Might be the Be-all and the End-all bere,

But here: upon this bank and fhoal of time:
We'd jump the life to come. -But, in these cafes,
We ftill have judgment bere; that we but teach
Bloody inftructions, which, being taught, return
To plague the inventor: This even-handed justice
Commends the ingredients of our poifon'd chalice
To our own lips. He's here in double truft:
First, as I am his kinsman and his subject,
Strong both against the deed; then, as his hoft,
Who should against his murth'rer shut the door,
Not bear the knife myself. Besides, this Duncan
Hath borne his faculties fo meek, hath been
So clear in his great office, that his virtues
Will plead, like angels, trumpet-tongu’d, against
The deep damnation of his taking off:
And pity, like a naked new-born babe,
Striding the blaft, or heavens cherubin, hors'd
Upon the fightless couriers of the air,
Shall blow the horrid deed in ev'ry eye;

That tears fhall drown the wind.

We will proceed no further in this business:

He hath honour'd me of late; and I have bought

Golden opinions from all forts of people,

Which should be worn now in their newest glofs,
Not caft afide so soon.

Thus, the irregular paffion is again repulfed Yet fymptoms of the decay of virtue

virtue are manifeft. Immediate inftinctive averfion, in cafes of cenfure, accompanies the decifions of our moral faculty: And thofe who are deterred from crimes, merely by the dread of punishment, and a regard to the opinions of mankind, betray a vitiated and depraved conftitution *. The lively feelings, opposed to ambition, unable, by the vivacity of their first impreffion, to extirpate the habit, languish, and are enfeebled. The irregular paffion, like the perfevering Fabius, gathers ftrength by delay: the virtuous principle, like the gallant, but unfupported Hannibal, fuffers diminution, even by fuccefs. Thus, it is manifeft, that the conteft between the obftinacy of an habituated paffion, and the vehemence of an animated feeling, is unequal; and that there is infinite danger even in the apparently innocent and imaginary indulgence

* Tu nihil admittes in te formidine poenae ; Sit fpes fallendi, mifcebis facra profanis,

HORA

of

of a felfish paffion. The harmony of the internal fyftem is nicely adjusted; and the : exceffive tenfion or relaxation of any of the parts produces irregular and difcordant

tones.

The opinions of mankind are variable: For nations and communities, no less than Individuals, are liable to prejudice. Particular emergencies and prepoffeffions miflead the judgment; and we applaud, at "one time, what we blame at another. A fyftem of conduct, founded on the opinion of others, is, therefore, unstable, inconfiftent, and often vitious. Macbeth, confidering the affaffination of Duncan as a deed deferving punishment, is deterred 'from his enterprize; but, reflecting upon it as an event which he defired, but durft **not accomplish, his courage is questioned, and his honour impeached. When the fenfe of honour is corrupted, virtue expires. Influenced by fatal prejudices, and, flattering himself with the hope of impunity,

he

he finally determines himself, and engages to execute the black defign.

La. Mach. Art thou afraid

To be the fame in thine own act and valour,
As thou art in defire? Would't thou have that,
Which thou efteem'ft the ornament of life,
And live a coward in thine own efteem?
Letting I dare not wait upon I would?
Macb. Pr'ythee, peace:

I dare do all that may become a man,-
If we fhould fail!

La. Macb. We fail!

But fcrew, your courage to the flicking place,
And we'll not fail. When Duncan is afleep, &c.
Mach. I'm fettled, and bend up

Each corporal agent to this terrible feat.

In the natural and healthful ftate of the mind, all its operations are regular and correct. The external organs of the fenfes, correfponding with memory, present ideas to the understanding; and we regulate our actions according to the notices they communicate. But, when the mind is feized and occupied by violent paffions, its operations are disturbed, and

the notices we receive from the fenfes are difregarded. The foldier, in the field of battle, eager to fignalize his valour, perceives not that he is wounded, till he falls. The priests of Cybele, actuated by wild enthusiasm, inflicted wounds on their own bodies, and feemed infenfible of the pain. In like manner, the notices communicated to the foul of Macbeth, agitated and shaken by tumultuous paffions, are wild, broken, and incoherent: And reason, beaming at intervals, heightens the horror of his disorder.

Is this a dagger which I fee before me,

The handle toward my hand? Come, let me clutch thee:

I have thee not; and yet I fee thee ftill.

Art thou not, fatal vifion! fenfible

To feeling as to fight? or art thou but
A dagger of the mind; a falfe creation
Proceeding from the heat-oppreffed brain?
I fee thee yet, in form as palpable

As this which now I draw.

Thou marshal'ft me the way that I was going;

And fuch an inftrument I was to use,

Mine