Wilfred OwenBut the old man would not so, but slew his son, And half the seed of Europe, one by one.
About This Quote
Shakespeare wrote in Macbeth, "But the old man would not so; but slew his son, And half the seed of Europe, one by one." Shakespeare is making reference to the Roman Empire, where power was held by one family. The Roman Emperor Claudius murdered his nephews, who served as joint rulers before him, and then went on to kill all of their sons. After he did this, he retired to live out his days in peace.
Source: The War Poems
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