By his lov'd manfionary, that heaven's breath
Smells wooingly here. No jutting frieze,
Buttrice, nor coigne of vantage, but this bird
Hath made his pendent bed, and procreant cradle:
Where they moft breed and haunt, I have obferv'd
The air is delicate.

In this fhort scene, I propofe a flight alteration to be made, by fubftituting fite for feat, as the ancient word for fituation; and fenfe for fenfes as more agreeable to the measure; for which reafon likewife I have endeavoured to adjust this paffage,

Heaven's breath

Smells wooingly here. No jutting frieze,

By changing the punctuation and adding a fyllable thus,

Heaven's breath

Smells wooingly. Here is no jutting frieze.

Those who have perused books printed at the time of the first editions of Shakespeare know, that greater alterations than these are neceffary almoft in every page, even where it is not to be doubted that the copy was correct.

THE

arguments by which Lady Macbeth perfuades her husband to commit the murder, afford a proof

of Shakespeare's knowledge of human nature. She urges

the

the excellence and dignity of courage, a glittering idea which has dazzled mankind from age to age, and animated fometimes the houfebreaker, and sometimes the conquerer; but this fophifm Macbeth has for ever deftroyed by diftinguifhing true from falfe fortitude, in a line and a half; of which it may almost be faid, that they ought to beftow immortality on the author, though all his other productions had been loft.

I dare do all that may become a man,
Who dares do more is none.

This topic, which has been always employed with too much fuccefs, is used in this fcene with peculiar propriety, to a foldier by a woman. Courage is the diftinguishing virtue of a foldier, and the reproach of cowardice cannot be borne by any man from a woman, without great impatience.

She then urges the oaths by which he had bound himself to murder Duncan, another art of fophiftry by which men have fometimes deluded their confciences, and perfuaded themselves that what would be criminal in others is virtuous in them; this argument Shakespeare, whofe plan obliged him to make Macbeth yield, has not confuted, though he might eafily have shown that a former obligation could not be vacated by a latter.

NOTE XVII.

LETTING I dare not, wait upon I would,
Like the poor cat i'th' adage.

By his lov'd manfionary, that
Smells wooingly here. No j
Buttrice, nor coigne of vantag
Hath made his pendent bed, a
Where they most breed and ha
The air is delicate.

In this short scene, I propose a be made, by fubftituting fite for word for fituation; and fenfe for fen ble to the meafure; for which rea endeavoured to adjust this paffage,

Heaven's breath

Smells wooingly here. No jutti

By changing the punctuation and add

Heaven's breath

Smells wooingly. Here is no jut

Those who have perufed books pr. of the first editions of Shakespeare kn alterations than these are neceffary : page, even where it is not to be do copy was correct.

The adage alluded to is, The cat loves fifh, but dares not

wet her foot,

Catus amat pifces, fed non vult tingere plantas.

WILL I with wine and waffel fo convince.

To convince is in Shakespeare to over-power or fubdue, as in this play,

WHO fhall bear the guilt

Of our great quell.

Quell is murder, manquellers being in the old language the term for which murderers is now used.

NOTE XX.

ACT II. SCENE II.

Now o'er one half the world

(1) Nature feems dead, and wicked dreams abuse The curtain'd fleep; now witchcraft celebrates Pale Hecat's offerings: and wither'd murder,

(Alarum'd