Title page
MACBETH, A TRAGEDY, by SHAKESPEARE,
AS PERFORMED AT THE THEATRE-ROYAL, DRURY-LANE.
Regulated from the PROMPT-BOOK, With PERMISSION of the MANAGERS. By Mr. HOPKINS, Prompter.
An INTRODUCTION, and NOTES Critical and Illustrative,
ARE ADDED BY THE AUTHORS of the DRAMATIC CENSOR.
LONDON:
Printed for JOHN BELL, near Exeter-Exchange, in the Strand; and C. ETHERINGTON, at York.MDCCLXXIII.
SCENE, to the End of the Fourth Act, lies in England;
through the rest of the Play in Scotland; and
chiefly at Macbeth's Castle.
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INTRODUCTION.
MACBETH.
Shakespeare was not more remarkable for the dignity
of his characters, the strength of his expression, the elevation
of his sentiments, and the natural beauty of his imagery,
than for the happy choice of his subjects; which,
however, disdaining the fetters of rule, he often sported
with strangely. In the tragedy immediately before us,
he is more regular than in many others; it records an
important point of history, but gives a picture of the
human heart rather too horrid; which no doubt is the
reason that few female spectators like this piece. Indeed
as the witches, though admirably written, are an insult
on common sense; and the ghosts, though well introduced,
still more so; this play, even amidst the fine sentiments
it contains, would shrink before criticism, did
not Macbeth and his Lady afford such uncommon scope
for acting-merit: upon the whole, it is a fine dramatic
structure, with some gross blemishes.
Though it is not strictly within our design to speak of Performers,
we should deem ourselves ungrateful to Mr.
Garrick's unparalleled merit, if we did not here remark,
that he sustains the importance, marks the strong
feelings, and illustrates the author's powerful ideas,
with such natural, animated, forcible propriety, that
the dullest heart must receive impressions from him,
which the clearest head cannot adequately express.
