mind in its regular state of reafon, fo no one ever so happily caught, its varying forms in the wanderings of delirium. The fcene in which Macduff is informed of the murder of his wife and children, is fo celebrated, that it is not necessary to enlarge upon its merit. We feel there, how much a juft imitation of natural fentiments on fuch a tender occafion, is more pathetic than chofen terms and ftudied phrafes. As in the foregoing chapter I have made fome obfervations on our author's management of the Præternatural Beings, I forbear to enlarge further on the subject of the witches that he has kept closely to the traditions concerning them, is very fully fet forth in the notes of a learned commentator on his works. This piece may certainly be deemed one of the best of Shakespear's compofitions, and, though it contains fome faulty fpeeches, and one whole scene entirely abfurd and improper, proper, which art might have corrected or lopped away; yet genius, powerful genius only, (wild nature's vigour working at the root!) could have produced fuch strong and original beauties, and adapted both to the general temper and taste of the it appeared, age in which UPON |
