unable to hold out any longer for fright, dared to address Gavroche, but in a very low voice. "Sir?" "Hello!" said Gavroche, who had just closed his eyes. "What is that?" "It's the rats," Gavroche answered. And he laid his head again on the mat. "Sir?" he began again. "Well?" Gavroche asked. "What are rats?" "They are mice." This explanation slightly reassured the child, for he had seen white mice in his life and had not been afraid of them. Still, he trembled with fear. "Don't be frightened," said Gavroche, "they can't get in. And then, I am here. Stay; take my hand; hold your tongue and go to sleep." The night hours passed away; darkness covered the immense Bastile square. A winter wind, which was mingled with rain, blew in gusts. The patrols examined doors and dark corners, searching for vagabonds, and passed silently before the elephant. monster, erect and motionless, with its eyes open in the darkness, sheltered from the sky and rain the three poor sleeping children. From "Les Misérables." The - VICTOR HUGO. ORATION OF MARK ANTONY FRIENDS, Romans, countrymen, lend me your ears; He was my friend, faithful and just to me: And Brutus is an honorable man. He hath brought many captives home to Rome, Did this in Cæsar seem ambitious? When that the poor have cried, Cæsar hath wept; Yet Brutus says he was ambitious; You all did see, that, on the Lupercal, I thrice presented him a kingly crown, Which he did thrice refuse. Was this ambition? VIII.- -15 ། Yet Brutus says he was ambitious, I speak not to disprove what Brutus spake, You all did love him once, not without cause; * But yesterday, the word of Cæsar might Have stood against the world; now lies he there, And none so poor to do him reverence. O masters! if I were disposed to stir Your hearts and minds to mutiny and rage, I will not do them wrong; I rather choose But here's a parchment, with the seal of Cæsar; I found it in his closet, 'tis his will; Let but the commons hear this testament, (Which, pardon me, I do not mean to read,) And they would go and kiss dead Cæsar's wounds And dip their napkins in his sacred blood; Yea, beg a hair of him for memory, Unto their issue. Have patience, gentle friends, I must not read it ; It is not meet you know how Cæsar loved you; You are not wood, you are not stones, but men ; And being men, hearing the will of Cæsar, It will inflame you, it will make you mad. 'Tis good you know not that you are his heirs; For if you should, oh, what would come of it! Will you be patient? Will you wait awhile? I have o'ershot myself to tell you of it. I fear I wrong the honorable men Whose daggers have stabbed Cæsar. I do fear it. If you have tears, prepare to shed them now. 'Twas on a summer's evening, in his tent, Look! in this place, ran Cassius' dagger through; See, what a rent the envious Casca made; Through this, the well-beloved Brutus stabbed; |