Languages & literature > Key to the drama

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fecret and defperate enterprize ; he bravely-
joined himfelf to the weakeft fide, and fell
a facrifice to his generofity: That thefe
gentlemen had been remarkably the objects
of Macbeth's refentment, he having before
got them difmiffed from profitable places,
to make room for fome of his own crea¬
tures •, and that next he purpofed to fend
them out of the world; for that one of
them, an old gentleman, had actually
fallen in defence of his fon, who was hardly
pufhed by fome of Macbeth's defperadoes !
In this manner did old Caithness very for¬
cibly reprefent his fon’s cafe, and fuppli-
cated every nobleman to furround the king,
how foon he fhould enter the audience-
chamber, and demand the Royal Jufticc
upon fuch a flagitious aflafilnation!—Al¬
though Caithnefs was not of the blood roy¬
al, he was a powerful man in his own
Country, by which he had gained fuch an
rntereft with the king* that could he have
carried this well-framed tale into belief,
and in faft it made impreflion upon many,
it muft have gone hard with Macbeth, then
but young at court, and not much favoured
by the &rrrg. Ctiilhnefs had obferved, thatA^f^
his relation Was attended to by me rather
contemptuoufly than otherwife-, he now
therefore left hie out of the circle of his
abettors, and whifpered among!! his inti¬
mates.