The Works of M. de Voltaire: Brutus

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J. Newbery, R. Baldwin, W. Johnston, S. Crowder, T. Davies, J. Coote, G. Kearsley, and B. Collins, at Salisbury, 1761

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Page 208 - Here comes his body, mourned by Mark Antony: who, though he had no hand in his death, shall receive the benefit of his dying, a place in the commonwealth; as which of you shall not? With this I depart, — that, as I slew my best lover for the good of Rome, I have the same dagger for myself, when it shall please my country to need my death.
Page 23 - Ou me cacher? Fuyons dans la nuit infernale. Mais que dis-je? Mon pere y dent 1'urne fatale. Le sort, dit-on, 1'a mise en ses severes mains. Minos juge aux Enfers tous les pales humains.
Page 205 - 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...
Page 115 - Great, en" amored of the loveliest woman in the world ; the " fierce passion of this King so famous for his virtues " and for his crimes — his ever-recurring and rapid " transition from love to hatred, and from hatred to " love — the ambition of his sister — the intrigues of " his concubines — the cruel situation of a princess " whose virtue and beauty are still world-renowned, " who had seen her kinsmen slain by her husband, and " who, as the climax of grief, found herself loved by " their...
Page 10 - Even in England, at this day, authors give us notice at the beginning of their pieces that the time employed in the action is equal to that of the representation and thus go further than ourselves, who taught them.
Page 213 - ... fault, and if he has sincerity enough, he will fairly confess that he had not sufficient genius to fill up his performance with a single action: and if he takes up two days, and places his scene in two different places, you may take it for granted it is because he has not skill enough to confine his plan within the limits of three hours, or bring it into the walls of a palace, as probability requires he should. But it is quite another thing with regard to hazarding a horrible spectacle on the...
Page 216 - The English are more fond of action than we are, and speak more to the eye ; the French give more attention to elegance, harmony, and the charms of verse. It is certainly more difficult to write well than to bring upon the stage assassinations, wheels, mechanical powers, ghosts, and sorcerers. The tragedy of "Cato," which reflects so much honor on Mr.
Page 208 - Caefar loved me, I weep for him ; as he was fortunate, I rejoice at it; as he was valiant, I honour him; but as he was ambitious, I flew him. There are tears for his love, joy for his fortune, honour for his valour, and death for his ambition.
Page 205 - Tis Rome requires our tears, 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, . i And set the nations free, Rome is no more.
Page 208 - ... of your nation ! not that I approve the barbarous irregularities which it abounds with; it only astonishes me, that there are not many more in a work written in an age of ignorance, by a man who did not even understand Latin, and had no instructor but his own genius : and yet, among so many gross faults, with what rapture did I behold Brutus, holding in his hand a dagger, still wet with the blood of Caesar, assemble the Roman people, and thus harangue them from the tribunal: "Romans, countrymen,...

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