Languages & literature > Key to the drama

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content prevailed, and in a very little time
the Rojjian fadtion became more odious
than at any time had been that of Caithnefs.
‘ The Thane of Rofs had too much pe¬
netration not to perceive it to be his inte-
reft to gratify every wifti that could rife in
the heart of Macbeth \ flattering himfelf,
that as the affairs of civil adminiftration
did not feem at all to tempt the inclinations
of Macbeth, he had nothing more to do
than to keep him from being difgufted, to
make fure of his fupport; and with the
fupport of Macbeth, who had been fo flg-
nally fuccefsful in all his enterprizes, he
thought he might domineer over every
body elfe. Such a voracious appetite for
power, founded too in avarice, could not
fail of promoting almoft a general averflon ^
and the odium againft him grew to fuch a
height, that from fecret difapprobation, it
arofe to public murmurings.
‘ The fpies of Caithnefs continued, from
time to time, to communicate to him every
tranfadbion about the court; and as they
rather aggravated than leflened the pidtures
of difcontentednefs, that fagacious Thane
judged it no improper jundbure for him and
his friends to Ihow themfelves once more
upon the theatre of adbion : accordingly
Caithnefs, with his faff friends, the Thanes
of Sutherland and Nairn, returned to court;
and