Languages & literature > Key to the drama

C 74 )
fcandal than to encomiums, upon the ac¬
tions of their betters; and a malignant
emiffary will ever find it an eafier talk to
promote dilturbance and infurre£tion, by
the means of calumny, and abufe of thole
in power, than a benevolent agent will find
it, to difpofe the fame rank of men to
(land forth in defence of a condud the
moft laudable. Men of bad hearts can,
with more facility, dilguife themfelves, than
men of upright, incorruptible principles :
^Thefe wilh to fuftain an uniformity of cha-
ra&er, and therefore cannot defeend to
huzza with a mifguided multitude ; whilll
tbofe, having no dignity to fupport, nor re¬
putation to lofe, can level themfelves with
the meaneft of a mob, to gain numbers to
their fadion. In this lhape it was that
Macduald was fo extremely fuccefsful: the
cry of the Illanders was now, No Rofs! no
Macbeth!—and, at length. No King !—
Macduald and Liberty for ever! Macduald
having thus completely fitted the moft tur¬
bulent of his people for rebellion, their
numbers increafed every day, many con¬
joining to them, not from any real appro¬
bation of the motives, but from regard to
their own lives and properties ; for the in-
furgents having no controul in thefe parts,
and fewing ufurped the princely authority,
there was no fafety but in mixing with
them;