Certain Neiv Elucidations of Shakespeare 7 



bleeding sergeant forgets his hurts and almost swoons to tell. 

 This lure is potent with us. We hear Macbeth's decision to play 

 a passive part, and let chance crown him, with disapproval. 

 Face it as we may our sympathy is such that we crave to have 

 Macbeth act in his own behalf, though he be himself unwilling. 

 This, the technicians tell us, is the first step in involving the plot. 

 The second step follows hard upon. Duncan, now withdrawing 

 to his castle, sends Ross back to greet Macbeth as thane of 

 Cawdor.^ Macbeth and Banquo, not sent for, have in the mean- 

 time set out to seek the king at Forres. What can he offer his 

 deliverer? What reward were fit? He will of course fall upon 

 his kinsman's neck, and weep tears of gratitude. He does not, 

 but reserves that effusive distinction for Banquo. To Macbeth 

 he says officially and formally what any one of us would have 

 tried to say, — • 



O worthiest cousin ! 



The sin of my ingratitude even now 



Was heavy on me. . . . 



More is thy due than more than all can pay. 



But after that we should hardly have withheld something more 

 personally apropos. Could it have been less than this? 



Once again hast thou shown thy mastery for Scotland. It is our weak- 

 ness that we still wish to keep the crown. But thou shalt at least succeed 

 us. We shall not always impose on thy loyalty and strength. 



Indeed, have the bystanders, from the king's last sentence, under- 

 stood him to mean much less ? But he goes on to say instead that 



2 We note that Ross, on finding Macbeth, pronounces (I. iii. 89-100) 

 some dozen lines of appreciation and praise that Duncan has not author- 

 ized. Angus adds, with even greater liberty, — 



We are sent 

 To give thee from our royal master thanks — 

 Only to herald thee into his sight, 

 Not pay thee. 



Then Ross amazingly takes upon himself to preface the message of the 

 king with this, — 



And, for an earnest of a greater honor! 



It is clear how these and probably the other loyal thanes expect Macbeth 

 will be rewarded. 



109 



