Abby Sage Richardson

“ More reticent and heroic than Macbeth, feeding on her remorse in silence lest she should add to the bitter thoughts that poisoned his life, she constrained herself to smile, and flatter, and play the part of royalty, while in her heart she carried an eternal wound, the slow agony of conscience. Nature avenged itself on the mask she wore, and in the dead of night, when she strove to forget her tortures in sleep, remorse became her conqueror. ”

“ The tallest horseman, still riding erect and proudly, in spite of the day’s fatigues, was Macbeth, Thane of Glamis, a kinsman of the Scottish king, chief of a royal clan, the handsomest, bravest, and proudest of all King Duncan’s nobles. With him rode Banquo, another cousin of the king, a man of rare virtue; not approved so much for his brave deeds, as for his wisdom in council; shining rather in the quiet of peace than in the storms of war. Such were the two who crossed the heath together. The witches waited impatiently their coming. ”

“ Macbeth was brave, but he could not fight against destiny. “Fate is a spaniel; we cannot beat it from us.” Before sunset the head of Macbeth was raised upon a pole above the walls of Dunsinane by the conquering hand of Macduff, and its stony eyes looked down upon the hosts of Malcolm as he passed through the castle gates, the crowned and rightful King of Scotland. ”