(For now I feel you nigh,) I dedicate My country asks, harden my soul to shed it! § 61. Exercises in Middle Pitch. (See § 42.) A pure and unaspirated quality of voice is generally appropriate in these exercises in middle pitch; but Macbeth's speech (7) is an exception. 1. How sweet the moonlight sleeps upon this bank! Sit, Jessica! Look, how the floor of heaven There's not the smallest orb, which thou behold'st, Still quiring to the young-eyed cherubims; Such harmony is in immortal souls; But, whilst this muddy vesture of decay Doth grossly close us in, we cannot hear it. 2. Take each man's censure, but reserve thy judgment. Costly thy habit as thy purse can buy, But not expressed in fancy; rich, not gaudy: For the apparel oft proclaims the man; And they in France, of the best rank and station, For loan oft loses both itself and friend, 3. When I look upon the tombs of the great, every emotion of envy dies in me; when I read the epitaphs of the beautiful, every inordinate desire goes out; when I meet with the grief of parents upon a tombstone, my heart melts with compassion; when I see the tomb of the parents themselves, I consider the vanity of grieving for those whom we must quickly follow. When I see kings lying by those who deposed them, -- when I consider rival wits placed side by side, or the holy men that divided the world with their contests and disputes, - I reflect with sorrow and astonishment on the little competitions, factions, and debates of mankind. When I read the several dates of the tombs, of some that died yesterday and some six hundred years ago, I consider that great day when we shall all of us be contemporaries, and make our appearance together. 4- What'! will a man play tricks', will he indulge 5. How beautiful is night! A dewy freshness fills the silent air; No mist obscures, nor cloud, nor speck. nor stain In full-orbed glory yonder moon divine The desert-circle spreads Like the round ocean, girdled with the sky 6. My heart leaps up when I behold So was it when my life began; So be it when I shall grow old, Or let me die! 7. The child is father of the man, Macbeth. What man dare, I dare: The baby of a girl. Hence, horrible shadow ! § 62. Exercises in High Pitch. (See § 43.) ... 1. Fight, gentlemen of England! fight, bold yeomen! A thousand hearts are great within my bosom : 2. A horse! a horse! my KINGDOM for a horse! 3. And I will stand the hazard of the die. ... I think there be SIX Richmonds in the field! Aufidius. Name not the god, thou boy of tears! Cor. Measureless liar, thou hast made my heart Too... great for what contains it. Boy! O, slave! (Pardon me, lords, 't is the first time that ever I was forced to scold. Your judgments, my grave lords, Must give this... cur the lie!) Cut me to pieces, Volces; men and lads, Stain all your edges on me. 66 Boy?" False hound! If you have writ your annals true, 't is there, "Boy!" Zounds, I will speak of him; and let my soul As high in the air as this unthankful king; Nay, I'll have a starling, shall be taught to speak ... 5. Approach the chamber, and destroy your sight With a new Gorgon: Do not bid me speak; See and then speak yourselves. -Awake! awake! - Shake off this drowsy sleep, death's counterfeit, The great doom's image! up, up, and see Malcolm! Banquo! As from your graves rise up, and walk like sprights, To countenance this horror! 6. Now what wait we? For Alfred's word to move upon the foe? Your weapons, think on the beseeching eyes, Thrust the unbidden feet, that from their nooks The land that bore you, O, your wives and babes! 7. Rouse ye, Romans! Rouse ye, slaves! ye ... Have brave sons? Look in the next fierce brawl That sate on her seven hills, and from her throne Was greater than a king! And once again 8. I have been, I am, I shall be, even to the tomb, the man of the public liberty, the man of the constitution. If to be such be to become the man of the people rather than of the nobles, then woe to the privileged orders! For privileges shall have an end, but... the people. ... are eternal! 9. Strike till the last armed foe expires! for the green graves of your sires! God, and your native land! 10. Now, by your children's cradles, - now, by your fathers' graves, For this did Servius give us laws? For this did Lucrece bleed? |