22 L. A. Sherman 



and from the suppressed excitement of Lady Macbeth, — and in- 

 deed since from the veiled overtures (II. i. 21-24, 25, 26) of 

 Macbeth himself, what the night holds for Scotland and her king? 

 What should we, in Banquo's place, have thought? He is as 

 loyal in his answer (11. 26-29), — 



So I lose none [i.e. honor] 

 In seeking to augment it, but still keep 

 My bosom enfranchis'd and allegiance clear, 

 I shall be counsell'd, — 



as he has seemed before. But is he as loyal in his heart? If he 

 has sensed nothing disloyal, why does he qualify his language? 

 After giving over his sword (i. 4) to Fleance, why, on seeing a 

 torch and hearing steps does he ask for it again ? Is he not in a 

 friendly castle, shut in from all confederates of Macdonwald? 

 Does he think Duncan safer than himself ? Why does he seem 

 or wish to bespeak something for the King through mention of 

 ' unusual pleasure ' and ' measureless content ' ?^^ May not the 

 lord of the realm be trusted to make his own acknowledgments? 

 Does it not occur to Banquo that Duncan should have guard, some 

 thane like himself, with grooms or soldiers, at the door of his 

 chamber? When he declares to the company, after the dis- 

 covery, — 



In the great hand of God I stand, and thence 



Against the undivulg'd pretence I fight 



Of treasonous malice, — 



does he mean to imply that he is devoid of conviction concerning 

 the authors of the deed? He can affirm truly that he has himself 

 done nothing. Can he say, before God, that he has left nothing 

 undone ? 



Shakespeare has touched but lightly (I. ii. 33-41) on Banquo's 

 part in the great battles. Duncan forces mention of the latter's 

 partnership with Macbeth into the sergeant's story. Later (iv. 

 29-32) he makes Banquo's desert and glory equal to Macbeth's. 



14 Why should Shakespeare mock us even here with a fresh instance of 

 his control over our sympathies? Hovi^ indeed can he so polarize this 

 goodness of Duncan's nature as to hold us resolutely indifferent to his 

 inhuman fate? 



124 



