A "Reasonable" Man

"But Brutus says he was ambitious, and Brutus is an honorable man."—Julius Cæsar, Act III, Scene 2.

We learnt at last week's luncheon Certain acts from loss will free Where the loss is caused by something That a man cannot foresee. There's a joker! For to profit By this very useful plan You must exercise the foresight Of a "reasonable" man.

Well, who can set the standard? Who this adjective attain? And there came to me while listening— As a sort of song refrain— The irony of Antony Like a mob-inflaming fan, Reiterating "Brutus Is an honorable man."

You remember how that Caesar On his way to take the Crown, Was by Brutus and his comrades Most unkindly daggered down. And Mark Anthony, an artful Line of propaganda ran, Waxing dangerously sarcastic With his "honorable" man.

Now to this ancient story Apply our speaker's test— Caesar's head was turned by flattery, Brutus yearned for wrongs redressed. Then don't you see there would have been No plot for Shakespeare's pen. If Caesar, and if Brutus Had been "reasonable" men.