To make them Kings, the Seed of Banque Kings. vil, is in itself natural and obvious, yet fome may be pleafed with being informed, that ShakeSpeare probably borrowed it from the first lines of the deftruction of Troy, a book which he is known to have read. That this remark may not appear too trivial, I fhall take occafion from it to point out a beautiful paffage of Milton, evidently copied from a book of no greater authority, in defcribing the gates of hell. Book 2. v.879. he fays, On a fudden open fly, With impetuous recoil and jarring found, Th' infernal doors, and on their In the hiftory of Don Bellianis, when one of the knights approaches, as I remember, the caftle of Brandezar, the gates are faid to open grating harsh thunder upon their brafen hinges. S come Fate into the lift, And champion me to th' utterance! This paffage will be beft explained by tranflating it into the language from whence the only word of difficulty in it is borrowed. Que la destinée fe rende en lice, et qu'elle me donne un defi a l'outrance. A challenge or a combat a l'outrance, to extremity, was a fix'd term in the law of arms, ufed when the combatants engaged with an odi um internecinum, an intention to deftroy each other, in oppofition to trials of kill at festivals, or on other occafions, where the conteft was only for reputation or a prize. The sense therefore is, Let Fate, that has fore-doom'd the exaltation of the fons of Banquo, enter the lifts against me, with the utmost animofity, in defence of its own decrees, which I will endeavour to invalidate, whatever be the danger. Rather than fo, come Fate into the lift, And champion me to th' utte rance! This is expreffed with great noblenefs and fublimity. The metaphor is taken from the ancient combat en champ clos: in which there was a marfhal, who prefided over, and directed all the punctilios of the ceremonial. Fate is called upon to discharge this office, and champion bim to th' utterance that is, to fight it out to the extre mity, which they called combatre à oulirance. But he uses the Scotch word, utterance from oultrance, extremity. WARB After the former explication, Dr. Warburton was defirous to feem to do fomething; and he has therefore made fate the marhal, whom I had made the champion, and has left Macbeth to enter the lifts without an opponent. Enter Enter Servant, and two Murderers. Go to the door, and stay there, 'till we call. Was it not yesterday we spoke together? [Exit Servant. You have confider'd of my fpeeches, know, In our aft conf'rence, paft in probation with you, ments; Who wrought with them; and all things elfe that might To half a foul, and to a notion craz'd, Say, thus did Banquo. 1 Mur. True, you made it known. Mach. I did fo; and went further, which is now Oor point of fecond meeting. Do you find Your patience fo predominant in your nature, That you can let this go? are you fo gospell'd, To pray for this good man and for his iffue, Whofe heavy hand hath bow'd you to the Grave, And beggar'd yours for ever. 1 Mur. We are men, my liege. Macb. Ay, in the catalogue ye go for men, As hounds, and greyhounds, mungrels, fpaniels, curs, 'Showghes, water rugs, and demy-wolves are cleped All by the name of dogs; the yalued file Diftinguishes the fwift, the flow, the fubtle, The house-keeper, the hunter; every one are you fo gofpell'd,] Are you of that degree of precife virtue? Gospeller was a name of contempt given by the Papifts to the Lollards, the Puritans of early times, and precurfors of Proteftantifm. Ac. According to the gift which bounteous Nature That writes them all alike: and fo of men. And not in the worst rank of manhood, fay it; 2 Mur. I am one, Whom the vile blows and buffets of the world 1 Mur. And I another, ? So weary with difafters, tugg'd with fortune, That I would fet my life on any chance, To mend it, or be rid on't. Macb. Both of you Know, Banquo was your enemy. Mur. True, my Lord. Mach. So is he mine: and in fuch bloody distance; That every minute of his Being thrusts Against my near'ft of life; and though I could With bare-fac'd Power fweep him from my fight, 2 Mur. We fhall, my lord, In this I will advise you where to plant yourselves; I'll come to you anon. Acquaint you with the perfect Jpy o' th' time,] What is meant by the fpy of the time, it will be found difficult to explain; and therefore fenfe will be cheap-. ly gained by a flight alteration. -Macbeth is affuring the affaffins that they shall not want directions to find Banque, and therefore fays, I will Acquaint you with a perfect fpy th' time, Accordingly a third murderer joins them afterwards at the place of action. Perfet is well inftructed, or well informed, as in this play, Though in your state of honour I am perfect. though I am well acquainted with your quality and rank. -the perfect spy.o' th' time,] i.e. the critical juncture. WARB. How the critical juncture is the fty th' time I know not, but think my own conjecture right, Mach Mach, I'll call upon you ftraight. Abide within. [Exeunt Murtherers. It is concluded.-Banquo, thy foul's flight, SCENE E III. Another Apartment in the Palace. Enter Lady Macbeth, and a Servant. Lady. TS Banquo gone from Court? [Exit. Serv. Ay, Madam, but returns again to night. Lady. Say to the King, I would attend his leifure For a few words. Serv. Madam, I will. Lady. Nought's had, all's spent, Where our defire is got without content. Enter Macbeth. How now, my lord, why do you keep alone? it She'll clofe, and be herfelf; whilft our poor malice But let both worlds disjoint, and all things fuffer, fcotch'd. Mr. Theobald.-Vulg. Scorch'd. Whom |