MRS. SIDDONS AS LADY MACBETH 51 



Fair as the forms that, wove in fancy's loom, 

 Float in light visions round the poet's head. 



Such a combination only, respectable in energy and strength of 

 mind, and captivating in feminine loveliness, could have composed a 

 charm of such potency as to fascinate the mind of a hero so dauntless, 

 a character so amiable, so honourable as Macbeth. 



There is something to be said for Mrs. Siddons' argument that 

 an overbearing woman could never have guided Macbeth ; but 

 this point is for the moment of secondary interest, compared 

 with the light which her remark throws on the statement made 

 above, that there is not one conception which alone the actor 

 must form of a given part. Here we have a great actress form- 

 ing two distinct conceptions : for no one can believe that if 

 Mrs. Siddons had been able to appear the fair and fragile beauty 

 she conceived, she would have used a single gesture or one 

 inflection similar to those employed when she was representing 

 turbulent inhuman strength. 



The second point of interest in Professor Bell's note is, that 

 the melancholy and dismal blank beginning to steal on Lady 

 Macbeth is more the creation of Siddons than of Shakespeare. 

 There is nothing in the text to contradict it, but little to indi- 

 cate it. This will become more apparent when we reach the 

 detailed notes. 



A second notice in another copy of l Macbeth ' appears as 

 follows : 



Mrs. Siddons is not before an audience. Her mind wrought up 

 in high conception of her part, her eye never wandering, never for a 

 moment idle, passion and sentiment continually betraying them- 

 selves. Her words are the accompaniments of her thoughts, scarcely 

 necessary, you would imagine, to the expression, but highly raising 

 it, and giving the full force of poetical effect. 



What a tribute ! Shakespeare's words hardly necessary ! And 

 this was written by a man who idolised Shakespeare. 

 Professor Bell elsewhere remarks : 



A just observation that it is unhappy when the part of Lady 

 Macbeth is in the hands of a Siddons, and Macbeth (with ?) an 

 inferior actor. She then becomes not the affectionate aider of her 



E 2 



