Rutland herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1823-1847, 1844-12-26
THE TRUE TALE OF MACBETH

The marvellous genius Of Shakspear
may be said to have made Macbeth, for
whhou, the Illustration, OF what interest or
value would have been the name ola semi
barbarian Scottish monarch Of the eleventh
century, But it has also destroyed him,
tor il has fixed the misrepresentation of his
character on such basis, that nothing can
evei annul them Mac eth must be the
moral Of murder and usur paion IN his rank
unto all time. Nevertheless, our curiosity
is interested to know who AMI what this
manIreally was, and perhaps all the more SO,
that our poe,icall conception of him is SO
different from the reality. 1t chances that
or this point some new historical light has
of late beeu thrown, which may be pre-.
sumed to give additional nteres, to the sub
ject we shall, therefor, without any fur
Their remarks, proceed TO give brief ac-
count of the Macbeth Of facts.
The true history OF this perion is for the
frs, time related in Mr.. William Skene's
work OF the Hghlaaders of Scotland, being
compiled mainly from the Irish and Nor.
wegian annalists 1t is surprising how
much il differs from the meagre and semi.
fabulous accounts which descended, becom-
ing more fabulous as they went along,
from our early native historians to Hollins.
head, who finally gave the full blown It's
sues of marvels to Shakespeare. II appears
that in the year 1884 the Scottish monarchy
came to sort of pause, on the overthrow
and slaughter Of King Malcolm by a pow
erful Norwegian chief or Earl Of Orkney
named Thorfinn. BY this great warrior the
northern and eastern part of Scotland were
sub1ued as far as the Firth Of 1ay, bur
leaving, apparently, certain districts still
under their native chiefs And this divis
ION of the country by Norwegian sway
lasted thirty years, though ii is fact totally
unknown among us.
The rest Of the people Of Scotland raised
monarch in the person Of Duncan, whose
mother was a daughter Of tho deceased
Malcolm, his father being Crinan, nomin
ally Abbot Of Dunkeld, but in reality
powerful chief in the district OF A,hole-
To pursue Mr. Skene's intelligent narration
lin personal character Duncan was fl
from being well fitted for the difficult situa
ton IN which he was placed but being tn,
only chief Of the Northern picls who re
manned unsubdued by the Norwegians, h,
was the most likely person to preserve tn,
rest Of Scotland from their grasp during
the whole reign he appears to have BEEF
nnmo'eSied byThorGnn in hiscircumscribet
domains The Scots having thus cnioyet
during Duncan,s reign, six years Of repose
began to eonsller their strength sufficient,
reernited 10 auemp, the recovery of the ex
tenNye territories u the north which Thor
fan bad conquered.
Taking advantage. accord;o,lv of N
iemporaryabsenee Of Thor6nn Who was Or
gag,d with the gre,ter pan Of hi, Norw,
gian forces IN Eaglish expedition, Dung
advanced towards tue aal.h ofc~,,,,nd an
sueeee4s "a pfnetrating as FAR as the A;
trici OF Moray, wIihou, encounleIino ann.
ren,ly, any resistance. The Gaele NIX
itan,s OF the north, however who n,,sarso
remaing under the Norwegian voLc ,,,L,
han 10 submi, 10 a chief oftheif own ,,n
whose tile 10 The throne they could no, 4
init opposed his further progress, ana Ma
beth. the maormor Of Moray, attacked nj
near Elgin. deies,ed his army, aud sic
,he king himself Miebth immediate
took advantage OF this success, ond assis,,
bv the Norwegian forces, who still
manned in the counlfy,hs orerran The who
Of Scotland, and 'petaiy made bins