Languages & literature > Key to the drama

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naryj and at firft afked him, if an old marc
of fiich a feeble conftitution was not alhamed
to think of matrimony with a young vigorous
jna’rd- .^ The old mifer was not ignorant of
Macbeth's falacious character, and there¬
fore the fordid wretch, difconcerted as he
was, bethought himfelf of throwing another
fort of bait in the King’s maw, hoping
thereby to divert his attention from a trea^-
fure more valuable to him than all the youth
and beauty on earth •, he put on all the ob-
fcquioufnefs of the vileft pander; confefied
to the King, that he did intend to marry*
but with, very little view to indulge any
appetite of his own ; he faid, he had never
had the honour to be at court, becaufe he
did not know of any merit by which he
could introduce himfelf *, that he had fome-
how heard, that his Majefty was of a very
amorous complexion* that he had for a
long while been in fearch of a beautiful
young woman, not doubting but the ill-
grounded report of his wealth would ren¬
der an alliance with him acceptable in moft
families* and that it was his intention, fo
foon as he could call Ijabella his own, to
have the honour of prefen ting her to the
King, and by that means recommending
himfelf to his favour. Whether it was that
Macbeth, who was not deficient in point of
penetration, was truly Ihocked with fuch