Read the two excerpts from act 4, scene 3, and act 5, scene 5, of Julius Caesar . CASSIUS: Ha! Portia? BRUTUS: She is dead. CASSIUS: How scaped I killing when I crossed you so? O insupportable and touching loss! Upon what sickness? BRUTUS: Impatient of my absence, And grief that young Octavius with Mark Antony Have made themselves so strong—for with her death That tidings came. With this, she fell distraught, And, her attendants absent, swallowed fire. BRUTUS: Why this, Volumnius. The ghost of Caesar hath appeared to me Two several times by night—at Sardis once, And this last night, here in Philippi fields. I know my hour is come. VOLUMNIUS: Not so, my lord. BRUTUS: Nay, I am sure it is, Volumnius. Thou seest the world, Volumnius, how it goes. Our enemies have beat us to the pit, [Low alarums] It is more worthy to leap in ourselves Than tarry till they push us. Good Volumnius, Thou know’st that we two went to school together. Even for that, our love of old, I prithee, Hold thou my sword hilts, whilst I run on it. . . . So fare you well at once, for Brutus’ tongue Hath almost ended his life’s history. Night hangs upon mine eyes; my bones would rest, That have but laboured to attain this hour. . . . I prithee, Strato, stay thou by thy lord. Thou art a fellow of a good respect. Thy life hath had some smatch of honour in it. Hold then my sword, and turn away thy face While I do run upon it. Wilt thou, Strato? Which statement best compares Brutus’s remarks at the death of his wife, Portia, to his words before his own death?
Read the excerpt from Julius Caesar , act 5, scene 5. BRUTUS: Why this, Volumnius. The ghost of Caesar hath appeared to me Two several times by night—at Sardis once, And this last night, here in Philippi fields. I know my hour is come. VOLUMNIUS: Not so, my lord. BRUTUS: Nay, I am sure it is, Volumnius. Thou seest the world, Volumnius, how it goes. Our enemies have beat us to the pit, [Low alarums] It is more worthy to leap in ourselves Than tarry till they push us. Which prediction about the plot does this passage most support?
Read the two excerpts from act 3, scene 2, of Julius Caesar . SECOND PLEBEIAN: Peace, silence! Brutus speaks. FIRST PLEBEIAN: Peace, ho! BRUTUS: Good countrymen, let me depart alone, And, for my sake, stay here with Antony. Do grace to Caesar’s corpse, and grace his speech Tending to Caesar’s glories, which Mark Antony, By our permission, is allowed to make. I do entreat you, not a man depart Save I alone till Antony have spoke. [Exit] SECOND PLEBEIAN: Most noble Caesar! We’ll revenge his death. THIRD PLEBEIAN: O royal Caesar! ANTONY: Hear me with patience. ALL: Peace, ho! ANTONY: Moreover, he hath left you all his walks, His private arbours, and new-planted orchards, On this side Tiber. He hath left them you, And to your heirs for ever—common pleasures To walk abroad and recreate yourselves. Here was a Caesar. When comes such another? Which statement best compares the last remarks in the two monologues?
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