The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1851-09-20


leve that will is concluded till you lave it
quired whe'hsr there is any codicil TO it.''
THE BIBLE AND TIE POETS.
Schlegel, speaking of the poetic por-
tons of the Bible, says without reserve,
"Ihese writings form fiery and godlke
fountain Of inspiration, of which the
greatest modern poets have never been
weary of drinking; which has suggested
to them their noblest images, and ami
mated them for their sublime flights"
wish to show you some of these remark
able condolences; and to prove that
many of our most admired figures and
expressions are either derived from the
Scriptures, ormay at least be found there;
if not in their extended and complete
development, unquestionahly in their
germ, their principle, and their outline.
Frequently, too, this may be said, with
equal truth, of incidents and characters.
This similarity between Ahab and Mac
beth; between Jezebel and Lady Mac
beth, and a parallel resembance in their
style of action, has always struck me
exceedingly. The portrait of Macbeth,
when matured in villany,
"Bloodv,
Luxurious, avaricious, false, d-rc,ful,
Sudden malicious, smacking of every sin
That has name"
precisely describes Ahab: every epithet
might be proved by an action. Never
the!ess, the excess of wicksdness is in
both instances to be charged on The in
tIuence of their respective wives; who,
bolder in mind, and blacker in heart
than themselves, became their teachers
and t"mpters in sin. The resemblance
between the latter is more perfect.
Both were filed from the crown to the
toe, top full of direst cruelty" mingled
with spirit OF "pure demoniac firm
ness" which knew not, or if it knew,
needed not the relentings of nature.
Their minds were compact and integral;
they contained no opposing principle
which might impede their progress in
evil or embiter success; so that murder
itself, whrn'apparently necessary step
to the attainment Of an object, was con
sonant with, not contrary to, their ma
ture. IT was not so with their lords,
who, in comparison with each "fend-
like queen" were
"Full o. the milk of human Kindness"
Ahab evidenced this after his victory
over the Syrians. Benhadad, to whom
he had formerly been vassal, then sent
ambassadors to him girded with sack
cloth, and with ropes on their heads, to
petition for his life, and Ahab said, Hs
he yet alive? he is my brothers, and
che made covenant with him, and sent
him away
Again: 1t was by Welding to the de-
lusons Of the "weird sisters" that Mac
beth laid the foundation of his after
crimes and sorrows; their spells and
promises ciouded his mind, like emana-
tons from the pit of darkness, which
needed but the influence of his wife to
quicken into substantial evil. SO il
was with Ahab: he too, sought to wiz
ards, and them that had evil spirits;
land did sell himself to work wicked.
ness in the sight of the Lord, whom Je-
zebel his wife stirred up In the grand
crime of each, the murder of Naboth
and of Duncan, the parallels minute
and unbroken. Macbeth, who was on
~ Thane, coveted "the golden round
of sovereignty" Ahab, who, already
a king, had no need to desire a crown.
was disquieted for a neighbours vineyard;
a proof, by the way, how little it is the
intrinsic worth ofan object which regu-
lates the desires ofan unsanctifed heart.
Both would wrongly win; yet in the
first instance "would not play false;'
one took his disappointment in sullen 81
lence, the other was almost persuaded to
rest satisfied as Glanis and Cawdor.
Then appear the master spirits. Lady
Macbeth then taunts her hesitating
Thane, and with the hardihood OF guilt
without fear, developes the purpose
which he has desired without conceiv-
ng.
cart thou afeard
TO be the same in thine own act and valor,
As thou nrt in desire? Woudst thou have that
Which thou esteem'st the ornament orlife,
And live coward in thine own esteem!
Letting dare not, wait upon would?
Macbeh. 1--we should fail
Lady N. We fall
But screw your courage to the sticking place, |
And we'll not fail. When Duncan is asleep, |
Whereto the rather shall his DAYS hard Journey
'oundly invite him. his two cfamberlans
y IN with wine and wossal so convince,
[ha, memory, the wsrder of the brain,