Macbeth Power Quotes Page 4

Page (4 of 4) Quotes: 1 2 3 4

How we cite the quotes:
Citations follow this format: (Act.Scene.Line). Line numbers correspond to the Norton edition.

Quote #10

DOCTOR
Ay, sir; there are a crew of wretched souls
That stay his cure: their malady convinces
The great assay of art; but at his touch--
Such sanctity hath heaven given his hand--
They presently amend.
[…]
MALCOLM
'Tis call'd the evil:
A most miraculous work in this good king;
Which often, since my here-remain in England,
I have seen him do. How he solicits heaven,
Himself best knows: but strangely-visited people,
All swoln and ulcerous, pitiful to the eye,
The mere despair of surgery, he cures,
Hanging a golden stamp about their necks,
Put on with holy prayers: and 'tis spoken,
To the succeeding royalty he leaves
The healing benediction. With this strange virtue,
He hath a heavenly gift of prophecy,
And sundry blessings hang about his throne,
That speak him full of grace. (4.3.1)

Shakespeare gives more props to King Edward the Confessor of England. This passage is an allusion to the "Royal Touch," a kind of laying on hands ceremony that was performed by English (and French) monarchs. It was thought to have been started by King Edward. The "wretched souls" referred to here by the Doctor suffer from Scrofula or, the "King's Evil," what we now know is a form of tuberculosis that affects the lymph nodes and skin. In a book called The Royal Touch, historian Marc Bloch writes that King James I (who sat on the throne when Macbeth was first written and performed) wasn't exactly thrilled about performing this ceremony – he thought it was superstitious and silly – but he did it anyway to make his subjects happy.

So, if King Edward can cure a nasty disease like Scrofula, just imagine what he can do to help cure Scotland of Macbeth…

Next Page: Versions of Reality Quotes

Previous Page: Power Quotes (3 of 4)