“I am glad we were both on the spot，and that the little fellow lies under our guns as it were，and so is protected from some such brutal schoolpirate as young Duval for instance，who would rob him，probably，of some of those good things；good in themselves，and better because fresh from home.See，there is a pie as I said，and which I dare say is better than those which are served at our table （but you never take any notice of these kind of things，Miss Raby），a cake，of course，a bottle of currant wine，jampots，and no end of pears in the straw.With this money little Briggs will be able to pay the tick which that impudent child has run up with Mrs.Ruggles；and I shall let Briggs Major pay for the pencilcase which Bullock sold to him.It will be a lesson to the young prodigal for the future.
But，I say，what a change there will be in his life for some time to come，and at least until his present wealth is spent！The boys who bully him will mollify toward him and accept his pie and sweetmeats.They will have feasts in the bedroom；and that wine will taste more deliciously to them than the best out of the Doctor’s cellar.Thecronies will be invited.Young Master Wagg will tell his most dreadful story and sing his best song for a slice of that pie.What a jolly night they will have！When we go the rounds at night，Mr.Prince and I will take care to make a noise before we come to Briggs‘s room，so that the boys may have time to put the light out，to push the things away，and to scud into bed.Doctor Spry may be put in requisition the next morning.’‘“Nonsense！you absurd creature，”cries out Miss Raby，laughing；and I lay down the twelfth pen very nicely mended.
“Yes；after luxur y comes the doctor，I say；after extravagance，a hole in the breeches pocket.To judge from his disposition，Briggs Major will not be much better off a couple of days hence than he is now，and，if I am not mistaken，will end life a poor man.Brown will be kicking his shins before a week is over，depend upon it.There are boys and men of all sorts，Miss R.there are selfish sneaks who hoard until the store they daren’t use grows mouldythere are spendthrifts who fling away，parasites who flatter and lick its shoes，and snarling curs who hate and envy good fortune.”
I put down the last of the pens，brushing away with it the quill chips from her desk first，and she looked at me with a kind，wondering face.I brushed them away，clicked the penknife into my pocket，made her a bow，and walked offfor the bell was ringing for school.
William Makepeace Thackeray
THE FUNERAL OF JULIUS CAESAR
The Forum.Enter Brutus，Cassius，and a throng of Citizens.
All .We will be satisfied；let us be satisfied.
Bru .Then follow me，and give me audience，friendsCassius，go you into the other street，And part the numbers.Those that will hear me speak，let them stay here；Those that will follow Cassius，go with him；And public reasons shall be rendered Of C？sar‘s death.
1Cit .I will hear Brutus speak.
2Cit .I will hear Cassius；and compare their reasons，When severally we hear them rendered.
[Exit Cassius，with some of the Citizens.Brutus goes into the rostrum.]
3Cit .The noble Brutus is ascended：silence！
Bru .Be patient till the last.
Romans，countrymen，and lovers！hear me for my cause；and be silent，that you may hear：believe me for mine honour；and have respect to mine honour，that you may believe：censure me in your wisdom；and awake your senses，that you may the better judge.If there be any in this assembly，any dear friend of C？sar’s，to him I say，that Brutus‘love to C？sar was no less than his.If then that friend demand why Brutus rose against C？sar，this is my answer，Not that I loved C？sar less，but that I lovedRome more.Had you rather C？sar were living，and die all slaves，than that C？sar were dead，to live all free men？As C？sar 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 slew him.There is tears for his love；joy for his fortune；honour for his valour；and death for his ambition.Who is here so base that would be a bondman？If any，speak；for him have I offended.Who is here so rude that would not be a Roman？If any，speak；for him have I offended.Who is here so vile that will not love his country？If any，speak；for him have I offended.I pause for a reply.
All .None，Brutus，none.
Bru .Then none have I offended.I have done no more to C？sar than you shall do to Brutus.The question of his death is enrolled in the Capitol；his glory not extenuated，wherein he was worthy；nor his offences enforced，for which he suffered death.
[Enter Antony and others，with C？sar’s body.]
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.
All .Live，Brutus，live！live！
1Cit .Bring him with triumph home unto his house.2Cit .Give him a statue with his ancestors.
3Cit .Let him be C？sar.
4Cit .C？sar‘s better parts Shall now be crown’d in Brutus.
1Cit .We‘ll bring him to his house with shouts andclamours.
Bru .My countrymen，
2Cit .Peace！silence！Brutus speaks.1Cit .Peace，ho！
Bru .Good countrymen，let me depart alone，And，for my sake，stay here with Antony：
Do grace to C？sar’s corpse，and grace his speech Tending to C？sar‘s glories；which Mark Antony，By our permission，is allow’d to make.
1Cit .Stay，ho！and let us hear Mark Antony.3Cit .Let him go up into the public chair；We‘ll hear him.Noble Antony，go up.
Ant.For Brutus’sake，I am beholding to you.
[He goes up into the rostrum.]
4Cit .What does he say of Brutus？
3Cit .He says，for Brutus‘sake，He finds himself beholding to us all.
4Cit .’T were best to speak no harm of Brutus here.
1Cit .This C？sar was a tyrant.
3Cit .Nay，that‘s certain：We are blest that Rome is rid of him.
2Cit .Peace！let us hear what Antony can say.
