he melted, he soothed, he roused, he agitated; alternately gentle as the dews, and awful as the thunder. 3. Yet, great as he was in the eyes of the world, he was greater in the eyes of those with whom he was most conversant. The greatness of most men, like objects seen through a mist, diminishes with the distance; but Hamilton, like a tower seen afar off under a clear sky, rose in grandeur and sublimity with every step of approach. Familiarity with him was the parent of veneration. 3. Over these matchless talents, probity threw her brightest luster. Frankness, suavity, tenderness, benevolence, breathed through their exercise. And to his family- - but he is gonethat noble heart beats no more: that eye of fire is dimmed; and sealed are those oracular lips. Americans, the serenest beam of your glory is extinguished in the tomb? 4. The death of Hamilton is no common affliction. The loss of distinguished men is, at all times, a calamity; but the loss of such a man, at such a time, and in the very meridian of his usefulness, is singularly portentous. When Washington was taken, Hamilton was left-but Hamilton is taken, and we have no Washington. We have not such another man to die! Washington and Hamilton in five years! Bereaved America! LESSON LX. BATTLE OF WARSAW. CAMPBELL 1. OH! sacred truth, thy triumph ceased awhile, Wav'd her dread standard to the breeze of morn, Pealed her loud drum, and twanged her trumpet horn! Tumultuous horror brooded o'er her van, Presaging wrath to Poland and to man. 2. Warsaw's last champion from her height surveyed, Oh, Heaven! he cried, my bleeding country save! 3. He said, and on the rampart heights arrayed, 4. In vain, alas! in vain, ye gallant few! From rank to rank your volleyed thunder flew ; Found not a generous friend, a pitying foe, Strength in her arms, nor mercy in her woe! grasp Dropped from her nerveless the shattered spear 5. The sun went down, nor ceased the carnage there, On Prague's proud arch the fires of ruin glow; LESSON LXI. EMMET'S LAST SPEECH. 1. MY LORDS: Let no man dare, when I am dead, to charge me with dishonor! let no man attaint my memory, by believing that I could have engaged in any cause but that of my country's liberty and independence; or, that I could have become the pliant minion of power, in the oppression or the miseries of my countrymen. 2. The proclamation of the provisional government speaks for our views; no inference can be tortured from it, to counte nance barbarity or debasement at home, or subjection, humiliation, or treachery, from abroad; I would not have submitted to a foreign oppressor, for the same reason that I would resist the domestic tyrant; in the dignity of freedom, I would have fought upon the threshold of my country, and its enemy should enter only by passing over my lifeless corpse. 3. Am I, who lived but for my country, and who have subjected myself to the dangers of the jealous and watchful oppressor, and the bondage of the grave, only to give my countrymen their rights, and my country her independence, am I to be loaded with calumny, and not suffered to resent it or re pel it-no, God forbid ! 4. If the spirits of the illustrious dead participate in the concerns and cares of those who are dear to them, in this transitory life, O ever dear and venerated shade of my departed father, look down with scrutiny upon the conduct of your suffering son; and see if I have, even for a moment, deviated from those principles of morality and patriotism, which it was your care to instil into my youthful mind, and for which I am now to offer up my life. 5. My lords, you are impatient for the sacrifice. The blood which you seek, is not congealed by the artificial terrors which surround your victim; it circulates, warmly and unruffled, through the channels which God created for noble purposes, but which you are bent to destroy, for purposes so grievous that they cry to heaven. 6. Be yet patient; I have but a few more words to say. I am going to my cold and silent grave; my lamp of life is nearly extinguished; my race is run; the grave opens to receive me, and I sink into its bosom! I have but one request to ask at my departure from this world-it is the charity of its silence. Let no man write my epitaph: for, as no man, who knows my motives, dare now vindicate them, let not prejudice or ignorance asperse them. Let them and me repose in obscurity and peace, and my tomb remain uninscribed, until other times and other men can do justice to my character: when my country takes her place among the nations of the earth, then, and not till then, let my epitaph be written. I have done. LESSON LXII, ANTONY'S ORATION OVER CESAR. SHAKSPEARE 1. FRIENDS, Romans, countrymen! Lend me your ears 2. He was my friend, faithful and just to me: And Brutus is an honorable man. He hath brought many captives home to Rome, 3. When that the poor have cried, Cæsar hath wept; And Brutus is an honorable man. You all did see, that, on the Lupercal, I thrice presented him a kingly crown, Which he did thrice refuse; was this ambition? And sure, he is an honorable man. 1. I speak not to disprove what Brutus spoke, But here I am, to speak what I do know. H |