| Citation |
RAG.782.003
3 Jan 1782:14,21 (8/440)
From the Morning Chronicle. Sir, Walking the other day by
the side of the New River, I retired to my favourite bush.
I sat down under its shade, and began to read Shakespeare's
tragedy of Macbeth. The scene where the witches dance round
the cauldron had such an effect on my imagination, that I
could not proceed in my reading. Meditating on the sublime
genius of that great author, who by words could convey such
striking ideas, as even to raise the utmost terror in the
mind, I fell asleep, (my custom always in the afternoon) and
so terrible did the witches leave their words, that even in
a dream I thought them still speaking, though both their
language and appearance were changed. I shall present the
scene before your readers as it appeared to me in the
vision.
Scene, A Tavern. Enter three witches.
1st Witch. Call up the Patriots!
2d Witch. They're asleep;
As soon may day hear in the deep.
Each patriot now, around the table,
Are like our master, wrap'd in sable.
. . . [rest of the column and 1/3 of the next give
conversation between witches, their choruses, and the words
of Hecate.]
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