Come, go with us; we'll look to that anon: [Exeunt Antipholus S. and E. Adr. and Luc. Dro. S. There is a fat friend at your master's house, That kitchen'd me for you to-day at dinner; She now shall be my sister, not my wife. Dro. E. Methinks, you are my glass, and not my brother: I see by you, I am a sweet-fac'd youth. Dro. S. Not I, sir; you are my elder. Dro. E. That's a question: how shall we try it? Dro. S. We will draw cuts for the senior: till then, lead thou first. Dro. E. Nay, then thus: We came into the world, like brother and brother; And now let's go hand in hand, not one before another. [Exeunt. On a careful revision of the foregoing scenes, I do not hesitate to pronounce them the composition of two very unequal writers. Shakspeare had undoubtedly a share in them; but that the entire play was no work of his, is an opinion which (as Benedick says) 'fire cannot melt out of me; I will die in it at the stake.' Thus, as we are informed by Aulus Gellius, Lib. III. Cap. 3. some plays were absolutely ascribed to Plautus, which in truth had only been (retractata et expolita) retouched and polished by him. In this comedy we find more intricacy of plot, than distinction of character; and our attention is less forcibly engaged, because we can guess in great measure how the denouement will be brought about. Yet the subject appears to have been reluctantly dismissed, even in this last and unnecessary scene; where the same mistakes are continued, till their power of affording entertainment is entirely lost.—STEEVENS. Duncan, king of Scotland: Malcolm, } his sons. PERSONS REPRESENTED. Donalbain, Macbeth, generals of the king's army. Banquo, Lenox, Rosse, Lady Macbeth. noblemen of Scotland. Menteth, Angus, Fleance, son to Banguo. Siward, earl of Northumberland, general of the English forces : Seyton, an officer attending on Macbeth. An English Doctor. A Scotch Doctor. Gentlewoman attending on lady Macbeth. Lords, Gentlemen, Officers, Soldiers, Murderers, Attendants, and Messengers. The Ghost of Banquo, and several other Apparitions. Scene, in the end of the fourth act, lies in England; through the rest of the play, in Scotland; and, chiefly, at Macbeth's castle. MACBETH. ACT I. SCENE I.—An open place. Thunder and Lightning. Enter three Witches. 1 Witch. WHEN shall we three meet again In thunder, lightning, or in rain? 2 Witch. When the hurlyburly's done, When the battle's lost and won. 3 Witch. That will be ere set of sun. 1 Witch. Where the place? 2 Witch. Upon the heath: 3 Witch. There to meet with Macbeth. Fair is foul, and foul is fair: [Witches vanish. SCENE II. A Camp near Fores. Alarum within. Enter King Duncan, Malcolm, Donalbain, Lenox, with attendants, meeting a bleeding Soldier. * Tumult. Dun. What bloody man is that? He can report, As seemeth by his plight, of the revolt The newest state. Mal. This is the sergeant, Who, like a good and hardy soldier, fought 'Gainst my captivity: Hail, brave friend! Say to the king the knowledge of the broil, As thou didst leave it. Sold. Doubtfully it stood; The multiplying villainies of nature Like valour's minion, Carv'd out his passage, till he fac'd the slave; And ne'er shook hands, nor bade farewell to him, Till he unseam'd him from the nave to the chaps, And fix'd his head upon our battlements. Dun. O, valiant cousin! worthy gentleman! Sold. As whence the sun 'gins his reflection Shipwrecking storms and direful thunders break; So from that spring, whence comfort seem'd to come, Discomfort swells. Mark, king of Scotland, mark: Dun. Sold. Yes; As sparrows, eagles; or the hare, the lion. + Cause. i. e. Supplied with light and heavy armed troops. |