MELNOTTE'S VISIONARY HOME. "Zounds!" cried the brewer, “that's a task More difficult to grant than ask : Most gladly would I give the smack Of the last beer to the ensuing; But where am I to find a black, And boil him down at every brewing?" 197 Anon MELNOTTE'S VISIONARY HOME. (By permission of the late Lord Lytton.) NAY, dearest, nay. If thou wouldst have me paint A palace lifting to eternal summer Its marble walls, from out a glossy bower At noon We'd sit beneath the arching vines, and wonder To excel them all in love! We'd read no books And when night came, amidst the breathless heavens (From the "Lady of Lyons.") 198 THE QUARREL OF BRUTUS AND CASSIUS. THE QUARREL OF BRUTUS AND CASSIUS. Cassius. That you have wronged me doth appear in this: You have condemned and noted Lucius Pella For taking bribes here of the Sardians; Wherein my letter (praying on his side, Because I knew the man) was slighted of. Brutus. You wrong'd yourself to write in such a case. Cas. In such a time as this it is not meet That every nice offence should bear its comment. Bru. Yet let me tell you, Cassius, you yourself Are much condemn'd to have an itching palm; To sell and mart your offices for gold To undeservers. Cas. I an itching palm! You know that you are Brutus that speak this, Bru. The name of Cassius honours this corruption, Bru. Remember March, the Ides of March remember! Did not great Julius bleed for justice' sake? What shall one of us That struck the foremost man of all this world Cas. Brutus, bay not me. I'll not endure it. You forget yourself Older in practice, abler than yourself To make conditions. Bru. Go to! you are not, Cassius. Bru. I say you are not. Cas. Urge me no more: I shall forget myself: Have mind upon your health; tempt me no farther. Bru. Away, slight man! Cas. Is't possible? THE QUARREL OF BRUTUS AND CASSIUS. 199 Bru. Hear me, for I will speak. Must I give way and room to your rash choler? Cas. Must I endure all this? Bru. All this! ay, more. Fret till your proud heart break: Go show your slaves how choleric you are, And make your bondmen tremble. Must I budge? Cas. Is it come to this? Bru. You say you are a better soldier: Cas. You wrong me every way, you wrong me, Brutus ; I said an elder soldier, not a better. Did I say better? I Bru. If you did, I care not. Cas. When Cæsar lived, he durst not thus have moved me. Bru. Peace, peace! You durst not so have tempted him. Cas. I durst not? Cas. What durst not tempt him? Bru. For your life you durst not. Cas. Do not presume too much upon my love; may do that I shall be sorry for. Bru. You have done that you should be sorry for. There is no terror, Cassius, in your threats, For I am arm'd so strong in honesty, That they pass by me as the idle wind Which I respect not. I did send to you For certain sums of gold, which you denied me; 200 THE QUARREL OF BRUTUS AND CASSIUS. To you for gold to pay my legions, Which you denied me! Was that done like Cassius! Cas. I denied you not. Bru. You did. Cas. I did not: he was a fool That brought my answer back. Brutus hath rived my heart. A friend should bear a friend's infirmities; But Brutus makes mine greater than they are. Bru. I do not like your faults. Cas. A friendly eye could never see such faults. Bru. A flatterer's would not, though they did appear As huge as high Olympus. Cas. Come Antony! and young Octavius, come! Revenge yourself alone on Cassius, For Cassius is a-weary of the world Hated by one he loves; braved by his brother; When thou didst hate him worst, thou lovedst him better Bru. Sheathe your dagger; Be angry when you will, it shall have scope: Do what you will, dishonour shall be humour. O, Cassius, you are yokéd with a man Cas. Hath Cassius lived THE LADDER OF ST. AUGUSTINE. To be but mirth and laughter to his Brutus, Cas. O, Brutus ! Bru. What's the matter? Cas. Have you not love enough to bear with me, When that rash humour which my mother gave me Makes me forgetful? Bru. Yes, Cassius; and, from henceforth, When you are over-earnest with your Brutus, He'll think your mother chides, and leave you so. 201 Shakespere. THE LADDER OF ST. AUGUSTINE. SAINT AUGUSTINE! well hast thou said That of our vices we can frame A ladder, if we will but tread Beneath our feet each deed of shame. All common things, each day's events, The low desire, the base design, That makes another's virtues less; The longing for ignoble things, The strife for triumph more than truth, All thoughts of ill: all evil deeds The action of the nobler will, |