MRS. SIDDONS AS LADY MACBETH 53 



All that impedes thee from the golden round 

 Which fate 1 and metaphysical aid doth seem 

 To have thee crown'd withal. 



Enter SEYTON. 



What is your tidings 1 



Seyton. The king comes here to-night. 



Lady. Thou'rt mad to say it ; 8 



9 Is not thy master with him ? who, were't so, 

 Would have inform'd for preparation.9 



Seyton. So please you, it is true : our thane is coming : 

 One of my fellows had the speed of him, 

 Who, almost dead for breath, had scarcely more 

 Than would make up his message. 



Lady. Give him tending ; 



He brings great news. [Exit SEYTON. 



1 The raven himself is hoarse 

 That croaks the fatal entrance of Duncan 

 Under my battlements. H Come, all you spirits 

 That tend on mortal thoughts, unsex me here, 

 And fill me from the crown to the toe top-full 

 Of direst cruelty ! make thick my blood ; 

 Stop up the access and passage to remorse, 

 That no compunctious visitings of nature 

 Shake my fell purpose, nor keep pace between 

 The effect and it ! n 12 Come to my woman's breasts, 

 And take my milk for gall, you murdering ministers, 

 Wherever in your sightless substances 

 You wait on nature's mischief ! Come, thick night, 

 And pall thee in the dunnest smoke of hell, 

 That my keen knife see not the wound it makes, 



7 The whole of this following scene a picture of this highest working of 

 the soul. Kemble plays it not well, yet some things good. Much of the 

 effect depends on the fire which she strikes into him, and which the player 

 must make out. 



8 Loud. 



9 Soft, as if correcting herself, and under the tone of reasoning concealing 

 sentiments almost disclosed. 



10 After a long pause when the messenger has retired. Indicates her fell 

 purpose settled and about to be accomplished. 



11 In a low voice a whisper of horrid determination, 



12 Voice quite supernatural, as in a horrible dream. Chilled with horror by 

 the slow hollow whisper of this wonderful creature. 



