him. Noble Antony, go up.

Ant. For Brutus' sake, I am beholding to you.

[Goes into the pulpit.

Fourth Cit. What does he say of Brutus?

Third Cit.

He says, for Brutus' sake,

5 He finds himself beholding to us all.

10

Fourth Cit. 'Twere best he speak no harm of Brutus
here.

First Cit. This Cæsar was a tyrant..
Third Cit.

We are blest that Rome is rid of him.

Nay, that's certain:

Sec. Cit. Peace! let us hear what Antony can say.
Ant. You gentle Romans,

All.

Peace, ho! let us hear him.

Ant. Friends, Romans, countrymen, lend me your ears;

I come to bury Cæsar, not to praise him.

The evil that men do lives after them;
The good is oft interrèd with their bones;
15 So let it be with Cæsar. The noble Brutus
Hath told you Cæsar was ambitious:

If it were so, it was a grievous fault,
And grievously hath Cæsar answer'd it.
Here, under leave of Brutus and the rest,
20 For Brutus is an honorable man;
So are they all, all honorable men,
Come I to speak in Cæsar's funeral.
He was my friend, faithful and just to me:
But Brutus says he was ambitious;

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