The regularity of the meter and the nine syllables leads one to believe Shakespeare's intent was that ambitious be pronounced am-BI-shee-US rather eliding the end to SHUS as we do now. The irregular meter could be a way of subtly reinforcing that shift. Although it's probably overanalyzing Shakespeare's intent, the line marks the point where Antony, satisfied that he has placated the crowd, begins the whittling away at the reasoning behind Caesar's assassination. This line is a bit of an oddity, in that it's 12 syllables and doesn't read as an alexandrine or even particularly iambic. Here, only two lines after Antony say he hasn't come to praise Caesar, he already slips in the backhanded implication that some good died with Caesar. The marked pronunciation of interréd (Middle English enteren, via French enterrer, which derives from Medieval Latin interrare meaning "within earth") is another trick to keep the meter strict in this line otherwise, he would have written it as interr'd. Oft is a common Elizabethan contraction for often Shakespeare often uses oft to avoid the extra unstressed syllable in his verse. Here is a case where the regular iambic rhythm following the more varied rhythm of the line above aids the contrast that Antony conveys. The good is oft interréd with their bones Also, while Antony is clearly referring to Caesar in the line and the one that follows, it's not hard to imagine him making a subtle innuendo here about the conspirators. Besides, the real subject of Antony's rhetorical parallelism is good and evil, not living and dying. While that isn't completely out of the realm of possibility, it's a bit of a stretch. The hardest word to scan is lives if you scan it as stressed, you have four consecutive stresses in a row, and the line scans iamb/ pyrrhic/ spondee/ spondee/ iamb. This is a line harder to scan than it might seem at first. This is a calculated tactic to disarm a crowd firmly on the side of Brutus when Antony takes the pulpit. Here's the first irony of Antony's speech, in that he is unequivocally here to praise Caesar. I come to bury Caesar, not to praise him.Īntony follows with a line of straight iambic pentameter punctuated with a feminine ending. Remember also that Antony has entered the Forum with Caesar's body in tow and will use the corpse as a prop throughout his oration. Antony also echoes the opening line that Brutus uses ("Romans, countrymen, and lovers!"), but conspicuously rearranges it where Brutus begins with "Romans" to reflect his appeal to their reason, Antony begins with "friends," which reflects the more emotional tact he will take throughout the rest of his speech. The succession of hard stresses is also Shakespeare's way of using the verse to help Antony cut through the din of the crowd. You all did love him once,-not without cause: What cause withholds you, then, to mourn for him?- 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."Friends, Romans, countrymen." / / - / - / - /įriends, Romans, countrymen, lend me your ears įrom a rhythmic perspective, the trochaic feel of this opening immediately commands attention. I speak not to disprove what Brutus spoke, But here I am to speak what I do know. 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 honourable man. 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 honourable man. He was my friend, faithful and just to me: But Brutus says he was ambitious And Brutus is an honourable man. Here, under leave of Brutus and the rest,- For Brutus is an honourable man So are they all, all honorable men,- Come I to speak in Caesar's funeral. The noble Brutus Hath told you Caesar was ambitious: If it were so, it was a grievous fault And grievously hath Caesar answer'd it. The evil that men do lives after them The good is oft interred with their bones: So let it be with Caesar. Mark Anthony’s Eulogy for Caesar Friends, Romans, countrymen, lend me your ears I come to bury Caesar, not to praise him.
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