Page:Macbethandkingr00kembgoog.djvu/157

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[142]

quoted the whole speech on this occasion, instead of giving only an extract from it, he must have flatly contradicted his own assertion. If Macbeth, as the Remarks interpret these lines, confesses that he was formerly timid; still they must allow that, in the same breath, as it will in a moment be seen, he denies that he has any such weakness in his constitution at present: Now, if they take Macbeth's word for the state of his mind in the one instance, they are bound to receive it for truth in the other; and, consequently, Mr. Whateley and Mr. Steevens are no longer justified in charging him with pusillanimity.