Page:The Psychology of Shakespeare.pdf/29

14 jected by his judgment; recognised as a morbid product of mental excitement, and finally its existence altogether repu diated, and the bloody business of the mind made answerable for the foolery of the senses. “Is this a dagger, which I see before me, The handle toward my hand 2 Come, let me clutch thee :

I have thee not, and yet I see thee still. Art thou not, fatal vision, sensible To feeling, as to sight? or art thou but • A dagger of the mind; a false creation, Proceeding from the heat-oppressed brain :

I see thee yet, in form as palpable As this which now I draw.

Thou marshal'st me the way that I was going; And such an instrument I was to use.

Mine eyes are made the fools o' the other senses, Or else worth all the rest : I see thee still ;

And on thy blade, and dudgeon, gouts of blood, Which was not so before. There's no such thing. It is the bloody business, which informs Thus to mine eyes.”

The deed is done and the terrible punishment of guilt com mences from the very moment. Remorse dogs the murderer's heels even from the chamber of death.

“Macb. One cried God bless us 1 and, Amen, the other;

As they had seen me with these hangman's hands. Listening their fear, I could not say, amen, When they did say, God bless us. Lady M.

Consider it not so deeply.

Macb. But wherefore could not I pronounce, amen I had most need of blessing, and amen Stuck in my throat. Lady M.

These deeds must not be thought After these ways; so, it will make us mad.” Guilt hath instantly changed the brave man into a coward. “I am afraid to think what I have done;

Look on't again, I dare not.” “How is't with me, when every noise appals me?”