Critical Article On MacBeth

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times, when we are traitors And do not know
ourselves, when we hold rumour From what we fear, yet know not what we
fear, Each way and move."

Robertson, after contemplating this passage, remarked that this is
"certainly not Shakespeare's" because of the earlier point based above.
Empson believe's that Robertson's flaw comes within his translation of the
lines, "hold rumour could be like 'hold parley with'" and goes through a
retranslation of this short passage. "No one who had experienced civil war
could say it had no sense." is a line which briefly sums up Robertson's
reasons for his earlier claim on this passage, his lack of experiencing a
civil war. Empson does a wonderful job placing himself as the first
audience of Shakespeare and reliving these events to their raw meaning. I
believe that once you've lived through a civil war with its traitors and
violent times, this passage comes through more clearly and can be seen
easier.

A third point which Empson rebukes, ...

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