The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1878-08-08
AsTUDY OF MACBETH.

Prom The EplIoms Of Literature.
We have much pleasure in presenting
our readers powerful paper on a much
disputed passSgein Maebetb, from the pea
Of the American poet, WIN. Leighton,
author Of 1.-THE Sons Of Goodwin" and
AT the Court Of King Edwin.p
"Prlthes, See thsrti hehodl loOLi IOi how ny yOuH
/ Why, what care II II thou eanSt nod, spslk t0J,
u thITnsI-hou.es and our graves must sehd
| ThtSO that We bury back. our Alonumtnu
''1 ~ Aaeb.tA. III, H., 50.
These words are spoken by Macbeth
under the excitement caused by the APP
pearance 10 bis over sensitive-perhAps
dissased-brain OF Banquos ghost, who
seems to the king to be sitting 10 the
chair pointed out by Lenox as reserved
for him, the host.
The first two lines present no difficulty;
one Of them being addressed TO Lady
Macbeth, the other to the spectre. But
the reason for the use Of the words "chaF
| el.houses and "grave." In tue third
line, and the exact form oil the thought
In Macbeth's mind that ocoaSioned the
uttetance OF the last three linss do not
seem to meet with agreement Of opinion
among editors commentator and readers.
Al The commencement Of the scene, in
an interview at the door Of the banquet
| inv room, one who Ia known In the play
| as The "tirst Murderer, "acquaints Macbeth
with the death Of Banquo, informing the
king that he has justkilled that uOblsman
"Munisnr. MY lord. hi, throat 1, cut that did
for him"
And again:
"Iurt~sr.-Ay, ny good lord: n'S ia
ditch he bidta"
From this killing the murderer has
hurried 10 announce 10 the king that the
deed is done, and IN such haste that he
has not stopped 10 wipe from his face the
stains OF his victims blood. There Is no
mention Of burying, indeed there has
been no time; for BAnquo could only
lhaye arrived in season for the banquet
iby rapid riding; be was killed upon his
return, and the guests nave just been vel.
lcomed by the king-there has been no
| lime for burial. The king, having die;
missed the bearer Of the fatal news, and
being called by his wife 10 give cheer TO
their guests, endeayors to play the part
expected OF him, cordial host; but the
murderers description Of the Uabtried
body Of Bapeuo lying in ditch
GWIth twenty trSnehed E4Ihes on his head
Tkoieaat delkn 70 NATURE
compelling recollection. and working in
u his brain, excites his disordered and NOR
. bidly sensitive Imagination until It pro.
Iiuees the hallucination OF the spectre Of
RBanuuo-but Banquo could not have
leone from chGrnei,houBe or grave
His Epectre really came from the lips
of the d first Murderer but 10 the king
III appears to have come from the ditch
where the cut throat described his vic
KNIGHT is Of the opinion that "these
terms LIroIqkOEI he ScCRe must DO received
, a general expressions Of the condition
/, Of death, as opposed to that OF life" and
In this he is Joined by elher editors, bu'
not BY all. Seymour thinks the appati
tion that occasioned MAcbeth's words wa
ltbe ghost Of Duncan, and other Authori
ties Join him, while some claim that the
second Rhostiy appearance in the scent
vas the spectre Of King Duncan. Blu
he Folio IF \ notes the supernaturai en-
frances thus Eater the Ghost Of Ban,
quo, and sits in Macbeths place Anf
the second appearances, Enter Ghost
With no note Of either exit
There seems no chance to refuse thu
fact that the first. appearance to Mac
beths too.impressibls brain was that 9
, BSnauo's shape; all the antecedent Incl
dents Of the scene indicate II, and th'
i there any evidence that the secons
: spectre was other than the arst In lac
IN imprudent king called up this secon'
appearance, a. he did the frat, BY allow
: ine bis mind to become fixed upon BIZ
i victim, and In reckless braVado, ealllhI
: The event Of the murder OF Banqu'