The daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1848-1851, 1851-02-03

ness, |, from this moment, have always assumed
the detection of countenance and manners which
l thought accordant TO such state of mind and
though the author of this sublime composition has
not, it must be acknowledged, given any direction
whatever to authorize this assumption, vet ven.
ture to hope that he would not have disapproved f
1t. 1t is evident, indeed, by her conduct in the
scene which succeeds the mournfu soiiloQuy, that
she is no longer the presnmptuous, the determined
creature that she was before the assassination of
the king for instance on the approach of her bts-
band, behold for the first time striking indica-
tions of senslbliiy, nav tenderness and sympathy:
and think this conduct is nobly followed up bv
her during the whole of their subsequent eyentInl
intercourse 1t is evident think, that The sad and
new experience of afliction has subdued the inso-
ience of her pride and the violence of her will:
for she comes now 10 seek him out, that she NAV
at least participate his misery. She knows by
her own woful experiences, the torment which he
undergoes, and endeavors to alleviate his suffer-
ings by the following inefficient reasonings:
& How now, my lord-why do you keep alone
s Is ss those sg hSuf1 ns which % aos indeed hive died
shond be without regard. WHAT'S done. is done
Far from her former habits of reproach and
contemptuous taunting, you perceive that she now
listens to his complaints with sympathizng feel
ings; and, 70 far from adding TO the weight of bis
afiiction the buthen of her own, she endeavors to
conceal it from him with the most delicate and I'M
remttiBg attention. But it is in vain; as we NAV
observe in this beautiful and nonrnfui dialogue
with the physician on the subject of his cureess
malady: Canst thou not minister TO mind dis
eased " etc. You now hear no more of her child
ings aud reproaches. No; all her thoughts are
now directed to divert his from those sorFIest fsa-
cies, by turning them 10 the approaching banquet,
in exhorting him to concate the good will AMI
good thoughts OF his guests by receiving them with
a diseDgaged air, and cordial, bright, and ovial
demeanor. Yes smothering her suffarings In the
deepest recesses OF her own wre'ched bosom, We
cannot but perceive that she devotes herself en-
tirely 10 the effort of supporting him.
Let it be here recoec,ed, as some palljation of
her former very different department, that she had
probably from childhood commanded all around
| her with a high hand had uninterrup,edy, per
| haps, in that splendid station, enjoyed all that
wealth, all that nature had to besow that she
had, possibly, no directors no controllers and that
| in womanhood her fascinated lord had never once
opposed her lnciinatlons. But now her new born
| relenings, under the rod of chastsement, prompt
her to make papable efforts in order TO support the
spirits OF her weaker, and, must say, more selfish
| husband. Yes; in gratitude for his unbounded
affection, andan commisseration of his sufferings
she suppresses the anguish OF her heart, even while
| that anguish is precpitating her into the grave
which at this moment Is yawning to receive her.
| "THE BANQUET.
| Surrounded by their court in all the apparent
| ease and self compacency of which their wretch
| ed souls destitute, they are now seated at The
royal banquet and although, through the greater
| part of this scene, Lady Macbeth affects 10 resume
| her Wonted domination over her husband, yet, not
| withstanding all this selfcontrol, her mind must
even then be agonized by the complicated pangs of
| terror and remorse For, what imagination can
conceive her tremors, lest every succeeding mo-
ment Macbeth, in his Distraction may confirm those
suspicious, but Il.cOncealed, under the loyal looks
and cordial manners of their facile courtiers when
| with smoihered terror, yes domineering indgna.
tion, she exclaims, upon his agitation the ghost
OF Bdnquo, Are you a man!' Macbeth answers,
| Az, a bold one-that dare look on that
| Which might appal the devil.''
| LADY MACBETH.
| This Is the very painting Of your fear;
tbs hi Jsl is The s slIdrawn an dagger WHICH ye said
Impostors 10 true fear. would well become
woman's story at a winters fire. -.
| Why do you make such faces? when all's done,
| You look but siool.'
| "Dying with fear, yet assuming the utmost com
posure, she returns to her stately canopy; and
with trembling nerves, having tottered up the Step
to her throne that bad emnence, she entertains he
| wondering guests with frighful smiles, with over
acted attention, and with fitful graciousness pain
fully, yet necessarily, aboring 10 divert their aiten
tion from her husband. While wrhng under he
internal agones, her restless and terrifying glance
| towards Macbeth, in spite of all her efforts 10 sup
| press them have thrown the whole table into
| amaZement; and the murderer then suddenly
breaks up the assembly by the following confession
| of his horrors
| Can such things be-
| And overcome like a summer c'Oud.
yn nqo 10 e Set ipssa wo9as hs You make me
When now @ think yoa as esn behoa hS such sights
And keep the natu raj ruby OF your cheeks,
| When mine is hlanched with fear
| .... . ..- RossEE.
What sight, my lord =
"What imitation, in such circumstances al
these, would ever satisfy The demands of expecta
| ton! The terror, the remorse, the hypocrisy O
this astonishing being, fitting in frightfu success
sion over her countenance, and actuating her agi
|
perhaps, one of the greatest difficulties of the see
mic art, and cause her representative no less Il
trenble for the suffrage of her private study thai
for its public effect.
| " 1t is now the time TO inform YOU of an idc
which have conceived of Lady Mdcbeth's char
acter, which perhaps will appear as iancifu a
that which have adopted respecting the style q
her beauty; and, in order to justify this idea,
must carry you back to the scene Immediately pre-
ceding the banquet, in which you will recollec
the following dialogue:
oh, full of scorpions is my mind dear wife;
Thou knowest that Bauquo and his Fleance ive.'
LADY MACBETH.
But in them Natures copy's not ererne'
MACBETH.
There's comfort yet-hey assaabe.
Then be thou locund; ere the bat has flown
Hi hs clustered fight1;ere to black Hecate's summons
| The shard born beetle, with his drowsy huns,
Hath % %Ipng Isht,s yawnpg peal-there shall be done
LADY MACBETH.
| Whats TO be done2'
MACBETH.
| Be innocent of the knowledge, dearest chuck,
Till thou applaud the deed. Come, unieeing night,
Scarf up, up the tender, ptul eye Of day.,
| And with thy bloody aid invisible hand
| Cancel and tear to pieces that great bond
Which Keeps me pale; Lgll thickens, and the crow
, | Makes way to the rocky wood -
Goods things of day begin TO dIoop and browse,
While nights black agents to their prey do rouse.
Thou maryeles at my wOrds-but hold thee sill;
, Things bad begun make strong themselves by ILL.,
NOW, it is not possible that she should hear a
these ambiguous hints about Bdnquo without b.
ing too well aware that a sudden, lamenrable fat
awaits him. Yet, so far from Offering any oppos
ton to Macbeth's murderous designs, she even hint
think, at the facility, if not the expediency,
, destroying both Banguo and his equally unoffen,
| ing child, when she observes that, in them NJ
ture's copy is not eterne' Having, therefore, no
filled the measure of her crimes, have imagine
that the last appearance of Banguo's ghost becan
no less visible to her eyes thai it became to tho
i of her husband. Yes, the spirit of the noble Ba
quo has smilingly filled up, even to overAowin
and now commends to her own lips the ingredien
d of her poisoned chalice.
It "THE FIFTH ACT. -.
Behold her now, with wasted form, with wa
), and haggard countenance, her starry eyes glaZ
!, with the ever-burning fever of remorse, and
h their lids the shadows of death. Her ever. restle
:! spirit wanders in troubled dreams about her d
k NAL apartment; and, whether waking or asee
The smell of innocent blood necessarily haunts h
'i imagination:
D Here's the smell of the blood still.
lie All the perfumes OF Arabia will not sweeten
nj This little hand'
10 How beautifully contrasted is the eXcamati
ar with the bolder image of Macbeth, in expressi
the same feeling!
win all great Neptune's ocean wash the blood