638 THE PRINCIPLES OF SELF-CREATION
THE PERSUASIVE PERSONALITYThis brings us to a suitable place at which to introduce one of the
greatest lessons on personality ever placed on paper. It is also one of
the most effective lessons on salesmanship ever written, for the subjects
of a Pleasing Personality and salesmanship must always go hand in
hand; they are inseparable.
I am referring to Shakespeare's masterpiece, Marc Antony's speech
at the funeral of Caesar. I present it here with my bracketed interpre-
tations, which may help you to gather a new meaning from it.
The setting for that oration was something like this: Caesar
is dead, and Brutus, his slayer, is called on to tell the Roman mob,
which has gathered at the undertaker's, why he put Caesar out of the
way. Imagine a howling mob that was none too friendly to Caesar,
and which already believed that Brutus had done a noble deed by
murdering him.
Brutus takes the platform and makes a short statement of his
reasons for killing Caesar. Confident that he has won the day, he takes
his seat. His whole demeanor is that of one who believes his word will
be accepted without question; it is one of haughtiness.
Marc Antony now takes the platform, knowing that the mob is
antagonistic to him because he was a friend of Caesar's. In a low,
humble tone of voice Antony begins to speak:
Antony: For Brutus' sake, I am beholding to you.
Fourth Citizen: What does he say of Brutus?
Third Citizen: He says, for Brutus' sake, he finds himself beholding
to us all.
Fourth Citizen: 'T were best he speak no harm of Brutus here.
First Citizen: This Caesar was a tyrant.
Third Citizen: Nay, that's certain; we are blest that Rome is rid of him.
Second Citizen: Peace! Let us hear what Antony can say.