The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1903-04-12
four and . half years. and the changes In
the standard. " II were gold. would .be
uncomfortable In that period. M. W. II.


Furness's Editisn OF Macbeth"
We have before US the second volume OF
the revision undertaken by HoRAcB HOWARD
FURNEss, Jr. OF his fathers Nev Vortoran.
Edition Of SAalsepears q. B. Lppinoott
Company. Although this large octave vol
ume comprises upward OF 500 pages, II u
wholly devoted TO Macbeth The editor
OF the revision has hero departed somewhat
from the rules TO which he oonformed In the
preparation OF the initial volume on Romeo
and Juliet In the preface to the last
named play. Mr.. Furness ssid that he had
based his revision on the variorum edition
complied by Stevens and Malone to the
limited extent of admitting only such notes
from II a had been adopted by succeeding
editors, together with all the original notes
OF those editors themselves. In the present
volume this limitation has been entirely dis
regarded. The variorum Of 1871 here has
its position chronologically among other
editions. but 1t 10 no longer made the start
lag point whence Shakeepearian criticism
10 10 begin. - though all criticism that pre-
coded II went for naught. Mr.. Furness. OF
course, would not minimize the value OF
the labors Of Stevens and Malone. though
he suggests that the value Is due less TO any
presminent ability or fitness for their ONCE
than TO the fact that. being early In the field,
they were able to CLEAN the richest sheaves.
There were before them, however. other edi-
tors and commentators whose notes they
overlooked. or silently incorporated with
their own. Among these. attention Is d.
rected to Heath whose eminence a. q scholar
ought, In Mr.. Furness's opinion, to have
secured for him q respectful hearing. In
Mr.. Furnees's eyes, also, Theobald and
Capell deserve more consideration than
they received at the hands Of the editors
Of the Variorum edition Of 1921. In q
word, the present volume contains notes
and comments from all sources that serve
the purpose Of calculating the text or Of
illustrating the history Of Shakespearian
criticism.
In an appendix will be found reprinted
sD'Avenant's' version Of Macbeth" pub
hshed In 1914. The version is here repro
duoed. We are told. simply because It Is by
no means q common book in the United
States. and because to this hour 1t retains
. certain hold upon the stage and iniu-
enoes disastrously the acting OF Macbeth
There will also be found in an appendix .
reprint OF the passages from Holinshed
whence Shakespeare obtained the ma
terials for this tragedy. Mr.. Furness tells
US that while In search Of these passages
he came across one which had escaped the
vigilance Of preceding editors, which
he cannot but believe gave Shakespeare
the hint for the voice. which murdered
sleep Then succeed various extracts In
which commentators have found indica-
TONS more or less remote, OF the source
Of the plot. A discussion on the date Of
the play follows, together with an account
OF Middleton's witch; the scenes OF the
latter piece that have any relations to the
present tragedy are reproduced. Finally,
to selections from German commentators
IL prefixed short account Of several trans
lations In German, down to the memorable
version by Schlegel and Tieck. completed
In 1883.
With regard to the source Of the plot. 1t
seems that the historical or traditional Incl
dents In the tragedy OF 'Macbeth : are found
In the Scotorum Historie Of Hector Boece.
first printed ct Paris In 1925. This Boece,
or Boyoe, was the arst principal Of
Kings College, Aberdeen. and his work
was translated into the Scotch dialect by
John Bellenden. Archdeaoon OF Moray. In
1871. According to Messrs. Clark and
Wright, there IL no doubt that Holinshed
is Shakespeare authority, Hector Boyce
is Hollnshed's, and Boyce follows Fordun.
adding to him, however, very freely. But,
terisls for the plot of this tragedy from
Holinshed, he did not oonfne himself to the
history Of Macbeth, for around the MUIR
der Of Duncan he weaves certain details
which are historically connected with the
murder OF King Duffe. the great grand
father OF Lady Macbeth. How far Shake
speare diverged from the chronicler. espe-
cially In the character OF Banquo. the editor
OF this revision enables the student TO de-
termlne for himself by means Of extracts
containing all the passages mentioned by
various commentators. 1t appears. accord
ing to Hector Boece, that King Duffe. who
began to reign A. d. 06s, was murdered by a
trusted lieutenant called Donwald. under
circumstances resembling those under
which Duncan Is killed In the. play. Mr.. Fur
ness has found In Holinsbed. between the
stories Of King DuiYe and Macbeth. another
incident which had not been noted by any
preceding editor. which he thinks must
have attracted Shakespeare's attention, for
1t is worked up by him in connection with
Duncans murder. 1t seems that Kenneth,
the brother and one of the SUCCESSORS Of
DuiIe, was virtuous and able Prince. and
would have left an unstained name had not
the ambition TO have his son succeed him
tempted him to poison secretly his nephew
Madeline, the son Of Duffe and the heir
apparent to the throne Kenneth then OBJ
tanned from council at Soone the ratifica-
ton Of his own son as his successor. THUS
might he seem happy to all men, continues
Holinshed, but yet to himself he seemed
most unhappy, as he that could not but
still live in continual fear, lest his wicked
practice concerning the death Of Malcolme
Duife should come to light and knowledge
of the world. For so cometh II to pass that
such % are pricked In conscience for any
secret offence committed have ever an
unouiet mind Mr.. Furness thinks that
what follows suggested TO Shakespeare the
.voice' that cried sleep no more; and
(as the fame goeth) 1t CHANGED that voice
was heard, as he was In bed in the night
time to take his rest, uttering unto him
these or the like words in effect Think not ,
Kenneth, that the wicked slaughter OF
Madeline Duffe, by thee contrived, Ia kept