The Caucasian. (Clinton, N.C.) 188?-1913, 1891-04-09
Shakespearian Club.

Shakespearian Club.
The following is the essay of Mr..
l.. n. Be;hune, read before the last
meeting Of the Shakespearian Club.
He had been assigned the character
OF
| MACBETH.
More than eight centuries have
passed away since Macbeth sat upon
the throne OF Scotland, and his his.
tory Is but Il tradition. The world
had forgotten him in the six centu-
ries that followed from his day TO
the time OF Shakespeare. This
prince of dramatists resurrectcd him,
intro !uced him upon the stage and
into every intelligent household, ard
Macbeth lives <mmOrtaliZed in the
sublime tragedy which bears his
name.
| The year of Macbe;h's birth Is I'm.
known, but from childhood, it is
said, ambition and love of glory
were marked traits of his character.
With these dangerous wings he rose
from Thane IF Glami3 to King Of
, Scotland. This was the dream of
his life. He coveted the crown of
Duncan the Meek, his cousin, and his
sin OF covetousness led 20 the greater
one OF murder. Macbeth saw no
way to the throne, save in the death
OF Duncan, and with calm delibera-
ton he planned the blacklist crime
recorded III Scottish history. In all
these plans, AVID in their execution,
he found an able adviser and assist
ant in his Wife, who was even more
cruel and ambitious than himself.
In him was a little of the milk of
human kindness, but gratitude and
mercy were foreign sentiments to
1 the heart of his wicked woman.
3 \ great feast was prepared at the
3 castle of Macbeth, and Duncan and
f his mobiles attended. Fine meats
: were spread upon the board and
: Washed down with choicest wines.
! Duncan was merriest Of the merry,
g little dreaming that with each cup
, he drank TO his own destruction.
When the merry making was ended,
& the King retired t. rest, and being
weary from travel and the revelry OF
), the night, fell into deep sleep. Al
the appointed Eour, Macbeth armed
> with dagger, stole to the bed cham
;, ber OF the King to murder him, but
=, on its very threshold his heart failed
u him. His soul revolted at the
Q thoughts Of a deed SO horrible and
I atlOci0u5, and he returned to his wife
q and told her Of the triumph of his
, better nature. Flying into temp
n est OF rage, Lady Macbeth reviled
" her husband for his weakness and
d cOw#rt!ice; warned him of the S l.
3" elnn oath he had taken, and declar
e ed she would murder he: own child
e had she sworn to do SO. She was a
|. eager to be Queen as N lcbath, t
q be a King, and snatching the dagger
)" rom his trembling hand went her
ia self to cut the Gordian knot thai
bound them without the pale of roy
% atty. AS she stood over the sleep
, iIig monarch, and looked into hi
= face, he bore such a striking resem
: blance 10 her own father tn 4 she fec
- from The room in dismay. On bend
, ed knees she Implored, anu will
l. threateilingS commanded her huS
"a band to take courage and renew ant
H. carry out his bloody resolve. Mac
a beth gOaded and driven, ,implored AM
u entreated, went again, his heart hav
Of ing been hardened by the conflicting
ID fires that ragged in his breast, an,
Of plunged bis murderous dagger int
If the bosom of his sleeping guest ant
lie kinsman. A gasp and a groan, an,
ID Scotland's King lay dead. Macbetl
of saw before him Il road to royalty
or but it ran with blood. He hande
to the dripping dagger to Lady Mac
o. beth who smeared the faces an
re hands of the sleeping grooms. These
h laughed Macbeth, will be suspecte
GO and punished tor my sin. de affect
ed great sorrow at the untimel
death of his kii.Sman, and unbOunde
indignation at such a CRIMES bein
1t committed under his own roof. /
v! the robes Of mourner he followe
Ii the remains of his victim to- th
IT grave, and, saw them laid to rest
r9 But the world wa. not deceived
It The people knew the hand that ha
Il robbed them OF their King, and pa
II tientiy awaited the hour when hi
n. death should be avenged. The sor
,n of Duncan had fed the cOuntr
of and Macbeth being next Of ki
re- was crowned King. He sat upon
nj throne, the ambition nf his Lii
N. achieved, but the glory was NJ
ba worth its cost, AS il many tim
,b true, the dream was swreter than i
% realization. Sometimes to live is
- .greater punishment than 10 die, an
-. ~ thus it was with Macbeth. He kne
III that he reigned over Il people who.
hearts were steeied against him. II
W saw Scotland in tears and in biac
81 for noble Duncan, but few SCENE
n' joyful at his own ascension, and non
'e, but the Iabble erred. ''God save Il
lt- King!" The brand OF murders
as WAS set upon him, and as he rode il
Sc, 10 the country the peasants turne
IN away from h,m a. they would fro
1T ravenuus beast. In his castle fi;l
ex- terers and parasites beseiged and al
lat noycd him; his conscience lasht
1T! him; remorse burned his soul. Wi
on hope Of regaining the alienated q
7ill fection of his people, he became
an patron OF the church and found,
cb benevolent institutions. But an ct
an ragged and offended Providence frow
IA ed upon his selfish schemes al
,ot brought them TO naught. In t
-ha midst of these Judgments, La,
- Macbeth, who lad awakened to t
~, ~, awluIness of the part she had pla
70 ed, and giving way to despair, to
!. uo her own life, and Macbeth was Il
'ne frieudless and hopeless TO bear t
Tue burden of his sins alone. Seei
that he, like Cain, was cursed