58 LITERATURE AND DRAMA 



of the servant, whom he forgets for the purpose, renews his walk, 

 throws up his face, sick, sighs, then a start theatric and then the 

 dagger. Why can't he learn from his sister ? 



Charles Bell thinks (and justly) that he should stand or sit mus- 

 ing, his eye fixed on vacancy, then a more piercing look to seem to 

 see what still is in the mind's eye only, characterised by the be- 

 wildered look which accompanies the want of a fixed object of vision ; 

 yet the eye should not roll or start. N.B. : Mrs. Siddons in reading 

 'Hamlet ' showed how inimitably she could by a mere look, while sit- 

 ting in a chair, paint to the spectators a horrible shadow in her 

 mind. 



At the point where Macbeth says ' there's no such thing,' 

 Professor Bell continues : 



Kemble here hides his eyes with his hand, then fearfully looks 

 up, and peeping first over then under his hand, as if for an insect whose 

 buzzing had disturbed him, he removes his hand, looks more abroad, 

 and then recovers very poor the recovery should be by an effort 

 of the mind. It is not the absence of a physical corporeal dagger, 

 but the returning tone of a disordered fancy. A change in the look, 

 the clearing of a bewildered imagination, a more steadfast and natu- 

 ral aspect, the hand drawn across the eyes or forehead, with some- 

 thing of a bitter smile. 



These remarks illustrate well what was said before as to the 

 nature of an actor's study. Professor Bell had reached the 

 second stage, and knew well what the actor should feel. The 

 third stage, how to show it, can only be acted, not described. 

 With the entrance of Lady Macbeth the notes become detailed. 



SCENE 2. 

 Enter LADY MACBETH. 



Lady. ,31 That which hath made them drunk hath made me bold ; 

 What hath quenched them hath given me fire. Hark ! Peace 1 32 

 It was the owl that shrieked, the fatal bellman, 

 Which gives the stern'st good-night. He is about it : 33 

 The doors are open, and the surfeited grooms 

 Do mock their charge with snores : I have drugg'd their possets, 



31 With a ghastly horrid smile. 



3 * Hsh ! Hsh ! Whisper. 



33 Breathes with difficulty, hearkens towards the door. WLisper horrible. 



