easy to tolerate the union of wisdom and goodness with boldness and indiscretion, in "a maid too virtuous for the contempt of empire." Many of the remarks assigned by Shakspeare to Helena are of a very high mental character; of which the reflections introductory to the project of her journey to Paris, and her argument to induce the king to make trial of the efficacy of her prescription are instances. * The comic scenes, and the general graceful ease and fluency of its diction, give an air of lightness and variety to the play that are wanting in the novel. The mere story is not productive of more effect in one than in the other, and the drama makes no pretensions to rank in the first order of excellence. But a value is conferred upon Shakspeare's performance beyond its dramatic merit, by its being the repository of much sententious wisdom, and numerous passages of remarkable elegance. A single speech of the king may be referred to as an instance of both †, and Helena's description of her hopeless passion may be selected as exquisitely beautiful. ‡ Act I. sc. 1. "Our remedies oft in ourselves do lie," &c. Act II. sc. 1." He that of greatest works is finisher," &c. "It much repairs me + To talk of your good father," &c. Act I. sc. 2. キ "I know I love in vain," &c. Act I. sc. 3. 148 MACBETH. 1606. THE HE history of Macbeth is recorded in Holinshed's Chronicle of Scotland, whence Shakspeare derived his knowledge of the striking incidents embodied in his immortal tragedy. Malcolm, King of Scotland, dying without a male heir, was succeeded, in 1040, by Duncan, the son of his eldest daughter Beatrice, the wife of Crinen, Thane of the isles and western parts of Scotland. Malcolm's second daughter, Doada, married Sinel, Thane of Glamis, and was the mother of Macbeth. The disposition of Duncan was too beneficent and mild for the lawless age in which he lived, and rebellion sprang from the culpable leniency of his sway. The magnitude of his danger at length compelled the king to a vigorous assertion of his authority, and Macbeth, his cousin, and Banquo, thane of Lochquhaber, were de spatched against the chief rebel, Macdowald, who was supported by a powerful body of Kerns and Galloglasses. Defeated, and despairing of mercy, Macdowald slew himself. Scarcely was this insurrection suppressed when Sueno, King of Norway, invaded Scotland. With an unaccustomed activity, Duncan marched in person against the enemy, himself commanding the main battle, and consigning the inferior charges to Banquo and Macbeth. The Scots were defeated with great slaughter, and the king took refuge in the castle of Bertha, while the activity of his generals, undismayed by defeat, was exerted to collect new powers. Duncan, by feigned negotiations, lulled his enemies into security, when suddenly Macbeth and Banquo appeared again in the field; the Danes were slaughtered without resistance, only Sueno, and ten other persons effecting their escape. The celebration of this triumph was succeeded by a new alarm, the arrival of a second fleet of Danes, sent by Canute, King of England, in revenge of his brother Sueno's overthrow. Macbeth and Banquo encountered and defeated the enemy: those who escaped the sword were fain to purchase the privilege of burial for their slaughtered friends in Saint Colmes Inch, by a large payment of gold: a treaty was at the same time concluded, by which the Danes bound themselves never to renew hostilities against the Scots. "It fortuned as Macbeth and Banquo journied towards Fores, where the king then lay, they went sporting by the way together without other company, save only themselves, passing through the woods and fields, when suddenly in the midst of a laund, there met them three women in strange and wild apparel, resembling creatures of elder world, whom when they attentively beheld, wondering much at the sight, the first of them spake and said; All hail Macbeth, thane of Glamis,' (for he had lately entered into that dignity and office by the death of his father Sinel.) The second of them said; • Hail Macbeth, thane of Cawdor.' But the third said; All hail Macbeth, that hereafter shall be king of Scotland.' Then Banquo; • What manner of women (saith he) are you, that seem so little favourable unto me, whereas to my fellow here, besides high offices, ye assign also the kingdom, appointing forth nothing for me at all?' Yes (saith the first of them), we promise greater benefits unto thee, than unto him, for he shall reign in deed, but with an unlucky end: neither shall he leave any issue behind him to succeed in his place, where con trarily thou in deed shalt not reign at all, but of thee those shall be born which shall govern the Scotish kingdom by long order of continual descent.' Herewith the aforesaid women vanished immediately out of their sight." * By the law of Scotland, if Duncan died during the minority of his sons, the crown descended to the next of blood. Macbeth stood in this relation to the throne, but suddenly found his prospect of succession annihilated by the elevation of the king's eldest son, Malcolm, to the dignity of Prince of Cumberland, the possessor of that title being always deemed the heir apparent. Irritated against his sovereign by a sense of injury, stimulated by the flattering promises of the weird sisters, and urged on by his wife, by Banquo, and other friends, Macbeth resolved to possess himself of the throne by violence. He slew Duncan at Inverness; proclaimed himself king; and was invested with the regal dignity at Scone. The sons of Duncan fled in dismay; Malcolm to England, and Donald-Bane into Ireland. The government of the usurper was, for a time, wise and equitable, but, tortured by the continued dread, that what he obtained by blood * Holinshed. |