Harangue of Antony over the dead body of J. Caesar
Dateca. 1824–1828
abstractA composition written while a student at Dartmouth. It is a fictional narrative in which Mitchell assumes the voice of Mark Antony, imagining his speech to troops following the assassination of Caesar.
RepositoryMcCord Stewart Museum
Call NumberMitchell Family Fonds P044/A,4.3
Persistent Identifier
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Harangue of Antony over the dead body of J. Caesar.
1| I am not surprised, Romans, to see you, running
from every part of the City, to this devoted spot.
2| It fills me with no astonishment, to see your eyes
flowing with tears, dejection depicted in your
countenances, and such deep sorrows manifested.
No! for it is a time for Romans to weep; since the
brave, the great, the illustrious Caesar is no more.
Had his death been ordinary; had some of the thousand
2| diseases, that are waging war against the human race,
been commissioned to invade his dwelling, and pros
trate his superior frame, while surrounded with
affectionate friends; you might then have had cause
the to give vent to your sorrow; yet recollecting
the fixed purpose of fate, the unering despensation
of the Gods, you could have easily restrained
your grief, and have shown your submission
to the will of the immortals. But it was not so.
The death of Caesar is associated with painfull reflec
tions, bringing anguish to your heart, and overwhelming
2| you in grief. They were not diseases, that attacked him;
they were the hands of ruthless ruffians. He was
not on a bed of sickness, but siting in the chair of
state, dressed in the robe of magistracy, when he fell.
Yes Romans, men, to whom you had committed
the peace of the republic, men holding the
important station of Roman senators, were the
base assasins that imbrued their hands in the
blood of Julius Caesar. And Who, think you, was
foremost in this blood thirsty conspiracy? who?
it was Brutus. Brutus! ah I see astonisment
seizes you, when I name Brutus! yes Brutus,
who had experienced the clemency, the benevolence and the friendship of Caesar, Brutus led this hand
against him. Oh tell it notto among the Pirates,
2| lest they should boast of being more humane, than, Roman
Senators, they only took thirty talents from Caesar,
the assasins took his life. Bear not the tiding to
Hispania, and Gaul, nor waft it to the British
Isl, that the Caesar, who awed them by the power and
terror of his arms, has thus fallen, as if the Gods had revenged
them. Oh let not the sound echo on the plains of
Pharsalia, nor descend to the gloomy region
of Pluto, lest Pompey's ghost exult with sullen
joy. But Romans arise! and let these men feel
the weight of your displeasure. Men, so base,
so vile in the heart of the republic, are distructive
to your prosperity, they endanger your liberty.
2| Show to the world and to your descendants, that you des
pise such nefarious proceedings
from every part of the City, to this devoted spot.
2| It fills me with no astonishment, to see your eyes
flowing with tears, dejection depicted in your
countenances, and such deep sorrows manifested.
No! for it is a time for Romans to weep; since the
brave, the great, the illustrious Caesar is no more.
Had his death been ordinary; had some of the thousand
2| diseases, that are waging war against the human race,
been commissioned to invade his dwelling, and pros
trate his superior frame, while surrounded with
affectionate friends; you might then have had cause
the fixed purpose of fate, the unering despensation
of the Gods, you could have easily restrained
your grief, and have shown your submission
to the will of the immortals. But it was not so.
The death of Caesar is associated with painfull reflec
tions, bringing anguish to your heart, and overwhelming
2| you in grief. They were not diseases, that attacked him;
they were the hands of ruthless ruffians. He was
not on a bed of sickness, but siting in the chair of
state, dressed in the robe of magistracy, when he fell.
Yes Romans, men, to whom you had committed
the peace of the republic, men holding the
important station of Roman senators, were the
base assasins that imbrued their hands in the
blood of Julius Caesar. And Who, think you, was
foremost in this blood thirsty conspiracy? who?
it was Brutus. Brutus! ah I see astonisment
seizes you, when I name Brutus! yes Brutus,
who had experienced the clemency, the benevolence and the friendship of Caesar, Brutus led this hand
against him. Oh tell it not
2| lest they should boast of being more humane, than, Roman
Senators, they only took thirty talents from Caesar,
the assasins took his life. Bear not the tiding to
Hispania
Isl, that the Caesar, who awed them by the power and
terror of his arms, has thus fallen, as if the Gods had revenged
them. Oh let not the sound echo on the plains of
Pharsalia, nor descend to the gloomy region
of Pluto, lest Pompey's ghost exult with sullen
joy. But Romans arise! and let these men feel
the weight of your displeasure. Men, so base,
so vile in the heart of the republic, are distructive
to your prosperity, they endanger your liberty.
2| Show to the world and to your descendants, that you des
pise such nefarious proceedings
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