k LIBRARY OF CONGRESS. -pNlifin Shelfi.lff.fi ."> UNITED STATES OF AMERICA ROBERTSON'S Manual of Elocution AND PHILOSOPHY OF EXPRESSION. 3' I. i\o\ 3 y the dangers to our commerce in the Mediterranean , and a wretched invoice of figs and opium has been spread before tis to repress our sensibilities and to eradicate our humanity. Ah! sir, "what shall it profit a man if he gain the whole world, and lose his own soul ? — or what shall it avail a nation to save the whole of a miserable trade, and lose its liberties? Henry Clay. OTHELLO'S DEFENCE. I. Most potent, grave, and reverend signiors, My very noble and approved good masters, That I have ta'en away this old man's daughter, It is most true; true, I have married her; This very front and head of my offending, Hath this extent, no more. ii. Rude am I in speech And little bless'd with the set phrase of peace; For since these arms of mine had seven years' pith, Till now some nine moons wasted, they have used Their dearest action in the tented field ; And little of this great world can I speak, More than pertains to feats of broil and battle; And therefore little shall I grace my cause, In speaking for myself. Yet, by your gracious patience I will a round unvarnished tale deliver, Of my whole course of love ; what drugs, what charms, What conjuration, and what mighty magic 62 MANUAL OF ELOCUTION AND (For such proceedings I'm charged withal),. I won his daughter with. in. Her father loved me ; oft invited me ; Still questioned me the story of my life, From year to year the battles, sieges, fortunes- That I have pass'd. I ran it through, even from my boyish days, To the very moment that he bade me tell it : Wherein I spoke of most disastrous chances, Of moving accidents, by flood and field ; Of hair-breadth 'scapes in the imminent deadly breach ; Of being taken by the insolent foe, And sold to slavery ; of my redemption thence,, And with it all my travel's history. IV. These things to hear, Would Desdemona seriously incline; But still the house affairs would draw her thence ;: Which ever as she could with haste despatch, She'd come again, and with a greedy ear Devour up my discourse ; which I observing, Took once a pliant hour ; and found good means To draw from her a prayer of earnest heart, That I would all my pilgrimage dilate, Whereof by parcels she had something heard,, But not attentively. v. I did consent ; And often did beguile her of her tears, PHILOSOPHY OF EXPRESSION. 63- When I did speak of some distressful stroke, That my youth suffered. My story being done, She gave me for my pains a world of sighs ; She swore — in faith, 't was strange, 't was passing strange;. 'T was pitiful, 't was wondrous pitiful ; She wished she had not heard it ; yet she wLhed That Heaven had made her such a man. VI. She thank'd me ; And bade me if I had a friend that loved her, I should teach him how to tell my story, And that would woo her. On this hint' I spake ; She loved me for the dangers I had pass'd ; And I loved her, that she did pity them. This only is the witchcraft I have used, Shakspeare. WILLIAM TELL. i. " Place there the boy," the tyrant said, " Fix me the apple on his head. Ha ! rebel, now ! There's a fair mark for your shaft : To yonder shining apple waft An arrow." And the tyrant laughed. With quivering brow Bold Tell looked there ; his cheek turned pale, His proud lips throbbed as if 't would fail Their quivering breath. 64 MANUAL OF ELOCUTION AND II. " Ha ! doth he blanch ? " fierce Gesler cried, " I've conqueied, slave, thy soul of pride." No voice to that stern taunt replied, All mute as death. " And what thee need? " at length Tell asked, "Bold fool, when slaves like thee are tasked, It is my will. But that thine eye may keener be, And nerved to such nice archery, If thou cleav'st you, thou goest free. in. What pause you still ? Give him a bow and arrow there, One shaft — but one. Gleams of despair Rush for a moment o'er the Switzer's face; Then passed away each stormy trace. And high resolve came in their place, Unmoved, yet flushed, " I take thy terms," he muttered low, Grasped eagerly the proffered bow — The quiver searched, Sought out an arrow keen and long, Fit for a sinewy arm, and strong, And placed it on the sounding thong, The tough yew arched. iv. , He drew the bow, whilst all around That thronging crowd there was no sound, No step, no word, no breath. PHILOSOPHY OF EXPRESSION. 65- All gazed with an unerring eye, To see the fearful arrow fly ; The light wind died into a sigh, And scarcely stirred. v. Afar the boy stood, firm and mute ; He saw the strong bow curved to shoot, But never moved. He knew the daring coolness of that hand, He knew it was a father scanned The boy he loved. vi. The Switzer gazed — the arrow hung, My only boy ! sobbed on his tongue ; He could not shoot. Ha ! cried the tyrant, doth he quail ? Mark how his haughty brow grows pale ! But a deep voice rung on the gale, " Shoot in God's name ! " Again the drooping shaft he took, And turned to heaven one burning look, Of all doubts reft. '* Be firm, my boy ! " was all he said, The apple's left the stripling's head \ Ha t ha I 'tis cleft ! And so it was, and Tell was free, Quick the brave boy was at his knee,. With rosy cheek. VII. His loving arms his boy embrace; 66 MANUAL OF ELOCUTION AND But again that tyrant cried in haste, An arrow in thy belt is placed ; What means it? speak. VIII. The Switzer raised his clenched hand high, Whilst lightning flashed across his eye Incessantly. To smite the tyrant to the heart, Had Heaven willed it that this dart Had touched my boy. IX. Rebellion ! treason ! chain the slave ! A hundred swords around him wave, Whilst hate to Gesler's features gave Infuriate joy. x. But that one arrow found its goal Hid with revenge in Gesler's soul \ And Lucerne's lake Heard his dastard soul outmoan When Freedom's call abroad was blown, And Switzerland a giant grown, Her fetters brake. XI. From hill to hill the mandate flew. From lake to lake the tempest grew With wakening swell, Till proud oppression crouched for shame, PHILOSOPHY OF EXPRESSION. 67 And Austria's haughtiness grew tame ; And Freedom's watchword was the name Of William Tell. DEATH AND SATAN. JOHN MILTON. Black it stood as night, Fierce as ten furies, terrible as hell, And shook a dreadful dart ; what seem'd his head The likeness of a kingly crown had on. Satan was now on hand ; and from his seat The monster moving onward came as fast, With horrid strides ; hell trembled as he strode. The undaunted fiend what this might be admir'd, Admired, not feared ; — God and his Son except, Created thing naught valued he, nor shunn'd ; And with disdainful look thus first began. Whence and what art thou, execrable shape, That dar'st, though grim and terrible, advanee Thy miscreated front athwart my way To yonder gates ? Through them I mean to pass, That be assur'd, without leave ask'd of thee. Retire, or taste thy folly, and learn by proof, Hell-born, not to contend with spirits of heaven ! To whom the goblin, full of wrath, replied, Art thou that traitor angel, art thou he, Who first broke peace in heaven and faith, till then Unbroken, and in proud rebellious arms Drew after him the third part of heaven's sons Conjur'd against the Highest; for which both thou 68 MANUAL OF ELOCUTION AND And they, outcast from God, are here condemn'd To waste eternal days in woe and pain ? And reckon'st thou thyself with spirits of heaven, Hell-doom'd, and breath'st defiance here and scorn,. Where I reign king, and, to enrage the more, Thy king and lord ? Back to thy punishment, False fugitive, and to thy speed add wings, Lest with a whip of scorpions I pursue Thy ling'ring, or with one stroke of this dart Strange horror seize thee, and pangs unfelt before. So spake the grisly Terror, and in shape So speaking, and so threatening, grew ten-fold More dreadful and deform : on th' other side, Incens'd with indignation Satan stood Unterrify'd, and like a comet burn'd, That fires the length of Ophiucus huge In th' arctic sky, and from his horrid hair Shakes pestilence and war. Each at the head j>vell'd his deadly aim ; their fatal hands No second stroke intend; and such a frown Each cast at th' other, as when two black clouds, With Heaven's artillery fraught, come rattling on Over the Caspian, then stand front to front Hov'ring a space, till winds the signal blow To join their dark encounter in mid air : So frown'd the mighty combatants, that hell Grew darker at their frown, so match'd they stood ; For never but once more was either like To meet so great a foe ; and now great deeds Had been achiev'd, whereof all hell had rung, Had not the snaky sorceress that sat Fast by hell-gate, and kept the fatal key, Ris'n, and with hideous cry rush'd between. PHILOSOPHY OF EXPRESSION. 69 DEGENERACY OF THE ATHENIANS. DEMOSTHENES, Such, O men of Athens ! were your ancestors ; so glorious in the eyes of the world ; so bountiful and munificent to their country; so sparing, so modest, so self-denying to themselves. What resemblance can we find in the present generation, to those great men ? At the time when your ancient competi- tors have left you a clear stage, when the Lacedemonians are disabled, the Thebans employed in troubles of their own, when no other state whatever is in a condition to rival or molest you — in short, when you are at full liberty, when you have the opportunity and the power to become once more the sole arbiters of Greece, — you permit, patiently, whole prov- inces to be wrested from you ; you lavish the public money in scandalous and obscure uses ; you suffer your allies to per- ish in time of peace, whom you preserved in time of war ; and, to sum up all, you yourselves, by your mercenary court, and servile resignation to the will and pleasure of designing, insidious leaders, abet, encourage, and strengthen the most dangerous and formidable of your enemies. Yes, Athenians, I repeat it, you yourselves are the contrivers of your own ruin. Lives there a man who has confidence enough to deny it ? Let him arise and assign, if he can, any other cause for the success and prosperity of Philip. "But," you reply, " what Athens may have lost in reputation abroad she has gained in splendor at home. Was there ever a greater ap- pearance of prosperity and plenty ? Is not the city enlarged? Are not the streets better paved, houses repaired and beauti- fied." Away with such trifles ! Shall I be paid with coun- ters ? An old square new vamped up ! a fountain ! an aque- duct ! Are these acquisitions to boast of ? Cast your eyes YO MANUAL OP ELOCUTION. upon the magistrate under whose ministry you boast these precious improvements. Behold the despicable creature rais- ed all at once from dirt to opulence, from the lowest obscur- ity to the highest honors. Have not some of these upstarts built private houses and seats vying with the most sumptuous of our public palaces ! And how have their fortunes and their power increased, but as the commonwealth has been ruined and impoverished ? ARRAIGNMENT OF CATILINE. CICERO. How far, O Catiline ! wilt thou abuse our patience ? How long shalt thou baffle justice in thy mad career? To what extreme wilt thou carry thy audacity? Art thou nothing daunted by the nightly watch, posted to secure the Palatium*? Nothing, by the city guards ? Nothing, by the rally of all good citizens ? Nothing, by the assembling of the Senate in this fortified place ? Nothing, by the averted looks of all here present ? 2. Seest thou not that all thy plots are exposed? — that thy wretched conspiracy is laid bare to the knowledge of ev- ery man here in the Senate? — that we are well aware of thy proceedings of last night ; of the night before; the place of meeting, the company convoked, the measures concerted? 3. O, .the times ! O, the morals of the times! The Senate understand all this. The Consul sees it. And yet the traitor lives ! Lives ? Ay, truly and confronts us here in council, — presumes to take part in our deliberations, — and, with his calculating eye, marks out each man of us for slaughter ! And ^Pronounced Pa-la-she-um. PHILOSOPHY OF EXPRESSION, 71 we, the while, think we have amply discharged our duty to the State, if we do but succeed in warding off this madman's sword and fury ! 4. Long since, O Catiline ! ought the Consul to have ordered thee to execution, and brought upon thy own head the destruction thou hast been plotting against others ! There was in Rome that virtue once, that a wicked citizen was held more execrable than the deadliest foe. For thee, Catiline, we have still a law. Think not, because we are forbearing, that we are powerless. 5. We have a statute, — though it rests among our archives like a sword in its scabbard, — a statute which makes thy life the forfeit of thy crimes. And, should I order thee to be in- stantly seized and put to death, I do not doubt that all good men would say that the punishment, instead of being too cruel, was only too long deferred. 6. But, for sufficient reasons, I will a while postpone the blow. Then will I doom thee, when no man is to be found, so lost to reason, so depraved, so like thyself, that he will not admit the sentence was deserved. While there is one man who ventures to defend thee, live ! 7. But thou shalt live so beset, so hemmed in, so watch- ed, by the vigilant guards I have placed around thee, that thou shalt not stir a foot against the Republic without my knowledge. There shall be eyes to detect thy slightest move- ment, and ears to catch thy wariest whisper. Thou shalt be seen and heard when thou dost not dream of a witness near. The darkness of night shall not cover thy treason ; the walls of privacy shall not stifle its voice. 8. Baffled on all sides, thy most secret projects clear as noonday, what canst thou now devise ? ^Proceed, plot, con- spire, as thou wilt ; there is nothing thou canst contrive, pro- 72 MANUAL OF ELOCUTION AND pose, attempt, which I shall not promptly be made aware of. Thou shalt soon be convinced tha*I am even more active in providing for the preservation of the State, that thou in plot- ting its destruction ! LOCHINVAR. WALTER SCOTT. I. O, young Lochinvar is come out of the West, Through all the wide Border his steed was the best ; And, save his good broadsword, he weapon had none r He rode all unarmed, and he rode all alone, So faithful in love, and so dauntless in war, There never was knight like the yonng Lochinvar.. He stayed not for brake, and he stopped not for stone,. He swam the Eske river where ford there was none ; But, ere he alighted at Netherby gate, The bride had consented, the gallant came late ; For a laggard in love, and a dastard in war, Was to wed the fair Ellen of brave Lochinvar. in. So boldly he entered the Netherby Hall, Among bridesmen, and kinsmen, and brothers, and all,. Then spoke the bride's father, his hand on his sword (For the poor craven bridegroom said never a word), " O, come ye in peace here, or come ye in war, Or to dance at our bridal, young Lord Lochinvar ? " PHILOSOPHY OF EXPRESSION. 73 IV. ""I long wooed your daughter, my suit you denied; — Love swells like the Solway, but ebbs like its tide, — And now I am come, with this lost love of mine, To lead but one measure, drink one cup of wine, There are maidens in Scotland more lovely by far, That would gladly be bride to the young Lochinvar." v. The bride kissed the goblet : the knight took it up, He quaffed off the wine, and threw down the cup. -She looked down to blush, and she looked up to sigh, With a smile on her lips, and a tear in her eye. He took her soft hand, ere her mother could bar, — " Now tread we a measure ! " said young Lochinvar. VI. So stately his form, and so lovely her face, That never a hall such a galliard did grace ; While her mother did fret, and her father did fume, And the bridegroom stood dangling his bonnet and plume; And the bridemaidens whispered, '-Twere better, by far, To have matched our fair cousin with young Lochinvar." VII. One touch to her hand, and one word in her ear, When they reached the hall-door; and the charger stood near; So light to the croupe the fair lady he swung, So light to the saddle before her he sprung ; * ' She is won ! we are gone ! over bank, bush, and scaur, They'll have fleet steeds that follow," quoth young Lochinvar. 74 MANUAL OF ELOCUTION AND VIII. There was mounting 'mong Graemes of the Netherby clan; Forsters, Fenwicks, and Musgraves, they rode and they ran ; There was racing and chasing on Cannobie Lee, But the lost bride of Netherby ne'er did they see. So daring in love, and so dauntless in war, Have ye e'er heard of gallant like young Lochinvar t CHARGE OF THE LIGHT BRIGADE. A. TENNYSON. I. Half a league, half a league, Half a league onward, All in the valley of death Rode the six hundred. " Forward, the Light Brigade ! Charge for the guns ! " — he said: Into the valley of Death Rode the six hundred. II. 11 Forward, the Light Brigade ! * Was there a man dismayed ? Not though the soldiers knew Some one had blundered ! Their's not to make reply, Their's not to reason why - r Their's but to do and die ' t PHILOSOPHY OF EXPRESSION. 75 Into the valley of Death Rode the six hundred. III. Cannon to right of them, Cannon to left of them, Cannon in front of them Volleyed and thundered : Stormed at with shot and shell, Boldly they rode and well ; Into the jaws of death, Into the mouth of Hell, Rode the six hundred. IV. Flashed all their sabres bare, Flashed as they turned in air, Sabring the gunners there, Charging an army, while All the world wondered ! Plunged in the battery-smoke, Right through the line they broke : Cossack and Russian Reeled from the sabre-stroke, Shattered and sundered. Then they rode back ; but not — Not the six hundred. V. Cannon to right of them, Cannon to left of them, Cannon behind them Volleyed and thundered: 76 MANUAL OF ELOCUTION AND Stormed at with shot and shell, While horse and hero fell, They that had fought so well Came through the jaws of Death Back from the mouth of Hell, All that was left of them — Left of six hundred. VI. When can their glory fade ? O the wild charge they made ! All the world wondered. Honor the charge they madel Honor the Light Brigade, — Noble six hundred ! CATO'S SOLILOQUY. ADDISON. It must be so. Plato, thou reasonest well ! Else, whence this pleasing hope, this fond desire, This longing after immortality 1 Or whence this secret dread, and inward horror, Of falling into naught? Why shrinks the soul Back on herself, and startles at destruction ? 'Tis the divinity that stirs within us ; 'Tis Heaven itself, that points out a hereafter, And intimates eternity to man. ii. Eternity ! thou pleasing, dreadful thought ! Through what variety of untried being PHILOSOPHY OF EXPRESSION. 77 Through what new scenes and changes must we pass ! The wide, the unbounded prospect lies before me, But shadows, clouds, and darkness rest upon it. Here will I hold. If there's a Power above us, — And that there is, all Nature cries aloud Through all her works, — He must delight in virtue ; And that which he delights in must be happy. But when ? or where ? This world was made for Caesar, I'm weary of conjectures, — this must end them. [Laying his hand on his sword.] in. Thus am I doubly arm'd. My death and life, My bane and antidote, are both before me. This in a moment brings me to my end ; But this informs me I shall never die. The soul, secure in her existence, smiles At the drawn dagger, and defies its point. The stars shall fade away, the sun himself Grow dim with age, and Nature sink in years ; But thou shalt flourish in immortal youth, Unhurt amid the war of elements, The wreck of matter, and the crash of worlds. HAMLET'S SOLILOQUY. SHAKSPEARE. I. To be, or not to be, that is the question ! Whether 'tis nobler in the minds to suffer The slings and arrows of outrageous fortune ; Or to take arms against a sea of troubles, 78 MANUAL OF ELOCUTION AND And, by opposing, end them. To die — to sleep ; No more ? and; by a sleep, to say we end The heart-ache, and the thousand natural shocks That flesh is heir to? 'Tis a consummation Devoutly to be wish'd ! To die— to sleep : To sleep ! perchance to dream ! Ay ; there's the rub, For in that sleep of death, what dreams may come, When we have shuffled off this mortal coil, Must give us pause. w. There's the respect That makes calamity of so long life ; For who would bear the whips and scorns of time, The oppressor's wrong, the proud man's contumely, The pangs of despised love, the law's delay, The insolence of office, and the spurns That patient merit of the unworthy takes, When he himself might his quietus make With a bare bodkin ? in. Who would fardels bear, To groan and sweat under a weary life ; But that the dread of something after death, — That undiscovered country, from whose bourn No traveler returns, — puzzles the will, And makes us rather bear those ills we have,. Than fly to others that we know not of? IV. Thus conscience does make cowards of us all > And thus the native hue of resolution PHILOSOPHY OF EXPRESSION. 79> Is sickled o'er with the pale cast of thought ; And enterprises of great pith and moment, With this regard, their currents turn away, And lose the name of action. RICHARD III.— SHAKSPEARE. Now, is the winter of our discontent Made glorious summer, by this sun of York ; And all the clouds, that lowered upon our house, In the deep bosom of the ocean buried : Now, are our brows bound with victorious wreathes; Our bruised arms hung up for monuments : Our stern alarums changed to merry meetings, Our dreadful marches to delightful measures: Grim, visag'd war hath smoothed his wrinkled brow: And now, instead of mounting barbed steeds, To fright the souls of fearful adversaries, He capers nimbly, in a lady's chamber, To the lascivious pleasing of a lute, But I, that am not shap'd for sportive tricks, Nor made to court an amorous looking-glass ; I, that am rudely stamp'd and want love's majesty, To strut before a wanton, ambling nymph ; I, that am enrtail'd of this fair proportion, Cheated of feature, by dissembling nature, Deform' d, unfinish'd, sent before my time Into this breathing world, scarce half made up, And that so lamely and unfashionably, That dogs bark at me, as I halt by them; Why I, in this weak, piping time of peace, 80 MANUAL OF ELOCUTION AND Have no delight to pass away the time; Unless to spy my shadow in the sun, And descant on mine own deformity; And therefore, since I can not prove a lover, To entertain these fair, well- spoken days, I am determined to prove a villain, And hate the idle pleasures of these days. Plots have I laid, inductions dangerous, By drunken prophecies, libels, and dreams, To set mp brother Clarence, and the king, In deadly hate, the one against the other : And if King Edward be as true and just, As I am subtle, false, and treacherous, This day should Clarence closely be mew'd up; About a prophecy, which says that G (George) •Of Edward's heir, the murderer shall be, Dive, thoughts, down to my soul ; here Clarence comes. BRUTUS ON THE DEATH OF C^SAR.— SHAKS- PEARE. 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. Cen- sure 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 Caesars, to him I say that Brutu's loves to Caesar was not less than his. If, then, that friend demand why Brutus rose against Caesar, ithis is my answer: Not that I loved Caesar less, but that I PHILOSOPHY OF EXPRESSION* 81 loved Rome more. Had you rather Caesar were living, and die all slaves, than that Caesar were dead, to live all freemen ? 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 are tears, for his love; joy for his fortune; honor for his valor; and death for his ambition t Who is here so base that would be a bondman ? If any, speak, for him have I offended. Who is here so vile that will not love his country? If any, speak, for him have I offend- ed. I pause for a reply. None ? Then none have I offend- ed. I have done no more to Caesar than you should do to Brutus. The question of his death is enrolled in the Capitol; his glory not extenuated, wherein he was worthy, nor his offenses enforced, for which he suffered death. Here comes his body, mourned by Mark Antony, who, though he had no hand in his death, shall receive the benefit of his dying, a place in the commonwealth, as which of you shall not? With this I depart : That as I slew my best lover for the good of Rome, I have the same dagger for myself, when it shall please my country to need my death. MARK ANTONY'S ADDRESS OVER THE DEAD BODY OF CAESAR.— SHAKSPEARE. i. Friends, Romans, countrymen, lend me your ears-. I come to bury Caesar, 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 Caesar. The noble Brutus. 82 MANUAL OF ELOCUTION AND Hath told you Caesar was ambitious; If it were so, it was a grievous fault, And grievously hath Caesar answered it. ii. Here under leave of Brutus and the rest {For Brutus is an honorable man; So are they all, all honorable men), Come I to speak in Caesar's funeral. He was my friend, faithful and just to me : But Brutus says he was ambitious, And Brutus is an honorable man. in. He hath brought many captives home to Rome, Whose ransoms did the general coffers fill : Did this in Caesar seem ambitious ? When that the poor have cried, Caesar hath wept; Ambition should be made of sterner stuff, Yet Brutus says he was ambitious, And Brutus is an honorable man. IV. 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 honorable man. I speak not to disprove what Brutus spoke, But here I am to speak what I do know. v. You all did love him once, not without cause; What cause withholds you, then, to mourn for himl PHILOSOPHY OF EXPRESSION. 83 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 Caesar, And I must pause till it come back to me. VI. But yesterday the word of Caesar might Have stood against the world: now lies he there, And none so poor to do him reverence. masters ! if I were disposed to stir Your hearts and minds to mutiny and rage, 1 should Brutus wrong, and Cassius wrong, Who, you all know, are honorable men. I will not do them wrong; I rather choose To wrong the dead, to wrong myself and you, Than I will wrong such honorable men. VII. But here's a parchment with the seal of Caesar; 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 Caesar'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. VIII. If you have tears, prepare to shed them now, You all do know this mantle; I remember 84 MANUAL OF ELOCUTION AND The first time ever Caesar put it on; 'Twas on a summer's evening, in his tent, That day he overcame the Nervii. Look ! in this place ran Cassius' dagger through F See what a rent the envious Casca made ! Through this the well-beloved Brutus stabbed; And as he plucked his cursed steel away, Mark how the blood of Caesar followed it ! IX. This was the most unkindest cut of all; For, when the noble Caesar saw him stab, Ingratitude, more strong than traitor's arms, Quite vanquished him ; then burst his mighty hearty And in his mantle muffling np his face, Even at the base of Pompey's statue, Which all the while ran blood, great Caesar fell. Oh what a fall was there, my countrymen ! Then I, and you, and all of us fell down, Whilst bloody Treason flourished over us. Oh now you weep, and, I perceive, you feel The dint of pity; these are gracious drops. Kind souls, what ! weep you, when you but behold Our Caesar's vesture wounded? Look you here! Here is himself, marred, as you see, by traitors ! XI. Good friends, sweet friends, let me not stir you up To such a sudden flood of mutiny. They that have done this deed are honorable. PHILOSOPHY OF EXPRESSION. 85 What private griefs they have, alas ! I know not, That made them do it; they are wise and honorable, And will, no donbt, with reason answer you. XII. I come not, friends, to steal away your hearts; I am no orator, as Brutus is; But, as you know me all, a plain, blunt man That love my friends; and that they know full well That gave me public leave to speak of him. For I have neither wit, nor words, nor worth, Action, nor utterance, nor the power of speech, To stir men's blood; I only speak right on; I tell you that which you yourselves do know; Show you sweet Caesar's wounds, poor, poor, dumb mouths And bid them speak for me. But were I Brutus, And Brutus Antony, there were an Antony Would ruffle up your spirits, and put a tongue In every wound of Caesar, that should move The stones of Rome to rise and mutiny. HAMLET AND HIS MOTHER. SHAKSPEARE. Hamlet Now, mother, what's the matter? Queen. Hamlet, thou hast thy father much offended. Samlet. Mother, you have my father much offended. Queen. Come, come, you answer with an idle tongue. Samlet. Go, go, you question with a wicked tongue, Queen. Why, how now Hamlet ? e 86 MANUAL OF ELOCUTION ANB Hamlet What's the matter now ? Queen. Have you forgot me ? Hamlet. No, by the rood, not so : You are the queen ; your husband's brother's wife ; And — would it were not so ! — you are my mother. Queen. Nay, then I'll set those to you that can speak. Hamlet. Come, come, and sit you down ; you shall not budge ; You go not till I set you up a glass Where you may see the inmost part of you. Queen. What wilt thou do? — thou wilt not murder me ? Hamlet. Leave wringing of your hands; peace; sit you down, And let me wring your heart : for so I shall If it be made of penetrable stuff; If damned custom have not brazed it so, That it is proof and bulwark against sense. Queen. What have I done that thou darest wag thy tongue In noise so rude against me ? Hamlet. Such an act, That blurs the grace and blush of modesty ; Calls virtue, hypocrite ; takes off the rose From the fair forehead of an innocent love, And set a blister there ; makes marriage vows As false as dicer's oath! Oh, such a deed As from the body of contraction plucks The very soul ; and sweet religion makes A rhapsody of words. Heaven's face doth glow ; Yea, this solidity and compound mass, With trustful visage, as against the doom, Is thought — sick at the act. PHILOSOPHY OF EXPRESSION. 87 Queen. Ah me ! what act That roars so loud, and thunders in the index ? Samlet. Look here, upon this picture, and on this ; The counterfeit presentment of two brothers. See what a grace was seated on this brow ; Hyperion's curls , the front of Jove himself; An eye like Mars, to threaten and command ; A station like the herald Mercury Now lighted on a heaven kissing hill; A combination, and a form, indeed, Where every god did seem to set his seal, To give the world assurance of a man, This was your husband. Look you, now, what follows ; Here is your husband ; like a mildew, Blasting his wholesome brother. Have you eyes I Could you on this fair mountain leave to feed, And batten on this moor ? Ha ! have you eyes 1 You cannot call it love, for at your age The heyday in the blood is tame, its humble, And waits upon the judgment; and what judgment Would step from this to this ? Queen. Oh, speak no more ! Thou turn'st mine eyes into my very soul ; And there I see such black and grained spots, As will not leave their tinct. Oh, speak to me no more ! These words like daggers, enter in mine ears; No more, sweet Hamlet ! Samlet. A murderer and a villain : A slave that is not twentieth part the tithe 88 MANUAL OF ELOCUTION AND Of your precedent lord ; — a vice of kings A cut-purse of the empire and the rule ; That from a shelf the precious diadem stole, And put it in his pocket. Queen, No more ! Hamlet. A king Of shreds and patches ; — Save me and hover o'er me with your wings, You heavenly guards ! — What would your gracious figure ? Queen. Alas, he's mad ! Hamlet. Do you not come your tardy son to chide, That lapsed in time and passion, lets go by The important acting of your dread command ? Oh, say ! Ghost Do not forget : this visitation Is but to whet thy almost blunted purpose. But, look ! amazement on thy mother sits : Oh, step between her and her fighting soul ; Conceit in weakest bodies strongest works ; Speak to her, Hamlet. Hamlet. How is it with you, lady 1 Queen. Alas ! how is't with you, That you do bend your eye on vacancy, And with the incorporal air do hold discourse ? Whereon do you look ? Hamlet. On him ! on him ! Look you, how pale he glares I His form, and cause conjoin'd, preaching to stones, Would make them capable. Do not look on me, Lest, with this piteous action, you convert My stern effects; then what I have to do Will want true color ; tears, perchance for blood. PHILOSOPHY OF EXPRESSION. 89 Queen. Hamlet. Queen. Hamlet. Queen. Hamlet. Queen, Hamlet. Queen. Hamlet, To whom do you speak this % Do you see nothing there 1 Nothing at all ; yet all that is I see. Nor did you nothing hear ? No, nothing but ourselves. Why, look you there ! look, how it steals away ! My father, in his habit as he lived ! Look, where he goes, even, now, out at the portal ! [Exit Ghost.~\ This is the very coinage of your brain : This bodiless creation, ecstacy Is very cunning in. Ecstasy ! My pulse, as yours, doth temperately keep time, And makes as healthful music. It is not madness That I have utter' d ! bring me to the test, And I the matter will re-word ; which madness Would gambol from. Mother, for love of grace, Lay not that flattering unction to your soul, That not your trespass, but my madness speaks : It will but skin and film the ulcerous place, Whilst rank corruption, mining all within, Infects unseen. Confess yourself to Heaven ; Repent what's past ; avoid what is to come -, And do not spread the compost on the weeds, To make them ranker. O Hamlet ! thou hast cleft my heart in twain. Oh, throw away the worser part of it, And live the purer with he other half. Good-night ! once more, good-night ! And when you are desirous to be blest, I'll blessing beg of you. 90 MANUAL OF ELOCUTION AND MURDER OF KING DUNCAN— SHAKSPEARE. Macbeth. Is this a dagger which I see before me, The handle toward my hand ? Come let me clutch thee, — I have thee not, and yet I see thee still. Art thou not, fatal vision, sensible To feeling as to sight ? or art thou but A dagger of the mind; a false creation, Proceeding from the heat oppressed brain ? I see thee yet, in form as palpable As this which now I draw Thou marshal'st me the way that I was going ; And such an instrument I was to use. Mine eyes are made the fool o' th' other senses, Or else worth all the rest. 1 see thee still ; And on thy blade and dudgeon, gouts of blood, Which was not so before- There's no such thing: It is the bloody business which informs Thus to mine eyes. Now o'er the one half world Nature seems dead, and wicked dreams abuse The curtain'd sleep; now witchcraft celebrates Pale Hec'ate's offerings ; and wither'd murder, Alarm'd by his sentinel, the wolf, Whose howl's this watch, thus with his stealthy pace, With Targuin's ravishing strides, towards his design Moves like a ghost. Thou suie and firm-set earth, Hear not my steps, which way they walk, for fear Thy very stones prate of my where-about, PHILOSOPHY OF EXPRESSION. 91 And take the present horror from the time, Which now sinks with it. While I threat, he lives; Words to the heat of deeds too cold breath gives. [A bell rings.} I go, and it is done ; the bell invites me : Hear it not, Duncan ; for it is a knell That summons thee to heaven, or to hell. (Exit.) [Enter Lady Macbeth] Lady M. That which hath made them drunk, hath made me bold; What hath quench'd them, hath given me fire. Hark ! — peace ! It was the owl that shriek'd, the fatal bellman, Which gives the stern'st good night. He is about it; The doors are open ; and the surfeited grooms Do mock their charge with snores ; I have drugg'd their possets That death and .nature do contend about them, Whether they live or die. Macbeth, (within) Who's there ? — what, ho ! Lady M. Alack ! I am afraid they have awaked, And 'tis not done. The attempt, and cot the deed, Confounds us. Hark ! I laid their daggers ready ; He could not miss them. Had he not resembled My father as he slept, I had don't, — My husband ! [Enter Macbeth.'] Macbeth. I've done the deed ! Didst thou not hear a noise % Lady M. I heard the owl scream, and the crickets cry. Did not you speak ? 92 MANUAL OP ELOCUTION. Macbeth. When ? Lady M. . Now. Macbeth. As I descended ? Lady M. Aye. Macbeth. Hark ! Who lies i' the second chamber? Lady M. Donalbain. Macbeth. This is a sorry sight. (Looking on his hands.) Lady M. A foolish thought, to say a sorry sight. Macbeth. There's one did laugh in's sleep, and one cried, Murder ! That they did wake each other; I stood and heard them; But they did say their prayers, and address' d them Again to sleep. Lady M. There are two lodged together. Macbeth One cried, God bless us ! and Amen ! the other ; As they had seen with these hangman's hands Listening their fear, I could not say, Amen ? I had most need of blessing, and Amen Stuck in my throat. Lady M. These deeds must not be thought After these ways; so, it will make us mad. Macbeth. Methought I heard a voice cry, Sleep no more ! Macbeth doth murder sleep — the innocent sleep — Sleep that knits up the raveled sleeve of care, The death of each day's life, sore labor's both, Balm of hurt minds, great nature's second course, Chief nourisher in life's feast : — Lady M. What do you mean ? PHILOSOPHY OF EXPRESSION. 93 Macbeth. Still it cried, Sleep no more, to all i'the house; Glamis hath murder' d sleep; and therefore Caw- der Shall sleep no more — Macbeth shall sleep no more ! Lady M. Who was it that thus cried 1 Why, worthy thane, You do unbend your noble strength, to think So brain — sickly of things. Go, carry them, and smear The sleepy grooms with blood. Macbeth. I'll go no more ; I am afraid to think what I have done; Look on't again, I dare not. Lady M. Infirm of purpose ! Give me the daggers. The sleeping and the dead Are but as pictures; 'tis the eye of childhood That fears a painted devil. If he do bleed, I'll gild the faces of the grooms withal, For it must seem their guilt. [Exit, knocking within.] Macbeth. Whence is that knocking? How is't with me, when every noise appalls me? What hands are here 1 Ha ! they pluck out mine eyes ! With all great Neptune's ocean wash this blood Clean from my hands? No; this my hand will rather The multitudinous seas incarnadine, Making the green — one red. 94: MANUAL OF ELOCUTION. [Re- enter Lady Macbeth.] Lady M. My hands are of your color; but I shame To wear a heart so white. (Knocking.) I hear a knocking At the south entry. Retire we to our chamber; A little water clears us of this deed; How easy is it then ? Your constancy Hath left us unattended. (Knocking.) Hark! more knocking: Get on your night-gown, lest occasion call us, And show us to the watchers. Be not lost So poorly in your thoughts. SELECTIONS. PAGE. 1. Night Shelly 39 2. The Beauties of Nature Moodie 40 3. Hamlet's Instruction to the Players Shakespeare 41 4. To the Daisy ... Wordsworth 42 5. To the Daisy Burns 43 6. Paul Revere's Ride „ Longfellow 45 7. True Eloquence Webster 50 8. Character of Charles The First Macaulay 51 9. Tell On The Mountains Sheridan Knowles 52 10. From The Reply T« Hayne Webster 54 11. Ossian's Apostrophe To The Sun Macpherson 55 12. Apostrophe To The Ocean Byron 56 13. Patrick Henry 59 14. Sympathy with The Greeks Henry Clay 60 15. Othello's Defence Shakespeare 61 16. William Tell 63 17. Death and Satan John Milton 67 18. Degeneracy of the Athenians Demosthenes 69 19. Arraignment of Cataline Cicero 70 20. Lochinvar Walter Scott 72 21. Charge of the Light Brigade A. Tennyson 74 22. Cato's Soliloquy Addison 23. Hamlet's Soliloquy Shakespeare 77 24. Richard III " " 79 25. Brutus on the Death of Csesar " " 80 26. Mark Antony's Address Over the Dead Body of Csesar.... " 81 27. Hamlet and His Mother " 85 26. Murder of Kin« Duncan " 90 Deacidified using the Bookkeeper process. Neutralizing agent: Magnesium Oxide Treatment Date: Nov. 2007 PreservationTechnologies A WORLD LEADER IN COLLECTIONS PRESERVATION 111 Thomson Park Drive Cranberry Township, PA 1 6066 (724)779-2111