How are you, Richmond? well? or Richmond 'ill?
Buckingham says to Anne:—
I'll introduce, allow me, to your Grace,
The Lord Mayor, the Recorder, and Jem Mace.
Anne. Their robes are beautiful. Oh, nicey, nicey!
Especially the Mace—he does look spicey!
But perhaps the best pun in the piece is that which is made apropos of the fact that Catesby and Tyrell have fallen over the coal-scuttle on the stairs and hurt themselves:—
Richard. My friends are hurt, so you'll excuse them grinning.
Elizabeth. Excuse! oh, they're more shinned against than shinning!
Talfourd's "Macbeth, somewhat removed from the Text of Shakespeare," was first performed in 1847 at Henley-on-Thames during the regatta; next, at the Strand, in 1848; afterwards at the Olympic, in 1853. At the last-named theatre it had the advantage of the aid of Robson in the title-part, of G. Cooke as Duncan, and of Mrs. A. Phillips as Lady Macbeth. It paraphrases the original fairly well until near the close, when, after Macduff has slain Macbeth, Duncan reappears (like Henry VI. in Selby's piece) and takes the crown from Malcolm. Similarly, Macbeth, his wife, and Banquo turn up again, and announce their willingness to die nightly.
In the first act Lady Macbeth comes in reading her husband's letter, as follows:—