Languages & literature > Key to the drama

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to the bafe a'ffafTination : Macbeth flood up¬
on his defence, and by an artful addrefs to
the ruffians, and intreating me not to diffio-
nour any more my fword, in combating
with aflaffins, he perfwaded them to defift,
and to let the young Caitbnefs prove him-
felf worthy or not, of the prize he courted,
by contending it with him fingly : it was
impoffible, in fuch a fituation, for Thurfo
to ffiun the challenge, and therefore, now
fummoning all the falfe courage he was
mafter of, in aid of his revenge, he aflaulted
the more dextrous Macbeth with every mark
of fury; but he was quickly convinced of
his antagonift’s fuperiority, by receiving
from his fword fuch a defperate wound, ras
in an inflant, made him tumble at his feet:
and could now only gratify his difappointed
wrath, in growling imprecations upon the
head of his conqueror •, and againft the too
lovely, but partial Anabella !—Macbeth
threatened by another flab, to puniffi his
bafenefs, and to put it out of his power, to
give any account of the caufe of his fall,
fo as to injure the peace and reputation
of Anabella •, but upon my remonftrating,
that to repeat the wounds he had fo fairly
given, while the other was in a (late of de¬
fence, would now that he lay defencelefs on
the ground, bedeernedunworthyof him, and
give rife to calumny •, he was eafily pre¬
vailed