he finally determines himfelf, and engages to execute the black defign. La. Macb. Art thou afraid To be the fame in thine own act and valour, I dare do all that may become a man,- La. Mach. We fail! But fcrew your courage to the fticking place, 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, corresponding with memory, prefent 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 E the 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 fhaken by tumultuous paffions, are wild, broken, and incoherent: And reafon, beaming at intervals, heightens the horror of his diforder. 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 As this which now I draw. Thou marshal'ft me the way that I was going; Mine Mine eyes are made the fools o' the other fenfes, Ambition Let us review the conflict. grown habitual and inveterate in the foul of Macbeth, fuggefts the idea of affaffination. The fenfe of virtue, compaffion, and other kindred principles, are alarmed, and oppose. His ruling paffion is repulfed, but not enfeebled. Refigning himself to the hope of profiting by fome future emergency, he renounces the idea of violence. A difficulty appears: It renews, rouzes, and inflames his ambition. The principles of virtue again oppose; but, by exercise and repetition, they are, for a time, enfeebled: They excite no abhorrence: And he reflects, with compofure, on his defign. But, in reflecting, the apprehenfion of danger, and the fear of retribution alarm him. He abandons his purpose; is deemed irrefolute: Not lefs E 2 'innocent innocent for not daring to execute what he dares to defire, he is charged with cowardice: Impatient of the charge, and indignant; harraffed by fear, by the consciousness of guilt, and by humanity struggling to refume her influence, he rushes headlong on his bane. III. We come now to confider the effects produced in the mind of Macbeth, by the indulgence of the vitious paffion. Invefted with royalty, he has attained the fummit of his defires. His ambition is completely gratified. Will he, therefore, enjoy repofe? Unmolefted by anxiety and fruitless wishes, will he enjoy the happinefs of his condition, and the dignity he has fo dearly purchased? Or will the principles of virtue that oppofed his preferment, baffled and put to fhame, fubmit, without murmuring, to the yoke; and, unable to recal the past, acquiefce, and be filent? All But All cafes of internal conflict and commotion fuppofe vigorous and oppofing principles. But principles inherent in our conftitutions are feldom extirpated. Suppose them vanquifhed. The contending paffion is gratified. A paffion, when gratified, ceafes to operate: It no longer exifts; and the mind is left vacant. paffions or propenfities that have been fuppreffed by incompatible and more powerful principles, ftill remain in thẽ mind; and when oppofition is removed, they arife and refume their ftation. The profligate, hurried away by unruly appetites, plunges into every fpecies of excess: And when his defires are fated, confcience, formerly active, but difregarded, overwhelms him with deep contrition. This ftate of mind continues, till the irregular appetites recover ftrength, follicit indulgence, and are obeyed. Regret follows: And his life is thus divided between the extravagance of illicit defire, and the defpon E 3 |