Languages & literature > Key to the drama

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in the power of man to ruffle his temper,
or make him deviate from that moderation,
by which he uniformly fteered his adtions:
but then he was avaritious and refentful j
there was no meafurc to his ambition, nor
bounds to his lull for wealth; although he
could judge well, who fflould, and who
fflould not, participate of the public fpoils.
Their partifans were feafoned, more or lefs,
with the different qualities of their leaders.
Tho'e of Caithnefs were generally hot¬
headed, but generous •, and thofe of Rofs
affable and courteous, but rapacious and
niggardly.’
4 The King was weak and indolent, and
had not capacity to convert the different
talents of thefe rivals to the public lervice.
Now the one, then the other, was upper-
rhoft j and the kingdom expofed to be the
fpoil of any invader who might have ad-
drefs enough to engage the outed party in
his intereft •, by which means the people in
general were kept in conftant inquietude.’
4 In one of the debates of the Caitbnefs
faction, it was refolved, that Tburfoe, lb
foon as he Ihould be able, Ihould commu¬
nicate to the Thane of Kyle the intrigue be¬
tween his wife and Macbeth^ and endea¬
vour to perfuade him, that the wounds and
difgrace he had fuffered, were entirely ow¬
ing to his zeal for the honour of Ky/<?’s
F 3 family.