fore, if a man write little, he had need have a great memory; if he confer little, he had need have a present wit; and if he read little, he had need have much cunning, to seem to know that he doth not. Histories make men wise; poetry, witty; the mathematics, subtile; natural philosophy, deep; moral, grave; logic and rhetoric, able to contend: Abcunt studia in mores ;14 nay, there is no stand or impediment in the wit, but may be wrought out by fit studies.

14 Insert ut aiunt to show the proverb.

XXXVI.

ANTONY IN DEFEAT. - North's Plutarch.

1. ANTONIUS, flying upon this overthrow, fell1 into great misery all at once; but the chiefest want of all other, and that pinched him most, was famine. Howbeit, he was of such a strong nature, that by patience he would overcome any adversity and the heavier fortune lay upon him, the more constant shewed he himself. Every man that feeleth want or adversity knoweth by virtue and discretion what he should2 do; but when indeed they are overlaid with extremity, and be sore oppressed, few have the hearts' to follow that which they praise and commend, and much less3 to avoid that they reprove and mislike; but rather3 to the contrary," they yield to their accustomed easy life, and, through faint heart and lack of courage, do change their first mind" and purpose. And therefore it was a wonderful example to the soldiers, to see" Antonius, that was brought up in all fineness and superfluity, so easily to drink puddle-water, and to 1 excipere (cc). 2 optimum factu. 3 non modo .. sed etiam.

eat wild fruits and roots. And moreover it is reported, that even as they passed the Alps, they did eat the barks of trees, and such beasts as never man tasted of their flesh before.

2. Now their intent was to join with the legions that were on the other side of the mountains, under Lepidus' charge; whom Antonius took to be his friend, because he had holpen him to many things at Cæsar's hand, through his means. When he was come to the place where Lepidus was,' he camped hard by him; and when he saw that no man came to him to put him in any hope, he determined to venture himself, and to go unto Lepidus. Since the

overthrow he hads at Modena, he suffered his beard to grow at length, and never clipt it, that it was marvellous long, and the hair of his head also without combing; and besides all this, he went in a mourningda gown, and after this sort came hard to the trenches of Lepidus' camp. Then he began to speak3 unto the soldiers, and many of them their hearts yearned for pity to see him so poorly arrayed, and some also through his words began to pity' him: insomuch that Lepidus began to be afraid, and therefore commanded all the trumpets to sound together to stop the soldiers' ears, that they should not hearken' to Antonius.

3. This notwithstanding," the soldiers took the more pity of him, and spake secretly with him by Clodius' and Lælius' means, whom they sent unto him disguised in women's apparel, and gave him counsel that he should not be afraid to enter into their camp, for there were a great number of soldiers that would receive him, and kill Lepidus, if he would say the 5 confirmare. 6 miser (i, v, x).

4 With transgredi.

word. Antonius would not suffer them to hurt him, but the next morning he went with his army to wade a ford, at a little river that ran between them; and himself was the foremost man that took the river to get over, seeing a number of Lepidus' camp,' that gave him their hands, plucked up the stakes, and laid flats the bank of their trench to let him into their camp. When he was come into their camp,' and that he had all the army at his commandment, he used Lepidus very courteously, embraced him, and called him father: and though indeed Antonius did all, and ruled the whole army, yet he always gave Lepidus the name and honor of the captain.

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 interred with their bones:
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, -
For Brutus is an honourable man ;

So are they all, all honourable men,
Come I to speak in Cæsar's funeral.

He was my friend, faithful and just to me: But Brutus says he was ambitious;

And Brutus is an honourable man.

He hath brought many captives home to Rome,
Whose ransoms did the general coffers fill:

Did this in Cæsar seem ambitious?

When that the poor have cried, Cæsar hath wept:

Ambition should be made of sterner stuff :
Yet Brutus says he was ambitious ;
And Brutus is an honourable man.
You all did see that on the Lupercal

I thrice presented him a kingly crown,

Which he did thrice refuse. Was this ambition?

Yet Brutus says he was ambitious;

And, sure, he is an honourable man.

I speak not to disprove what Brutus spoke,

But here I am, to speak what I do know.

You all did love him once, not without cause :
What cause withholds you, then, to mourn for him?
O judgment, thou art fled to brutish beasts,
And men have lost their reason!

Bear with me;

My heart is in the coffin there with Cæsar,
And I must pause till it come back to me.

I Cit. Methinks there is much reason in his sayings.
2 Cit. If thou consider rightly of the matter,

Cæsar has had great wrong.

3 Cit.

Has he not, masters?

I fear there will a worse come in his place.

4 Cit. Mark'd ye his words? He would not take the crown; Therefore 'tis certain he was not ambitious.

I Cit. If it be found so, some will dear abide it.

2 Cit. Poor soul! his eyes are red as fire with weeping.

3 Cit. There's not a nobler man in Rome than Antony. 4 Cit. Now mark him; he begins again to speak. Ant. But yesterday the word of Cæsar might Have stood against the world: now lies he there, And none so poor to do him reverence.

O masters, if I were dispos'd to stir
Your hearts and minds to mutiny and rage,
I should do Brutus wrong, and Cassius wrong,
Who, you all know, are honourable men.

I will not do them wrong: I rather choose
To wrong the dead, to wrong myself, and you,
Than I will wrong such honourable men.

But here's a parchment with the seal of Cæsar, — I found it in his closet, - 'tis his will:

Let but the commons hear this testament,

(Which, pardon me, I do not mean to read,)

And they would go and kiss dead Cæsar's wounds,
And dip their napkins in his sacred blood;

Yea, beg a hair of him for memory,

And, dying, mention it within their wills,
Bequeathing it as a rich legacy

Unto their issue.

4 Cit. We'll hear the will: read it, Mark Antony.
Citizens. The will, the will! we will hear Cæsar's will.
Ant. Have patience, gentle friends; I must not read it:

It is not meet you know how Cæsar lov'd you.
You are not wood, you are not stones, but men ;
And, being men, hearing the will of Cæsar,

It will inflame you, it will make you mad.
'Tis good you know not that you are his heirs;
For, if you should, O, what would come of it!

4 Cit. Read the will! we'll hear it, Antony; You shall read us the will, — Cæsar's will!

Ant. Will-you be patient? will you stay awhile? I have o'ershot myself, to tell you of it.

I fear I wrong the honourable men

Whose daggers have stabb'd Cæsar; I do fear it.

4 Cit. They were traitors: honourable men! Citizens. The will! the testament!

2 Cit. They were villains, murderers. The will! read the will!

Ant. You will compel me, then, to read the will?

Then make a ring about the corpse of Cæsar,

And let me show you him that made the will.

Shall I descend? and will you give me leave?
Citizens. Come down.

2 Cit. Descend.

3 Cit. You shall have leave. 4 Cit. A ring! stand round.

[He comes down.