Pictorial Shakespeare, 1880-1890 - eTheses Repository - University ...

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of events, by the urgency of the decision to escape - the new
version leaves the audience with the picture of Mncbeth,
confirmed in his kingshin and exercising an easy hypocrisy.
The version's third act consisted of the firr;t two and
the fourth acene of the original: the murder of Bnriiuo,
Hecate's ncene and the dialogue between Lennox and "A Lord"
were omitted. So, two fairly brief scenes prepare for the
banquet scene, which ends the act* The first, after Banquo's
departure, deals with Macbeth*s employment of the Murderers.
The second IL his conversation with Lady wpebeth. The prompt
copy hcc detailed notes for their movements, v.iiich are restless
anc1 ajnxious. When Lady Macbcth enters she goes to her husband
and makes him sit down. He ; its, and puts his hand in hers.
",Vc have ccotch'd the snake, not killed it" is spoken through
the teeth, and Kacbeth si^hs when he mentions sleep ("and
sleep/ In the affliction of these terrible dreams/ That shake
us nightly") Lady Macbeth "shudders" in response, and Macbeth
gets to his feet and begins to walk up and dov/n. She cones
to comfort him ("Cono on"). Ilucbeth revives a little at the
i^ea of Banquo and Pleance being assailable, and "laughs".
When MG v;ife aal:s what is to be done he pauses, and says "Ha!*
Be innocent of the knovvled ; . 3, dearest civack,
Till thou applaud the deed,
The first line and the end of the sentence arc marked by a
kiss, and, cmiling, Llacbeth goes upstage. ;ith passion he
continues:
Come, GO el in.;: night,
Scarf up the tender eye of "dtiful day,
And with thy bloody and invisible hand
Cancel and tear to pieceo that great bond
, liich keeps me pale. Liglit thickens, and the crow
K'akes -.ving to th f rooky wo or:.
Since the line "0, full of scorpions is my nind, dn-.r /ifej"
Llacbeth has been speaking; quickly: nov; he pauses, before the
final five lines, speaks them, and leaves cuic":ly. Lac.y , acbet-i
as the curtr.in falls "drops lioad-ct; Jiclinr alone". Again, the
state of r.lacbeth's nind is shown in terms of hie nayrdcal
behaviour towards Iiis v.lfe: the ccene bo,-;ins ', ith ..or attempts
to comfort him, and hie rekindled optimism - ives Iii;: a certain
independence from h:;r.