He only, in a general honest thought, And common good to all, made one of them. His life was gentle; and the elements
So mixed in him, that nature might stand up, And say to all the world, " This was a man.'
By the order of Octavius Cæsar, the corse of Brutus was conveyed to his own tent, there to remain till due preparations were made for his funeral; and, on the following day the obsequies were performed with all solemnity and respect, befitting a Roman and a warrior.
Conspiracy doth seldom prosper long- The seal of Providence sits not thereon To mark the road of safety and of power. Pride is the surest prelude to defeat-
That dangerous pride which soars beyond itself Presuming to o'erthrow what heaven permits. The wise Omnipotent did ne'er decree
That man of man should be both judge and umpire. "Judge not, or lest ye likewise shall be judged." So speaks, (recounting the commands of God!) That sacred page, which never yet spake wrong. More strongly yet our bless'd Redeemer speaks :— "Remove the mote from thine own jaundic'd eye, Ere in thy brother's thou shalt trace the beam." Doctrines unknown, indeed, when Brutus liv'd; So e'en Religion's self might find excuse For Brutus' deed, had Brutus not been wise, And noble, honourable, just, and brave; But being thus! that he could stain his soul, His glories taint—with foul ingratitude! Casts on his name and memory a shade Which dims the lustre of his better deeds. Nor can the pompous praise of patriotism Blot out, in Virtue's eye, the tinge of blood. ! Vain sophistry! to think high sounding phrase Or vain parade of lofty blandishment, Or all the powers of winning eloquence, Or e'en th' ameliorating hand of time, Can sanctify what judgment must condemu, Or give to vice the colouring of virtue !
Now Rumour, with her many hundred tongues, Floats on the passing breeze.
So farewell-Brutus-Cassius-Antony, Kings, queens, and princes-train imperial- Heroes and common men, knights and fair dames, Lovers, coquettes and prudes, husbands and wives, And all those groupes of varied characters Who have my numerous pages graced-Perchance By me ungraced-For a brief space-farewell!
Brief! if my novel enterprise succeed
If else!-Why else ?-Why press the mind with doubt ?
"Our doubts are traitors,
"And make us lose the good we oft might win, "By fearing to attempt."
Hope lures us on from day to day;—but yet Unequal is the fate of humankind:
The sport of Fortune in her wayward mood, Or favourite of her uncertain smiles, Just as her gay capricious fancy wills!
Shakspeare! thy muse did playfully display The seven ages of thy fellow man: Passing from Infancy to peevish Age; Digressing thence to Infancy again- (To infant weakness without infant charms.) Most strange declension, yet most true effect And portraiture of frail mortality.
And may we not portray the sons of song Even thus;-bewildered in a labyrinth Of strange variety-eventful cares? First lassitude, resembling Infancy,
Nurs'd in the fost'ring arms of Education;
And by the careful nymph, Instruction, tended. Grave Apprehension next, with schoolboy pace,
Unwilling to advance from very fear; Looking at danger with a timid heart,
But not surmounting-then fell Cowardice steals Athwart the mind-like sighs and tears athwart The lover's soul.
then droops the child of song, Pensive, forlorn, as if by hope forsaken! Next Inspiration comes, with godlike zeal, And dangers seem as trifles in the scale Of" vaulting bold ambition."-A warrior now:
Th' aspiring ardent son of poesy In armour clad, mounts the Olympian hill, To snatch the wreath, which binds Apollo's brow: And there is oft in bravery a charm,
Which gains the laurel crown from virtue's self. So Valour gains-" the bubble reputation!" And now the happy child of poesy
Basks in the sunny beam of Fashion! Fame' And Fortune!-height of mimic greatness! Next Vanity appears that dangerous guest, To swell the mind, with grandeur, pomp and
Like the round bellied" Justice,
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