Languages & literature > Key to the drama

C 105 )
Korthumherland) betrayed his being acce£-
fary to the fcheme: he excufed the King,
by alledging, that his having written to that
Duke on the fubjedt, was with no other
view, than as he was the Prince’s grandfa¬
ther, and Cumberland in the vicinity, not
only of England, but of the Duke’s eftate,
he might, by fuch an acknowledgment, en¬
gage the more his countenance and protec¬
tion to his grandlbn. He owned, that the
King had in fo far communicated to him
his intention, but that he could not con¬
ceive how any nobleman there fhould infi-
nuate that there was any thing traiterous
in fueh a knowledge; and finally, he, as
ufual, fell into fuch a heat, and delivered
himfelf with fo much fupercilious authority,
that his arguments failed of their force, the
cabal broke up, the chiefs of it determin¬
ing, conformable to the wifh of Macbeth,
to adt no longer in concert with the Thane
of Caithnefs, or any of his party.
^ ‘ The Lady Macbeth, who indefatigably
laboured to infpire her hulband with a paf-
fion for government, had fecretly placed
herfelf within hearing of thefe debates *, and
as foon as Macbeth entered her apartment,
Ihe flew to meet him, and caught him in
her arms with unufual ardour. She vowed
to him, that until that hour he had never
made her half fo happy j that he had at
length