Page:Macbethandkingr00kembgoog.djvu/41

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[26]

which eagles and lions might be conceived to show, if opposed to hares

    speaking of the prowess of Mars in these victories just gained on the shores of Fife, when, in reply to what he has heard in a side-speech, he begins:—

    "True, worthy Banquo, he is full so valiant;
    And in his commendations I am fed."

    Egregious the renown, and ample would be the triumph, of the tremendous son of Jove, if, lapped in the proof of his divine panoply, he had brandished his thundering falchion against the feeble temper of the Norweyan steel, and led an army to the overthrow of a merely mortal enemy!—Had Duncan been credulous enough to be persuaded, that the God of war had deigned to descend in person to his protection, his gratitude should have raised altars to Mars, instead of sending rewards to Macbeth.

    If Mr. Steevens. had discovered so cold, so unpoetical, so manifold an error in the Player-Editors, with what exultation would he not have rebuked their "ignorance, dullness, stupidity,"