Page:Shakespearean Tragedy (1912).djvu/400

RV 384 (Rh) accepting it, and that he has no fear of Macbeth to restrain him from showing what is in his mind.

Duncan is murdered. In the scene of discovery Banquo of course appears, and his behaviour is significant. When he enters, and Macduff cries out to him,

and Lady Macbeth, who has entered a moment before, exclaims,

his answer,

shows, as I have pointed out, repulsion, and we may be pretty sure that he suspects the truth at once. After a few words to Macduff he remains absolutely silent while the scene is continued for nearly forty lines. He is watching Macbeth and listening as he tells how he put the chamberlains to death in a frenzy of loyal rage. At last Banquo appears to have made up his mind. On Lady Macbeth’s fainting he proposes that they shall all retire, and that they shall afterwards meet,

His solemn language here reminds us of his grave words about ‘the instruments of darkness,’ and of his later prayer to the ‘merciful powers.’ He is profoundly shocked, full of indignation, and determined to play the part of a brave and honest man.

But he plays no such part. When next we see him, on the last day of his life, we find that he has