d

I have endured contempt, insult, and wrong,
From that Acolhuan tyrant! e Should I seek
Revenge! alas, my people, we are few-
Feeble our growing state! It hath not yet

Rooted itself to bear the hurricane;
It is the lion-cub that tempts not yet
The tiger's full aged fury. f Mexicans,
He sent to bid me wear a woman's robe ;-
g When was the day that ever I look'd back
In battle? h Mexicans, the wife I loved,
To faith and friendship trusted, in despite
Of me, of heaven, he seized, and spurn'd her back
Polluted! Coward villain! and he lurks
Behind his armies and his multitudes,
And mocks my idle wrath!

It is not fit,
It is not possible that I should live!

Live! and deserve to be the finger-mark

Of slave contempt! His blood I cannot reach,
But in my own all stains shall be effaced;

It shall blot out the marks of infamy;
And when the warriors of the days to come
Tell of Ximalpoca, it shall be said

He died the brave man's death!

Not of the God

Unworthy, do I seek his altar thus,
A voluntary victim. And, perchance
The sacrifice of life may profit ye,

My people, though all living efforts fail'd
By fortune, not by fault.

Cease your lament!

And if your ill-doom'd king deserved your love,

To be uttered earnestly and somewhat rapidly, with a feeling of Revenge. At "Acolhuan tyrant" the teeth should be closely set, and the eyes should sparkle with Rage.

e The manner becomes milder and the tone more gentle.

f Greatest degree of Indignation.

This should be delivered in the most firm and courageous manner,

the Speaker advancing a step or two as he speaks.

h The utterance should be slow and emphatic, with a strong feeling of Anger approaching to Rage, combined with the utmost Contempt and Indignation,

i Dignified and Enthusiastic manner.

Say of him to your children he was one
Who bravely bore misfortune; who, when life
Became dishonour, shook his body off,
And join'd the spirits of the heroes dead.
Yes! not in Miclanteuctli's dark abode,

With cowards shall your king receive his doom;
Not in the icy caverns of the north
Suffer through endless ages!

He shall join
The spirits of the brave; with them at morn

Shall issue from the eastern gate of Heaven,
And follow through his fields of light, the sun;

With them shall raise the song and weave the dance;
Sport in the stream of splendour; company
Down to the western palace of his rest
The Prince of Glory, and with equal eye
Endure his center'd radiance.

None of you

Forgetful, O my people, even then ;

But often, in the amber cloud of noon

Diffused, will I o'er spread your summer fields,
And on the freshen'd maize and brightening meads
Shower plenty.

m

Spirits of my

valiant sires,

I come! Mexitli, never at thy shrine

Flow'd braver blood! never a nobler heart

Steam'd up its life to thee: n Priest of the God
Perform your office.

k Increased Enthusiasm.

1 Affectionate manner.

SOUTHEY.

m The Speaker should here step forward, and deliver this Enthusiastic address with elevated eyes and hands.

n The tone here naturally changes, but the manner is most firm and undaunted.

CATO OVER THE DEAD BODY OF HIS SON.

(MOST PATHETIC AND DIGNIFIED MANNER.)

The principal Rhetorical Figures are the Ecphonesis, the Erotesis, the Metonymy, and the Climax.

a Thanks to the Gods! my boy has done his duty. b Welcome my son! here lay him down, my friends, Full in my sight; that I may view at leisure The bloody corse, and count those glorious wounds. -How beautiful is Death when earn'd by Virtue ! Who would not be that Youth! what pity is it That we can die but once to serve our country!

C

Why sits this sadness on your brows, my friends? I should have blush'd if Cato's house had stood Secure and flourish'd in a civil war.

d Portius, behold thy brother, and remember Thy life is not thy own, when Rome demands it. e Alas, my friends!

Why mourn you thus? let not a private loss Afflict your hearts. 'Tis Rome requires our tears. f The mistress of the world, the seat of empire, The nurse of heroes, the delight of Gods, That humbled the proud tyrants of the earth, And set the nations free,-Rome is no more! 8 O liberty! O virtue! O my country!

a Rapturously-with eyes and hands elevated.

b The Speaker may take a step forward, as if to meet the body. The feelings of the Father should here be blended with the firmness of the Patriot.

This is addressed to those around him-Suppressing his own feelings. d This should be delivered in a most firm and impressive manner, the Speaker turning a little on one side.

e Much Pathos.

f This beautiful Climax should be spoken with a considerable degree of Animation; the tone of the voice rising at each successive step of the Climax.

.8 Weeping-This line requires a slow utterance with much Emphasis, and a strong rising Inflection.

Whate'er the Roman virtue has subdued,

The sun's whole course, the day and year are Cæsar's!
For him the self-devoted Decii died,

The Fabii fell, and the great Scipios conquer'd;
Even Pompey fought for Cæsar. h Oh my friends!
How is the toil of fate, the work of ages,

The Roman empire fall'n! O curst ambition!
Fall'n into Cæsar's hands! our great Forefathers
Had left him nought to conquer, but his country.—
i Lose not a thought on me, I'm out of danger;
Heav'n will not leave me in the Victor's hand.

1

Cæsar shall never say: "I conquer'd Cato!"

- But Oh! my friends, your safety fills my heart With anxious thoughts: a thousand secret terrors Rise in my soul how shall I save my Friends !'Tis now, O Cæsar, I begin to fear thee.Farewell, my friends! if there be

any of you Who dare not trust the Victor's clemency, Know, there are ships prepared by my command, (Their sails already op'ning to the winds,) That shall convey you to the wish'd for port.

Is there aught else, my friends, I can do for you?

farewell!

The conqueror draws near. Once more,
If e'er we meet hereafter, we shall meet
In happier climes, and on a safer shore,
Where Cæsar never shall approach us more.
There the " brave Youth, with love of virtue fired,
Who greatly in his Country's cause expired,
Shall know he conquer'd. The firm Patriot there
Who made the welfare of mankind his care,
Tho' still by Faction, Vice, and Fortune crost,
Shall find the generous labour-was not lost.

h With smothered feelings of Grief.

1 Most disinterested and philosophical manner.

k Most anxious Concern.

1 Cato apparently labours here under much Despondency.

ADDISON.

m This Sympathy for his friends requires a most pathetic delivery, with the most affectionate warmth.

Pointing to the dead body of his Son.

COURAGE.*

The principal Rhetorical Figures are the Prosopopeia, and the
Erotesis.

Courage! Nothing can withstand
Long a wrong'd undaunted land,
If the hearts within her be

True unto themselves and thee,
Thou freed daughter, Liberty.
Oh! no mountain nymph art thou
When the helm is on thy brow,
And the sword is in thy hand
Fighting for thy own good land.
Courage! Nothing e'er withstood
Freemen fighting for their good;
Arm'd with all their father's fame,
They will win and wear a name
That shall go to endless glory,
Like the gods of old Greek story,
Roused to heaven and heavenly worth
For the good they gave to earth.
Courage there is none so poor,
(None of all who wrongs endure)
None so humble, none so weak,
But may flush his father's cheek,
And his maiden's dear and true,
With the deeds which he may do ;
Be his days as dark as night,
He may make himself a light.
What! though sunken be the sun,
There are stars when day is done.
Courage! Who will be a slave
That hath strength to dig a grave,
And therein his fetters hide,
And lay his tyrant by his side.

*This Piece requires a firm tone of voice, and a degree of Energy, approaching to Vehemence.