The Last Words (Real and Traditional) of Distinguished Men and Women — John Shaqi
The Last Words (Real and Traditional) of Distinguished Men and WomenMarvin, Frederic Rowland
History
The Last Words (Real and Traditional) of Distinguished Men and Women
Marvin, Frederic Rowland
Last words
"When Burns's Mausoleum was opened in March, 1834, to receive the
remains of his widow, some residents in Dumfries obtained the
consent of her nearest relative to take a cast from the cranium of
the poet. This was done during the night between the 31st of March
and 1st of April. Mr. Archibald Blacklock, surgeon, drew up the
following description:
"The cranial bones were perfect in every respect, if we except a
little erosion of their external table, and firmly held together by
their sutures, &c., &c. Having completed our intention [_i. e._, of
taking a plaster cast of the skull, washed from every particle of
sand, &c.], the skull securely closed in a leaden case, was again
committed to the earth, precisely where we found it."
BURR (Aaron, third Vice-President of the United States. In 1804 he
fought his famous duel with Hamilton), 1756-1836. "_Madame._"
BURTON (Sir Richard F.), 1821-1890. "_Oh Puss, chloroform--ether--or I
am a dead man_," said to his wife who feared to administer an anaesthetic
without the direction of a physician. Dr. Barker in a letter to Lady
Stisled says that a moment later "suddenly the breathing became labored,
there were a few moments of awful struggle for air, then, conscious to
the last, he exclaimed, 'I am a dead man,' fell back on his pillow and
expired."
BUTLER (Benjamin Franklin, attorney-general of the United States, from
1831 to 1834), 1795-1858. "_I have peace, perfect peace. 'Thou wilt keep
him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on thee.'_"
BUTLER (Joseph, English Bishop, and author of the celebrated "Analogy of
Religion"), 1692-1752. "_I have often read and thought of that
scripture, but never till this moment did I feel its full power, and now
I die happy._" These words were spoken to his chaplain who read him John
vi., and called attention to the 37th verse: "All that the Father giveth
me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast
out."
BYRON (George Gordon Noel, Lord, one of the greatest of English poets),
1788-1824. "_I must sleep now._"
It has been asserted, upon what authority the compiler does not know,
that the last words of Byron were, "Shall I sue for mercy?" After a long
pause he added, it is said, "Come, come, no weakness: let me be a man to
the last."
CAESAR (Caius Julius), B. C. 100-44. "_Et tu Brute!_" to Marcus Brutus,
on discovering him among the assassins.
Authorities differ: some have it, "What! art thou, too, one of them!
Thou, my son!" and others omit the words "my son." If, however, the last
two words are to be retained, they express only the difference of age
between Caesar and Brutus. There is no good reason for regarding them as
an avowal that Brutus was the fruit of the connection between Julius and
Servilia.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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