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MRS. SlDDONS AS THE TRAGIC MUSE {Reynolds}

SHAKESPEARE'S

TRAGEDY OF

MACBETH

EDITED, WITH NOTES
BY

WILLIAM J. ROLFE, Lixx.D.

FORMERLY HEAD MASTER OF THE HIGH SCHOOL
CAMBRIDGE, MASS.

ILLUSTRATED

NEW YORK •:• CINCINNATI •:• CHICAGO

AMERICAN BOOK COMPANY

MACBETH.
W. P. 3

PREFACE

THIS edition of Macbeth, first published in 1877, is
now revised on the same general plan as the Merchant
of Venice and other plays that have preceded it.

Most of the notes on textual -variations (of less im-
portance in this play than in some others, as the folio
text is the only early one) have been either omitted or
abridged. Teachers in secondary schools or in colleges
who may wish to give more attention to this subject
will of course make use of Dr. Furness's encyclopedic
edition of the play, which in other ways also they will
find indispensable.

I have likewise omitted most of the " Critical Com-
ments " from the introduction and elsewhere, as the
books from which they were taken are now generally
accessible in public and school libraries. For these
extracts I have substituted comments of my own, in the
course of which I have attempted to settle some ques-
tions that have been much discussed, but, to my think-
ing, never satisfactorily answered. I have endeavoured
to show how Shakespeare himself answers them, instead
of reading into the play what is not there, as some
excellent critics seem to me to have done.

In the Appendix I have discussed certain questions
concerning the character of Banquo that have been
raised in recent years by German and other critics ;
and concerning the part of Hecate, which I cannot
believe to be from the hand of Shakespeare. These

2055969

6 Preface

questions, also, I endeavour to settle by the internal
evidence of the play.

I have retained the extracts from Holinshed in the
introduction to the Notes, because I think they will
interest many readers and students who may not have
Furness's edition at hand, or would not look the matter
up in a separate book. Young students might well
read parts of it with the teacher, as a quaint specimen
of Elizabethan prose.

The Notes have been carefully revised throughout,
some being abridged, some expanded, and new one1,,
added, including a considerable number in place of
those referring to my editions of other plays. Thu
book is now absolutely complete in itself.

I believe that teachers and students will prefer trm
new edition to the old one ; but both can be used, with
out serious inconvenience, in the same class or club.

CONTENTS

FACE

INTRODUCTION TO MACBETH . . . . . 9

The History of the Play . . . ... . 9

The Historical Sources of the Play. . . . . 12

Macbeth and Lady Macbeth . . . . . 15

MACBETH . . . . . . . . . -43

Act I 45

Act II . . . ... . . . . . . 67

Act III . 83

Act IV . .105

Act V . . . . ... V . .128

HOTES . .......... 149

APPENDIX . . . . . . . . . . 282

Comments on Some of the Characters .... 282

The Time- Analysis of the Play . . . . . 296

List of Characters in the Play 299

INDEX OF WORDS AND PHRASES EXPLAINED . . . 301

INVERNESS

INTRODUCTION TO MACBETH

THE HISTORY OF THE PLAY

Macbeth was first printed in the folio of 1623, where
it occupies pages 131 to 151 inclusive, in the division
of " Tragedies." It was registered in the books of the
Stationers' Company, on the 8th of November, 1623, by
Blount and Jaggard, the publishers of the folio, as one
of the plays " not formerly entered to other men." It
was written between 1604 and 1610; the former limit
being fixed by the allusion to the union of England and
Scotland under James I. (iv. i. 121), and the latter by
the MS. Diary of Dr. Simon Forman, who saw the play

io Macbeth

performed "at the Globe, 1610, the 2oth of April,
Saturday." It may then have been a new play, but it
is more probable, as nearly all the critics agree, that
it was written in 1605 or 1606. The accession of
James made Scottish subjects popular in England, and
the tale of Macbeth and Banquo would be one of the
first to be brought forward, as Banquo was held to be
an ancestor of the new king. A Latin " interlude " on
this subject was performed at Oxford in 1605, on the
occasion of the king's visit to the city; but there is no
reason for supposing that Shakespeare got the hint of
his tragedy from that source.

It is barely possible that there was an earlier play on
the subject of Macbeth. Collier finds in the Registers
of the Stationers' Company, under date of August 27,
1596, the entry of a " Ballad of Makdobeth," which he
gives plausible reasons for supposing to have been a
drama, and not a " ballad " properly so called. There
appears to be a reference to the same piece in Kemp's
Nine Days' Wonder, printed in 1600, where it is called
a " miserable stolne story," and said to be the work of
" a penny Poet."

Steevens maintained that Shakespeare was indebted,
in the supernatural parts of Macbeth, to The Witch, a
play by Thomas Middleton, which was discovered in
manuscript towards the end of the eighteenth century.
Malone at first took the same view of the subject,
but finally came to the conclusion that Middleton's
play was the later production, and that he must there-

Introduction 1 1

fore be the plagiarist. The Clarendon Press editors
take the ground that there are portions of Macbeth
which Shakespeare did not write ; that these were inter-
polated after the poet's death, or at least after he had
ceased to be connected with the theatre ; and that " the
interpolator was, not improbably, Thomas Middleton."
These views have found little favour with other
Shakespearian critics. A more satisfactory explana-
tion of the imperfections of the play ascribes them to
the haste with which it was written. White, who refers
its composition to " the period between October, 1604,
and August, 1605," remarks : " I am the more inclined
to this opinion from the indications which the play
itself affords that it was produced upon an emergency.
It exhibits throughout the hasty execution of a grand
and clearly conceived design. But the haste is that of
a master of his art, who, with conscious command of
its resources, and in the frenzy of a grand inspiration,
works out his composition to its minutest detail of
essential form, leaving the work of surface finish for
the occupation of cooler leisure. What the Sistine
Madonna was to Raphael, it seems that Macbeth was to
Shakespeare — a magnificent impromptu ; that kind of
impromptu which results from the application of well-
disciplined powers and rich stores of thought to a sub-
ject suggested by occasion. I am inclined to regard
Macbeth as, for the most part, a specimen of Shake-
speare's unelaborated, if not unfinished, writing, in the
maturity and highest vitality of his genius. It abounds

12 Macbeth

in instances of extremest compression and most daring
ellipsis, while it exhibits in every scene a union of
supreme dramatic and poetic power, and in almost
every line an imperially irresponsible control of lan-
guage. Hence, I think, its lack of completeness of
versification in certain passages, and also some of the
imperfection of the text, the thought in which the
compositors were not always able to follow and appre-
hend."

THE HISTORICAL SOURCES OF THE PLAY

Shakespeare drew the materials for the plot of
Macbeth from Holinshed's " Chronicles of Englande,
Scotlande, and Ireland," the first edition of which was
issued in 1577, and the second (which was doubtless
the one the poet used) in 1586-87. The extracts
from Holinshed in the notes will show that the main
incidents are taken from his account of two separate
events, — the murder of Duncan by Macbeth, and that
of King Duffe, the great-grandfather of Lady Macbeth,
by Donwald. It will be seen, too, that Shakespeare
has deviated in other respects from the chronicle,
especially in the character of Banquo.

Although, as Knight remarks, " the interest of Mac-
beth is not an historical interest," so that it matters
little whether the action is true or has been related as
true, I may add, for the benefit of my younger readers,
that the story of the drama is almost wholly apocry-

Introduction 13

phal. The more authentic history is thus summarized
by Sir Walter Scott : -

" Duncan, by his mother Beatrice a grandson of Mal-
colm II., succeeded to the throne on his grandfather's
death, in 1033 : he reigned only six years. Macbeth,
his near relation, also a grandchild of Malcolm II.,
though by the mother's side, was stirred up by ambi-
tion to contest the throne with the possessor. The
Lady of Macbeth also, whose real name was Graoch,
had deadly injuries to avenge on the reigning prince.
She was the granddaughter of Kenneth IV., killed
1003, fighting against Malcolm II.; and other causes
for revenge animated the mind of her who has been
since painted as the sternest of women. The old annal-
ists add some instigations of a supernatural kind to the
influence of a vindictive woman over an ambitious hus-
band. Three women, of more than human stature and
beauty, appeared to Macbeth in a dream or vision, and
hailed him successively by the titles of Thane of Cro-
marty, Thane of Moray, which the king afterwards
bestowed on him, and finally by that of King of Scots ;
this dream, it is said, inspired him with the seductive
hopes so well expressed in the drama.

" Macbeth broke no law of hospitality in his attempt
on Duncan's life. He attacked and slew the king at
a place called Bothgowan, or the Smith's House, near
Elgin, in 1039, and not, as has been supposed, in his
own castle of Inverness. The act was bloody, as was
the complexion of the times ; but, in very truth, the

14 Macbeth

claim of Macbeth to the throne, according to the rule
of Scottish succession, was better than that of Duncan.
As a king, the tyrant so much exclaimed against was,
in reality, a firm, just, and equitable prince.1 Appre-
hensions of danger from a party which Malcolm, the
eldest son of the slaughtered Duncan, had set on foot
in Northumberland, and still maintained in Scotland,
seem, in process of time, to have soured the temper of
Macbeth, and rendered him formidable to his nobility.
Against Macduff, in particular, the powerful Maormor
of Fife, he had uttered some threats which occasioned
that chief to fly from the court of Scotland. Urged by
this new counsellor, Siward, the Danish Earl of North-
umberland, invaded Scotland in the year 1054, display-
ing his banner in behalf of the banished Malcolm.
Macbeth engaged the foe in the neighbourhood of his
celebrated castle of Dunsinane. He was defeated, but
escaped from the battle, and was slain at Lumphanan
in 1056."

Whether Shakespeare was ever in Scotland is a ques-
tion that has been much discussed. Knight {Biography,
ed. 1865, p. 420 fol.) endeavours to prove that the poet
visited that country in 1589, but most of the editors
agree that there is no satisfactory evidence of his hav-
ing ever been there.'2

1 This view is confirmed by Mr. E. A. Freeman (Norman Conquest,
ii- P- 55) : " All genuine Scottish tradition points to the reign of Macbeth
as a period of unusual peace and prosperity in that disturbed land."

2 For a good summary of the discussion see Furness's Macbeth,
p. 407 fol. (488 fol. in revised ed.).

Introduction 15

MACBETH AND LADY MACBETH

Concerning the two leading characters of the play,
Macbeth and his Lady, there has been much discussion
and a wide divergence of opinion. Let us examine the
play for such facts relating to them as we can discover,
and consider what inferences we may draw from these
facts as to the characters and relations of the pair.

At the opening of the play Macbeth is the thane of
Glamis and a captain in the Scottish army, which has
just won a victory over the king of Norway, who was
aided by a force of rebels under the command of the
thane of Cawdor. Macbeth and his fellow-captain
Banquo have performed prodigies of valour in the bat-
tle, and are on their way home from the field when
they are met by the three witches, as Shakespeare calls
them, and as they are called in the old chronicle from
which he took the main incidents of his plot. They
appear to be simply the witches of ancient superstition,
— hags who have gained a measure of superhuman
knowledge and power by a league with Satan, to whom
they have sold their souls and pledged their service.
From the first scene of the play we learn that they
have planned this meeting with Macbeth, whom, in
reply to his startled question, "What are you?" they
hail, one after another, as " thane of Glamis," then
" thane of Cawdor," and finally, " Macbeth, that shalt
be king hereafter ! " Banquo then asks what prediction
they have for him ; and in turn they address him as

1 6 Macbeth

" Lesser than Macbeth and greater," " Not so happy,
yet much happier," and add, " Thou shalt get kings,
though thou be none." Macbeth would fain have them
tell him more, but they vanish with no response to his
eager appeal.

A moment later, Ross and Angus arrive as messen-
gers from King Duncan, by whose command they hail
Macbeth as " thane of Cawdor."

Here occurs one of the inconsistencies of the play
which puzzle the critics. In the interview with the
Witches Macbeth had said : —

" By Sinel's death I know I am thane of Glamis,
But how of Cawdor ? the thane of Cawdor lives,
A prosperous gentleman."

This may have been said merely to draw out an explana-
tion from them, though he must have been aware that
Cawdor was a traitor who had just been conquered and
taken prisoner in the battle from which he himself was
returning. But when Ross hails Macbeth as " thane of
Cawdor," the latter replies: —

" The thane of Cawdor lives ; why do you dress me
In borrowed robes ? "

Angus then states that Cawdor lives indeed, but is con-
demned to death for treason ; but just what his treason
was he does not know. This is not easily explained, as
Ross, who is now present with Angus, had in a former
scene informed Duncan of Cawdor's presence in the

Introduction 17

battle as an ally of the Norwegian king ; and Ross him-
self had been directed to see Cawdor executed, and his
title given to Macbeth.

We know, however, that such inconsistencies not un-
frequently occur in plays that appear to have been
written less hurriedly than Macbeth evidently was ; and
this may be an instance of the kind. If scene 2 of this
act is an addition by another hand, as some suppose,
Shakespeare may not be responsible for the fault.

In the soliloquy that follows this announcement of
the new honour conferred upon him, Macbeth says : —

" Two truths are told
As happy prologues to the swelling act
Of the imperial theme. — I thank you, gentlemen. —
[Aside.] This supernatural soliciting
Cannot be ill, cannot be good. If ill,
Why hath it given me earnest of success,
Commencing in a truth ? I am thane of Cawdor.
If good, why do I yield to that suggestion
Whose horrid image doth unfix my hair,
And make my seated heart knock at my ribs,
Against the use of nature ? Present fears
Are less than horrible imaginings.
My thought, whose murther yet is but fantastical,
Shakes so my single state of man that function
Is smother'd in surmise, and nothing is
But what is not."

Here, almost at the moment when the prediction con-
cerning the thaneship of Cawdor is fulfilled, we find
Macbeth meditating murder, that he may bring about

MACBETH — 2

1 8 Macbeth

the fulfilment of the prediction that he shall be king
hereafter. To one critic at least this seems rather sud-
den, but he ascribes it to the rapidity with which the
action of this play rushes on from first to last. To my
thinking, it is in perfect keeping with one of the most
marked characteristics of Macbeth, — his active imag-
ination. This is the key to much that he afterwards
says and does.

In The Tempest, when Antonio is tempting Sebastian
to murder King Alonso, he says : —

" What might,
Worthy Sebastian ? — O, what might ? . . .

The occasion speaks thee, and
My strong imagination sees a crown
Dropping upon thy head."

This might be said of Macbeth at this point in his
career. Not only is he sure that the prophecy is to be
fulfilled, but, to quote the words of the Lady in another
scene, he " feels now the future in the instant." His
strong imagination sees the crown suspended over his
head, as later he sees the air-drawn dagger marshalling
him the way to murder. The golden prize hangs
within his reach. It is held only by the slender thread
of an old man's life. He has but to cut that thread,
and the crown is his. " Come, let me clutch thee ! " is
his mental exclamation. But the " horrid image " of
the murder comes before his mind's eye with equal
vividness, and makes his seated heart knock at his

Introduction 19

ribs. The bloody deed is as yet but " fantastical " — a
thing of fancy — but it is as real to him and as frightful
as the ghost of Banquo, which is no outward apparition,

but

"A [spectre] of the mind, a false creation, •

Proceeding from the heat -oppressed brain."

It is the bloody business which informs thus to his eyes
— that makes the fearful visions of his excited imagina-
tion seem to take palpable shape before him.

Is this the first suggestion of murder that has occurred
to Macbeth ? Some of the best critics believe that he
had meditated this bloody treason before the beginning
of the play. They infer this from what Lady Macbeth
says, when, in a subsequent scene, he determines that
he will proceed no further in this business of murder
(i. 7. 49):-

" When you durst do it, then you were a man ;
And, to be more than what you were, you would
Be so much more the man. ATor time nor place
Did then adhere, and yet you would make both."

This is the only passage in the play that can be con-
strued as a hint that Macbeth had plotted the taking-
off of Duncan at some earlier time, and that the Lady
had advised him to wait for a more favourable oppor-
tunity. I do not think that we are driven to this inter-
pretation, or that it is necessary, if we reject it, to
suppose that a scene has been lost or omitted in which
the pair had discussed their plans for the crime. There

20 Macbeth

has been an interval sufficient for such discussion, but
Shakespeare did not deem it necessary or desirable to
introduce it into the play. We have evidence in the
play as it stands that the words I have quoted from
Lady Macbeth's speech cannot refer to a time previous
to the dramatic action. Such a supposition is inconsis-
tent with her soliloquy after reading Macbeth's letter in
which he tells her the Witches have predicted that he is
to be king. She fears his nature, which will not permit
him to " catch the nearest way" — that is, to kill Dun-
can. If at any former time he had proposed to kill
him, she could have no doubt of his being willing to do
it now. She could not have thought that, though he
had ambition, he was without the illness that should
attend it, and that the valour of her tongue must over-
come his repugnance to the crime. A moment after-
wards she asserts that she will have to commit the
crime herself. At the close of that terrible apostrophe
to the spirits of darkness in which she prays that she
may be unsexed and filled with direst cruelty, she

says : —

" Come, thick night,

And pall thee in the dunnest smoke of hell,
That my keen knife see not the wound it makes,
Nor heaven peep through the blanket of the dark,
To cry < Hold, hold ! ' "

She is to use the knife, not urge 'her husband to do
what she assumes he will fear to do. When Macbeth
comes in, she says to him : —

Introduction 21

" He that 's coming

Must be provided for; and you shall put
This night's great business into my dispatch."

She will be responsible for dispatching this business.
Macbeth says : " We will speak further ; " but she tells
him that all he is to do is only to " look up clear," and
not to betray their purpose by his perturbed countenance.
" Leave all the rest to me," are her parting words.

When Macbeth next appears (i. 7), we find that he
is to " bear the knife " against his kinsman and king,
and when the Lady comes in, it is evident that this is
the plan on which they have agreed. She tells him
that he has " sworn " to do the deed, and after she has
satisfied him that there is no danger of failure he is
ready for the " terrible feat."

Here we see that there has been a change in their
plans. The Lady is not to kill Duncan, but Macbeth is
to undertake it. He has " sworn " to do it. This must
have been arranged at an interview between the two
scenes we have been considering. There was time for
such an interview, but if there had not been, it would
not have troubled Shakespeare. In this play a whole
scene occurs (iii. 6) to which no possible time can be
assigned, and such scenes are found in other of the plays.

In the present instance, however, there is no such
impossibility. Duncan arrives at the castle before
dark, as the dialogue outside the walls (i. 6) clearly
shows. The banquet is some hours later. In the
interim the king may be supposed to be resting in

22 Macbeth

his chamber after the journey. Macbeth and the Lady
have the opportunity for " speaking further " concern-
ing their plot, as he had proposed. The vision of
the crown again rises to his imagination, and he is
impatient to cut the thread that prevents his clutching
it. He seems to have suggested some rash way of
doing this at once, and doing it himself, but the Lady
sees that neither the time nor the place which he pro-
poses is suited to the purpose. She suggests that it
will be safer to wait until a later hour, when the king
and everybody but themselves is in bed. Since she
now finds that Macbeth is willing to do the killing, she
naturally transfers that part of the business to him ;
but, lest his fears and scruples should lead him to
waver again, she exacts an oath that no compunctious
visitings of nature shall shake his fell purpose to bear
the knife himself. When, in the scene that follows, his
thought of the risk of failure makes him shrink from
doing what he has sworn to do, she overwhelms him
with bitterest reproaches for his cowardice and perfidy,
and, to relieve his apprehensions, adds to the pre-
cautions already agreed upon the drugging of the
possets furnished to the king's guards when they re-
tire with him to his chamber. This reassures Mac-
beth, and his courage is at last screwed to the
sticking-place.

This may or may not have been precisely what
Shakespeare had in mind for filling the gap between
the two scenes in which the pair soliloquize and confer

Introduction 23

concerning the method of the murder ; but it is certain
that we are not compelled to assume that the Lady's
allusion to Macbeth's readiness to kill the king at some
former time and place must refer to a period before
the beginning of the play. If that had been Shake-
speare's meaning, he would have given us some more
distinct intimation of it than this single passage fur-
nishes. This interpretation, I may add, is not only
inconsistent with what the Lady says of her husband's
nature, but also with what he himself says (or solilo-
quizes) when he finds the prophecy of the Witches ful-
filled in part by his being made thane of Cawdor. If
the purpose of killing Duncan had occurred to him
before that time, the " horrid image " of the suggestion
could not have affected him as it does. Rather would
he have welcomed the prophecy as a supernatural en-
couragement of his plot of murder and usurpation. The
obvious meaning of his words is that the plot is then
first suggested to him, and that the horror of it almost
overwhelms him. His imagination sees not only the
crown, but the blood that must stain his hands if they
are to clutch it before it falls. No wonder that for the
moment the sorry sight of that blood, though only
fantastical, makes him hesitate : —

" If chance will have me king, why, chance may crown me,
Without my stir."

But it is only for the moment that he can reason thus
rationally and virtuously. Again his eyes turn to the

24 Macbeth

resplendent prize, and the blood that must be shed to
gain it is forgotten.

We may now consider it settled beyond any reason-
able doubt that the purpose of attaining the crown by
the murder of Duncan occurs independently to both
Macbeth and his wife. Neither suggests it to the
other ; their guilt in this respect is equal.

It may also be noted here that we have no right to
say, as certain critics have done, that the Witches insti-
gate Macbeth to the crime. They simply predict what
is to be his destiny. They suggest no means or method
for bringing about the fulfilment of the predictions ;
they say not a word to incite him to sinful thought or
deed. Their prophetic message once delivered in the
briefest form possible, they vanish, paying no attention
to the entreaties of Macbeth that they will stay and tell
him more.

Their prophecies, moreover, are not addressed to Mac-
beth alone, but also to Banquo, in whose soul they ex-
cite no thought or purpose of evil. He accepts them
as prophecies, nothing more, and shows little interest in
them until Ross and Angus come and hail Macbeth as
thane of Cawdor. Then, so far from welcoming them
as propitious intimations of good fortune, he warns his
companion that they may prove to be due to the machi-
nations of evil spirits, who

" tell us truths,

Win us with honest trifles to betray 's
In deepest consequence."

Introduction 25

To Macbeth, on the other hand, the very fact that the
supernatural soliciting has begun with a truth is proof
that it cannot be ill. Yet, as his conscience admonishes
him, it cannot be good, for it tempts him to crime ; and
he admits that he is ready to " yield " to that temptation.

Here we begin to see what manner of man he really
is. Up to this time he has won golden opinions from
all sorts of people, and apparently has deserved them.
But, like so many other men of excellent reputation, he
has hitherto been upright only because his virtue has
never been subjected to any severe test. When a great
temptation assails him, he falls like Lucifer, never to rise
again.

Macbeth is utterly destitute of moral principle. His
ambition for the crown once aroused, he determines to
murder his king, who has just bestowed new honours
upon him, and to whom he is bound by ties of kinship
as well as of loyalty. When later he hesitates to commit
the crime he has planned, it is not from any compunc-
tion of conscience, but from " sheer moral cowardice "
— from fear of the consequences in this life. Shake-
speare has taken pains to make this clear in Macbeth 's
soliloquy (i. 7) : —

" If it were done when 't is done, then 't were well
T were done quickly";

that is, if the deed were really done, if that were the end
of it, the quicker it is done the better.

26 Macbeth

" If the assassination

Could trammel up the consequence, and catch
With his surcease success; that but this blow
Might be the be-all and the end-all here,
But here, upon this bank and shoal of time,
We 'd jump the life to come."

That is, if the murder could thwart or control the pos-
sible consequences here, only here, in this world, he
would risk whatever might follow in the life to come.
But, as he goes on to say, there is the danger of retribu-
tion here. Our bloody deeds return to plague us here.
The cup we have poisoned for another is thrust to our
own lips. Those words, " We'd jump the life to come,"
show that, in thinking of the possible consequences in
this life, — the risk of detection, disgrace, and punish-
ment, — he does not for the moment forget or ignore the
retributions of another world. He deliberately defies
them. Like the men who were supposed to sell their
souls to the devil for wealth or power in this life, he is
willing to pay the final price that the crime involves if
present success can be assured. If Satan were present
to pledge this, Macbeth would close the bargain at once ;
as this is impossible, he hesitates for the moment, but
only for the moment — only while the thought of possi-
ble failure is uppermost in his mind. As soon as his
wife has explained how the murder can be made to
appear the act of the grooms, his hesitation is at an
end. How exultantly he welcomes the assurance that
others can be made to bear the imputation of the crime !

Introduction 27

But while waiting for the fatal signal which the Lady
is to give by striking the bell, he gives way again to
horrible imaginings. The dagger he is to use floats
before his eyes ; but it does not frighten him from his
purpose : —

" Thou marshalls't me the way that I was going,
And such an instrument I was to use."

The visionary dagger becomes bloody, but the real one
is not yet red, and he decides that the former is nothing
but a " dagger of the mind " to which the anticipation
of the bloody business has given apparent shape. His
imagination reverts to the night — the time for " wicked
dreams " and wicked deeds — for witchcraft and for
Murder, with stealthy pace moving like a ghost toward
his fell design. So will he move, invoking the sure and
firm-set earth not to betray his approach to the sleep-
ing victim. But he checks the poetic musings. It is
the time for action. "Whiles I threat he lives." The
bell rings.

" I go, and it is done; the bell invites me. —
Hear it not, Duncan, for it is a knell
That summons thee to heaven or to hell.

It is a knell that strikes for himself no less than for
Duncan ; and it summons him, not to the earthly
heaven of his hopes, the joy he anticipates in the
attainment of royal power, but to the hell of guilty
fears that permit no sleep by night and no peace or

28 Macbeth

rest by day, but drive him on from crime to crime until
retribution overtakes him at last.

Though, at this particular time, Macbeth would not
have carried out his plot against Duncan if the Lady
had not overcome his cowardly fear of the consequences,
it does not follow that he would never have screwed
his courage up for the deed without her influence.
The vision of the promised crown, the glittering prize
of his unholy ambition, would still hover above his
head, stimulating his imagination and alluring him to
the nearest way of gaining it. He would be ever on
the watch for a favourable opportunity of doing the
murderous deed necessary for its acquisition, and,
with or without the encouragement of his companion
in guilt, he would nerve himself to the fatal stroke that
would enable him to clutch it. The exigencies of the
drama require that he should do it now, and the Lady,
with her clear head and strong will, furnishes the
stimulus needed to spur him on to instant action.

Let us now turn for a time to her, and endeavour to
get a fair conception of her character. As we have
seen, the intention of murder occurred to her without
any suggestion from her husband. So far as that was
concerned, both were equally guilty. They were also
equally ambitious ; but I believe that she was ambitious
for him rather than for herself. They are bound to
each other by strong ties of conjugal affection ; but her
love, if not the stronger, is the more unselfish, as the
love of woman is apt to be.

Introduction 29

Mrs. Kemble (Notes upon Some of Shakespeare's Plays]
calls Lady Macbeth " a masculine woman," but adds
that " she retains enough of the nature of mankind, if
not of womankind, to bring her within the circle of our
toleration and make us accept her as possible" I be-
lieve, however, that she goes too far in denying to the
Lady " all the peculiar sensibilities of her sex," and in
saying, " there is no doubt that her assertion that she
would have dashed her baby's brains out if she had
sworn to do it, is no mere figure of speech but very
certain earnest." To my thinking, it was a figure of
speech in a sense, though " certain earnest " in another
sense. Macbeth has sworn to do a dreadful deed from
which he now shrinks. She says to him that if she had
sworn to do anything, however horrible and unnatural,
she would do it. The particular illustration of the
quality of her resolution which she gives is the strong-
est she can imagine — the murder of her own babe at
a time when to do it would be the utmost conceivable
outrage to maternal affection ; a deed which she knows
she could never do or think of doing, much less swear
to do, but which she would do if she had sworn to do
it. That would be a murder infinitely worse than the
one Macbeth has sworn to do, — the murder of an
innocent and helpless babe — her own babe — a
murder for which there could be no imaginable
motive, — but the oath once spoken should be kept,
though to keep it would tear her very heart-strings
asunder.

30 Macbeth

It is significant that Lady Macbeth, when she
first resolves to commit the crime, feels that she must
repudiate the instincts of her sex before she can do it :

" Come, you spirits

That tend on mortal thoughts, unsex me here,
And fill me from the crown to the toe top-full
Of direst cruelty ! make thick my blood,
Stop up the access and passage to remorse,
That no compunctious visitings of nature
Shake my fell purpose, nor keep peace between
The effect and it ! "

Elsewhere Shakespeare has depicted two women — the
only two in his long gallery of female characters — who
are monsters of wickedness, without a single redeeming
trait ; and he has emphasized the fact that such women
have unsexed themselves and ceased to be women.
They are Goneril and Regan, the unnatural daughters
of Lear. Note what Albany says to Goneril : —

" See thyself, devil !

Proper [native] deformity seems not in the fiend
So horrid as in woman. . . .
Thou changed and self-cover'd thing,

[that is, thou whose natural self has been covered or
lost, so that thou art a mere thing, not a woman]

Bemonster not thy feature ! . . .

Howe'er thou art a fiend,
A woman's shape doth shield thee."

[Though a fiend, she still has the outward shape of
woman, or she should die.]

Introduction 31

Neither Goneril nor Regan prays to be unsexed, for
they are only fiends in a female form ; nor would the
prayer have occurred to Lady Macbeth if she had not
been a woman, notwithstanding her treason to woman-
hood. She feels that she must for the time abjure the
natural instincts and sensibilities of her sex, if she is to
do the bloody deed which is to give her ambitious hus-
band the crown without waiting for fate to fulfil itself.
She is not destitute of all feminine sensibilities, as
Mrs. Kemble assumes, but struggles against them,
represses them by sheer strength of will.

Mrs. Kemble even goes so far as to say that the
Lady's inability to stab Duncan because he resembled
her father as he slept " has nothing especially feminine
about it," but is " a touch of human tenderness by which
most men might be overcome " ; but to concede human
tenderness to the Lady is inconsistent with the assump-
tion that she could have murdered the infant at her
breast. We cannot doubt that Shakespeare introduced
this touch to remind us again that she was a woman, and
not a monster, like the daughters of Lear. This is
quite in his manner. It is like Shylock's allusion to
the ring that Leah gave him when he was a bachelor,
which shows that, hardened and merciless though he
was, he was not utterly destitute of human tender-
ness.

Professor Moulton (Shakespeare as a Dramatic Artisf)
is more just in his conception of Lady Macbeth. As
he remarks, " Her intellectual culture must have quick-

J2 Macbeth

ened her finer sensibilities at the same time that it built
up a will strong enough to hold them down " ; and her
keen delicacy of nature continually strives to assert
itself. When she calls on the spirits of darkness to
unsex her, "she is trembling all over with repugnance
to the bloody enterprise, which nevertheless her royal
will insists upon her undertaking." Her career in the
play " is one long mental war ; and the strain ends, as
such a strain could only end, in madness." She seems
to feel this herself when later Macbeth is lamenting
that, though he had most need of blessing, " Amen
stuck in his throat," and she exclaims: —

"These deeds must not be thought
After these ways; so, it will make us mad."

But the next moment, when he refuses to take back
the daggers he has brought from the chamber of death,
her indomitable will enables her to do it herself. She
must not allow her strength to give way while it is
necessary to carry out the plan which is in danger of
failing through his weakness. She can even indulge
in a ghastly pun — the only one in the play — as she
snatches the daggers from his hand : —

" If he does bleed,

I '11 gild the faces of the grooms withal,
For it must seem their guilt"

And while Macbeth is still idly staring at his blood)
hands with " poetical whining," as another aptly calls

Introduction 33

it, she can return, with hands as red as his, and say
with bitter sneers at his unmannerly wailing : —

" My hands are of your colour, but I shame
To wear a heart so white. . . .
A little water clears us of this deed."

But ah ! the difference between man and woman !
He, now so weak that he cannot look on the man he
has murdered, he who laments that great Neptune's
ocean cannot wash the stain from his hands, goes
on from crime to crime until he himself can say : —

" I am in blood

Stepp'd in so far that, should I wade no more,
Returning were as tedious as go o'er; "

and later : —

"I have supp'd full with horrors;
Direness, familiar to my slaughterous thoughts,
Cannot once start me."

He revels in ''murder, knowing neither fear nor re-
morse.

She, on the other hand, though now she can ridicule
his weak moaning over his bloody hands and display
her own that are red with the gore of the same murder,
calmly declaring that a little water will clear them of
the stain — she has nerved herself to this seeming
brutality by force of will, desperately repressing all
feminine sensibility out of love for him and sympathy
in his ambitious purposes. She can do this while it is
necessary to strengthen him and save him from failure
MACBETH — 3

34 Macbeth

and detection ; but when she is once assured that he
is no longer dependent on inspiration and support from
her, the woman nature reasserts itself. She is not,
as he is, insensible to remorse. She can silence for
the time the voice of conscience, but it soon makes
itself heard.

We have the first evidence of this in the scene (ii. 3)
where the murder is discovered by the nobles. Mac-
beth has made the mistake of killing the grooms, but
when Macduff asks, " Wherefore did you so ? " he gets
out of the predicament by ascribing the act to " the
expedition of his violent love," which outran the dicta-
tion of his " reason." Then follows the hypocritically
pathetic description of the dead king : —

" His silver skin lac'd with his golden blood,
And his gash'd stabs [looking] like a breach in nature
For ruin's wasteful entrance ; "

and the supposed assassins : —

" Steep'd in the colours of their trade, their daggers
Unmannerly breech'd with gore."

Lady Macbeth sees that he does not need her help at
this critical moment, and the strain upon her nerve and
will is at once relaxed. This sufficiently explains her
fainting, which I believe to be real and not feigned ;
though the vivid picture of the scene of murder may
have been in part, if not wholly, the cause of the swoon,
the enormity of the crime being thus brought home to
her conscience. Macbeth may have thought that the

Introduction 35

fainting was a trick to divert attention from his mistake,
if his attempt to justify it should not be successful, and
this may account for his paying no attention to her at
the moment ; but this is quite as likely to have been
due to his excitement, or to the promptness with which
Macduff and Banquo " look to the lady."

When she next appears on the stage (iii. 2), we see
that the attainment of the coveted prize has brought no
relief from the remorse she suffers. She is unhappy in
her new dignity — the more because he whom her love
had helped to gain it likewise finds no joy in the acqui-
sition. She laments for him as for herself — more for
him than for herself — when she says : — .

" Nought 's had, all 's spent,
Where our desire is got without content ;
'T is safer to be that which we destroy
Than by destruction dwell in doubtful joy."

This to herself — and it is the cry of a broken heart
that has brought wretchedness upon itself and the
object of its devotion by a crime to which it was
prompted by love ; and with the same unselfish affec-
tion she tries in the very next breath to comfort him,
hiding the wound in her own breast : —

" How now, my lord ! why do you keep alone,
Of sorriest fancies your companions making,
Using those thoughts which should indeed have died
With them they think on ? Things without all remedy
Should be without regard; what 's done is done."

36 Macbeth

These sorry fancies, as we have just seen, are her com-
panions no less, but she will not let him see it.

But her misery is that of a troubled conscience, to-
gether with pity and sympathy for him. His is the
same that first made him shrink from the crime — no
pangs of conscience, no touch of remorse, but cowardly
fear of the consequences of his crime : —

" We have scotch'd the snake, not kill'd it ;
She '11 close and be herself, whilst our poor malice
Remains in danger of her former tooth."

It is not that he has committed the crime, but that he
must eat his meals in fear, and sleep in the affliction of
terrible dreams — dreams of detection and retribution.
" Better be with the dead " than live in this " torture of
the mind ! " Already he meditates new crimes to save
himself from the results of the first. " Things bad
begun make strong themselves by ill." And the new
crimes he can commit without stimulus or help from
her.

After this she appears in the drama only twice : in
the banquet scene, where again he is saved by her
presence of mind from the exposure of his guilt which
his distracted imagination threatens to bring about ;
and in the scene where her own share in that guilt is
unconsciously disclosed as she walks in sleep.

After the banquet is broken up, instead of giving way
to bitter reproaches, she endeavours to sooth his troubled
spirit. As Mrs. Jameson remarks, there is " a touch of

Introduction 37

pathos and tenderness " in this which makes it " one of
the most masterly and most beautiful traits of character
in the play."

Shakespeare evidently intended that Lady Macbeth's
complicity in the guilt of her husband should be limited
to the murder of Duncan. It is a significant fact that
Macbeth does not make her a confidant of his plot for
killing Banquo and Fleance. Indeed, he distinctly
avoids doing this after having vaguely hinted at the
design. This partly because, as I have said, he does
not need her help, but partly, I believe, because he has
an instinctive feeling that she would not approve the
course he has resolved upon. She certainly would
have opposed it as at once impolitic and unnecessary.
The Witches had not predicted that Banquo should be
king, but only that his children should, and Fleance was
but a boy as yet. There was far greater danger to Mac-
beth from the suspicions which the death of Banquo and
his son might excite than from a possible attempt of
theirs to play the bloody part Macbeth had played in
the assassination of Duncan. Macbeth himself lays
more stress on the prediction that Banquo's issue are to
be his successors on the throne than he does on his
fears that Banquo may suspect he killed Duncan, and
that this may lead to his own overthrow. Banquo's
" royalty of nature " is a perpetual rebuke to his own
baser self, and his knowledge of the prophecies of the
Witches is a menace, but the thought that most rankles
in the breast of Macbeth is that all he has gained by the

3 8 Macbeth

murder of the gracious Duncan is a " fruitless crown "
and " barren sceptre," which are to be snatched from
him by " an unlineal hand."

Some critics have thought that the Lady meant to sug-
gest putting Banquo and Fleance out of the way when,
in reply to Macbeth's reference to the fact that they are
still living, she says, " But in them Nature's copy 's not
eterne " ; but she simply reminds him that they are not
immortal. This interpretation is fully confirmed by
the fact that, on his replying, " There 's comfort yet ;
they are assailable," and adding that before the night
passes " there shall be done a deed of dreadful note,"
she does not understand his hint, but asks, " What 's to
be done ? " — a question which he evades. It is plain,
however, that he still feels doubtful of her approval of
the deed, which he would not have been if he had
understood her preceding speech as suggesting it.

For myself, I am inclined to believe that the dis-
appearance of the Lady from the stage after the banquet
scene indicates that, from the time of Banquo's murder,
Macbeth was less and less inclined to seek her company
and sympathy. In the conversation before the banquet
she asks him, " Why do you keep alone ? " and it is in
the same scene (iii. 2) that he avoids telling her that
he has already engaged the murderers to waylay Banquo
and his son. Even then their lives had begun to sepa-
rate, and they would naturally get farther and farther
apart. There is no reason to suppose that she knew of
the plot for the destruction of Macduff's family, against

Introduction 39

which she would have protested more earnestly than
against his designs upon Banquo, :f he had made them
known to her. His fears and suspicions urge him on
to the bloody deeds which later Macduff describes to

Malcolm : —

" Each new morn

New widows howl, new orphans cry, new sorrows
Strike heaven on the face."

Ross confirms the reports : —

" Alas, poor country !
Almost afraid to know itself. It cannot
Be call'd our mother, but our grave ; where nothing,
But who knows nothing, is once seen to smile;
Where sighs and groans and shrieks that rend the air
Are made, not mark'd; where violent sorrow seems
A modern ecstasy. The dead man's knell
Is there scarce ask'd for who; and good men's lives
Expire before the flowers in their caps,
Dying or ere they sicken."

A terrible picture of what Macbeth is doing alone, in
his insane suspicion of those about him and of every-
body, near or far, who might suspect his guilt and be
moved to avenge it. After his second interview with
the Witches, who have deluded him with false assurances
of safety and success, he seeks no other counsel and
has no other confidant.

The Lady meanwhile, left to herself, ignorant of what
is going on abroad, bears the burden of her remorse
alone. Shut out from all sympathy, she broods over
the crime to which she was tempted by love and the

40 Macbeth

hope that it would bring not only royal power but all
its accompaniments of pleasure and honour, but the
fruits of which have been only disappointment, disgust,
and misery to her husband and herself ; and the con-
sciousness of her sin and folly is like a consuming fire
in her breast. Bereft of all worldly hope and all human
sympathy, she is driven to despair. The season of all
natures, sleep, denies her its comfort and relief. In
perturbed wanderings at night she lives over the events
of that other night when her hands were bathed in the
life-blood of Duncan. No water now will clear them of
the stain. The agonizing cry, " Out, damned spot ! "
is vain ; and " there's the smell of the blood still,"
which all the perfumes of Arabia cannot remove or dis-
guise.

The Doctor's direction that the means of self-
destruction be removed from her, and that she be
watched closely, indicates his apprehension of what
the end may be ; and though it is not distinctly stated
afterwards that she did lay violent hands on herself,
we can hardly doubt that this was the manner of her
death.

When her death is announced to Macbeth (v. 5), he
is already so estranged from her, and so absorbed in
his selfish ruminations on his own situation, that it
excites only a feeling of vexation that it should have
occurred just then. " She should have died hereafter "
— not, he seems to mean, when he had so much else
to worry and annoy him. In his talk with the Doctor

Introduction 41

about her, in a former scene (v. 3), he appears to be
impatient, rather than sympathetic, because she is sick ;
and now that the sickness has proved fatal, he indulges
in no expressions of grief, but, after this brief reference
to her ill-timed decease, he relapses into mournful
reflections upon his own condition and prospects. He
does not refer to her again, nor is there any allusion
to her except in Malcolm's last speech, where he
couples her with Macbeth as " this dead butcher and
his fiend-like queen." The son of the murdered Duncan
might naturally call her so ; but, except for her share
in that single crime she does nothing to deserve
the title; and for that one crime she has paid the
penalty of a life of disappointment, wretchedness, and
remorse.

Let me say, before dismissing her from our con-
sideration, that I cannot think of her as a masculine
woman, or, as Campbell describes her, " a splendid
picture of evil, ... a sort of sister of Milton's Luci-
fer, and, like him, externally majestic and beautiful."
Beautiful, indeed, we can imagine her to be, but with
a beauty delicate and feminine — perhaps, as Mrs. Sid-
dons suggests, even fragile. Shakespeare gives us no
hint of her personal appearance except where he makes
her speak of her "little hand"; but that really settles
the question.1

Macbeth 's career from first to last confirms the esti-

1 For a summary of critical opinion on the subject, see the
Appendix.

42 Macbeth

mate we form of him when he hears the predictions
of the Witches. At that time, as I have said, he seems
as noble as he was valiant. He is ambitious, but two
paths to power and fame are open to him — the path
of rectitude, of loyalty, of patriotism, of honour ; and
the nearer way of treason, regicide, and dishonour. He
lacks the moral courage and strength to choose the
former. He cannot wait for fate to fulfil itself, but
anticipates the working out of its decrees by impatiently
taking the first step in the other path. He knows it is
the wrong path, but it is only the first step that costs
him even any transient struggle. Thenceforward, as
we have seen, he can go on from crime to crime with
only brief spasms of hesitation, due not to compunction
or shrinking from sin, but only to his apprehensions of
the possible consequences of his first deed of blood —
discovery, disgrace, disaster, retribution in this life.
The life to come he ignores, as he did at the start, and
pursues the downward course, selfish, pitiless, remorse-
less, impious, to the inevitable tragic end.

MACBETH

DUNCAN, King of Scotland.

BSS£,,|«~ •

BAANQBuo,H' !' g^neralsof the king's army.

MACDUFF, ~|

LENNOX,

MESNTEiTH, f n°bl<=men of Scotland.

ANGUS,

CAITHNESS, I

FLEANCE, son to Banquo.

SIWAKD, Earl of Northumberland, gen-
eral of the English forces.

Young SIWARD, his son.

SEYTON, an officer attending on Mac-
beth.

Boy, son to Macduff.

An English Doctor.
A Scotch Doctor.
A Sergeant.
A Porter
An Old Man.
LADY MACBETH.
LADY MACDUFF.

Gentlewoman attending on Lady Mac-
beth.
HECATE.
Three Witches.
Apparitions.

Lords, Gentlemen, Officers, Soldiers,
Murderers, Attendants, and Mes-
sengers.

SCENE: Scotland ; England.

VIEW FROM SITE OF MACBETH'S CASTLE, INVERNESS

ACT I

SCENE I. A Desert Place

Thunder and lightning. Enter three \Vitches

First Witch. When shall we threelmeet atain
In thunder, lightning, or in rain ?

Second Witch. When the hurly-burly 's done,
When the battle 's lost and won.

Third Witch. That will be ere the set of sun.

First Witch. Where the place ?

Second Witch. Upon the heath.

Third Witch. There to meet with Macbeth.
45

46 Macbeth [Act J

First Witch. I come, Graymalkin !
Second Witch. Paddock calls.

Third Witch. Anon. I0

^A$. Fair is fpul.jmd fojuysffair^/.
Hover Ithrough'the fog/and filthy air/ [Exeunt.

I I

SCENE II. ^4 C##z/ near Forres

Alarum within. Enter DUNCAN, MALCOLM, DONAL-
BAIN, LENNOX, with Attendants, meeting a bleeding
Sergeant

Duncan. What bloody man is that ? He can report,
As seemeth by his plight, of the revolt
The newest state.

Afalcjilm^ -/ ^Thjaj&thejwjrgeaat .
Whojiki,a g^d.and har(W soldier fought
'Gainst m4 captivity. — Hail, braVe friend!
Say to the king the knowledge of the broil
As thou didst leave it.

\§ergeant. I /, Dcbb^tfuHt^ptopdy

As twq spent swimmers than do clingi togemer t
And choke their art. The merciless Macdonwald —
Worthy to be a rebel, for to that 10

The multiplying villanies of nature
Do swarm upon him — from the western isles
Of kerns and gallowglasses is supplied ;
And Fortune, on his damned quarrel smiling,
Show'd like a rebel's whore. But all 's too weak ;

Scene II] Macbeth 47

For brave Macbeth — well he deserves that name —

Disdaining Fortune, with his brandish'd steel,

Which smok'd with bloody execution,

Like valour's minion carved out his passage

Till he fac'd the slave ;

Which ne'er shook hands nor bade farewell to him,

Till he unseam'd him from the nave to the chaps

And fix'd his head upon our battlements.

Duncan. O valiant cousin ! worthy gentleman !
Sergeant. As whence the sun gins his reflection
Shipwracking storms and direful thunders break,
So from that spring whence comfort seem'd to come
Discomfort swells. Mark, king of Scotland, mark :
No sooner justice had with valour arm'd
CompelPd these skipping kerns to trust their heels, 30
But the Norweyan lord, surveying vantage,
With furbish'd arms and new supplies of men
Began a fresh assault.

Duncan. Dismay'd not this

Our captains, Macbeth and Banquo ?

, ;• Sergeant. Yes ;

^As sparrows eagles, or the hare the lion.
If I say sooth, I must report they were
As cannons overcharg'd with double cracks,
So they doubly redoubled strokes upon the foe.
Except they meant to bathe in reeking wounds,
Or memorize another Golgotha, -P

I cannot tell —
But I am faint, my gashes cry for help.

48 Macbeth [Act I

Duncan. So well thy words become thee as thy

wounds ;

They smack of honour both. — Go get him surgeons. —

\_Exit Sergeant, attended

Who comes here ?

Enter Ross

Malcolm. The worthy thane of Ross.

Lennox. What a haste looks through his eyes ! Sc

should he look
That seems to speak things strange.

Ross. God save the king >

Duncan. Whence cam'st thou, worthy thane ?

Ross. From Fife, great king,

Where the Norweyan banners flout the sky
And fan our people cold. Norway himself, 50

With terrible numbers,
Assisted by that most disloyal traitor,
The thane of Cawdor, began a dismal conflict,
Till that Bellona's bridegroom, lapp'd in proof,
Confronted him with self-comparisons,
Point against point rebellious, arm 'gainst arm,
Curbing his lavish spirit ; and, to conclude,
The victory fell on us.

Duncan. Great happiness !

Ross. That now

Sweno, the Norways' king, craves composition ;
Nor would we deign him burial of his men 60

Till he disbursed at Saint Colme's Inch
Ten thousand dollars to our general use.

Scene Hi] Macbeth

Duncan. No more that thane of Cawdor shall deceive
Our bosom interest. Go pronounce his present death,
And with his former title greet Macbeth.
Ross. I '11 see it done.
Duncan. What he hath lost noble Macbeth hath won.

\Exeu.

SCENE III. A Heath
Thunder. Enter the three Witches

First Witch. Where hast thou been, sister ?

Second Witch. Killing swine.

Third Witch. Sister, where thou ?

First Witch. A sailor's wife had chestnuts in her la
And munch'd, and munch 'd, and munch'd. 'Give m

quoth I.

' Aroint thee, witch ! ' the rump-fed ronyon cries.
Her husband 's to Aleppo gone, master o' the Tiger ;
But irt a sieve I '11 thithef^aail,
And, like a rat without a tall,
I '11 do, I '11 do, and I '11 do.

Second Witch. I '11 give thee a wind.

First Witch. Thou 'rt kind.

Third Witch. And I another.

First Witch. 'I myself have all the other,
And the very ports they blow,
All the quarters that they know
I' the shipman's card.
I '11 drain him dry as hay ;
Sleep shall neither night nor day

MACBETH — 4

3n.

50 Macbeth [Act l

Hang upon his pent-house lid. 2-»

He shall live a man forbid ;

Weary se'nnights nine times nine

Shall he dwindle, peak, and pine.

Though his bark cannot be lost,

Yet it shall be tempest-tost.

Look what I have.

Second Witch. Show me, show me.

First Witch. Here I have a pilot's thumb,
Wrack'd as homeward he did come. [Drum within

Third Witch. A drum, a drum 1 3-*

Macbeth doth come.

All. The weird sisters, hand in hand,
Posters of the sea and land,
Thus do go about, about ;
Thrice to thine, and thrice to mine,
And thrice again, to make up nine.
Peace ! the charm 's wound up.

Enter MACBETH and BANQUO

Macbeth. So foul and fair a day I have not seen.

Banquo. How far is 't call'd to Forres ? What are

these

So wither'd and so wild in their attire, 40

That look not like the inhabitants o' the earth,
And yet are on 't ? — Live you ? or are you aught
That man may question ? You seem to understand me,
By each at once her choppy finger laying
Upon her skinny lips. You should be women,

Scene III] Macbeth

\ I I

And yet your beardk forbid] me td interpret

• r-u

That you are so.

Macbeth. Speak, if you can ; what are you ?

First Witch. All hail, Macbeth ! hail to thee, thane
of Glamis !

Second Witch. All hail, Macbeth ! hail to thee, thane
of Cawdor !

Third Witch. All hail, Macbeth, that shalt be king
hereafter ! 5<J

Banquo. Good sir, why do you start, and seem to

fear

Things that do sound so fair ? — I' the name of truth,
Are ye fantastical, or that indeed
Which outwardly ye show ? My noble partner
You greet with present grace and great prediction
Of noble having and of royal hope,
That he seems rapt withal ; to me you speak not.
£f you can look into the seeds of time,
And say which grain will grow and which will not,
Speak then to me, who neither beg nor fear 60

Your favours nor your hate.

First Witch. Hail!

Second Witch. Hail !

Third Witch. Hail !

First Witch. Lesser than Macbeth, and greater.

Second Witch. Not so happy, yet much happier.

Third Witch. Thou shalt get kings, though thou be

none '.
So all hail, Macbeth and Banquo 1

52 Macbeth [Act I

First Witch. Banquo and Macbeth, all hail !

Macbeth. Stay, you imperfect speakers, tell me more.
By Sinel's death I know I am thane of Glamis, 71

But how of Cawdor ? The thane of Cawdor lives,
A prosperous gentleman ; and to be king
Stands not within the prospect of belief,
No more than to be Cawdor. Say from whence
You owe this strange intelligence ? or why
Upon this blasted heath you stop our way
With such prophetic greeting? Speak, I charge you,

[ Witches vanish.

Banquo. The earth hath bubbles as the water has,
And these are of them. Whither are they vanish'd ? So

Macbeth. Into the air, and what seem'd corporal

melted
As breath into the wind. Would they had stay'd !

Banquo. Were such things here as we do speak about ?
Or have we eaten on the insane root
That takes the reason prisoner ?

Macbeth. Your children shall be kings.

Banquo. You shall be king.

Macbeth. And thane of Cawdor too ; went it not so ?

Banquo. To the selfsame tune and words. — WTho 's
here ?

Enter Ross and ANGUS

Ross. The king hath happily receiv'd, Macbeth,
The news of thy success ; and when he reads 90

Thy personal venture in the rebels' fight,

Scene III] Macbeth

His wonders and his praises do contend
Which should be thine or his. Silenc'd with that,
In viewing o'er the rest o' the selfsame day,
He finds thee in the stout Norweyan ranks,
Nothing afeard of what thyself didst make,
Strange images of death. As thick as tale
Came post with post, and every one did bear
Thy praises in his kingdom's great defence,
And pour'd them down before him.

Angus. We are sent 100

To give thee from our royal master thanks ;
Only to herald thee into his sight,
Not pay thee.

ftoss. And for an earnest of a greater honour,
He bade me, from him, call thee thane of Cawdor ;
In which addition, hail, most worthy thane !
For it is thine.

Banquo. What, can the devil speak true ?

Macbeth. The thane of Cawdor lives; why do you

dress me
In borrow 'd robes ?

Angus. Who was the thane lives yet,

But under heavy judgment bears that life no

Which he deserves to lose. Whether he was combin'd
With those of Norway, or did line the rebel
With hidden help and vantage, or that with both
He labour'd in his country's wrack, I know not ;
But treasons capital, confess'd and prov'd,
Have overthrown him.

54 Macbeth [Act I

Macbeth. \Aside\ Glamis, and thane of Cawdor !

The greatest is behind. — Thanks for your pains. —
Do you not hope your children shall be kings,
When those that gave the thane of Cawdor to me
Promis'd no less to them ?

Banquo. That trusted home 120

Might yet enkindle you unto the crown,
Besides the thane of Cawdor. But 't is strange ;
And oftentimes, to win us to our harm,.
The instruments of darkness tell us truths,
Win us with honest trifles, to betray 's
In deepest consequence. —
Cousins, a word, I pray you.

Jffacbeth. [Aside] Two truths are told,

As happy prologues to the swelling act
i i Of the imperial theme. — I thank you, gentlemen. —
\Aside\ This supernatural soliciting 130

Cannot be ill, cannot be good. If ill,
Why hath it given me earnest of success,
Commencing in a truth ? I am thane of Cawdor.
If good, why do I yield to that suggestion
Whose horrid image doth unfix my hair
And make my seated heart knock at my ribs,
Against the use of nature ? Present fears
Are less than horrible imaginings.
My thought, whose murther yet is but fantastic?
Shakes so my single state of man that function / 140
Is smother'd in surmise, and nothing is
But what is not.

Scene IV] Macbeth £5

Banquo. Look how our partner 's rapt.

Macbeth. [Aside] If chance will have me king, why,

chance may crown me
Without my stir.

Banquo. New honours come upon him,

Like our strange garments, cleave not to their mould
But with the aid of use.

Macbeth. [Aside] Come what come may,

Time and the hour runs through the roughest day.

Bang KO. Worthy Macbeth, we stay upon your leisure.

Macbeth. Give me your favour ; my dull brain was

wrought

vVith things forgotten. Kind gentlemen, your pains 150
Are register'd where every day I turn
The leaf to read them. Let us toward the king. —
Think upon what hath chanc'd, and at more time,
The interim having weigh'd it, let us speak
Our free hearts each to other.

Banquo. Very gladly.

Macbeth. Till then, enough. — Come, friend/,

\Exeunt.

SCENE IV. Forres. The P0fac&

Flourish. Enter DUNCAN, MALCOLM, J/ONALBAIN,
LENNOX, and Attendant

Duncan. Is execution done on Cawd/r ? Are not
Those in commission yet return 'd ?

Malcolm. Afy liege'

They are not yet come back. But lAiave spoke

Macbeth

[Act I

With one that' saw him die, whoVlid report
That very.'frankly he confess'd hiV treasons,
Implor/d your highness' pardon, and set forth
A deep repentance. Nothing in his life

fcame him like the leaving it; he dit
/As one that had been studied in his dea\h
To throw away the dearest thing he owec
As 't were a careless trifle.

Duncan. There 's no art,

To find the mind's construction in the face ;
He was a gentleman on whom I built
An absolute trust. —

Enter MACBETH, BANQUO, Ross, and ANGUS

O worthiest cousin
The sin of my ingratitude even now
Was heavy on me ; thou art so far before
That swiftest wing of recompense is slow
To overtake thee. Would thou hadst less deserv'd,
That the proportion both of thanks and payment
Might have been mine ! only I have left to say, 2

More is thy due than more than, all can pay.

Macbeth. The service and the loyalty I owe,
In doing it, pays itself. Yojir highness' part
Is to receive our duties ; and our duties
Are to your throne and state children and servants,
Which do but what they should, by doing every thing
Safe toward your love and honour.

Duncan. Welcome hither ;

Scene IVJ Macbeth

I have begun to plant thee, and will labour

To make thee full of growing. — Noble Banquo,

That hast no less deserv'd, nor must be known 30

No less to have done so, let me infold thee

And hold thee to my heart.

Banquo. There if I grow,

The harvest is your own.

Duncan. My plenteous joys,

Wanton in fulness, seek to hide themselves
In drops of sorrow. — Sons, kinsmen, thanes,
And you whose places are the nearest, know
We will establish our estate upon
Our eldest, Malcolm, whom we name hereafter
The Prince of Cumberland ; which honour must
Not unaccompanied invest him only, 40

But signs of nobleness, like stars, shall shine
On all deservers. — From hence to Inverness,
And bind us further to you.

Macbeth. The rest is labour, which is not us'd for

you.

I '11 be myself the harbinger and make joyful
The hearing of my wife with your approach,
So humbly take my leave.

Duncan,/ My worthy Cawdor !

i, [Aside] The Prince of Cumberland ! that is

M which I must fall down, or else o'erleap,
f For in my way it lies. Stars, hide your fires ! 5°

I Let not light see my black and deep desires ;

58 Macbeth [Act I

The eye wink at the hand ; yet let that be .
Which the eye fears, when it is done, tose^/ [Exit.
Duncan. True, worthy Banquo : he isnm so valiant,
And in his commendations I am fed ;
It is a banquet to me. Let 's after him,
Whose care is gone before to bid us welcome ;
It is a peerless kinsman. \Flourish. Exeunt. .

SCENE V. Inverness. A Room in Macbeth'1 s Castle
Enter LADY MACBETH, reading a. letter

Lady Macbeth [Reads]. They met me in the day
of success ; and I have learned by the perfectcst report,
they have more in them than mortal knowledge. When
I burned in desire to question them further, they made
themselves air, into which they vanished. Whiles I
stood rapt in the wonder of it, came missives from the
king, who all-hailed me 'Thane of Caw dor '; by which
title, before, these weird sisters saluted me, and referred
me to the coming on of time, with ' Hail, king that
shalt be!11 This have I thought good to deliver thce, 10
my dearest partner of greatness, that thou mightst not
lose the dues of rejoicing, by being ignorant of what
greatness is promised thee. Lay it to thy heart, and
farewell.

Glamis thou art, and Cawdor, and shalt be
What thou art prom is 'd. Yet do I fear thy nature ;
It is too full o' the milk of human kindness
To catch the nearest way. Thou wouldst be great,

Scene V] Macbeth

Art not without ambition, but without
The illness should attend it. What thou wouldst highly,
That wouldst thou holily, wouldst not play false, 21
And yet wouldst wrongly win. Thou 'dst have, great

Glamis,

That which cries, ' Thus thou must do, if thou have it,'
And that which rather thou dost fear to do
Than wishest should be undone. Hie thee hither,
That I may pour my spirits in thine ear,
And chastise with the valour of my tongue
All that impedes thee from the golden round
Which fate and metaphysical aid doth seem
To have thee crown 'd withal. —

Enter a Messenger

What is your tidings? 30
Messenger. The king comes here to-night.
Lady Macbeth. Thou 'rt mad to say it.

Is not thy,m asterjtfkh him? who, were't so,
WonTcl hav* inform 'd for preparation.!

Messenger. So please you, it us true; our thane is

coming.

One of my fellows had the speed of him,
Who, almost dead for breath, had scarcely more
Than would make up his message.

Lady Macbeth. Give him tending ;

He brings great news. - {Exit Messenger.

The raven himself is hoarse
That croaks the fatal entrance of Duncan

60 Macbeth [Act I

Under my battlements. Come, you spirits 40

That tend on mortal thoughts, unsex me here,

And fill me from the crown to the toe top-full

Of direst cruelty ! make thick my blood ;

Stop up the access and passage to remorse,

That no compunctious visitings of nature

Shake my fell purpose, nor keep peace between

The effect and it ! Come to my woman's breasts,

And take my milk for gall, you murthering ministers,

Wherever in your sightless substances

You wait on nature's mischief ! Come, thick night, 50

And pall thee in the dunnest smoke of hell,

That my keen knife see not the wound it makes,

Nor heaven peep through the blanket of the dark

To cry ' Hold, hold !' —

Enter MACBETH

Great Glamis ! worthy Cawdor !
Greater than both, by the all-hail hereafter !

Thy letters have transported mebeyond

l/-» t/ v •*• I \j «-. >*•*!*•••*•
Tnis ignorant prasent, and 1 1 fuel now

The future in the! instant. '

Macbeth. My dearest love,

Duncan comes here to-night.

Lady Macbeth. And when goes hence ?

Macbeth. To-morrow, as he purposes.

Lady Macbeth. O, never 60

Shall sun that morrow see !
Your face, my thane, is as a book where men

Scene vi] Macbeth 6 1

May read strange matters. To beguile the time,
Look like the time ; bear welcome in your eye,
Your hand, your tongue ; look like the innocent flower,
But be the serpent under 't. He that's coming
Must be provided for ; and you shall put
This night's great business into my dispatch,
Which shall to all our nights and days to come
Give solely sovereign sway and masterdom. 70

Macbeth. We will speak further.

Lady Macbeth. Only look up clear;

To alter favour ever is to fear.
Leave all the rest to me. [Exeunt.

SCENE VI. Before Macbetfts Castle

Hautboys and torches. Enter DUNCAN, MALCOLM,
DONALBAIN, BANQUO, LENNOX, MACDUFF, Ross,
ANGUS, and Attendants

Duncan. This castle hath a pleasant seat ; the air
Nimbly and sweetly recommends itself
Unto our gentle senses.

Banquo. This guest of summer,

The temple-haunting martlet, does approve
By his lov'd mansionry that the heaven's breath
Smells wooingly here ; no jutty, frieze,
Buttress, nor coign of vantage, but this bird
Hath made his pendent bed and procreant cradle.
Where they most breed and haunt, I have observ'd
The air is delicate.

62 'Macbeth [Act I

Enter LADY MACBETH

Duncan. See, see, our honour'd hostess ! 10

The love that follows us sometime is^our trouble,
Which still we thank as love. Herein I teach you
How you shall bid God 'ield us for your pains
And thank us for your trouble.

Lady Macbeth. All our service

In every point twice done and then done double
Were poor and single business, to contend
Against those honours deep and broad wherewith
Your majesty loads our house ; for those of old,
And the late dignities heap'd up to them,
We rest your hermits.

Duncan. Where 's the thane of Cawdor ? 20

We cours'd him at the heels and had a purpose
To be his purveyor ; but he rides well,
And his great love, sharp as his spur, hath holp him
To his home before us. Fair and noble hostess,
We are your guest to-night.

Lady Macbeth, Your servants ever

Have theirs, themselves, and what is theirs, in

compt,

To make their audit at your highness' pleasure,
Still to return you own.

Duncan. Give me your hand ;

Conduct me to mine host. We love him highly,
And shall continue our graces towards him. 30

By your leave, hostess. \Excun,

Scene VII] Macbeth

SCENE VII. Macbeth' s Castle

Hautboys and torches. Enter a Sewer, and divers Ser-
vants with dishes and service, and pass over the stage.
Then enter \MACBETH

MacbetJ/ If it were done when 't is done, then 't were

well

It were done quickly : if the assassination
Could trammel up the consequence, and catch
With his surcease success ; that but this blow
Might be the be-all and the end-all here,
But here, upon this bank and shoal of time,
We 'd jump the life to come. But in these cases
We still have judgment here ; that we but teach
Bloody instructions, wh$£n\being taught return
To plague the inventor^.) TmS even-handed justice 10
Commends the ingredients of our poison'd chalice
To our own lips. He '*Jjer-e. in double trust :
First, as I am his kinsmVh ami his subject,
Strong both against the *!eed ; then, as his host,
Who should against hja^urtherer shut the door,
Not bear the knife my§el£> Besides, this Duncan
Hath borne his facuteie»«so meek, hath been
So clear in his great officeWhat his virtues
Will plead like angel^njmpet-tongu'd against
The deep damnationi^of^isZfcaking-off ; 20

And pity, like a naked new-born babe,
Striding the blast, or heaven's cherubin, hors'd

64 Macbeth [Act I

Upon the sightless couriers of the air,

Shall blow the horrid deed in every eye,

That tears shall drown the wind. I have no spur

To prick the sides of my intent, but only

Vaulting ambition, which o'erleaps itself^

And falls on the other. —

Enter LADY MACBETH

How now ! what news ?

Lady Macbeth. He has almost supp'd; why have you
left the chamber ?

Macbeth. Hath he ask'd for me ?

Lady Macbeth. Know you not he has ? 30

Macbeth. We will proceed no further in this business.-
He hath honour'd me of late ; and I have bought
Golden opinions from all sorts of people,
Which would be worn now in their newest gloss,
Not cast aside so soon.

Lady Macbeth. Was the hope drunk

Wherein you dress'd yourself ? hath it slept since ?
And wakes it now, to look so green and pale
At what it did so freely ? From this time
Such I account thy love. Art thou afeard
To be the same in thine own act and valour 4o

As thou art in desire ? Wouldst thou have that
Which thou esteem'st the ornament of life,
And live a coward in thine own esteem.
Letting ' I dare not ' wait upon ' I would,'
Like the poor cat i' the adage ?

Scene VII] Macbeth 65

Macbeth. Prithee, peace !

I dare do all that may become a man ;
Who dares do more is none.

Lady Macbeth. What beast was 't then

That made you break this enterprise to me ?
When you durst do it, then you were a man ;
And, to be more t|ian what you were, you would 50
Be so much more the man. Nor time nor place
Did then adhere, and yet you would make both ;
They have made themselves, and that their fitness now
Does unmake you. I have given suck, and know
How tender 't is to love the babe that milks me.
I would, while it was smiling in my face,
Have pluck'd my nipple from his boneless gums
And dash'd the brains out, had I so sworn as you
Have done to this.

Macbeth. If we should fail ?

Lady Macbeth. We fail.

But screw your courage to the sticking-place, 60

And we '11 not fail. When Duncan is asleep —
Whereto the rather shall his day's hard journey
Soundly invite him — his two chamberlains
Will I with wine and wassail so convince
That memory, the warder of the brain,
Shall be a fume, and the receipt of reason
A limbeck only. When in swinish sleep
Their drenched natures lie as in a death,
What cannot you and I perform upon
The unguarded Duncan ? what not put upon 7°

MACBETH — 5

Macbeth

[Act. I

His spongy officers, who shall bear the guilt
Of our great quell ?

Macbeth. Bring forth men-children only ;

For thy undaunted mettle should compose
Nothing but males. Will it not be receiv'd,
When we have mark'd with blood those sleepy two
Of his own chamber and us'd their very daggers,
That they have done 't ?

Lady Macbeth. Who dares receive it other,

As we shall make our griefs and clamour roar
Upon his death ?

Macbeth. I am settled, ami bend lip

Each corporal agent to this terrib e f^at. Jo

Away, and mock the time ..with Ja rest show ;

11
what the fal >e heart doth know.

ACT II

SCENE I. Court of Macbeth 's Castle

'nter BANQUO, and FLEANCE bearing a torch before him

Banquo. How goes the night, boy ?

Fkance. The moon is down, I have not heard the

clock.

Banquo. And she goes down at twelve.
Fleance. I take 't, 't is later, sir.

Banquo. Hold, take my sword. — There 's husbandry

in heaven ;

Their candles are all out. — Take thee that too. —
A heavy summons lies like lead upon me,
And yet I would not sleep. Merciful powers,

68 Macbeth [Act n

Restrain in me the cursed thoughts that nature
Gives way to in repose ! —

Enter MACBETH, and a Servant with a torch

Give me my sword. —
Who 's there ? 10

Macbeth. A friend.

Banquo. What, sir, not yet at rest ? The king 's

abed.

He hath been in unusual pleasure, and
Sent forth great largess to your offices.
This diamond he greets your wife withal,
By the name of most kind hostess ; and shut up
In measureless content.

Macbeth. Being unprepar'd,

Our will became the servant to defect,
Which else should free have wrought.

Banquo. All 's well.

I dreamt last night of the three weird sisters ; 20

To you they have show'd some truth.

Macbeth. I think not of them ;

Yet, when we can entreat an hour to serve,
We would spend it in some words upon that business,
If you would grant the time.

Banquo. At your kind'st leisure.

Macbeth. If you shall cleave to my consent, when

't is,
It shall make honour for you.

Banquo. So I lose none

Scene I] Macbeth 69

In seeking to augment it, but still keep
My bosom franchis'd and allegiance clear,
I shall be counsell'd.

Macbeth. Good repose the while !

Banquo. Thanks, sir ; the like to you ! 30

{Exeunt Banquo and Fleance.

Macbeth. Go bid thy mistress, when my drink 'is

ready,
She strike upon the bell. Get thee to bed. —

\Exit Servant.

Is this a dagger which I see before me,
The handle toward my hand ? — Come, let me clutch

thee.

I have thee not, and yet I see thee still.
Art thou not, fatal vision, sensible
To feeling as to sight ? or art thou but
A dagger of the mind, a false creation,
Proceeding from the heat-oppressed brain ?
I see thee yet, in form as palpable 40

As this which now I draw.
Thou marshall'st me the way that I was going,
And such an instrument I was to use. —
Mine eyes are made the fools o' the other senses,
Or else worth all the rest ; I see thee still,
And on thy blade and dudgeon gouts of blood,
Which was not so before. — There 's no such thing ;
It is the bloody business which informs
Thus to mine eyes. — Now o'er the one half world
Nature seems dead, and wicked dreams abuse 5°

yo Macbeth [Act n

The curtain 'd sleep ; witchcraft celebrates

Pale Hecate's offerings, and wither'd Murther,

Alarum 'd by his sentinel the wolf,

Whose howl 's his watch, thus with his stealthy pace,

With Tarquin's ravishing strides, towards his design

Moves like a ghost. — Thou sure and firm-set earth,

Hear not my steps, which way they walk, for fear

Thy very stones prate of my whereabout,

And take the present horror from the time,

Which now suits with it. — Whiles I threat he lives ; 6<v

Words to the heat of deeds too cool breath gives.

[A bell rings .

I go, and it is done ; the bell invites me. —
Hear it not, Duncan, for it .is a knell

Knell j

' v/ I'- *" \ - *-T ~~ I

That sumjmons theej to heaven or to hejl. \Exit

SCENE II. The Same
Enter LADY MACBETH

Lady Macbeth. That which hath made them drunk

hath made me bold ;
What hath quench'd them hath given me fire. — Hark I

Peace !

It was the owl that shriek'd, the fatal bellman
Which gives the stern'st good-night. He is about it.
The doors are open, and the surfeited grooms
Do mock their charge with snores ; I have drugg'd
their possets,

Scene II] Macbeth \T f ?I

That death and nature do contend about them,
Whether they live or die.

Macbeth. [ Within] Who's there ? what, ho !

Lady Macbeth. Alack, I am afraid they have awak'd,
And 't is not done. The attempt and not the deed 10
Confounds us. Hark ! I laid their daggers ready ;
He could not miss 'em. Had he not resembled
My father as he slept, I had done 't. — My husband !

Enter MACBETH

Macbeth. I have done the deed. Didst thou not

hear a noise ?
Lady Macbeth. I heard the owl scream and the

crickets cry.
Did not you speak ?

Macbeth. When ?

Lady Macbeth. Now.

Macbeth. As I descended ?

Lady Macbeth. Ay.
Macbeth. Hark !
Who lies i' the second chamber ?

Lady Macbeth. Donalbain.

Macbeth. This is a sorry sight. {Looking on his
hands. 20

Lady Macbeth. A foolish thought, to say a sorry sight.
Macbeth. There 's one did laugh in 's sleep, and one

cried ' Murther ! '
That they did wake each other. I stood and heard them ;

72 Macbeth [Act II

But they did say their prayers and address'd them
Again to sleep.

Lady Macbeth. There are two lodg'd together.

Macbeth. One cried ' God bless us ! ' and ' Amen '

the other,

As they had seen me with these hangman's hands,
Listening their fear. I could not say ' Amen '
When they did say ' God bless us ! '

Lady Macbeth. Consider it not so deeply. 30

Macbeth. But wherefore could not I pronounce

' Amen ' ?

I had most need of blessing, and ' Amen '
Stuck in my throat. *k

Lady Macbeth. These deeds must not be thought
After these ways ; so, it will make 'us mad.

Macbeth. Methought I heard a voice cry ' Sleep no

more ! ^x

Macbeth does murther sleep V— the innocent sleep,
Sleep that knits up the ravelrd sleave of care,
The death of each day's life, sore labour's bath, ^^^
Balm of hurt minds, great nature's second course,
Chief nourisher in life's feast, -^^

Lady Macbeth. What do you mean ? .p

Macbeth. Still it cried ' Sleep no more ! ' to all the

house :

' Glamis hath murther'd sleep, and therefore Cawdor
Shall sleep no more; Macbeth shall sleep no more.'

Lady Macbeth. Who was it that thus cried ? Why,
worthy thane,

Scene II] Macbeth

You do unbend your noble strength, to think
So brainsickly of things. Go get some water,
And wash this filthy witness from your hand.
Why did you bring these daggers from the place ?
They must lie there ; go carry them, and smear
The sleepy grooms with blood.

Macbeth. I '11 go no more. 50

I am afraid to think what I have done ;
Look on 't again I dare not.

Lady Macbeth. Infirm of purpose !

Give me the daggers. The sleeping and the dead
Are but as pictures ; 't is the eye of childhood
That fears a painted devil. If he do bleed,
I '11 gild the faces of the grooms withal;
For it must seem their guilt. \Exit. Knocking within.

Macbeth. Whence is that knocking ?

How is 't with me, when every noise appals me ?
What hands are here ? Ha ! they pluck out mine eyes.
Will all great Neptune's ocean wash this blood 60

Clean from my hand ? No ; this my hand will rather
The multitudinous seas incarnadine,
Making the green one red.

Re-enter LADY MACBETH
Lady Macbeth. My hands are of your colour, but I

shame
To wear a heart so white. \Knocking within.'} I hear

a knocking
At the south entry ; retire we to our chamber.

74 Macbeth [Act n

A little water clears us of this deed ;

How easy is it, then ! Your constancy

Hath left you unattended. [Knocking •within.'] Hark !

more knocking.

Get on your nightgown, lest occasion call us 70

And show us to be watchers. Be not lost
So poorly in your thoughts.

Macbeth. To know my deed, 't were best not know

myself. [Knocking within.

Wake Duncan with thy knocking ! I would thou couldst !

[Exeunt.

SCENE III. The Same
Enter a Porter. Knocking within

Porter. Here 's a knocking indeed ! If a man
were porter of hell-gate, he should have old turning
the key. [Knocking withinJ] Knock, knock, knock !
Who 's there, i' the name of Beelzebub ? Here 's a
farmer, that hanged himself on th' expectation of
plenty. Come in time ; have napkins enow about
you, here you '11 sweat for 't. [Knocking within^]
Knock, knock ! Who 's there, in th' other devil's
name ? Faith, here 's an equivocator, that could
swear in both the scales against either scale ; who 10
committed treason enough for God's sake, yet could
not equivocate to heaven. O, come in, equivocator.
[Knocking within.'] Knock, knock, knock ! Who 's
there ? Faith, here 's an English tailor come hither,

Scene III] Macbeth 75

for stealing out of a French hose. Come in, tailor ;
here you may roast your goose. [Knocking within.]
Knock, knock ; never at quiet ! What are you ? But
this place is too cold for hell. I '11 devil-porter it no
further ; I had thought to have let in some of all pro-
fessions, that go the primrose way to the everlasting 20
bonfire. — [Knocking u>ithin.~\ Anon, anon ! I pray
you, remember the porter. [Opens the gate.

Enter MACDUFF and LENNOX

Maeduff. Was it so late, friend, ere you went to

bed,
That you do lie so late ?

Porter. Faith, sir, we were carousing till the second

cock.
Maeduff. Is thy master stirring ?

Enter MACBETH

Our knocking has awak'd him ; here he comes.

Lennox. Good morrow, noble sir.

Macbeth. Good morrow, both.

Maeduff. Is the king stirring, worthy thane ?

Macbeth. Not Yet-

Maeduff. He did command me to call timely on
him ; 3<>

I have almost slipp'd the hour.

Macbeth. I' 11 bring you to him.

Maeduff. I know this is a joyful trouble to you,
But yet 't is one.

7 6 Macbeth [Act n

Macbeth. The labour we delight in physics pain.
This is the door.

Macduff. I '11 make so bold to call,

For 't is my limited service. \Exit.

Lennox. Goes the king hence to-day ?

Macbeth. He does ; he did appoint so.

Lennox. The night has been unruly. Where we lay,
Our chimneys were blown down, and, as they say,
Lamentings heard i' the air, strange screams of death,
And prophesying with accents terrible 41

Of dire combustion and confus'd events t-

New hatched to the jwoeful time ; the! obscure/ bird
Clamour'd'the livelong nigjit ; some [say the earth
Was feverous and did shake.

Macbeth. 'T was a rough night.

Lennox. My young remembrance cannot parallel
A fellow to it.

Re-enter MACDUFF

Macduff. O horror, horror, horror! Tongue nor

heart
Cannot conceive nor name thee !

Macbeth

What 's the matter ?
Lennox

Macduff. Confusion now hath made his masterpiece.
Most sacrilegious murther hath broke ope 51

The Lord's anointed temple, and stole thence
The life o' the building.

Macbeth. What is 't you say ? the life ?

Lennox. Mean you his majesty ?

Scene III] Macbeth

Macduff. Approach the chamber, and destroy your

sight

With a new Gorgon. Do not bid me speak ;
See, and then speak yourselves. —

\Exeunt Macbeth and Lennox.

Awake, awake !

Ring the alarum-bell. — Murther and treason ! —
Banquo and Donalbain ! — Malcolm ! awake !
Shake, off this downy sleep, death's counterfeit, 60

And look on death itself ! up, up and see
The great doom's image ! — Malcolm ! Banquo !
As from your graves rise up, and walk like sprites,
To countenance this horror. — Ring the bell.

\Bett rings.
Enter LADY MACBETH

Lady Macbeth. What 's the business,
That such a hideous trumpet calls to parley
The sleepers of the house ? speak, speak !

Macduff. O gentle lady,

'T is not for you to hear what I can speak ;
The repetition, in a woman's ear,
Would murther as it fell. —

Enter BANQUO

O Banquo, Banquo ! 7°
Our royal master 's murther'd.

Lady Macbeth. Woe, alas 1

What, in our house ?

Banquo. Too cruel any where. —

78 Macbeth [Act II

Dear Duff, I prithee, contradict thyself,
And say it is not so.

Re-enter MACBETH and LENNOX

Macbeth, Had I but died an hour before this chance,
I had liv'd a blessed time ; for from this instant
There 's nothing serious in mortality.
All is but toys ; renown and grace is dead ;
The wine of life is drawn, and the mere lees
Is left this vault to brag of. So

Enter MALCOLM and DONALBAIN.

Donalbain. What is amiss ?

Macbeth. You are, and do not know 't ;

The spring, the head, the fountain of your blood
Is stopp'd, — the very source of it is stopp'd.

Macduff. Your royal father 's murther'd.

Malcolm. O, by whom ?

Lennox. Those of his chamber, as it seem 'd, had done 't.
Their hands and faces were all badg'd with blood ;
So were their daggers, which unwip'd we found
Upon their pillows.

They star'd, and were distracted ; no man's life
Was to be trusted with them. 9o

Macbeth. O, yet I do repent me of my fury,
That I did kill them.

Macduff. Wherefore did you so ?

Macbeth. Who can be wise, amaz'd, temperate and
furious,

Scene III] Macbeth 79

Loyal and neutral, in a moment ? No man ;

The expedition of my violent love

Outrun the pauser reason. Here lay Duncan,

His silver skin lac'd with his golden blood,

And his gash'd stabs look'd like a breach in nature

For ruin's wasteful entrance ; there, the murtherers,

Steep'd in the colours of their trade, their daggers too

Unmannerly breech'd with gore. Who could refrain,

That had a heart to love, and in that heart

Courage to make 's love known ?

Lady Macbeth. Help me hence, ho !

Macduff. Look to the lady.

Malcolm. [Aside to Donalbain~\ Why do we hold our

tongues,
That most may claim this argument for ours ?

Donalbain. {Aside to Maholni\ What should be

spoken here, where our fate,
Hid in an auger-hole, may rush, and seize us ?
Let 's away ;
Our tears are not yet brew'd.

Malcolm. [Aside to Donalbain~\ Nor our strong sorrow
Upon the foot of motion.

Banqiio. Look to the lady. - no

[Lady Macbeth is carried out.
And when we have our naked frailties hid,
That suffer in exposure, let us meet
And question this most bloody piece of work,
To know it further. Fears and scruples shake us ;
In the great hand of God I stand, and thence

80 Macbeth [Act n

Against the undivulg'd pretence I fight
Of treasonous malice.

Macduff. And so do I.

All. So all.

Macbeth. Let 's briefly put on manly readiness,
And meet i' the hall together.

All. Well contented.

[Exeunt all but Malcolm and Donalbain.

Malcolm. What will you do ? Let 's not consort with
them ; 120

To show an unfelt sorrow is an office
Which the false man does easy. I'll to England.

Donalbain. To Ireland, I ; our separated fortune
Shall keep us both the safer. Where we are,
There 's daggers in men's smiles ; the near in blood,
The nearer bloody.

Malcolm. This murtherous shaft that 's shot

Hath not yet lighted, and our safest way
Is to avoid the aim. Therefore, to horse ;
And let us not be dainty of leave-taking,
But shift away. There 's warrant in that theft 130

Which steals itself when there 's no mercy left. \_Exeunt.

SCENE IV. Without the Castle
Enter Ross and ati old Man

Old Man. Threescore and ten I can remember well,
Within the volume of which time I have seen

Scene IV] Macbeth 8 1

Hours dreadful and things strange ; but this sore night
Hath trifled former knowings.

Ross. Ah, good father,

Thou seest, the heavens? as troubled with man's act,
Threaten his bloody stage ; by the clock 't is day,
And yet dark night strangles the travelling lamp.
Is 't night's predominance or the day's shame
That darkness does the face of earth entomb
When living light should kiss it ?

Old Man. 'T is unnatural, 10

Even like the deed that 's done. On Tuesday last,
A falcon, towering in her pride of place.
Was by a mousing owl hawk'd at and kill'd.

Ross. And Duncan's horses — a thing most strange

and certain —

Beauteous and swift, the minions of their race,
Turn'd wild in nature, broke their stalls, flung out,
Contending 'gainst obedience, as they would make
War with mankind.

Old Man. 'T is said they eat each other.

Ross. They did so, to the amazement of mine eyes 19
That look'd upon 't. Here comes the good Macduff. —

Enter MACDUFF

How goes the world, sir, now ?

Macduff. Why, see you not ?

Ross. Is 't known who did this more than bloody

deed?
Macduff. Those that Macbeth hath slain.

MACBETH — 6

82 Macbeth [Act n

.Ross. Alas, the day !

What good could they pretend ?

Macduff. They were suborn 'd ;

Malcolm and Donalbain, the king's two sons,
Are stolen away'and fled, which puts upon them
Suspicion of the deed.

Ross. 'Gainst nature still ;

Thriftless ambition, that wilt ravin up
Thine own life's means ! Then 't is most like
The sovereignty will fall upon Macbeth. 30

Macduff. He is already nam'd, and gone to Scone
To be invested.

Ross. Where is Duncan's body?

Macduff. Carried to Colme-kill,
The sacred storehouse of his predecessors
And guardian of their bones.

Ross. . Will you to Scone ?

Macduff. No, cousin, I '11 to Fife.

Ross. Well, I will thither.

Macduff. Well, may you see things well done there ;

adieu !
Lest our old robes sit easier than our new I

Ross. Farewell, father*

Old Man. God's benison go with you, and with those
That would make.good of bad and friends of foes I 41

[Exeunt.

DISTANT VIEW OF THE HEATH

ACT III

SCENE I. Forres. A Room in the Palace

Enter BANQUO

Banquo. Thou hast it now, — king, Cawdor, Glamis,

all,-

As the weird women promis'd, and I fear
Thou play'dst most foully for 't. Yet it was said
It should not stand in thy posterity,

84 Macbeth [Act in

But that myself should be the root and father

Of many kings. If there come truth from them —

As upon thee, Macbeth, their speeches shine —

Why, by the verities on thee mad© good,

May they not be my oracles as well

And set me up in hope ? — But hush ! no more. 10

Sennet sounded. Enter MACBETH, as king ; LADY MAC-
BETH, as queen ; LENNOX, Ross, Lords, Ladies, and
Attendants

Macbeth. Here 's our chief guest.

Lady Macbeth. If he had been forgotten,

It had been as a gap in our great feast
And all-thing unbecoming.

Macbeth. To-night we hold a solemn supper, sir,
And I '11 request your presence.

Banquo. Let your highness

Command upon me, to the which my duties
Are with a most indissoluble tie
For ever knit.

Macbeth. Ride you this afternoon ?

Banquo. Ay, my good lord.

Macbeth. We should have else desir'd your good
advice, 20

Which still hath been both grave and prosperous,
In this day's council ; but we '11 take to-morrow.
Is 't far you ride ?

Banquo. As far, my lord, as will fill up the time
'Twixt this and supper ; go not my horse the better,

Scene I] Macbeth 85

^\ "-1 I "")

I musqbecomel a borroweij of the night/

For a dark hour or twain.

Macbeth. Fail not our feast.

Banquo. My lord, I will not.

Macbeth. We hear our bloody cousins are bestow 'd
In England and in Ireland, not confessing 30

Their cruel parricide, filling their hearers
With strange invention ; but of that to-morrow,
When therewithal we shall have cause of state
Craving us jointly. Hie you to horse ; adieu,
Till you return at night. Goes Fleance with you ?

Banquo. Ay, my good lord ; our time does call
upon 's.

Macbeth. I wish your horses swift and sure of foot ;
And so I do commend you to their backs.
Farewell. -^_ \Exit Banquo.

Let e\Jery man'be master ofjhis time! 4°

Till seVen at night. To make society
The sweeter welcome, we will keep ourself
Till supper-time alone ; while then, God be with you ! —
\Exeunt all but Macbeth and an Attendant.
Sirrah, a word with you : attend those men
Our pleasure ?

Attendant. They are, my lord, without the palace

Tacbeth. Bring them before us. - {Exit Attendant.

To be thus is nothing,
But to be safely thus. Our fears in Banquo
Stick deep, and in his royalty of nature

86 Macbeth [Act m

Reigns that which would be fear'd ; 't is much h
dares, '5°

And, to that dauntless temper of his mind,
He hath a wisdom that doth guide his valour
To act in safety. There is none but he
Whose being I do fear ; and under him
My Genius is rebuk'd, as it is said
Mark Antony's was by (taesar. He chid the sisters,
When first they put tjje Tmme of king upon me,
And bade them speak to hi^); then prophet-like
They hail'd him fath^- to a line of kings.
Upon m^^jhead'Jthey prac'd a fruitless crown, 60

And put a baran so^we4ri my gripe,
Thence to^e^renchid wim an unlineal hand,
No son of mine(_succ'8eding. If 't be so,
For Banquo's issue 4wtve f^I'd my mind ;
For them the gracious Duncan "have I murther'd ;
Put rancours ia^ the vfcteel of my peace
Only for theni; £nds%flalne eternal jewel
Given to the common^ghemy of man,
To make them kings, the seed of Banquo kings
Ra^he^_than so, come, fate, into the list, *
And champion "ma to theTifterance 1 — Who 's

Re-enter Attendant, with frvo Murderers

Now go to the door, and stay there till we call. —

\Exit Attendant.
Was it not yesterday we spoke together ?

First Murderer. It was, so please your highness.

Scene I] Macbeth 87

Macbeth. Well then, now

Have you consider'd of my speeches ? Know
That it was he in the times past which held you
So under fortune, which you thought had been
Our innocent self. This I made good to you
In our last conference, pass'd in probation with you,
How you were borne in hand, how cross 'd, the instru-
ments, 8o
Who wrought with them, and all things else that might
To half a soul and to a notion craz'd
Say ' Thus did Banquo.'

First Murderer. You made it known to us.

Macbeth. I did so, and went further, which is now
Our point of second meeting. Do you find
Your patience so predominant in your nature
That you can let this go ? Are you so gospell'd
To pray for this good man and for his issue,
Whose heavy hand hath bow'd you to the grave
And beggar 'd yours for ever ?

First Murderer. We are men, my liege.

Macbeth. Ay, in the catalogue ye go for men, 91

As hounds and greyhounds, mongrels, spaniels, curs, ,
Shoughs, water-rugs, and demi-wolves, are ^tep?(Jk*r '
All by the name of dogs. The valued file
Distinguishes the swift, the slow, the subtle,
The housekeeper, the hunter, every one
According to the gift which bounteous nature
Hath in him clos'd, whereby he does receive
Particular addition, from the bill

88 Macbeth [Act m

That writes them all alike ; and so of men. 100

Now if you have a station in the file,

Not i' the worst rank of manhood, say 't,

And I will put that business in your bosoms,

Whose execution takes your enemy off,

Grapples you to the heart and love of us,

Who wear our health but sickly in his life,

Which in his death were perfect.

Second Murderer. I am one, my liege,

Whom the vile blows and buffets of the world
Have so incens'd that I am reckless what «

I do to spite the world.

First Murderer. And I another no

So weary with disasters, tugg'd with fortune,
That I would set my life on any chance,
To mend it or be rid on 't.

Macbeth. Both of you

Know Banquo was your enemy.

Both Murderers. True, my lord.

Macbeth. So is he mine, and in such bloody dis-
tance

That every minute of his being thrusts
Against my near'st of life ; and though I could
With barefac'd power sweep him from my sight
And bid my will avouch it, yet I must not,
For certain friends that are both his and mine, 120

Whose loves I may not drop, but wail his fall
Who I myself struck down : and thence it is,
That I to your assistance do make love,

Scene II] Macbeth 89

Masking the business from the common eye
For sundry weighty reasons.

Second Murderer. We shall, my lord,

Perform what you command us.

First Murderer. Though our lives —

Macbeth. Your spirits shine through you. Within

this hour at most

I will advise you where to plant yourselves,
Acquaint you with the perfect spy o' the time,
The moment on 't, for 't must be done to-night, 130
And something from the palace ; always thought
That I require a clearness. And with him —
To leave no rubs nor botches in the work —
Fleance his son, that keeps him company,
Whose absence is no less material to me
Than is his father's, must embrace the fate
Of that dark hour. Resolve yourselves apart ;
I '11 come to you anon.

Both Murderers. We are resolv'd, my lord.

Macbeth. I '11 call upon you straight ; abide within. —

[Exeunt Murderers.

It is concluded ; Banquo, thy soul's flight, 140

If it find heaven, must find it out to-night. [Exit.

SCENE II. The Same. Another Room
Enter LADY MACBETH and a Servant

Lady Macbeth. Is Banquo gone from court ?
Servant. Ay, madam, but returns again to-night.

90 Macbeth [Act m

Lady Macbeth. Say to the king, I would attend his

leisure
For a few words.

Servant. Madam, I will. \Exit.

Lady Macbeth. Nought 's had, all 's spent,

Where our desire is got without content ;
'T is safer to be that which we destroy
Than by destruction dwell in doubtful joy. —

Enter MACBETH

How now, my lord ! why do you keep alone,

Of sorriest fancies your companions making,

Using those thoughts which should indeed have died 10

With them they think on ? Things without all remedy

Should be without regard ; what 's done is done.

Macbeth. We have scotch'd the snake, not kill'd it ;
She '11 close and be herself, whilst our poor malice
Remains in danger of her former tooth.
But let the frame of things disjoint, both the worlds

suffer,

Ere we will eat our meal in fear, and sleep
In the affliction of these terrible dreams
That shake us nightly ; better be with the dead,
Whom we, to gain our peace, have sent, to peace, 20
Than on the torture of the mind to lie
In restless ecstasy. Duncan is in his grave ;
After life's fitful fever he sleeps well.
Treason has done his worst ; nor steel, nor poison,

Scene II] Macbeth

Malice domestic, foreign levy, nothing,
Can touch him further.

Lady Macbeth. Come on.

Gentle my lord, sleek o'er your rugged looks ;
Be bright and jovial among your guests to-night.

Macbeth. So shall I, love, and so, I pray, be you.
Let your remembrance apply to Banquo ; 30

Present him eminence, both with eye and tongue :
Unsafe the while that we

Must lave our honours in these flattering streams,
And make our faces visards to our hearts,
Disguising what they are.

Lady Macbeth. You must leave this.

Macbeth. O, full of scorpions is my mind, dear wife !
Thou know'st that Banquo, and his Fleance, lives.

Lady Macbeth. But in them nature's copy 's not
eterne.

Macbeth. There 's comfort yet, they are assailable ;
Then be thou jocund. Ere the bat hath flown 40

His cloister'd flight, ere to black Hecate's summons
The shard-borne beetle with his drowsy hums
Hath rung night's yawning peal, there shall be done
A deed of dreadful note.

Lady Macbeth. What 's to be done ?

Macbeth. Be -innocent of the knowledge, dearest

chuck,

Till thou applaud the deed. — Come, seeling night,
Scarf up the tender eye of pitiful day,
And with thy bloody and invisible hand

92 Macbeth [Act m

Cancel and tear to pieces that great bond
Which keeps me pale ! — Light thickens, and the crow
Makes wing to the rooky wood ; 51

Good things of day begin to droop and drowse,
Whiles night's black agents to their preys do rouse.
Thou marvell'st at my words, but hold thee still ;
Things bad begun make strong themselves by ill.
So, prithee, go with me.

SCENE III. A Park near the Palace

First Murderer. But who did bid thee join with us ?

Third Murderer. Macbeth.

Second Murderer. He needs not our mistrust, since

he delivers

Our offices and what we have to do
To the direction just.

First Murderer. Then stand with us.

The west yet glimmers with some streaks of day ;
Now spurs the lated traveller apace
To gain the timely inn, and near approaches
The subject of our watch.

Third Murderer. Hark ! I hear horses.

Banquo. [ Withhi\ Give us a light there, ho !

Second Murderer. Then 't is he ; the rest

That are within the note of expectation 10

Already are i' the court.

First Murderer. His horses go about.

Scene IV] Macbeth 93

Third Murderer. Almost a mile ; but he does usually,
So all men do, from hence to the palace gate
Make it their walk.

Second Murderer. A light, a light !

Enter BANQUO, and FLEANCE with a Torch

Third Murderer. 'T is he.

first Murderer. Stand to 't.

Banquo. It will be rain to-night.

First Murderer. Let it come down.

\They set upon Banquo.

Banquo. O, treachery ! Fly, good Fleance, fly, fly, fly !
Thou mayst revenge. — O slave ! [Dies. Fleance escapes.

Third Murderer. Who did strike out the light ?

First Murderer. Was 't not the way ?

Third Murderer. There 's but one down ; the son is
fled.

Second Murderer. We have lost

Best half of our affair. 21

First Murderer. Well, let 's away and say how much
is done. {Exeunt.

SCENE IV. Hall in the Palace

A Banquet prepared. Enter MACBETH, LADY MAC-
BETH, Ross, LENNOX, Lords, and Attendants

Macbeth. You know your own degrees ; sit down.

At first
And last the hearty welcome.

94 Macbeth [Act in

Lords. Thanks to your majesty.

Macbeth. Ourself will mingle with society
And play the humble host.
Our hostess keeps her state, but in best time
We will require her welcome.

Lady Macbeth. Pronounce it for me, sir, to all our

friends,
For my heart speaks they are welcome.

First Murderer appears at the door

Macbeth. See, they encounter thee with their hearts'

thanks. —

Both sides are even ; here I '11 sit i' the midst. 10

Be large in mirth ; anon we '11 drink a measure
The table round. — [Approaching the door\ There 's

blood upon thy face.
Murderer. 'T is Banquo's then.
Macbeth. 'T is better thee without than he within.
Is he dispatch'd ?

Murderer. My lord, his throat is cut ; that I did for

him.
Macbeth. Thou art the best o' the cut-throats; yet

he 's good

That did the like for Fleance. If thou didst it,
Thou art the nonpareil.

Murderer. Most royal sir,

Fleance is scap'd.

Macbeth. \Aside~\ Then comes my fit again. I had
--else been perfect,

Scene IV] Macbeth 95

Whole as the marble, founded as the rock,

As broad and general as the casing air ;

But now I am cabin'd, cribb'd, confin'd, bound in

To saucy doubts and fears. — But Banquo's safe ?

Murderer. Ay, my good lord ; safe in a ditch hej

bides,

With twenty trenched gashes on his head,
The least a death to nature.

Macbeth. Thanks for that.

[Aside] There the grown serpent lies ; the worm that 's

fled

Hath nature that in time will venom breed, 30

No teeth for the present. — Get thee gone ; to-morrow
We '11 hear ourselves again. [Exit Murderer.

Lady Macbeth. My royal lord,

You do not give the cheer ; the feast is sold
That is not often vouch 'd, while 't is a-making,
'T is given with welcome. To feed were best at home ;
From thence the sauce to meat is ceremony ;
Meeting were bare without it.

Macbeth. Sweet remembrancer!

Now good digestion wait on appetite,
And health on both !

Lennox. May 't please your highness sit.

The Ghost of Banquo enters, and sits in Macbeth' s
place

Macbeth. Here had we now our country's honour
roof'd 4°

96 . Macbeth [Act in

Were the grac'd person of our Banquo present,
Who may I rather challenge for unkindness
Than pity for mischance !

J?oss. His absence, sir,

Lays blame upon his promise. Please 't your highness
To grace us with your royal company.

Macbeth. The table 's full.

Lennox. Here is a place reserv'd, sir.

Macbeth. Where ?

Lennox. Here, my good lord. What is 't that moves
your highness ?

Macbeth. Which of you have done this ?

Lords. What, my good lord ?

Macbeth. Thou canst not say I did it ; never shake 50
Thy gory locks at me.

JRoss. Gentlemen, rise ; his highness is not well.

Lady Macbeth. Sit, worthy friends, my lord is often

thus,

And hath been from his youth ; pray you, keep seat,
The fit is momentary ; upon a thought
He will again be well. If much you note him,
You shall offend him and extend his passion ;
Feed, and regard him not. — Are you a man ?

Macbeth. Ay, and a bold one, that dare look on that
Which might appal the devil.

Lady Macbeth. O proper stuff ! 60

This is the very painting of your fear ;
This is the air-drawn dagger which, you said,
Led you to Duncan. O, these flaws and starts,

Scene IV] Macbeth 97

Impostors to true fear, would well become
A woman's story at a winter's fire,
Authoriz'd by her grandam. Shame itself!
Why do you make such faces ? When all 's done,
You look but on a stool.

Macbeth. Prithee, see there ! behold ! look ! lo ! how

say you ? —

Why, what care I ? If thou canst nod, speak too. — 70
If charnel-houses and our graves must send
Those that we bury back, our monuments
Shall be the maws of kites. \Ghost vanishes.

Lady Macbeth. What, quite unmann'd in folly?

Macbeth. If I stand here, I saw him.

Lady Macbeth. Fie, for shame !

Macbeth. Blood hath been shed ere now, i' the olden

time,

Ere human statute purg'd the gentle weal ;
Ay, and since too, murthers have been perform'd
Too terrible for the ear. The time has been
That when the brains were out the man would die,
And there an end ; but now they rise again, 80

With twenty mortal murthers on their crowns,
And push us from our stools. This is more strange
Than such a murther is.

Lady Macbeth. My worthy lord,

Your noble friends do lack you.

Macbeth. I do forget. —

Do not muse at me, my most worthy friends ;
I have a strange infirmity, which is nothing

MACBETH — 7

98 Macbeth [Act m

To those that know me. Come, love and health to

all;

Then I '11 sit down. — Give me some wine, fill full. —
I drink to the general joy o' the whole table,
And to our dear friend Banquo, whom we miss ; 90
Would he were here ! to all and him we thirst,
And all to all.

Lords. Our duties, and the pledge.

Re-enter Ghost

Macbeth. Avaunt ! and quit my sight ! let the earth

hide thee !

Thy bones are marrowless, thy blood is cold ;
Thou hast no speculation in those eyes
Which thou dost glare with.

Lady Macbeth. Think of this, good peers,

But as a thing of custom ; 't is no other,
Only it spoils the pleasure of the time.

Macbeth. What man dare, I dare.

Approach thou like the rugged Russian bear, 100

The arm'd rhinoceros, or the Hyrcan tiger ;
Take any shape but that, and my firm nerves
Shall never tremble : or be alive again,
And dare me to the desert with thy sword ;
If trembling I inhabit then, protest me
The baby of a girl. Hence, horrible shadow !
Unreal mockery, hence ! — \Ghost vanishes.

Why, so ; being gone,
I am a man again. — Pray you, sit still.

Scene IV] • Macbeth

Lady Macbeth. You have displac'd the mirth, brc

the good meeting,
With most admir'd disorder.

Macbeth. Can such things be, no

And overcome us like a summer's cloud,
Without our special wonder ? You make me strange
Even to the disposition that I owe,
When now I think you can behold such sights,
And keep the natural ruby of your cheeks
When mine is blanch 'd with fear.

Ross, What sights, my lord ?

Lady Macbeth. I pray you, speak not; he grows

worse and worse ;

Question enrages him. At once, good night ;
Stand not upon the order of your going,
But go at once.

Lennox. Good night ; and better health 120

Attend his majesty !

Lady Macbeth. A kind good night to all !

[Exeunt all but Macbeth and Lady Macbeth.
Macbeth. It will have blood, they say; blood will

have blood.
Stones have been known to move and trees to

speak ;

Augurs and understood relations have
By magot-pies and choughs and rooks brought forth
The secret'st man of blood. — What is the night ?
Lady Macbeth. Almost at odds with morning, w!
is which.

ioo Macbeth [Act in

Macbeth. How say'st thou, that Macduff denies his

, person
At our great bidding ?

Lady Macbeth. Did you send to him, sir ?

Macbeth. I hear it by the way, but I will send ; 130
There 's not a one of them but in his house
I keep a servant fee'd. I will to-morrow,
And betimes I will, to the weird sisters ;
More shall they speak, for now I am bent to know,
By the worst means, the worst. For mine own good
All causes shall give way ; I am in blood
Stepp'd in so far that, should I wade no more,
Returning were as tedious as go o'er.
Strange things I have in head that will to hand,
Which must be acted ere they may be scann'd. 140

Lady Macbeth. You lack the season of all natures,
sleep.

Macbeth. Come, we '11 to sleep. My strange and self-
abuse

Is the initiate fear that wants hard use ;
We are yet but young in deed. [Exeunt. /^-

SCENE V. A Heath
Thunder. Enter the three Witches, meeting HECATE

First Witch. Why, how now, Hecate ! you look angerly.

Hecate. Have I not reason, beldams as you are,
Saucy and overbold ? How did you dare
To trade and traffic with Macbeth

• -v ,-

Scene V] Macbeth

101

In riddles and affairs of death ;

And I, the mistress of your charms,

The close contriver of all harms,

Was never call'd to bear my part,

Or show the glory of our art ?

And, which is worse, all you have done 10

Hath been but for a wayward son,

Spiteful and wrathful, who, as others do,

Loves for his own ends, not for you.

But make amends now ; get you gone,

And at the pit of Acheron

Meet me i' the morning ; thither he

Will come to know his destiny.

Your vessels and your spells provide,

Your charms and every thing beside.

I am for the air ; this night I '11 spend 20

Unto a dismal and a fatal end.

Great business must be wrought ere noon.

Upon the corner of the moon

There hangs a vaporous drop profound,

I '11 catch it ere it come to ground ;

And that, distill'd by magic sleights,

Shall raise such artificial sprites

As by the strength of their illusion

Shall draw him on to his confusion.

He shall spurn fate, scorn death, and bear 30

His hopes 'bove wisdom, grace, and fear ;

And you all know security

Is mortals' chiefest enemy.

Hfe i

102 Macbeth [Act in

[Music and a song within : ' Come away, come

away,' etc.

Hark ! I am call'd ; my little spirit, see,
Sits in a foggy cloud, and stays for me. [Exit.

First Witch. Come, let 's make haste ; she '11 soon be
back again. [Exeunt.

SCENE VI. Forres. The Palace
Enter LENNOX and another Lord

Lennox. My former speeches have but hit your

thoughts,

Which can interpret farther ; only I say
Things have been strangely borne. The gracious

Duncan

Was pitied of Macbeth — marry, he was dead ;
And the right-valiant Banquo walk'd too late,
Whom, you may say, if 't please you, Fleance kill'd,
For Fleance fled ; men must not walk too late.
Who cannot want the thought, how monstrous
It was for Malcolm and for Donalbain
To kill their gracious father ? damned fact ! 10

How it did grieve Macbeth ! did he not straight
In pious rage the two delinquents tear,
That were the slaves of drink and thralls of sleep ?
Was not that nobly done ? Ay, and wisely too ;
For 't would have anger'd any heart alive
To hear the men deny 't. So that, I say,
He has borne all things well ; and I do think

Scene VI] Macbeth

103

That had he Duncan's sons under his key —

As, an 't please heaven, he shall not — they should find

What 't were to kill a father ; so should Fleance. 20

But, peace ! for from broad words, and 'cause he fail'd

His presence at the tyrant's feast, I hear

Macduff lives in disgrace. Sir, can you tell

Where he bestows himself ?

Lord. The son of Duncan,

From whom this tyrant holds the due of birth,
Lives in the English court, and is receiv'd
Of the most pious Edward with such grace
That the malevolence of fortune nothing
Takes from his high respect. Thither Macduff
Is gone to pray the holy king, upon his aid 30

To wake Northumberland and warlike Siward,
That by the help of these, with Him above
To ratify the work, we may again
Give to our tables meat, sleep to our nights,
Free from our feasts and banquets bloody knives,
Do faithful homage and receive free honours;
All which we pine for now. And this report
Hath so exasperate the king that he
Prepares for some attempt of war.

Lennox. Sent he to Macduff ?

Lord. He did ; and with an absolute ' Sir, not I,' 40
The cloudy messenger turns me his back,
And hums, as who should say ' You '11 rue the time
That clogs me with this answer.'

Lennox. And that well might

104 Macbeth [Act m

Advise him to a caution, to hold what distance
His wisdom can provide. Some holy angel
Fly to the court of England and unfold
His message ere he come, that a swift blessing
May soon return to this our suffering country
Under a hand accurs'd !

Lord. I '11 send my prayers with him.

\Exeunt.

THE DUNSINANE RANGE

ACT IV

SCENE I. A Cavern. In the Middle, a Boiling
Cauldron. Thunder

Enter the three Witches

First Witch. Thrice the brinded cat hath mew'd.
Second Witch. Thrice and once the hedge-pig whin'd.
Third Witch. Harpier cries, — 't is time, 't is time.
First Witch. Round about the cauldron go ;
In the poison'd entrails throw.

105

io6 Macbeth [Act IV

I
Toad, that under cold stone

Days and nights has thirty-one
Swelter'd venom sleeping got,
Boil thou first i' the charmed pot.

All. Double, double toil and trouble ; 10

Fire burn and cauldron bubble.

Second Witch. Fillet of a fenny snake,
In the cauldron boil and bake ;
Eye of newt and toe of frog,
Wool of bat and tongue of dog,
Adder's fork and blind-worm's sting,
Lizard's leg and howlet's wing,
For a charm of powerful trouble,
Like a hell-broth boil and bubble.

All. Double, double toil and trouble ; 20

Fire burn and cauldron bubble.

Third Witch. Scale of dragon, tooth of wolf,
Witches' mummy, maw and gulf
Of the ravin'd salt-sea shark,
Root of hemlock digg'd i' the dark,
Liver of blaspheming Jew,
Gall of goat, and slips of yew
Sliver'd in the moon's eclipse,
Nose of Turk and Tartar's lips,

Finger of birth-strangled babe 30

Ditch-deliver'd by a drab,
Make the gruel thick and slab ;
Add thereto a tiger's chaudron,
For the ingredients of our cauldron.

Scene i] Macbeth I0y

All. Double, double toil and trouble ;
Fire burn and cauldron bubble.

Second Witch. Cool it with a baboon's blood,
Then the charm is firm and good.

Enter HECATE

Hecate. O, well done ! I commend your pains ;
And every one shall share i' the gains : 40

And now about the cauldron sing,
Like elves and fairies in a ring,
Enchanting all that you put in.

\J\fusic and a song: 'Black spirits,' etc. Hecate

retires.

Second Witch. By the pricking of my thumbs,
Something wicked this way comes.
Open, locks,
Whoever knocks !

Enter MACBETH

Macbeth. How now, you secret, black, and midnight

hags !
What is 't you do ?

All. A deed without a name.

Macbeth. I conjure you, by that which you profess,
Howe'er you come to know it, answer me : 51

Though you untie the winds and let them fight
Against the churches ; though the yesty waves
Confound and swallow navigation up ;

io8 Macbeth [Act IV

Though bladed corn be lodg'd and trees blown down ;

Though castles topple on their warders' heads ;

Though palaces and pyramids do slope

Their heads to their foundations ; though the treasure

Of nature's germens tumble all together,

Even till destruction sicken ; answer me 60

To what I ask you.

First Witch. Speak.

Second Witch. Demand.

Third Witch. We '11 answer.

First Witch. Say, if thou 'dst rather hear it from our

mouths,
Or from our masters.

Macbeth. Call 'em ; let me see 'em.

First Witch. Pour in sow's blood, that hath eaten
Her nine farrow ; grease that 's sweaten
From the murtherer's gibbet throw
Into the flame.

All. Come, high or low ;

Thyself and office deftly show !

Thunder. First Apparition : an armed Head

Macbeth. Tell me, thou unknown power. —
First Witch. He knows thy thought ;

Hear his speech, but say thou nought. 70

First Apparition. Macbeth ! Macbeth ! Macbeth !

beware Macduff ; I u _— v L) M« -

Beware the thane of Fife. 1 Dismiss) me^ enough.

\ [Descends.

Scene i] Macbeth 109

Macbeth. Whate'er thou art, for thy good caution

thanks,

Thou hast harp'd my fear aright ; but one word more, —
First Witch. He will not be commanded; here 's

another,
More potent than the first.

Thunder. Second Apparition : a bloody Child

Second Apparition. Macbeth ! Macbeth ! Macbeth !

Macbeth. Had I three ears, I 'd hear thee.

Second Apparition. Be bloody, bold, and resolute ;

laugh to scorn

The power of man, for none of woman born So

Shall harm Macbeth. [Descends.

Macbeth. Then live, Macduff ; what need I fear of thee ?
But yet I '11 make assurance double sure,
And take a bond of fate ; thou shalt not live,
That I may tell pale-hearted fear it lies,
And sleep in spite of thunder. —

Thunder. Third Apparition : a Child crowned, with a
tree in his hand

What is this,

That rises like the issue of a king,
And wears upon his baby brow the round
And top of sovereignty ?

All. Listen, but speak not to 't.

Third Apparition. Be lion-mettled, proud, and take
no care 9°

no Macbeth [Act IV

Who chafes, who frets, or where conspirers are ;

Macbeth shall never vanquish'd be until

Great Birnam wood to high Dunsinane hill

Shall come against him. [.Descends.

Macbeth. That will never be.

Who can impress the forest, bid the tree
Unfix his earth-bound root ? Sweet bodements ! good !
Rebellion's head, rise never, till the wood
Of Birnam rise, and our high-plac'd Macbeth
Shall live the lease of nature, pay his breath
To time and mortal custom. Yet my heart 100

Throbs to know one thing : tell me, — if your art
Can tell so much, — shall Banquo's issue ever
Reign in this kingdom ?

AIL Seek to know no more.

Macbeth. I will be satisfied ; deny me this,
And an eternal curse fall on you ! Let me know —
Why sinks that cauldron ? and what noise is this ?

\Hautboys.

First Witch. Show !

Second Witch. Show !

Third Witch. Show !

All. Show his eyes, and grieve his heart; nc

Come like shadows, so depart.

A show of eight Kings, the last with a glass in his hand ;
Banquo's Ghost following

Macbeth. Thou art too like the spirit of Banquo ;
downl

Scene I] Macbeth i ii

Thy crown does sear mine eyeballs. — And thy hair,

Thou other gold-bound brow, is like the first. —

A third is like the former. — Filthy hags !

Why do you show me this ? — A fourth ! — Start,
eyes ! —

What, will the line stretch out to the crack of
doom ? —

Another yet ! — A seventh ! — I'll see no more. —

And yet the eighth appears, who bears a glass

Which shows me many more ; and some I see 120

That twofold balls and treble sceptres carry.

Horrible sight ! — Now I see 't is true ;

For the blood-bolter'd Banquo smiles upon me,

And points at them for his. — [Apparitions vanish.

What, is this so ?
First Witch. Ay, sir, all this is so ; but why

Stands Macbeth thus amazedly ?

Come, sisters, cheer we up his sprights,

And show the best of our delights.

I '11 charm the air to give a sound,

While you perform your antic round, 13°

That this great king may kindly say

Our duties did his welcome pay.

Music. The Witches dance, and then vanish, with

Hecate.

Macbeth. Where are they ? Gone ? Let this perni-
cious hour

Stand aye accursed in the calendar ! —

Come in, without there 1

1 1 2 Macbeth [Act IV

Enter LENNOX

Lennox. What 's your grace's will ?

Macbeth. Saw you the weird sisters ?

Lennox. No, my lord.

Macbeth. Came they not by you ?

Lennox. No indeed, my lord

Macbeth. Infected be the air whereon they ride,
And damn'd all those that trust them ! — I did hear
The galloping of horse ; who was 't came by ? 140

Lennox. 'T is two or three, my lord, that bring you

word
Macduff is fled to England.

Macbeth. Fled to England !

Lennox. Ay, my good lord.

Macbeth. \Aside ] Time, thou anticipat'st my dread

exploits ;

The flighty purpose never is o'ertook
Unless the deed go with it. From this moment
The very firstlings of my heart shall be
The firstlings of my hand. And even now,
To crown my thoughts with acts, be it thought and done ;
The castle of Macduff I will surprise, 150

Seize upon Fife, give to the edge o' the sword
His wife, his babes, and all unfortunate souls
That trace him in his line. No boasting like a fool ;
This deed I '11 do before this purpose cdol.
But no more sights ! — Where are these gentlemen ?
Come, bring me where they are. \Exeunt.

Scene II] Macbeth nj

SCENE II. Fife. A Room in Macduff 's Castle
Enter LADY MACDUFF, her Son, and Ross

Lady Macduff. What had he done, to make him fly the
land?

Ross. You must have patience, madam.

Lady Macduff. He had none ;

His flight was madness. When our actions do not,
Our fears do make us traitors.

Ross. You know not

Whether it was his wisdom or his fear.

Lady Macduff. Wisdom ! to leave his wife, to leave

his babes,

His mansion and his titles, in a place
From whence himself does fly ? He loves us not,
He wants the natural touch ; for the poor wren,
The most diminutive of birds, will fight, ro

Her young ones in her nest, against the owl.
All is the fear, and nothing is the love ;
As little is the wisdom, where the flight
So runs against all reason.

Ross. My dearest coz,

I pray you, school yourself ; but for your husband,
He is noble, wise, judicious, and best knows
The fits o' the season. I dare not speak much

further,

But cruel are the times when we are traitors
And do not know ourselves ; when we hold rumour

MACBETH — 8

114 Macbeth [Act IV

From what we fear, yet know not what we fear, 20

But float upon a wild and violent sea

Each way and move. I take my leave of you ;

Shall not be long but I'll be here again.

Things at the worst will cease, or else climb upward

To what they were before. My pretty cousin,

Blessing upon you !

Lady Mac duff. Father 'd he is, and yet he 's father
less.

Ross. I am so much a fool, should I stay longer,
It would be my disgrace and your discomfort ;
I take my leave at once. \Exit.

Lady Macduff. Sirrah, your father 's dead : 30

And what will you do now ? How will you live ?

Son. As birds do, mother.

Lady Macduff. What, with worms and flies ?

Son. With what I get, I mean ; and so do they.

Lady Macduff. Poor bird 1 thou 'dst never fear the

net nor lime,
The pitfall nor the gin.

Son. Why should I, mother? Poor birds they are.

not set for.
My father is not dead, for all your saying.

Lady Macduff. Yes, he is dead ; how wilt thou do
for a father ?

Son. Nay, how will you do for a husband ?

Lady Macduff. Why, I can buy me twenty at any
market. 40

Son. Then you '11 buy 'em to sell again.

Scene II] Macbeth I IT

Lady Macduff. Thou speak'st with all thy wit, and

yet, i' faith,
With wit enough for thee.

Son. Was my father a traitor, mother ?

Lady Macduff. Ay, that he was.

Son, What is a traitor ?

Lady Macduff. Why, one that swears and lies.

Son. And be all traitors that do so ?

Lady Macduff. Every one that does so is a traitor,
and must be hanged. 5o

Son. And must they all be hanged that swear and lie ?

Lady Macduff. Every one.

Son. Who must hang them ?

Lady Macduff. Why, the honest men.

Son. Then the liars and swearers are fools, for there
are liars and swearers enow to beat the honest men and
hang up them.

Lady Macduff. Now, God help thee, poor monkey !
But how wilt thou do for a father ? 59

Son. If he were dead, you 'd weep for him ; if you
would not, it were a good sign that I should quickly
have a new father.

Lady Macduff. Poor prattler, how thou talk'st !

Enter a Messenger

Messenger. Bless you, fair dame ! I am not to you

known,

Though in your state of honour I am perfect.
I doubt some danger does approach you nearly.

Macbeth [Act iv

If you will take a homely man's advice,

Be not found here ; hence, with your little ones.

To fright you thus, methinks I am too savage ;

To do worse to you were fell cruelty, 70

Which is too nigh your person. Heaven preserve

you!
I dare abide no longer. {Exit.

Lady Macduff. Whither should I fly ?

I have done no harm. But I remember now
I am in this earthly world, where to do harm
Is often laudable, to do good sometime
Accounted dangerous folly ; why then, alas,
Do I put up that womanly defence,
To say I have done no harm ? —

Enter Murderers

What are these faces ?
First Murderer. Where is your husband ?
Lady Macduff. I hope, in no place so unsanctified So
Where such as thou mayst find him.

First Murderer. He 's a traitor.

Son. Thou liest, thou shag-hair'd villain !

First Murderer. What, you egg !

[Stabbing him.
Young fry of treachery 1

Son. He has kill'd me, mother ;

Run away, I pray you 1 [Dies.

Exit Lady Macduff, crying ' Murther ! '
[Exeunt Murderers, following her-

Scene in] Macbeth 117

SCENE III. England. Before the King's Palace
Enter MALCOLM and MACDUFF

Malcolm. Let us seek out some desolate shade, and

there
Weep our sad bosoms empty.

Macduff. Let us rather

Hold fast the mortal sword, and like good men
Bestride our down-fallen birthdom. Each new morn
New widows howl, new orphans cry, new sorrows
Strike heaven on the face, that it resounds
As if it felt with Scotland and yell'd out
Like syllable of dolour.

Malcolm. What I believe, I '11 wail ;

What know, believe ; and what I can redress,
As I shall find the time to friend, I will. 10

What you have spoke, it may be so perchance.
This tyrant, whose sole name blisters our tongues,
Was once thought honest : you have lov'd him well ;
He hath not touch 'd you yet. I am young ; but some-
thing

You may deserve of him through me, and wisdom
To offer up a weak poor innocent lamb
To appease an angry god.

Macduff. I am not treacherous.

Malcolm. But Macbeth is.

A good and virtuous nature may recoil
In an imperial charge. But I shall crave your pardon ; 20

n8 Macbeth [Act IV

That which you are my thoughts cannot transpose.
Angels are bright still, though the brightest fell ;
Though all things foul would wear the brows of grace,
Yet grace must still look so.

Macduff. I have lost my hopes.

Malcolm. Perchance even there where I did find my

doubts.

Why in that rawness left you wife and child,
Those precious motives, those strong knots of love,
Without leave-taking ? I pray you,
Let not my jealousies be your dishonours,
But mine own safeties ; you may be rightly just, 3*

Whatever I shall think.

Macduff. Bleed, bleed, poor country 1

Great tyranny, lay thou thy basis sure,
For goodness dare not check thee 1 wear thou thy

wrongs ;

The title is affeer'd ! — Fare thee well, lord ;
I would not be the villain that thou think'st
For the whole space that 's in the tyrant's grasp,
And the rich East to boot.

Malcolm. Be not offended ;

I speak not as in absolute fear of you.
I think our country sinks beneath the yoke ;
It weeps, it bleeds, and each new day a gash 40

Is added to her wounds. I think withal
There would be hands uplifted in my right,
And here from gracious England have I offer
Of goodly thousands ; but for all this,

Scene III] Macbeth 119

When I shall tread upon the tyrant's head
Or wear it on my sword, yet my poor country
Shall have more vices than it had before,
More suffer, and more sundry ways than ever,
By him that shall succeed.

j/dtu'/yfc What should he be ?

Malcolm. It is myself I mean, in whom I know 50
A.11 the particulars of vice so grafted
That, when they shall be open'd, black Macbeth
Will seem as pure as snow, and the poor state
Esteem him as a lamb, being compar'd
With my confineless harms.

Macduff. Not in the legions

Of horrid hell can come a devil more damn'd
In evils to top Macbeth.

Malcolm. I grant him bloody,

Luxurious, avaricious, false, deceitful,
Sudden, malicious, smacking of every sin
That has a name ; but there 's no bottom, none, 60

In my voluptuousness. Your wives, your daughters,
Your matrons and your maids, could not fill up
The cistern of my lust, and my desire
A-ll continent impediments would o'erbear
That did oppose my will. Better Macbeth
Than such an one to reign.

Macduff. Boundless intemperance

In nature is a tyranny ; it hath been
The untimely emptying of the happy throne,
And fall of many kings. But fear not yet

I20 Macbeth [Act IV

To take upon you what is yours ; you may
Convey your pleasures in a spacious plenty,
And yet seem cold, the time you may so hoodwink.
We have willing dames enough. There cannot be
That vulture in you to devour so many
As will to greatness dedicate themselves,
Finding it so inclin'd.

Malcolm. With this there grows

In my most ill-compos'd affection such
A stanchless avarice that, were I king,
I should cut off the nobles for their lands,
Desire his jewels and this other's house ; So

And my more-having would be as a sauce
To make me hunger more, that I should forge
Quarrels unjust against the good and loyal,
Destroying them for wealth.

Macduff. This avarice

Sticks deeper, grows with more pernicious root
Than summer-seeming lust, and it hath been
The sword of our slain kings : yet do not fear ;
Scotland hath foisons to fill up your will,
Of your mere own. All these are portable,
With other graces weigh'd. 9°

Malcolm. But I have none ; the king-becoming graces,
As justice, verity, temperance, stableness,
Bounty, perseverance, mercy, lowliness,
Devotion, patience, courage, fortitude,
I have no relish of them, but abound
In the division of each several crime,

Scene III] Macbeth 121

Acting it many ways. Nay, had I power, I should
Pour the sweet milk of concord into hell,
Uproar the universal peace, confound
All unity on earth.

Macduff. O Scotland, Scotland ! 100

Malcolm. If such a one be fit to govern, speak ;
I am as I have spoken.

Macduff. Fit to govern !

No, not to live. — O nation miserable !
With an untitled tyrant bloody-scepter'd,
When shalt thou see thy wholesome days again,
Since that the truest issue of thy throne
By his own interdiction stands accurs'd
And does blaspheme his breed ? — Thy royal father
Was a most sainted king ; the queen that bore thee,
Oftener upon her knees than on her feet, no

Died every day she liv'd. — Fare thee well !
These evils thou repeat'st upon thyself
Have banish'd me from Scotland. — O my breast,
Thy hope ends here !

Malcolm. Macduff, this noble passion,

Child of integrity, hath from my soul
Wip'd the black scruples, reconcil'd my thoughts
To thy good truth and honour. Devilish Macbeth
By many of these trains hath sought to win me
Into his power, and modest wisdom plucks me
From over-credulous haste ; but God above 120

Deal between thee and me ! for even now
I put myself to thy direction and

122 Macbeth

Unspeak mine own detraction, here abjure
The taints and blames I laid upon myself,
For strangers to my nature. I am yet
Unknown to woman, never was forsworn,
Scarcely have coveted what was mine own,
At no time broke my faith, would not betray
The devil to his fellow, and delight
No less in truth than life ; my first false speaking 130
Was this upon myself. What I am truly
Is thine and my poor country's to command ;
Whither indeed, before thy here-approach,
Old Siward, with ten thousand warlike men,
Already at a point, was setting forth.
Now we '11 together, and the chance of goodness
Be like our warranted quarrel ! Why are you silent ?
Macduff. Such welcome and unwelcome things at

once
'T is hard to reconcile.

Enter a Doctor

Malcolm. Well, more anon. — Comes the king forth,
I pray you ? ,40

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. I thank you, doctor. [Exit Doctor.

Macduff. What 's the disease he means ?

HI Macbeth 123

Malcolm. 'T is 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, 150
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 't is 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.

Enter Ross

Macduff. See, who comes here ?

Malcolm. My countryman ; but yet I know him not.

Macduff. My ever-gentle cousin, welcome hither. 161

Malcolm. I know him now. Good God, betimes re-
move
The means that makes us strangers !

Ross. Sir, amen.

Macduff. Stands Scotland where it did ?

Ross. Alas, poor country I

Almost afraid' to know itself. It cannot
Be call'd our mother, but our grave ; where nothing,
But who knows nothing, is once seen to smile ;
Where sighs and groans and shrieks that rent the air

124

Macbeth [Act IV

Are made, not mark'd ; where violent sorrow seems
A modern ecstasy ; the dead man's knell 170

Is there scarce ask'd for who ; and good men's lives
Expire before the flowers in their caps,
Dying or ere they sicken.

Macduff. O, relation

Too nice, and yet too true !

Malcolm. What 's the newest grief ?

Ross. That of an hour's age doth hiss the speaker ;
Each minute teems a new one.

Macduff. How does my wife ?

Ross. Why, well.

Macduff. And all my children ?

Ross. Well too.

Macduff. The tyrant has not batter'd at their peace ?

Ross. No ; they were well at peace when I did leave
'em.

Macduff. Be not a niggard of your speech ; how
goes 't? iSc

Ross. When I came hither to transport the tidings,
Which I have heavily borne, there ran a rumour
Of many worthy fellows that were out ;
Which was to my belief witness'd the rather,
For that I saw the tyrant's power a-foot.
Now is the time of help ; your eye in Scotland
Would create soldiers, make our women fight,
To doff their dire distresses.

Malcolm. Be 't their comfort

We are coming thither. Gracious England hath

Scene III] Macbeth 125

Lent us good Siward and ten thousand men ; 190

An older and a better soldier none
That Christendom gives out.

Ross. Would I could answer

This comfort with the like ! But I have words
That would be howl'd out in the desert air,
Where hearing should not latch them.

Macduff. What concern they ?

The general cause ? or is it a fee-grief
Due to some single breast ?

Ross. No mind that 's honest

But in it shares some woe, though the main part
Pertains to you alone.

Macduff. If it be mine,

Keep it not from me, quickly let me have it. 200

Ross. Let not your ears despise my tongue for

ever,

W7hich shall possess them with the heaviest sound
That ever yet they heard.

Macduff. Hum ! I guess at it.

Ross. Your castle is surpris'd, your wife and babes
Savagely slaughter'd ; to relate the manner
Were, on the quarry of these murther'd deer,
To add the death of you.

Malcolm. Merciful heaven ! —

What, man ! ne'er pull your hat upon your brows,
Give sorrow words ; the grief that does not speak
Whispers the o'er-fraught heart and bids it break. 210

Macduff. My children too ?

I26 Macbeth [Act iv

Wife, children, servants, all

That could be found.

Macduff. And I must be from thence ! —

My wife kill'd too ?

Ross. I have said.

Malcolm. Be comforted ;

Let 's make us medicines of our great revenge,
To cure this deadly grief.

Macduff. He has no children. — All my pretty ones ?
Did you say all ? — O hell-kite ! — All ?
What, all my pretty chickens and their dam
At one fell swoop ?

Malcolm. Dispute it like a man.

Macduff. I shall do so ; 220

But I must also feel it as a man.
I cannot but remember such things were,
That were most precious to me. — Did heaven look on,
And would not take their part ? Sinful Macduff,
They were all struck for thee ! naught that I am,
Not for their own demerits, but for mine,
Fell slaughter on their souls. Heaven rest them now !

Malcolm. Be this the whetstone of your sword. Let

grief
Convert to anger ; blunt not the heart, enrage it.

Macduff. O, I could play the woman with mine
eyes, 230

And braggart with my tongue ! — But, gentle heavens,
Cut short all intermission ; front to front
Bring thou this fiend of Scotland and myself ;

Scene ill] Macbeth 127

Within my sword's length set him ; if he scape,
Heaven forgive him too !

Malcolm. This tune goes manly.

Come, go we to the king ; our power is ready,
Our lack is nothing but our leave. Macbeth
Is ripe for shaking, and the powers above
Put on their instruments. Receive what cheer you

may;

The night is long that never finds the day. 240

[Exeunt.

DUNKELD AND REMNANT OF BlRNAM WOOL*

ACT V

SCENE I. Dunsinane. A Room in the Castle

Enter a Doctor of Physic and a Waiting Gentlewoman

Doctor. I have two nights watched with you, but
can perceive no truth in your report. When was it
she last walked ?

Gentlewoman. Since his majesty went into the
field, I have seen her rise from her bed, throw her
nightgown upon her, unlock her closet, take forth
paper, fold it, write upon 't, read it, afterwards seal
it, and again return to bed ; yet all this while in a
most fast sleep.

128

Scene I] Macbeth 129

Doctor. A great perturbation in nature, to receive 10
at once the benefit of sleep and do the effects of
watching! In this slumbery agitation, besides her
walking and other actual performances, what at any
time have you heard her say ?

Gentlewoman. That, sir, which I will not report
after her.

Doctor. You may to me, and 't is most meet you
should.

Gentlewoman. Neither to you nor any one, having
no witness to confirm my speech. 20

Enter LADY MACBETH, with a taper

Lo you, here she comes ! This is her very guise; and,
upon my life, fast asleep ! Observe her ; stand close.

Doctor. How came she by that light ?

Gentlewoman. Why, it stood by her ; she has light
by her continually, 't is her command.

Doctor. You see, her eyes are open.

Gentlewoman. Ay, but their sense are shut.

Doctor. What is it she does now ? Look, how she
rubs her hands.

Gentlewoman. It is an accustomed action with 30
her, to seem thus washing her hands ; I have known
her continue in this a quarter of an hour.

Lady Macbeth. Yet here 's a spot.

Doctor. Hark ! she speaks ; I will set down what
comes from her, to satisfy my remembrance the more
strongly.

MACBETH — 9

130

Macbeth [Act v

Lady Macbeth. Out, damned spot ! out, I say ! —
One, two ; why, then 't is time to do 't. — Hell is
murky! — Fie, my lord, fie ! a soldier, and afeard ?
What need we fear who knows it, when none can 40
call our power to account ? — Yet who would have
thought the old man to have had so much blood in
him ?

Doctor. Do you mark that ?

Lady Macbeth. The thane of Fife had a wife ;
where is she now? — What, will these hands ne'er
be clean ? — No more o' that, my lord, no more o'
that ; you mar all with this starting.

Doctor. Go to, go to ; you have known what you
should not. 50

Gentlewoman. She has spoke what she should not,
I am sure of that; heaven knows what she has
known.

Lady Macbeth. Here 's the smell of the blood
still ; all the perfumes of Arabia will not sweeten
this little hand. Oh, oh, oh 1

Doctor. What a sigh is there ! The heart is
sorely charged.

Gentlewoman. I would not have such a heart in
my bosom for the dignity of the whole body. 60

Doctor. Well, well, well, —

Gentlewoman. Pray God it be, sir.

Doctor. This disease is beyond my practice ; yet
I have known those which have walked in their sleep
who have died holily in their beds.

Scene ii] Macbeth 131

Lady Macbeth. Wash your hands, put on your
nightgown ; look not so pale. — I tell you yet again,
Banquo 's buried ; he cannot come out on 's grave.

Doctor. Even so?

Lady Macbeth. To bed, to bed ! there 's knocking 70
At the gate ; come, come, come, come, give me your
hand. What 's done cannot be undone. To bed, to
bed, to bed ! [Exit.

Doctor. Will she go now to bed ?

Gentlewoman. Directly.

Doctor. Foul whisperings are abroad. Unnatural

deeds

Do breed unnatural troubles ; infected minds
To their deaf pillows will discharge their secrets.
More needs she the divine than the physician. —
God, God forgive us all ! — Look after her ; Bo

Remove from her the means of all annoyance,
And still keep eyes upon her. So, good night ;
My mind she has mated, and amaz'd my sight.
[ think, but dare not speak.

Gentlewoman. Good night, good doctor.

[Exeunt.

SCENE II. The Country near Dunsinane
Drum and colour. Enter MENTEITH, CAITHNESS,

ANGUS, LENNOX, and Soldiers
Menteith. The English power is near, led on by
Malcolm,

Macbeth [Act \

His uncle Siward, and the good Macduff.
Revenges burn in them ; for their dear causes
Would to the bleeding and the grim alarm
Excite the mortified man.

Angus, Near Birnam wood

Shall we well meet them ; that way are they coming.

Caithness. Who knows if Donalbain be with his
brother ?

Lennox. For certain, sir, he is not. I have a file
Of all the gentry ; there is Siward's son,
And many unrough youths that even now 10

Protest their first of manhood.

Menteith. What does the tyrant ?

Caithness. Great Dunsinane he strongly fortifies.
Some say he 's mad ; others, that lesser hate him,
Do call it valiant fury ; but, for certain,
He cannot buckle his distemper'd cause
Within the belt of rule.

Angus. Now does he feel

His secret murthers sticking on his hands ;
Now minutely revolts upbraid his faith-breach.
Those he commands move only in command,
Nothing in love ; now does he feel his title 20

Hang loose about him, like a giant's robe
Upon a dwarfish thief.

Menteith. Who then shall blame

His pester'd senses to recoil and start,
When all that is within him does condemn.
Itself for being there ?

Scene Hi] Macbeth 133

Caithness. Well, march we on,

To give obedience where 't is truly owed.
Meet we the medicine of the sickly weal,
And with him pour we in our country's purge
Each drop of us.

Lennox. Or so much as it needs,

To dew the sovereign flower and drown the weeds. 30
Make we our march towards Birnam.

[Exeunt, marching.

SCENE III. Dunsinane. A Room in the Castle
Enter MACBETH, Doctor, and Attendants

Macbeth. Bring me no more reports ; let them fly all.
Till Birnam wood remove to Dunsinane
I cannot taint with fear. What 's the boy Malcolm ?
Was he not born of woman ? The spirits that know
All mortal consequences have pronounc'd me thus :
' Fear not, Macbeth ; no man that 's born of woman
Shall e'er have power upon thee.' Then fly, false

thanes,

And mingle with the English epicures ;
The mind I sway by and the heart I bear
Shall never sag with doubt nor shake with fear. — 10

Enter a Servant

The devil damn thee black, thou cream-fac'd loon !
Where gott'st thou that goose look ?

I34 Macbeth [Act v

Servant. There is ten thousand —
Macbeth. Geese, villain ?

Servant. Soldiers, sir

Macbeth. Go prick thy face, and over-red thy fear,
Thou lily-liver'd boy. What soldiers, patch ?
Death of thy soul ! those linen cheeks of thine
Are counsellors to fear. What soldiers, whey-face ?
Servant. The English force, so please you.
Macbeth. Take thy face hence. — .<;•* [Exit Servant
Seyton ! — ( «I am sick at heart.

When I behold — Seyton, I say! — This push 20

Will cheer me ever, or dis-ease me now.
I have liv'd long enough : my way of life
Is fallen into the sear, the yellow leaf, '
And that which should accompany old age,
As honour, love, obedience, troops of friends,
I must not look to have ; but, in their stead,
Curses, not loud but deep, mouth-honour, breath,
Which the poor heart would fain deny, and dare not. —

Seyton !

Enter SEYTON

Seyton. What 's your gracious pleasure ?
Macbeth. What news more ? 30

Seyton. All is confirm'd, my lord, which was reported.
Macbeth. I '11 fight till from my bones my flesh be

hack'd.
Give me my armour.

Seyton. 'T is not needed yet.

Macbeth. I '11 put it on.

Scene ill] Macbeth 135

Send out moe horses, skirr the country round ;

Hang those that talk of fear. Give me mine armour. —

How does your patient, doctor ?

Doctor. Not so sick, my lord,

As she is troubled with thick-coming fancies
That keep her from her rest.

Macbeth. Cure her of that.

Canst thou not minister to a mind diseas'd, 40

Pluck from the memory a rooted sorrow,
Raze out the written troubles of the brain,
And with some sweet oblivious antidote
Cleanse the stuff' d bosom of that perilous stuff
Which weighs upon the heart ?

Doctor. Therein the patient

Must minister to himself.

Macbeth. Throw physic to the dogs, I '11 none of it. —
Come, put mine armour on ; give me my staff. —
Seyton, send out. — Doctor, the thanes fly from me. —
Come, sir, dispatch. — If thou couldst, doctor, cast 50
The water of my land, find her disease,
And purge it to a sound and pristine health,
I would applaud thee to the very echo,
That should applaud again. — Pull 't off, I say. —
What rhubarb, senna, or what purgative drug,
Would scour these English hence ? Hear'st thou of
them?

Doctor. Ay, my good lord ; your royal preparation
Makes us hear something.

Macbeth. Bring it after me. —

Macbeth [Act v

I will not be afraid of death and bane 59

Till Birnam forest come to Dunsinane. [Exit.

Doctor. Were I from Dunsinane away and clear,
Profit again should hardly draw me here. [Exit.

SCENE IV. Country near Birnam Wood

Drum and colours. Enter MALCOLM, old SIWARD and
his Son, MACDUFF, MENTEITH, CAITHNESS, ANGUS,
LENNOX, Ross, and Soldiers, marching

Malcolm. Cousins, I hope the days are near at hand
That chambers will be safe.

Menteith. We doubt it nothing.

Siward. What wood is this before us ?

Menteith. The wood of Birnam.

Malcolm. Let every soldier hew him down a bough,
And bear 't before him ; thereby shall we shadow
The numbers of our host and make discovery
Err in report of us.

Soldiers. It shall be done.

Siward. We learn no other but the confident tyrant
Keeps still in Dunsinane, and will endure
Our setting down before 't.

Malcolm. 'T is his main hope ; 10

For where there is advantage to be given,
Both more and less have given him the revolt,
And none serve with him but constrained things
Whose hearts are absent too.

Macduff. Let our just censures

Scene V] Macbeth 137

Attend the true event, and put we on
Industrious soldiership.

Siward. The time approaches

That will with due decision make us know
What we shall say we have and what_we owjk^.
Thoughts speculative their unsure hopes! relate/
But certain i^sue strokes must arbitrate,*
Towards which advance the war. {Exeunt, marchit

^\>^^^

SCENE V. Dunsinane. Within the CasUe

Enter MACBETH, SEYTON, and Soldiers, with drum and

colours

Macbeth. Hang out our banners on the outward walls ;
The cry is still ' They come ! ' Our castle's strength
Will laugh a siege to scorn ; here let them lie
Till famine and the ague eat them up.
Were they not forc'd with those that should be ours,
We might have met them dareful, beard to beard,
And beat them backward home. [A cry of women within.

What is that noise ?

Seyton. It is the cry of women, my good lord. [Exit.
Macbeth. I have almost forgot the taste of fears ;
The time has been my senses would have cool'd 10
To hear a night-shriek, and my fell of hair
Would at a dismal treatise rouse and stir
As life were in 't. I have supp'd full with horrors ;
Direness, familiar to my slaughterous thoughts,
Cannot once start me. —

138

Macbeth [Act V

Re-enter SEYTON

Wherefore was that cry
Seyton. The queen, my lord, is dead.
Macbeth. }She shoujlcl|nave died jnereafter"*
There would have been a time for such a word.1
To-morrow, and to-morrow, and to-morrow,
Creeps in this petty pace from day to day
To the last syllable of recorded time,
And all our yesterdays have lighted fools
The way to dusty death. Out, out, brief candle !
Life 's but a walking shadow, a poor player
That struts and frets his hour upon the stage
And then is heard no more ; it is a tale
Told by an idiot, full of sound and fury,
Signifying nothing. — /•

Enter a Messenger

Thou com'st to use thy tongue ; thy story quickly.

Messenger. Gracious my lord, 30

I should report that which I say I saw,
But know not how to do it.

Macbeth. Well, say, sir.

Messenger. As I did stand my watch upon the hill,
I look'd toward Birnam, and anon, methought,
The wood began to move.

Macbeth. Liar and slave !

Messenger. Let me endure your wrath if 't be not so.

Scene VI] Macbeth 139

Within this three mile may you see it coming ;
I say, a moving grove.

Macbeth. If thou speak'st false,

Upon the next tree shalt thou hang alive
Till famine cling thee ; if thy speech be sooth, 40

I care not if thou dost for me as much. —
I pull in resolution, and begin
To doubt the equivocation of the fiend
That lies like truth : ' Fear not, till Birnam wood
Do come to Dunsinane ; ' and now a wood
Comes toward/ Dunsinane. — Arm, arm/pid out!— ^L
If this which he avouches does appear, v
There is nor flying hence nor tarrying here.
I gin to be aweary of the sun,

And wish the estate o' the world were now undone. —
Ring the alarum-bell ! — Blow, wind ! come, wrack ! 51
At least we '11 die with harness on our back. {Exeunt.

SCENE VI. Dunsinane. Before the Castle

Drum and colours. Enter MALCOLM, old SIWAPD,

MACDUFF, and their Army, with boughs
Malcolm. Now near enough ; your leavy screens throw

down,

And show like those you are. — You, worthy uncle,
Shall with my cousin, your right-noble son,
Lead our first battle ; worthy Macduff and we
Shall take upon 's what else remains to do,
According to our order.

140

Macbeth [Act V

Siward. Fare you well.

Do we but find the tyrant's power to-night,
Let us be beaten if we cannot fight.

Macduff. Make all our trumpets speak ; give them all

breath,
Those clamorous harbingers of blood and death.

\Exeunt.

SCENE VII. Another Part of the Field

Alarums. Enter MACBETH
Macbeth. They have tied me to a stake ; I cannot

fly,

But, bear-like, I must fight the course. What 's he
That was not born of woman ? Such a one
Am I to fear, or none.

Young Siward. What is thy name ?

Macbeth. Thou 'It be afraid to hear it.

Young Siward. No ; though thou call'st thyself a

hotter name
Than any is in hell.

Macbeth. My name 's Macbeth.

Young Siward. The devil himself could not pro-
nounce a title
More hateful to mine ear.

Macbeth. No, nor more fearful.

Scene vii] Macbeth 141

Young Siward. Thou liest, abhorred tyrant ; with my
sword I0

I '11 prove the lie thou speak'st.

\They fight, and young Siward is slain.
Macbeth. Thou wast born of woman. —

But swords I smile at, weapons laugh to scorn,
Brandish 'd by man that 's of a woman born. [Exit.

Alarums. Enter MACDUFF

Macduff. That way the noise is. — Tyrant, show thy

face !

If thou be'st slain and with no stroke of mine,
My wife and children's ghosts will haunt me still.
I cannot strike at wretched kerns whose arms
Are hir'd to bear their staves ; either thou, Macbeth,
Or else my sword with an unbatter'd edge
I sheathe again undeeded. There thou shouldst be ; 20
By this great clatter one of greatest note
Seems bruited. Let me find him, fortune !
And more I beg not. {Exit. Alarums.

Enter MALCOLM and old SIWARD

Siward. This way, my lord. The castle 's gently

render 'd ;

The tyrant's people on both sides do fight ;
The noble thanes do bravely in the war ;
The day almost itself professes yours,
And little is to do.

Macbeth [Act V

Malcolm. We have met with foes

That strike beside us.

Si-ward. Enter, sir, the castle.

\Exeunt. Alarum.

SCENE VIII. Another Part of the Field
Enter MACBETH

Macbeth. Why should I play the Roman fool, and

die

On mine own sword ? whiles I see lives, the gashes
Do better upon them.

Enter MACDUFF

Macduff. Turn, hell-hound, turn !

Macbeth. Of all men else I have avoided thee.
But get thee back ; my soul is too much charg'd
With blood of thine already.

Macduff. I have no words ;

My voice is in my sword, thou bloodier villain
Than terms can give thee out ! [ They fight.

Macbeth. Thou losest labour.

As easy mayst thou the intrenchant air
With thy keen sword impress as make me bleed. 10
Let fall thy blade on vulnerable crests ;
I bear a charmed life, which must not yield
To one of woman born.

Macduff. Despair thy charm,

And let the angel whom thou still hast serv'd

Scene VIII] Macbeth 143

Tell thee Macduff was from his mother's womb
Untimely ripp'd.

Macbeth. Accursed be that tongue that tells me so,
For it hath cow'd my better part of man !
And be these juggling fiends no more believ'd,
That palter with us in a double sense ; 20

That keep the word of promise to our ear
And break it to our hope. — I'll not fight with thee.

Macduff. Then yield thee, coward,
And live to be the show and gaze o' the time ;
We '11 have thee, as our rarer monsters are,
Painted upon a pole, and underwrit,
' Here may you see the tyrant.'

Macbeth. I will not yield,

To kiss the ground before young Malcolm's feet,
And to be baited with the rabble's curse.
Though Birnam wood be come to Dunsinane, 3°

And thou oppos'd, being of no woman born,
Yet I will try the last. Before my body
I throw my warlike shield ; lay on, Macduff,
And damn'd be him that first cries ' Hold, enough ! '

{Exeunt, fighting. Alarums.

Retreat. Flourish. Enter, with drum and colottrs,
MALCOLM, old SIWARD, Ross, the other Thanes,
and Soldiers

Malcolm. I would the friends we miss were safe
arriv'd.

144 Macbeth [Act V

Si-ward. Some must go off ; and yet, by these I see,
So great a day as this is cheaply bought.

Malcolm. Macduff is missing, and your noble son.

Ross. Your son, my lord, has paid a soldier's debt ;
He only liv'd but till he was a man, 40

The which no sooner had his prowess confirm'd
In the unshrinking station where he fought,
But like a man he died.

Siuiard. Then he is dead ?

Ross. Ay, and brought off the field; your cause of

sorrow

Must not be measur'd by his worth, for then
It hath no end.

Si-ward. Had he his hurts before ?

Ross. Ay, on the front.

Si-ward. Why then, God's soldier be he !

Had I as many sons as I have hairs,
I would not wish them to a fairer death ;
And so his knell is knolPd.

Malcolm. He 's worth more sorrow, 50

And that I '11 spend for him.

Siward. He 's worth no more ;

They say he parted well and paid his score,
And so God be with him ! Here comes newer comfort.

Re-enter MACDUFF, with MACBETH 's head

Macduff. Hail, king! for so thou art. Behold,

stands
The usurper's cursed head ; the time is free.

Scene VIII]

Macbeth

I see thee compass'd with thy kingdom's pearl,
That speak my salutation in their minds ;
Whose voices I desire aloud with mine :
Hail, King of Scotland !

All. Hail, King of Scotland ! [Flourish,

Malcolm. We shall not spend a large expense of time
Before we reckon with your several loves 61

And make us even with you. My thanes and kinsmen,
Henceforth be earls, the first that ever Scotland
In such an honour nam'd. What 's more to do
Which would be planted newly with the time, —
As calling home our exil'd friends abroad
That fled the snares of watchful tyranny,
Producing forth the cruel ministers
Of this dead butcher and his fiend-like queen,
Who, as 't is thought, by self and violent hands 70

Took off her life, — this, and what needful else
That calls upon us, by the grace of Grace
We will perform in measure, time, and place ;
So, thanks to all at once and to each one,
Whom we invite to see us crown'd at Scone.

[Flourish. Exeunt

MACBETH — 10

N(DTES

147

NOTES

INTRODUCTION

THE METRE OF THE PLAY. — It should be understood at the
outset that metre, or the mechanism of verse, is something alto-
gether distinct from the music of verse. The one is matter of rule,
the other of taste and feeling. Music is not an absolute necessity
of verse; the metrical form is a necessity, being that which consti-
tutes the verse.

The plays of Shakespeare (with the exception of rhymed pas-
sages, and of occasional songs and interludes) are all in unrhymed
or blank verse ; and the normal form of this blank verse is illus
trated by the first line of the second scene in this play : "
bloody man is that? He can report."

149

Notes

This line, it will be seen, consists of ten syllables, with the even
syllables (2d, 4th, 6th, 8th, and loth) accented, the odd syllables
(ist, 3d, etc.) being unaccented. Theoretically, it is made up of
five/i?£/of two syllables each, with the accent on the second sylla
hie. Such a foot is called an iambus (plural, iambusis, or th'j
Latin iambi), and the form of verse. is called iambic.

This fundamental law of Shakespeare's verse is subject to certain
modifications, the most important of \\hich are as follows : —

1. After the tenth syllable an unaccented syllable (or even two
such syllables) may be added, forming what is sometimes called a
female line; as in line 8 of the second scene: "As two spent
swimmers that do cling together." The rhythm is complete with
the second syllable of together, the last syllable being an extra one.
Other examples in the same scene are lines 9, n, 14, and 52. IP
ii. 4. 10 we have two extra syllables, the rhythm being complete
with the second syllable of unnatural.

2. The accent in any part of the verse may be shifted from an
even to an odd syllable ; as in lines 6 and 10 of the second scene :

" Say to the king the knowledge of the broil.

# # # * #
Worthy to be a rebel, for to that."

In both lines the accent is shifted from the second to the first syl-
lable. This change occurs very rarely in the tenth syllable, anJ
seldom in the fourth ; and it is not allowable in two successive ac-
cented syllables.

3. An extra unaccented syllable may occur in any part of the.
line ; as in lines 60 and 62. In 60 the second syllable of burial if»
superfluous: and in 62 the second syllable ot general.

4. Any unaccented syllable occurring in an even place immedi-
ately before or after an even syllable which is properly accented, is
reckoned as accented for the purposes of the verse ; as, for instance,
m lines 2 and 5. In 2 both by and the are metrically equivalent to
accented syllables; and so with the last syllable of captivity in 5

Notes 151

Other examples are the third syllable of multiplying and the last of
villanies in line n, the last of battlements in 23, the first of over-
chargd in 37, and the last of memorize and Golgotha in 40. In
i. 3. 130, "This supernatural soliciting," three of the five accents
are of this nature. In ii. 2. 62, " The multitudinous seas incarna-
dine," the polysyllables have each two accents, the other one being
on seas.

5. In many instances in Shakespeare words must be lengthened
in order to fill out the rhythm : —

(a) In a large class of words in which e or i is followed by an-
other vowel, the e or i is made a separate syllable ; as ocean, opin-
ion, soldier, patience, partial, marriage, etc. For instance, line 3
of the second scene appears to have only nine syllables, but sergeant
(see note on the word) is a trisyllable. In 18 execution is metri-
cally five syllables, and reflection is a quadrisyllable in 25. Many
similar instances are mentioned in the Notes. This lengthening
occurs most frequently at the end of the line ; but in line 19, if
carv'd is a monosyllable (as in the folio and some of the modern
editions) minion must be a trisyllable. Cf. observation (five syl-
lables) in A. Y. L. ii. 7. 41 : " With observation, the which he
vents," etc.

(£) Many monosyllables ending in r, re, rs, res, preceded by a
long vowel or diphthong, are often made dissyllables ; as fare, fear,
dear, fire, hair, hour, your, etc. In iv. 3. 1 1 1 (" Died every day
>,he liv'd. Fare thee well ! ") Fare is a dissyllable. If the word is
repeated in a verse, it is often both monosyllable and dissyllable ;
,\s in M. of V. iii. 2. 20 : "And so, though yours, not yours.
Trove it so," where either yours (preferably the first) is a dissyl-
lable, the other being a monosyllable. In/. C. iii. I. 172 : "As fire
drives out fire, so pity, pity," the first fire is a dissyllable.

(c) Words containing / or r, preceded by another consonant, are
often pronounced as if a vowel came between the consonants ;
as in i. 5. 39 of this play: "That croaks the fatal entrance
[ent(e)rance] of Duncan;" and iii. 2. 30: "Let your remem-

Notes

brance [rememb(e)rance] apply to Banquo; " also in T. of S. ii. i.
158 : "While she did call me rascal fiddler" [fidd(e)ler] ; All's
Well, iii. 5. 43 : "If you will tarry, holy pilgrim" [pilg(e)rim] ;
C. of E. v. i. 360: "These are the parents of these children"
(childeren, the original form of the word).

(</) Monosyllabic exclamations (ay, O, yea, nay, hail, etc.) and
monosyllables otherwise emphasized are similarly lengthened (like
Hail in i. 2. 5 of this play) ; also certain longer words ; as com-
mandement in M. of K iv. I. 442; safety (trisyllable) in Ham.
i. 3. 21; business (trisyllable, as originally pronounced) in/. C. iv.
i. 22: "To groan and sweat under the business" (so in several
other passages) ; and other words mentioned in the notes to the
plays in which they occur.

6. Words are also contracted for metrical reasons, like plurals
and possessives ending in a sibilant, as horse (see note on ii.4. 14 of
this play), sense (see on v. I. 27), princess, marriage (plural and pos-
sessive), image, etc. So many contracted superlatives, like kindest
(see other examples in this play referred to in note on ii. i. 24), and
other words mentioned in the notes on this and other plays.

7. The accent of words is also varied in many instances for met-
rical reasons. Thus we find both revenue and revenue in the first
scene of the M. N. D. (lines 6 and 158), 6bscure and obscure,
pursue and pursue, distinct and distinct, etc.

These instances of variable accent must not be confounded with
those in which words were uniformly accented differently in the
time of Shakespeare; like aspect, authdrized (see note on iii. 4. 66),
chdstise (see on i. 5. 27), imp6rtune, persever (never persevere},
perseverance (see note on iv. 3. 93), purveyor (see on i. 6. 22),
rheumatic, etc.

8. Alexandrines, or verses of twelve syllables, with six accents,
occur here and there; as in i. 2. 38, 58, 64, etc., in this play. They
must not be confounded with female lines with two extra syllables
(see on I above), or with other lines in which two extra unaccented
syllables may occur.

Notes 1 53

9. Incomplete verses, of one or more syllables, are scattered
through the plays. See ii. I. 20, 41, 51, 66, etc., in this play.

10. Doggerel measure is used in the very earliest comedies
(Z. L. L. and C. of E. in particular) in the mouths of comic char-
acters, but nowhere else in those plays, and never anywhere after
1597 or 1598.

11. Rhyme occurs frequently in the early plays, but diminishes
with comparative regularity from that period until the latest. Thus,
in Z. Z. Z. there are about 1 100 rhyming verses (about one-third
of the whole number), in the M. N. D. about 900, in Rich. II.
and R. and J. about 500 each, while in Cor. and A. and C. there are
only about 40 each, in the Temp, only two, and in the W. T. none
at all, except in the chorus introducing act iv. Songs, interludes,
And other matter not in ten-syllable measure are not included in
this enumeration. In the present play, out of some 2000 verses,
about 100 are in rhyme, with about 130 shorter ones.

Alternate rhymes are found only in the plays written before
1599 or 1600. In Z. Z. Z. we find 242 such lines, in the M. of V.
only four lines at the end of iii. 2. In Much Ado and A. Y. L. we
also find a few lines, but none at all in subsequent plays, like the

present one.

Rhymed couplets, or "rhyme-tags," are often found at the end c
scenes; as in the first scene, and twenty other scenes, of the pres-
ent play. In Ham. 14 out of 20 scenes, and in the M. of V. 13
out of 20, have such "tags" ; but in the latest plays they are not
so frequent. The Temp., for instance, has but one, and the Win-
ter's Tale none.

In this play, the first scene, and portions of other scenes in which
the Witches appear, are in trochaic metre, the accents being on the
odd syllables (ist, 3d, 5th, etc.). See the first note on act i.

12 In this edition of Shakespeare, the final -ed of past tenses
and participles is printed -V when the word is to be pronounced in
the ordinary way; as in s&ow'J, line 15, and fatd, line 20, of the
second scene. But when the metre requires that the -ed be made a

154 Notes'

separate syllable, the e is retained; as in carved, line 19, of the
same scene, where the word is a dissyllable. The only variation
from this rule is in verbs like cry, die, etc., the -ed of which is very
rarely, if ever, made a separate syllable.

SHAKESPEARE'S USE OF VERSE AND PROSE IN THE PLAYS.—
This is a subject to which the critics have given very little atten-
tion, but it is an interesting study. In many of the plays we find
scenes entirely in verse or in prose, and others in which the two are
mixed. In general, we may say that verse is used for what is dis-
tinctly poetical, and prose for what is not poetical. The distinction,
however, is not so clearly marked in the earlier as in the later
plays. The second scene of the M. of V., for instance, is in prose,
because'Portia and Nerissa are talking about the suitors in a familiar
and playful way; but in the T. G. of V., where Julia and Lucetta
are discussing the suitors of the former in much the same fashion,
the scene is in verse. Dowden, commenting on Kick. //., re-
marks : " Had Shakespeare written the play a few years later, we
may be certain that the gardener and his servants (iii. 4) would
not have uttered stately speeches in verse, but would have spoken
homely prose, and that humour would have mingled with the
pathos of the scene. The same remark may be made with refer-
ence to the subsequent scene (v. 5) in which his groom visits the
dethroned king in the Tower." Comic characters and those in low
life generally speak in prose in the later plays, as Dowden inti-
mates, but in the very earliest ones doggerel verse is much used
instead. See on 10 above.

The change from prose to verse is well illustrated in the third
scene of the M. of V. It begins with plain prosaic talk about a
business matter; but when Antonio enters, it rises at once to the
higher level of poetry. The sight of Antonio reminds Shylock of
his hatred of the Merchant, and the passion expresses itself in verse,
the vernacular tongue of poetry. We have a similar change in
the first scene of /. C, where, after the quibbling " chaff " of the
mechanics about their trades, the mention of Pompey reminds the

Notes 155

Tribune of their plebeian fickleness, and his scorn and indignation
flame out in most eloquent verse.

The reasons for the choice of prose or verse are not always so
clear as in these instances. We are seldom puzzled to explain the
prose, but not unfrequently we meet with verse where we might
expect prose. As Professor Corson remarks {Introduction to Shake-
speare, 1889), " Shakespeare adopted verse as the general tenor of
his language, and therefore expressed much in verse, that is within
the capabilities of prose; in other words, his verse constantly
encroaches upon the domain of prose, but his prose can never be
said to encroach upon the domain of verse." If in rare instances
we think we find exceptions to this latter statement, and prose
actually seems to usurp the place of verse, I believe that careful
study of the passage will prove the supposed exception to be appar-
ent rather than real.

The present play is almost entirely in verse, the only prose being
the letter in i. 5, the Porter's part (ii. 3), and v. i, which is all in
prose except the last nine lines.

SOME BOOKS FOR TEACHERS AND STUDENTS. — A few out of
the many books that might be commended to the teacher and the
critical student are the following: Halliwell-Phillipps's Outlines
of the Life of Shakespeare (7th ed. 1887); Sidney Lee's Life of
Shakespeare (1898; for ordinary students the abridged ed. of 1899
is preferable); Schmidt's Shakespeare Lexicon (3d ed. 1902);
Littledale's ed. of Dyce's Glossary (1902); Bartlett's Concordance
to Shakespeare (1895); Abbott's Shakespearian Grammar (1873);
Furness's "New Variorum" ed. of Macbeth (revised ed. 1903;
encyclopedic and exhaustive) ; Dowden's Shakspere: His Mind and
Art (American ed. 1881); Hudson's Life, Art, and Characters of
Shakespeare (revised ed. 1882); Mrs. Jameson's Characteristics of
Women (several eds., some with the title, Shakespeare Heroines) ;
Ten Brink's Five Lectures on Shakespeare (1895); Boas's shake~
speare and His Predecessors (1895); Dyer's Folk-lore of Shake-
speare (American ed. 1884); Gervinus's Shakespeare Commentaries

,56

Notes

(Bunnett's translation, 1875); Wordsworth's Shakespeare^ Knowl-
edge of the Bible Qd ed. 1880); Elson's Shakespeare in Music
(1901).

Some of the above hooks will be useful to all readers who are
interested in special subjects or in general criticism of Shakespeare.
Among those which are better suited to the needs of ordinary
readers and students, the following may be mentioned: Phin's
Cyclopedia and Glossary of Shakespeare (1902, more compact and
cheaper than Dyce); Dowden's Shakspere Primer (1877, small
but invaluable); Rolfe's Shakespeare the Boy (1896, treating of
the home and school life, the games and sports, the manners,
customs, and folk-lore of the poet's time); Guerber's Myths of
Greece and Rome (for young students who may need information
on mythological allusions not explained in the notes).

Black's Judith Shakespeare (1884, a novel, but a careful study
of the scene and the time) is a book that I always commend to
young people, and their elders will also enjoy it. The Lambs'
Tales from Shakespeare is a classic for beginners in the study of
the dramatist ; and in Rolfe's ed. the plan of the authors is carried
out in the Notes by copious illustrative quotations from the plays.
Mrs. Cowden-Clarke's Girlhood of Shakespeare 's Heroines (sev-
eral eds.) will particularly interest girls ; and both girls and boys
will find Bennett's Master Skylark (1897) anfl Imogen Clark's
Will Shakespeare's Little Lad (1897) equally entertaining and
instructive.

H. Snowden Ward's Shakespeare's Town and Times (1896) and
John Leyland's Shakespeare Country (1900) are copiously illus-
trated books (yet inexpensive) which may be particularly com-
mended for school libraries.

A book that may be specially commended to teachers and
students in connection with the present play is Shakespeare
Studies: Macbeth, by Misses Porter and Clarke (American Book
Co.). It will be found very suggestive of topics for discussion, col-
lateral reading, etc.

Notes 157

ABBREVIATIONS IN THE NOTES. — The abbreviations of the
names of Shakespeare's plays will be readily understood ; as
T. N. for Twelfth Night, Cor. for Coriolanus, 3 Hen. VI. for
The Third Part of King Henry the Sixth, etc. P. P. refers to
The Passionate Pilgrim; V. and A. to Venus and Adonis ; L. C.
to Lover's Complaint ; and Bonn, to the Sonnets.

Other abbreviations that hardly need explanation are Cf. (confer,
compare), Fol. (following), Id. (idem, the same), and Pro!, (pro-
logue). The numbers of the lines in the references (except for the
present play) are those of the " Globe " edition (the cheapest and
best edition of Shakespeare in one compact volume), which is now
generally accepted as the standard for line-numbers in works of ref-
erence (Schmidt's Lexicon, Abbott's Grammar, Dowden's Primer,
the publications of the New Shakspere Society, etc).

THE STORY OF THE PLAY AS GIVEN BY HOLINSHED. — The fol-
lowing extracts from Holinshed contain all the passages referred to
by the various commentators. The text is that of the edition of
1587, which was undoubtedly the one that Shakespeare used.1

" It appears that King Duffe, who commenced his reign ' in the
yeare after the incarnation 968, as saith Hector Boetius,' treated
' diuers robbers and pillers of the common people ' in a style which
created no small offence; some were executed, and the rest were
obliged ' either to get them ouer into Ireland, either else to learne
some manuall occupation wherewith to get their liuing, yea though
they were neuer so great gentlemen borne.' There was therefore
great murmuring at such rigorous reforms. But,

" ' In the meane time the king [Duffe] fell into a languishing
disease, not so greeuous as strange, for that none of his physicians
could perceiue what to make of it. For there was scene in him
no token, that either choler, melancholic, flegme, or any other

i For these extracts and the thread of narrative connecting them, I
am indebted (by permission) to Furness's edition of Macbeth. I have
added a few explanatory foot-notes. — (Ed.)

158 Notes

vicious humor did any thing abound, whereby his bodie should be
brought into such decaie and consumption (so as there remained
vnneth l anie thing vpon him saue skin and bone).

" ' And sithens it appeared manifestlie by all outward signes and
tokens, that naturall moisture did nothing faile in the vitall spirits,
his colour also was fresh and faire to behold, with such liuelines of
looks, that more was not to be wished for; he had also a temperat
desire and appetite to his meate & drinke, but yet could he not
sleepe in the night time by any prouocations that could be deuised,
but still fell into exceeding sweats, which by no means might be
restreined. The physicians perceiuing all their medicines to want
due effect, yet to put him in some comfort of helpe, declared to
him that they would send for some cunning physicians into furreigne
parts, who happilie being inured with such kind of diseases, should
easilie cure him, namelie so soone as the spring of the yeare was
once come, which of it selfe should helpe much thervnto.'

" The Chronicle goes on to state that the ' king being sicke yet
he regarded iustice to be executed,' and that a rebellion which
arose was kept from his knowledge, 'for doubt of increasing his
sickness.' It then proceeds : —

" ' But about that present time there was a murmuring amongst
the people, how the king was vexed with no naturall sicknesse, but
by sorcerie and magicall art, practised by a sort of witches dwelling
in a towne of Murrey land, called Fores.

"' Wherevpon, albeit the author of this secret talke was not
knowne: yet being brought to the kings eare, it caused him to
send foorthwith certeine wittie persons thither, to inquire of the
truth. They that were thus sent, dissembling the cause of their
iornie, were receiued in the darke of the night into the castell of
Fores by the lieutenant of the same, called Donwald, who continu-

1 Scarcely, hardly. Cf. 2 Hen. VI. ii. 4. 8 : —

" Uneath may she endure the flinty streets
To tread them with her tender-feeling feet." — (Ed.)

Notes 159

ing faithfull to the king, had kept that castell against the rebels to
the kings vse. Vnto him therefore these messengers declared the
cause of their comming, requiring his aid for the accomplishment of
the kings pleasure.

" ' The souldiers, which laie there in garrison had an inkling that
there was some such matter in hand as was talked of amongst the
people ; by reason that' one of them kept as concubine a yoong
woman, which was daughter to one of the witches as his paramour,
who told him the whole maner vsed by hir mother & other hir
companions, with their intent also, which was to make awaie the
king. The souldier hauing learned this of his lemman,1 told the
same to his fellowes, who made report to Donwald, and hee shewed
it to the kings messengers, and therwith sent for the yoong damo-
sell which the souldier kept, as then being within the castell, and
caused hir vpon streict examination to confesse the whole matter
as she had scene and knew. Wherevpon learning by hir con-
fession in what house in the towne it was where they wrought there
mischiefous mysterie, he sent foorth souldiers, about the middest
of the night, who breaking into the house, found one of the witches
resting vpon a wodden broch an image of wax at the fier, resem-
bling in each feature the kings person, made and deuised (as is to
be thought) by craft and art of the diuell : an other of them sat
reciting certeine words of inchantment, and still basted the image
with a certeine liquor verie busilie.

'"The souldiers finding them occupied in this wise, tooke them
togither with the image, and led them into the castell, where being
streictlie examined for what purpose they went about such manner
of inchantment, they answered, to the end to make away the king :
for as the image did waste afore the tire, so did the bodie of the
king breake foorth in sweat.2 And as for the words of inchant-

i Leman ; i.e. mistress, paramour. Cf. T. N. ii. 3. 26 and 2 Hen. IV.

v. 3. 49. — .

2 This kind of witchcraft is very ancient. We find it in the Idyls of
Theocritus and the Eclogues of Virgil ; also in Horace (Efodes, xvii.

1 60 Notes

ment, they serued to keepe him still wak'ing from sleepe, so that as
the wax euer melted, so did the kings flesh : by the which meanes
it should haue come to passe, that when the wax was once cleane
consumed, the death of the king should immediatlie follow. So
were they taught by euil spirits, and hired to worke the feat by
the nobles of Murrey land. The slanders by, that heard such an
abhominable tale told by these witches, streightwaies brake the
image, and caused the witches (according as they had well de-
serued) to bee burnt to death.

" ' It was said that the king, at the verie same time that these
things were a dooing within the castell of Fores, was deliuered of
his languor, and slept that night without anie sweat breaking foorth
vpon him at all, & the next daie being restored to his strength, was
able to doo anie maner of thing that lay in man to doo, as though
he had not beene sicke before anie thing at all. But howsoeuer it
came to passe, truth it is, that when he was restored to his perfect
health, he gathered a power of men, & with the same went into
Murrey land against the rebels there, and chasing them from
thence, he pursued them into Rosse, and from Rosse into Cath-
nesse, where apprehending them, he brought them backe vnto
Fores, and there caused them to be hanged vp, on gallows and
gibets.

" ' Amongest them there were also certeine yoong gentlemen,
right beautifull and goodlie personages, being neere of kin vnto
Donwald capteine of the castell, and had beene persuaded to be
partakers with the other rebels, more through the fraudulent coun-
sell of diuerse wicked persons, than of their owne accord ; where-
vpon the foresaid Donwald lamenting their case, made earnest
labor and sute to the king to haue begged their pardon ; but
hauing a plaine deniall, he conceiued such an inward malice towards
the king, (though he shewed it not outwardlie at the first) that the

76 and Satires, i. 8. 30). See also the story of " The Leech of Folke-
stone " in The Itigoldsby Legends. — (Ed.)

Notes 1 6 1

same continued still boiling in his stomach, and ceased not, till
through setting on of his wife, and in reuenge of such vnthanke-
fulnesse, hee found meanes to murther the king within the foresaid
castell of Fores where he vsed to soiourne. For the king being in
that countrie, was accustomed to lie most commonlie within the
same castell, hauing a speciall trust in Donwald, as a man whom he
neuer suspected.

" ' But Donwald, not forgetting the reproch which his linage had
susteined by the execution of those his kinsmen, whome the king
for a spectacle to the people had caused to be hanged, could not
but shew manifest tokens of great griefe at home amongst his
familie : which his wife perceiuing, ceassed not to trauell with him,
till she vnderstood what the cause was of his displeasure. Which
at length when she had learned by his owne relation, she as one
that bare no lesse malice in hir heart towards the king, for the like
cause on hir behalfe, than hir husband did for his friends, coun-
selled him (sith the king oftentimes vsed to lodge in his house
without anie gard about him, other than the garrison of the castell,
which was whollie at his commandement) to make him awaie, and
shewed him the meanes wherby he might soonest accomplish it.

" ' Donwald thus being the more kindled in wrath by the words
of his wife, determined to follow hir aduise in the execution of so
heinous an act. Whervpon deuising with himselfe for a while,
which way hee might best accomplish his curssed intent, at length
he gat opportunitie, and sped his purpose as followeth. It chanced
that the king vpon the daie before he purposed to depart foorth
of the castell, was long in his oratorie at his praiers, and there con-
tinued till it was late in the night. At the last, comming foorth, he
called such afore him as had faithfullie serued him in pursute and
apprehension of the rebels, and giuing them heartie thanks, he be-
stowed sundrie honorable gifts amongst them, of the which number
Donwald was one, as he that had beene euer accounted a most
faithfull seruant to the king. . . .

'"Then Donwald, though he abhorred the act greatlie in his

MACBETH — II

1 62 Notes

heart, yet through instigation of his wife, hee called foure of his
seruants vnto him (whome he had made priuie to his wicked intent
before, and framed to his purpose with large gifts) and now declar-
ing vnto them, after what sort they should worke the feat, they
gladlie obeied his instructions, & speedilie going about the murther,
they enter the chamber (in which the king laie) a little before cocks
crow, where they secretlie cut his throte as he lay sleeping, without
anie buskling1 at all: and immediatlie by a posterne gate they
caried foorth the dead bodie into the fields,- and throwing it vpon
an horsse there prouided readie for that purpose, they conuey it
vnto a place, about two miles distant from the castell, where they
staied, and gat certeine labourers to helpe them to turne the course
of a little riuer running through the fields there, and digging a deepe
hole in the chanell, they burie the bodie in the same, ramming it vp
with stones and grauell so closelie, that setting the water in the
right course againe, no man could perceiue that anie thing had
beene newlie digged there. This they did by order appointed them
by Donwald as is reported, for that the bodie should not be found,
& by bleeding (when Donwald should be present) declare him to
be guiltie of the murther. For such an opinion men haue, that the
dead corps of anie man being slaine, will bleed abundantlie if the
murtherer be present. But for what consideration soeuer they
buried him there, they had no sooner finished the work, but that
they slue them whose helpe they vsed herein,. and streightwaies
therevpon fled into Orknie.

" ' Donwald, about the time that the murther was in dooing, got
him amongst them that kept the watch, and so continued in com-
panie with them all the residue of the night. But in the morning
when the noise was raised in the kings chamber how the king was
slaine, his bodie conueied away, and the bed all beraied with bloud;
he with the watch ran thither, as though he had knowne nothing
of the matter, and breaking into the chamber, and finding cakes of
bloud in the bed, and on the floore about the sides of it, he foorth-
1 Bustling, commotion. — (Ed.)

Notes 163

with slue the chamberleins, as guiltie of that heinous murther, and
then like a mad man running to and fro, he ransacked euerie cor-
ner within the castell, as though it had beene to haue scene if he
might haue found either the bodie, or anie of the murtherers hid in
anie priuie place : but at length comming to the posterne gate, and
finding it open, he burdened the chamberleins, whome he had slaine,
with ail the fault, they hauing the keies of the gates committed to
their keeping all the night, and therefore it could not be otherwise
(isaid he) but that they were of counsell in the committing of that
most detestable murther.

" ' Finallie, such was his ouer earnest diligence in the seuere in-
quisition and triall of the offenders heerein, that some of the lords
bugan to mislike the matter, and .to smell foorth shrewd tokens,
that he should not be altogither cleare himselfe. But for so much
as they were in that countrie, where hee had the whole rule, what
by reason of his friends and authentic togither, they doubted to
vtter what they thought, till time and place should better serue
therevnto, and heerevpon got them awaie euerie man to his home.

ACT II. Scene IV. — "'For the space of six moneths togither,
alter this heinous murther thus committed, there appeered no
sunne by day, nor moone by night in anie part of the realme, but
still was the skie couered with continuall clouds, and sometimes
suche outragious vvindes arose, with lightenings and tempests, that
the people were in great feare of present destruction. Monstrous
sights also that were scene within the Scotish kingdome that yeere '
['-.hat is, of King Duffe's murder, A.u. 972] ' were these, horsses in
Louthian, being of singular beautie and swiftnesse, did eate their
owne flesh, and would in no wise taste anie other meate. In Angus
there was a gentlewoman brought foorth a child without eies,
nose, hand, or foot. There was a sparhawke also strangled by an
o\vle.'

" Thus far the Chronicle of King Duffe supplied Shakespeare with
some of the details and accessories of his tragedy; and we now turn
to the history of the hero himself, Macbeth. But there is one other

164

Notes

incident recorded by Holinshed, on one of the few intermediate
pages of his Chronicle, between the stories of King Duffe and Mac-
beth, which I cannot but think attracted Shakespeare's notice as he
passed from one story to the other, and which was afterward worked
up by him in connection with Duncan's murder.1 As far as I am
aware, it has never been noted by any editor or commentator. It
seems that Kenneth, the brother and one of the successors of Duffe,
was a virtuous and able prince, and would have left an unstained
name had not the ambition to have his son succeed him tempted
him to poison secretly his nephew Malcome, the son of Duff and
the heir apparent to the throne. Kenneth then obtained from a
council at Scone the ratification of his son as his successor. ' Thus
might he seeme happie to all men,' continues Holinshed, ' but
yet to himselfe he seemed most vnhappie as he that could not but
still live in continuall feare, least his wicked practise concerning
the death of Malcome Duffe should come to light and knowledge
of the world. For so commeth it to passe, that such as are pricked
in conscience for anie secret offense committed, haue euer an vn-
quiet mind.' [What follows suggested, I think, to Shakespeare
'the voice,' at ii. 2. 35, that cried 'sleep no more.'] 'And (as the
fame goeth) it chanced that a voice was heard as he was in bed in
the night time to take his rest, vttering vnto him these or the like
woords in effect: "Thinke not Kenneth that the wicked slaughter
of Malcome Duffe by thee contriued, is kept secret from the knowl-
edge of the eternall God," &c. . . . The king with this voice being
striken into great dread and terror, passed that night without anie
sleepe comming in his eies.

"'After Malcolme ' [that is, 'after the incarnation of our Saviour
1034 yeeres,'] 'succeeded his nephue Duncane, the sonne of his
daughter Beatrice : for Malcolme had two daughters, the one which
was this Beatrice, being giuen in marriage vnto one Abbanath

1 The reader will bear in mind (see p. 157, foot-note) that I am
quoting Dr. Furness here, and that it is to him that this interesting
discovery is due. — (Ed.)

Notes 165

Crinen, a man of great nobilitie, and thane of the Isles and west
part of Scotland, bare of that manage the foresaid Duncane. The
other called Doada, was maried vnto Sinell the thane of Glammis,
by whome she had issue [see allusion to Sinel in I. 3. 71] one
Makbeth a valiant gentleman, and one that if he had not beene
somewhat cruell of nature, might haue beene thought most woorthie
the gouernement of a realme. On the other part, Duncane was so
soft and gentle of nature, that the people wished the inclinations
and maners of these two cousins to haue beene so tempered and
enterchangeablie bestowed betwixt them, that where the one had
too much clemencie, and the other of crueltie, the means vertue
betwixt these two extremities might haue reigned by indifferent
partition in them both, so should Duncane haue proued a woorthie
king, and Makbeth an excellent capteine. The beginning of Dun-
cans reigne was verie quiet and peaceable, without anie notable
trouble ; but after it was perceiued how negligent he was in pun-
ishing offenders, manie misruled persons tooke occasion thereof
to trouble the peace and quiet state of the common-wealth, by
seditious commotions which first had their beginnings in this
wise.

" ' Banquho the thane of Lochquhaber, of whom the house of the
Stewards is descended, the which by order of linage hath now for a
long time inioied the crowne of Scotland, euen till these our daies,
as he gathered the finances due to the king, and further punished
somewhat sharpelie such as were notorious off endors, being assailed
by a number of rebels inhabiting in that countrie, and spoiled of
the monie and all other things, had much a doo to get awaie with
life, after he had receiued sundrie grieuous wounds amongst them.
Yet escaping their hands, after hee was somewhat recouered of his
hurts and was able to ride, he repaired to the court, where making
his complaint to the king in most earnest wise, he purchased at length
that the offenders were sent for by a sergeant at armes, to appeare
to make answer vnto such matters as should be laid to their charge :
but they augmenting their mischiefous act with a more wicked

1 66 Notes

deed, after they had misused the messenger with sundrie kinds of
reproches, they finallie slue him also.

"'Then doubting not but for such contemptuous demeanor
against the kings regall authoritie, they should be inuaded with all
the power the king could make, Makdowald one of great estimation
among them, making first a confederacie with his neerest friends
and kinsmen, tooke vpon him to be chiefe captiene' of all such
rebels, as would stand against the king, in maintenance of their
grieuous offenses latelie committed against him. Manie slanderous
words also, and railing tants this Makdowald vttered against h'is
prince, calling him a faint-hearted milkesop, more meet to gouerne
a sort of idle moonks in some cloister, than to haue the rule of such
valiant and hardie men of warre as the Scots were. He vsed also
such subtill persuasions and forged allurements, that in a small tine
he had gotten togither a mightie power of men: [see i. 2, 9-i;i]
for out of the westerne Isles there came vnto him a great mull i-
tude of people, offering themselues to assist him in that rebellious
quarell, and out of Ireland in hope of the spoile came no smill
number of Kernes and Galloglasses, offering gladlie to serue vncler
him, whither it should please him to lead them.

"'Makdowald thus hauing a mightie puissance about him, in-
countered with such of the kings people as were sent against him
into Lochquhaber, and discomfiting them, by mere force tooke their
capteine Malcolme, and after the end of the battell smote off his
head. This ouerthrow being notified to the king, did put him in
woonderfull feare, by reason of his small skill in warlike affaires.
Calling therefore his nobles to a councell, he asked of them their
best aduise for the subduing of Makdowald & other the rebels.
Here, in sundrie heads (as euer it happeneth) were sundrie opin-
ions, which they vttered according to euerie man his skill. At
length Makbeth speaking much against the kings softnes, and ouer-
much slacknesse in punishing offendors, whereby they had such
time to assemble togither, he promised notwithstanding, if the
charge were committed vnto him and vnto Eanquho, so to order

Notes 167

the matter, that the rebels should be shortly vanquished & quite put
ilowne, and that not so much as one of them should be found to
make resistance within the countrie.

" ' And euen so it came to passe : for being sent foorth with a
new power, at his entring into Lochquhaber, the fame of his
comming put the enimies in such feare, that a great number of
them stale secretlie awaie from their capteine Makdowald, who
neuerthelesse inforced thereto, gaue battell vnto Makbeth, with the
residue which remained with him : but being ouercome, and fleeing
for refuge into a castell (within the which his wife & children were
inclosed) at length when he saw how he could neither defend the
hold anie longer against his enimies, nor yet vpon surrender be suf-
fered to depart with life saued, hee first slue his wife and children,
a ad lastlie himselfe, least if he had yeelded simplie, he should haue
beene executed in most cruell wise for an example to other. Mak-
beth entring into the castell by the gates, as then set open, found
the carcasse of Macclowald lieng dead there amongst the residue of
the slaine bodies, which when he beheld, remitting no peece of his
cruell nature with that pitifull sight, he caused the head to be cut
off, and set vpon a poles end, and so sent it as a present to the king
who as then laie at Bertha. The headlesse trunke he commanded
to bee hoong vp vpon an high paire of gallowes.

" ' Them of the westerne Isles suing for pardon, in that they had
aided Makdowald in his tratorous enterprise, he fined at great sums
of moneie : and those whome he tooke in Lochquhaber, being come
thither to beare armor against the king, he put to execution. Her-
vpon the Ilandmen conceiued a deadlie grudge towards him, calling
him a couenant-breaker, a bloudie tyrant, & a cruell murtherer of
them whome the kings mercie had pardoned. With which reproch-
full words Makbeth being kindled in wrathfull ire against them, had
passed ouer with an armie into the Isles, to haue taken reuenge
vpon them for their liberall * talke, had he not beene otherwise per-

1 Too free. S. uses it in a'similar sense = licentious, wanton. Cf.
Much Ado, iv. i. 93; Ham. iv. 7. 171 ; Otli. ii. i. 165, etc.— (Ed.)

1 68 Notes

suaded by some of his friends, and partlie pacified by gifts presented
vnto him on the behalfe of the Ilandmen, seeking to auoid his dis-
pleasure. Thus was iustice and law restored againe to the old
accustomed course, by the diligent means of Makbeth. Imme-
diatlie wherevpon woord came that Sueno king of Norway was
arriued in Fife with a puissant armie, to subdue the whole realme
of Scotland.

"'The crueltie cf this Sueno was such, that he neither spared
man, woman, nor child, of what age, condition or degree soeuer
they were. Whereof when K. Duncane was v certified, he set all
slouthfull and lingering delaies apart, and began to assemble an
armie in most spedie wise, like a verie valiant capteine : for often-
times it happeneth, that a dull coward and slouthfull person, con-
streined by necessitie, becommeth verie hardie and actiue. There-
fore when his whole power was come togither, he diuided the same
into three battels. The first was led by Makbeth, the second by
Banquho, & the king himselfe gouerned in the maine battell or
middle ward, wherein were appointed to attend and wait upon his
person the most part of all the residue of the Scotish nobilitie.

"'The armie of Scotishmen being thus ordered, came vnto Cul-
ros, where incountering with the enimies, after a sore and cruell
foughten battell, Sueno remained victorious, and Malcolme with
his Scots discomfited. Howbeit the Danes were so broken by this
battell, that they were not able to make long chase on their eni-
mies, but kept themselues all night in order of battell, for doubt
least the Scots assembling togither againe, might haue set vpon
them at some aduantage. Onjthe morrow, when the fields were
discouered, and that it was perceiued how no enimies were to be
found abrode, they gathered the spoile, which they diuided amongst
them, according to the law of armes. Then was it ordeined by com-
mandement of Sueno, that no souldier should hurt either man,
woman, or child, except such as were found with weapon in hand
readie to make resistance, for he hoped now to conquer the realme
without further bloudshed.

Notes 169

"'But when knowledge was giuen how Duncane was fled to the
castell of Bertha, and that Makbeth was gathering a new power to
withstand the incursions of the Danes, Sueno raised his tents &
comming to the said castell, laid a strong siege round about it.
Duncane seeing himselfe thus enuironed by his enimies, sent a
secret message by counsell of Banquho to Makbeth, commanding
him to abide at Inchcuthill, till he heard from him some other
newes. In the meane time Duncane fell in fained communication
with Sueno, as though he would haue yeelded vp the castell into
his hands, vnder certeine conditions, and this did he to driue time,
and to put his enimies out of all suspicion of anie enterprise ment
against them, till all things were brought to passe that might serue
for the purpose. At length when they were fallen at a point for ren-
dring vp the hold, Duncane offered to send foorth of the castell
into the campe greate prouision of vittels to refresh the armie,
which offer was gladlie accepted of the Danes, for that they had
beene in great penurie of sustenance manie daies before.

"'The Scots heereupon tooke the iuice of mekilwoort berries,
and mixed the same in their ale and bread, sending it thus spiced
& confectioned, in great abundance vnto their enimies. They
reioising that they had got meate and drinke sufficient to satisfie
their bellies, fell to eating and drinking after such greedie wise,
that it seemed they stroue who might deuoure and swallow vp
most, till the operation of the berries spread in such sort through
all the parts of their bodies, that they were in the end brought into
a fast dead sleepe,that in manner it was jmjpossible to awake them.
Then foorthwith Duncane sent vnto Makbeth, commanding him
with all diligence to come and set vpon the enimies, being in easie
point to be ouercome. Makbeth making no delaie, came with his
people to the place where his enimies were lodged, and first killing
the watch, afterwards entered the campe, and made such slaughter
on all sides without anie resistance that it was a woonderfull matter
to behold, for the Danes were so heauie of sleepe that the most
part of them were slaine and neuer stirred: other that were awak-

iyo

Notes

ened either by the noise or other waies foorth, were so amazed and
dizzie headed vpon their wakening, that they were not able to make
anie defense : so that of the whole number there escaped no more
but onelie Sueno himselfe and ten other persons, by whose helpe
he got to his ships lieng at rodejn the mouth of Taie.

". ' The most part of the mariners, when they heard what plentie
of meate and drinke the Scots had sent vnto the campe, came from
the sea thither to be partakers thereof, and so were slaine amongst
their fellowes: by meanes whereof when Sueno perceiued how
through lacke of mariners he should not be able to conueie awaie
his nauie, he furnished one ship throughlie with such as were left,
and in the same sailed backe into Norwaie, cursing the time that he
set forward on this infortunate iournie. The other ships which he
left behind him, within three daies after his departure from thence,
were tossed so togither by violence of an east wind, that beating
and rushing one against another, they sunke there, and lie in the
same place euen vnto these daies, to the great danger of other such
ships as come on that coast : for being couered with the floud when
the tide commeth, at the ebbing againe of the same, some part of
them appeere aboue water.

" 'The place where the Danish vessels were thus lost, is yet called
Drownelow sands. This ouerthrow receiued in manner afore said
by Sueno, was verie displeasant to him and his people, as should
appeere, in that it was a custome manie yeeres after, that no knights
were made in Norwaie, except they were first sworne to reuenge
the slaughter of their countriemen and friends thus slaine in Scot-
land. The Scots hauing woone so notable a victorie, after they
had gathered & divided the spoile of the field, caused solemne pro-
cessions to be made in all places of the realme, and thanks to be
giuen to almightie God, that had sent them so faire a day ouer their
enimies. But whilest the people were thus at their processions,
woord was brought that a new fleet of Danes was arriued at King-
come, sent thither by Canute king of England, in reuenge of his
brother Suenos ouerthrow. To resist these enimies, which were

Notes 1 7 1

alreadie landed, and busie in spoiling the countrie ; Makbeth and
Banquho were sent with the kings authoritie, who hauing with
them a conuenient power, incountred the enimies, slue part of
them, and chased the other to their ships. They that escaped and
got once to their ships, obteined of Makbeth for a great summe of
gold [see i. 2. 60-62], that such of their friends as were slaine at
this last bickering, might be buried in saint Colmes Inch. In
memorie whereof, manie old sepultures are yet in the said Inch,
there to be scene grauen with the armes of the Danes, as the maner
of burieng noble men still is and heeretofore hath beene vsed.

"'A peace was also concluded at the same fime betwixt the
Danes and Scotishmen, ratified (as some haue written) in this wise :
That from thencefoorth the Danes should neuer come into Scotland
to make anie warres against the Scots by anie maner of meanes.
And these were the warres that Duncane had with forren enimies,
in the seventh yeere of his reigne. Shortlie after happened a
strange and vncouth woonder, which afterward was the cause of
much trouble in the realme of Scotland, as ye shall after heare.

ACT I. Scene III. — '"It fortuned as Makbeth and Banquho
iournied towards Fores, where the king then laie, they went sport-
ing by the waie togither without other companie, saue onelie them-
selues, passing thorough the woods and fields, when suddenlie in
the middest of a laund, there met them three women in strange
and wild apparell, resembling creatures of elder world, whome when
they attentiuelie beheld, woondering much at the sight, the first of
them spake and said; All haile Makbeth, thane of Glammis (for he
had latelie entered into that dignitie and office by the death of his
father Sinell). The second of them said ; Haile Makbeth thane of
Cawder. But the third said; All haile Makbeth that heereafter
shalt be king of Scotland.

"'Then Banquho; What manner of women (saith he) are you,
that seeme so little fauourable vnto me, whereas to my fellow
heere, besides high offices, ye assigne also the kingdome, appointing
foorth nothing for me at all ? Yes (saith the first of them) we

172

Notes

promise greater benefits vnto thee, than vnto him, for he shall
reigne in deed, but with an vnluckie end : neither shall he leaue
anie issue behind him to succeed in his place, where contrarilie
thou in deed shalt not reigne at all, but of thee those shall be
borne which shall gouern the Scotish kingdome by long order of
continuall descent. Herewith the foresaid women vanished imme-
diatlie out of their sight. This was reputed at the first but some
vaine fantasticall illusion by Mackbeth and Banquho, insomuch
that Banquho would call Mackbeth in iest king of Scotland; and
Mackbeth againe would call him in sport likewise, the father of
manie kings. But afterwards the common opinion was, that these
women were either the weird sisters, that is (as ye would say) the
goddesses of destinie, or else some nymphs or feiries, indued with
knowledge of prophesie by their necromanticail science, bicause
euerie thing came to passe as they had spoken. For shortlie after,
the thane of Cawder being condemned at Fores of treason against
the king committed ; his lands, liuings, and offices were giuen of the
kings liberalise to Mackbeth.

"'The same night after, at supper, Banquho iested with him and
said; Now Mackbeth thou hast obteined those things which the two
former sisters prophesied, there remaineth onelie for thee to pur-
chase that which the third said should come to passe. Wherevpon
Mackbeth reuoluing the thing in his mind, began euen then to
deuise how he might atteine to the kingdome : but yet he thought
with himselfe that he must tarie a time, which should aduance him
thereto (by the diuine prouidence) as it had come to passe in his
former preferment.

" ' But shortlie after it chanced that king Duncane, hauing two
sonnes by his wife which was the daughter of Siward earle of
Northumberland, he made the elder of them called Malcolme
prince of Cumberland, as it were thereby to appoint him his suc-
cessor in the kingdome, immediatlie after his deceasse.

ACT I. Scene IV. — "'Mackbeth sore troubled herewith, for
that he saw by this means his hope sore hindered (where, by the

Notes 173

old lawes of the realme, the ordinance was, that if he that should
succeed were not of able age to take the charge vpon himselfe, he
that was next of bloud vnto him should be admitted) he began to
take counsell how he might vsurpe the kingdome by force, hauing
a iust quarell so to doo (as he tooke the matter) for that Duncane
did what in him lay to defraud him of all inaner of title and claime,
which he might in time to come prete-.d vnto the crowne.

"'The woords of the three weird misters also (of whom before ye
haue heard) greatlie incouraged him herevnto, but speciallie his
wife lay sore vpon him to attempt the thing, as she that was verie
ambitious, burning in vnquenchable desire to beare the name of a
queene. At length therefore, communicating his purposed intent
with his trustie friends, amongst whome Banquho was the chiefest,
vpon confidence of their promised aid, he slue the king at Enuerns,
or (as some say) at Botgosuane, in the sixt yeare of his reigne.

ACT II. Scene IV. — "'Then hauing a companie about him of
such as he had made priuie to his enterprise, he caused himselfe
to be proclaimed king, and foorthwith went vnto Scone, where (by
common consent) he receiued the inuesture of the kingdome
according to the accustomed maner. The bodie of Duncane was
first conueied vnto Elgine, & there buried in kinglie wise; but after-
wards it was rempued and conueied vnto Colmekill, and there laid
in r. sepulture amongst his predecessors, in the yeare after the birth
of our Sauiour, 1046.

" « Malcolme Cammore and Donald Bane the sons of king Dur>-
:ane, for feare of their Hues (which they might well know that Mack-
beth would seeke to bring to end for his more sure confirmation in
the estate) fled into Cumberland, where Malcolme remained, till time
that saint Edward the sonne of Etheldred recouered the dominion
of England from the Danish power, the which Edward receiued
Malcolme by way of most friendlie enterteinment; but Donald
passed ouer into Ireland, where he was tenderlie cherished by the
king of that land. Mackbeth, after the departure thus of Duncanes
sonnes, vsed great liberalise towards the nobles of the realme,

Notes

thereby to win their fauour, and when he saw that no man went
about to trouble him, he set his whole intention to mainteine
iustice, and to punish all enormities and abuses, which had chanced
through the feeble and slouthfull administration of Duncane.'

" [And so vigorously did Macbeth carry out his reforms, that
' these theeues, barretters, and other oppressors of the innocent
people' . . . 'were streight waies apprehended by armed men,
and trussed vp in halters on gibbets, according as they had iustlie
deserued. The residue of misdooers that were left, were punished
and tamed in such sort, that manie yeares after all theft and reif-
fings were little heard of, the people inioieng the blissefull benefit
of good peace and tranquilitie. Mackbeth shewing himselfe thus a
most diligent punisher of all iniuries and wrongs attempted by anie
disordered persons within his realme, was accounted the sure
defense and buckler of innocent people; and hereto he also applied
his whole indeuor, to cause yoong men to exercise themselues in
vertuous maners, and men of the church to attend their diuine ser-
uice according to their vocations.

" ' He caused to be slaine sundrie thanes, as of Cathnes, Suther-
land, Stranauerne, and Ros, because through them and their
seditious attempts, much trouble dailie rose in the realme.' . . .
'To be briefe, such were the woorthie dooings and princelie acts
of this Mackbeth in the administration of the realme, that if he had
atteined therevnto by rightfull means, and continued in vpright-
nesse of iustice as he began, till the end of his reigne, he might
well haue beene numbred amongest the most noble princes that
anie where had reigned. He made manie holesome laws and
statutes for the publike weale of his subiects.' Holinshed here
' sets foorth according to Hector Boetius ' some of the laws made
by Macbeth, and for one of them the king certainly deserves a
handsome notice from some of our most advanced reformers of the
present day : ' The eldest daughter shall inherit hir fathers lands,
as well as the eldest sonne should, if the father leave no sonne
behind him.']

Notes 175

"'These and the like commendable lawes Makbeth caused to be
put as then in vse, gouerning the realme for the space of ten yeares
in equall iustice. But this was but a counterfet zeale of equitie
shewed by him, partlie against his naturall inclination to purchase
thereby the fauour of the people. Shortlie after, he began to shew
what he was, in stead of equitie practising crueltie. . . . For the
pricke of conscience (as it chanceth euer in tyrants, and such as
atteine to anie estate by vnrighteous means) caused him euer to
feare, least he should be serued of the same cup as he had min-
istred to his predecessor. The woords also of the three weird
sisters would not out of his mind, which as they promised him the
kingdome, so likewise did they promise it at the same time vnto the
posteritie of Banquho.

ACT III. Scenes I. and III. — "'He willed therefore the same
Banquho with his sonne named Fleance, to come to a supper that
he had prepared for them, which was in deed, as he had deuised,
present death at the hands of certeine murderers, whom he hired
to execute that deed, appointing them to meete with the same
Banquho and his sonne without the palace, as they returned to
their lodgings, and there to slea them, so that he would not haue
his house slandered, but that in time to come he might cleare him-
selfe, if anie thing were laid to his charge vpon anie suspicion that
might arise.

" ' It chanced yet by the benefit of the darke night, that though
the father were slaine, the sonne yet by the helpe of almightie God
reseruing him to better fortune, escaped that danger: and after-
wards hauing some inkeling (by the admonition of some friends
which he had in the court) how his life was sought no lesse than
his fathers, who was slaine not by chancemedlie l (as by the hand-
ling of the matter Makbeth woould haue had it to appeare), but

l The old law term for manslaughter. Dalton, in his Country Justice
(1620), says: " Manslaughter, otherwise called chancemedley ; is the kill-
ing a man feloniously, . . . and yet without any malice forethought,"
etc.— (Ed.)

176

Notes

euen vpon a prepensed deuise : wherevpon to auoid further perill
he fled into Wales.'

« [The old historian here makes a digression in order to ' rehearse
the originall line of those kings, which haue descended from the
foresaid Banquho.' It will suffice here to note that (according to
Holinshed) Fleance's great-grandson Alexander had two sons, from
one of whom descended ' the carles of Leuenox and Dernlie,' and
from the other came Walter Steward, who ' maried Margerie Bruce
daughter to king Robert Bruce, by whome he had issue king
Robert the second of that name,' ' the first ' (says French, Shake-
speareana Genealogica, p. 291) 'of the dynasty of Stuart, which
continued to occupy the throne until the son of Mary Queen of
Scots, James, the sixth of the name, was called to the throne of
England, as James the First.']

" ' But to returne vnto Makbeth, in continuing the historic, and
to begin where I left, ye shall vnderstand that after the contriued
slaughter of Banquho, nothing prospered with the foresaid Mak-
beth : for in maner euerie man began to doubt his owne life, and
durst vnneth appeare in the kings presence; and euen as there were
manie that stood in feare of him, so likewise stood he in feare of
manie, in such sort that he began to make those awaie by one sur-
mised cauillation or other, whome he thought most able to worke
him anie displeasure.

" ' At length he found such sweetnesse by putting his nobles thus
to death, that his earnest thirst after bloud in this behalfe might in
no wise be satisfied : for ye must consider he wan double profile
(as hee thought) hereby : for first they were rid out of the way
whome he feared, and then againe his coffers were inriched by
their goods which were forfeited to his vse, whereby he might the
better mainteine a gard of armed men about him to defend his
person from iniurie of them whom he had in anie suspicion. Fur-
ther, to the end he might the more cruellie oppresse his subjects
with all tyrantlike wrongs, he builded a strong castell on the top
of an hie hill called Dunsinane, situate in Cowrie, ten miles from

Notes 1 77

Perth, on such a proud height, that standing there aloft, a man
might behold well neere all the countries of Angus, Fife, Stermond,
and Ernedale, as it were lieng vnderneath him. This castell then
being founded on the top of that high hill, put the realme to great
charges before it was finished, for all the stuffe necessarie to the
building could not be brought vp without much toile and busi-
nesse. But Makbeth being once determined to haue the worke
go forward, caused the thanes of each shire within the realme
to come and helpe towards that building, each man his course
p.bout.

" ' At the last, when the turne fell vnto Makduff e thane of Fife
to builde his part, he sent workemen with all needfull prouision,
and commanded them to shew such diligence in euerie behalfe,
that no occasion might bee giuen for the king to find fault with
him, in that he came not himselfe as other had doone, which he
refused to doo, for doubt lest the king bearing him (as he partlie
vnderstood) no great good will, would laie violent handes vpon
him, as he had doone vpon diuerse other. Shortly after, Makbeth
comming to behold how the worke went forward, and bicause he
found not Makduff e there, he was sore offended, and said; I per-
ceiue this man will neuer obeie my commandements, till he be
ridden with a snaffle: but I shall prouide well inough for him.
Neither could he afterwards abide to looke vpon the said Mak-
duff e, either for that he thought his puissance ouer great; either
else for that he had learned of certeine wizzards, in whose words
he put great confidence (for that the prophesie had happened so
right, which the three faries or weird sisters had declared vnto him)
how that he ought to take heed of Makduffe, who in time to cr?me
should seeke to destroie him.

Acr IV. Scene 7. — "'And suerlie herevpon had he put Mak-
duffe to death, but that a certeine witch, whome hee had in great
trust, had told that he should neuer be slaine with man borne of anie
woman, nor vanquished till the wood of Bernane came to the castell
of Dunsinane. By this prophesie Makbeth put all feare out of his
MACBETH — 12

iy8 Notes

heart, supposing he might doo what he would, without anie feare
to be punished for the same, for by the one prophesie he beleeued
it was vnpossible for anie man to vanquish him, and by the ether
vnpossible to slea him. This vaine hope caused him to doo inanie
outragious things, to the greeuous oppression of his subiects. At
length Makduffe, to auoid perill of life, purposed with himselfe to
passe into England, to procure Malcolme Cammore to claime the
crowne of Scotland. But this was not so secretlie deuised by
Makduffe, but that Makbeth had knowledge giuen him thereof:
for kings (as is said) haue sharpe sight like vnto Lynx, and long
ears like vnto Midas. For Makbeth had in eurie noble mans house
one slie fellow or other in fee with him, to reueale all that was said
or doone within the same, by which slight he oppressed the most
part of the nobles of his realme [see iii. 4. 131].

ACT IV. Scene II. — " ' Immediatlie then, being aduertised where-
about Makduffe went, he came hastily with a great power into
Fife, and foorthwith besieged the castell where Makduffe dwelled,
trusting to haue found him therein. They that kept the house,
without anie resistance opened the gates, and suffered him to enter,
mistrusting none euill. But neuerthelesse Makbeth most cruellie
caused the wife and children of Makduffe, with all other whom he
found in that castell, to be slaine.

ACT IV. Scene HI, — "'Also he confiscated the goods of Mak-
duffe, proclaimed him traitor, and confined him out of all the parts
of his realme; but Makduffe was alreadie escaped out of danger,
and gotten into England vnto Malcolme Cammore, to trie what
purchase hee might make by means of his support to reuenge the
slaughter so cruellie executed on his wife, his children, and other
friends. At his comming vnto Malcolme, he declared into what
great miserie the estate of Scotland was brought, by the detestable
cruelties exercised by the tyrant Makbeth, hauing committed manie
horrible slaughters and murders, both as well of the nobles as com-
mons, for the which he was hated right mortallie of all his liege
people, desiring nothing more than to be deliuered of that intoller-

Notes 179

able and most heauie yoke of thraldome, which they susteined at
such a caitifes hands.

" ' Malcolme hearing Makduffes woorcls, which he vttered in verie
lamentable sort, for meere compassion and verie ruth that pearsed
his sorrowfull hart, bewailing the miserable state of his countrie, he
fetched a deepe sigh; which Makduffe perceiuing, began to fall
most earnestlie in hand with him, to enterprise the deliuering of the
Scotish people out of the hands of so cruell and bloudie a tyrant,
as Makbeth by too manie plaine experiments did shew himselfe to
be : which was an easie matter for him to bring to passe, consider-
ing not onelie the good title he had, but also the earnest desire of
the people to haue some occasioned ministred, whereby they might
be reuenged of those notable iniuries, which they dailie susteined
by the outragious crueltie of Makbeths misgouernance. Though
Malcolme was verie sorrowfull for the oppression of his countrie-
men the Scots, in maner as Makduffe had declared; yet doubting
whether he were come as one that ment vnfeinedlie as he spake, or
else as sent from Makbeth to betraie him, he thought to haue some
further triall, and therevpon dissembling his mind at the first, he
answered as followeth.

" ' I am trulie verie sorie for the miserie chanced to my countrie
of Scotland, but though I haue neuer so great affection to relieue
the same, yet by reason of certeine incurable vices, which reigne in
me, I am nothing meet thereto. First, such immoderate lust and
voluptuous sensualitie (the abhominable founteine of all vices) fol-
loweth me, that if I were made king of Scots, I should seeke to
defloure your maids and matrones, in such wise that mine intemper-
ancie should be more importable vnto you than the bloudie tyrannic
of Makbeth now is. Heereunto Makduffe answered : this suerly is a
verie euill fault, for many noble princes and kings haue lost both Hues
and kingdomes for the same; neuerthelesse there are women enow
in Scotland, and therefore follow my counsell, Make thy selfe king,
and I shall conueie the matter so wiselie, that thou shall be so satis-
fied at thy pleasure in such wise, that no man shall be aware thereof.

i8o Notes

" ' Then said Malcolme, I am also the most auaritious creature
on the earth, so that if I were king, I should seeke so manie waies
to get lands and goods, that I would slea the most part of all the
nobles of Scotland by surmised accusations, to the end I might
inioy their lands, goods, and possessions; and therefore to shew
you what mischiefe may insue on you through mine vnsatiable
couetousnes, I will rehearse vnto you a fable. There was a fox
hauing a sore place on him ouerset with a swarme of flies, that
continuallie sucked out hir bloud : and when one that came by and
saw this manner, demanded whether she would haue the flies
driuen beside hir, she answered no: for if these flies that are
alreadie full, and by reason thereof sucke not verie egerlie, should
be chased awaie, other that are emptie and fellie1 an hungred,
should light in their places, and sucke out the residue of my bloud
farre more to my greeuance than these, which now being satisfied
doo not much annoie me. Therefore saith Malcolme, suffer me to
remaine where I am, least if I atteine to the regiment of your
realme, mine inquenchable auarice may prooue such; that ye
would thinke the displeasures which now grieue you, should seeme
easie in respect of the vnmeasureable outrage, which might insue
through my comming amongst you.

" ' Makduffe to this made answer, how it was a far woorse fault
than the other: for auarice is the root of all mischiefe, and for
that crime the most part of our kings haue beene slaine and brought
to their finall end. Yet notwithstanding follow my counsel!, and
take vpon thee the crowne. There is gold and riches inough in
Scotland to satisfie thy greedie desire. Then said Malcolme againe,

1 The obsolete adverb corresponding to the adjective fell, and =
fiercely, cruelly. Cf. Spenser, F. Q. vi. u. 48 : —

" How many flyes, in whottest sommers day,
Do seize upon some beast whose flesh is bare,
That all the place with swarmes do overlay,
And with their litle stings right felly fare," etc. — (Ed.)

Notes 181

I am furthermore inclined to dissimulation, telling of leasings,1 and
all other kinds of deceit, so that I naturallie reioise in nothing so
much, as to betraie & deceiue such as put anie trust or confidence
in my woords. Then sith there is nothing that more becommeth a
prince than constancie, veritie, truth, and iustice, with the other
laudable fellowship of those faire and noble vertues which are com-
prehended onelie in soothfastnesse,2 and that lieng vtterlie ouer-
throweth the same; you see how vnable I am to gouerne anie
prouince or region : and therefore sith you haue remedies to cloke
and hide all the rest of my other vices, I praie you find shift to
cloke this vice amongst the residue.

" ' Then said Makduffe : This yet is the woorst of all, and there I
leaue thee, and therefore saie; Oh ye vnhappie and miserable
Scotishmen, which are thus scourged with so manie and sundrie
calamities, ech one aboue other ! Ye haue one curssed and
wicked tyrant that now reigneth ouer you, without anie right
or title, oppressing you with his most bloudie crueltie. This
other that hath the right to the crowne, is so replet with the in-
constant behauiour and manifest vices of Englishmen, that he is
nothing woorthie to inioy it : for by his owne confession he is not
onelie auaritious, and giuen to vnsatiable lust, but so false a traitor
withall, that no trust is to be had vnto anie woord he speaketh.
Adieu, Scotland, for now I account my selfe a banished man for
euer, without comfort or consolation : and with those woords the
brackish teares trickled downe his cheekes verie abundantlie.

" ' At the last, when he was readie to depart, Malcolme tooke
him by the sleeue, and said : Be of good comfort Makduffe, for I
haue none of these vices before remembred, but haue iested with

1 Falsehoods. Cf. Spenser, F. Q. ii. 9. 51: "And all that fained is,
as leasings, tales, and lies." See also Psalms, iv. 2, v. 6, T. N. i. 5.
105, Cor. v. 2. 22. — (Ed.)

2 Truthfulness. On sooth = truth, see note on i. 2. 36 below. Cf.
shamefastness (= modesty), of which our modern shamefacedness is a
corruption. — (Ed.)

1 82 Notes

thee in this manner, onelie to prooue thy mind : for diuerse times
heeretofore hath Makbeth sought by this manner of meanes to
bring me into his hands, but the more slow I haue shewed my selfe
to condescend to thy motion and request, the more diligence shall
I vse in accomplishing the same. Incontinentlie heereupon they
imbraced ech other, and promising to be faithfull the one to the
other, they fell in consultation how they might best prouide for all
their businesse, to bring the same to good effect. Soone after,
Makduffe repairing to the borders of Scotland, addressed his let-
ters with secret dispatch vnto the nobles of the realme, declaring
how Malcolme was confederat with him, to come hastilie into
Scotland to claime the crowne, and therefore he required them,
sith he was right inheritor thereto, to assist him with their powers
to recouer the same out of the hands of the wrongfull vsurper.

"'In the meane time, Malcolme purchased such fauor at king
Edward's hands, that old Siward earle of Northumberland, was ap-
pointed with ten thousand men to go with him into Scotland, to
support him in this enterprise, for recouerie of his right. After
these nevves were spread abroad in Scotland, the nobles drew into
two seuerall factions, the one taking part with Makbeth, and the other
with Malcolme. Heereupon insued oftentimes sundrie bickerings,
& diuerse light skirmishes : for those that were of Malcomes side,
would not ieopard to ioine with their enimes in a pight1 field, till
his comming out of England to their support. But after that Mak-
beth perceiued his enemies power to increase, by such aid as came
to them foorth of England with his aduersarie Malcolme, he re-
coiled backe into Fife, there purposing to abide in campe fortified,
at the castell of Dunsinane, and to fight with his enimies, if they
ment to pursue him; howbeit some of his friends aduised him, that
it should be best for him, either to make some agreement with

l Pitched. Cf. T. and C. v. 10. 24 : —

" You vile abominable tents,
Thus proudly pight upon our Phrygian plains." — {Ed.)

Notes 183

Malcolme, or else to flee with all speed into the lies, and to take
his treasure with him, to the end he might wage l sundrie great
princes of the realme to take his part, £ reteine strangers, in whome
he might better trust than in his owne subiects, which stale dailie
from him : but he had such confidence in his prophesies, that he
beleeued he should neuer be vanquished, till Birnane wood were
brought to Dunsinane; nor yet .to be slaine with anie man, that
should be or was borne of anie woman.

ACT V. Scene IV. — "'Malcolme following hastilie after Mak-
beth, came the night before the battell vnto Birnane wood, and when
his armie had rested a while there to refresh them, he commanded
euerie man to get a bough of some tree or other of that wood in his
hand, as big as he might beare, and to march foorth therewith in
such wise, that on the next morrow they might come closelie and
without sight in this manner within viewe of his enimies. On the
morrow when Makbeth beheld them comming in this sort, he first
maruelled what the matter ment, but in the end remembered him-
selfe that the prophesie which he had heard long before that time,
of the comming of Birnane wood to Dunsinane castell, was likelie
to be now fulfilled. Neuerthelesse, he brought his men in order of
battell, and exhorted them to doo valiantlie, howbeit his enimies
had scarsely cast from them their boughs, when Makbeth per-
ceiuing their numbers, betooke him streict to flight, whom Mak-
duffe pursued with great hatred euen till he came vnto Lunfan-
naine, where Makbeth perceiuing that Makduffe was hard at his
backe, leapt beside his horsse, saieng; Thou traitor, what meaneth
it that thou shouldest thus in vaine follow me that am not appointed
to be slaine by anie creature that is borne of a woman, come on
therefore, and receiue thy reward which thou hast deserued for thy

1 Hire, bribe. Cf. Cor. v. 6. 40 : —

" I seem'd his follower, not partner, and
He wag'd me with his countenance, as if
I had been mercenary." — (Ed.)

1 84

Notes

paines, and therwithall he lifted vp his swoord thinking to haue
slaine him.

ACT V. Scene VIII. — " ' But Makduffe quicklie auoiding l from
his horsse, yer he came at him, answered (with his naked swoord in
his hand) saieng : It is true Makbeth, and now shall thy insatiable
crueltie haue an end, for I am euen he that thy wizzards haue
told thee of, who was neuer borne of my mother, but ripped out
of her wombe : therevvithall he stept vnto him, and slue him in the
place. Then cutting his head from his shoulders, he set it vpon a
pole, and brought it vnto Malcolme. This was the end of Mak-
beth, after he had reigned 17 yeeres ouer the Scotishmen. In the
beginning of his reigne he accomplished manie woorthie acts, verie
profitable to the common-wealth, (as ye haue heard) but afterward
by illusion of the diuell, he defamed the same with most terrible
crueltie. He was slaine in the yeere of the incarnation 1057, and
in the 16 yeere of king Edwards reigne ouer the Englishmen.

" ' Malcolme Cammore thus recouering the relme (as ye haue
heard) by support of king Edward, in the 16 yeere of the same
Edwards reigne, he was crowned at Scone the 25 day of Aprill, in
the yeere of our Lord 1057. Immediatlie after his coronation he
called a parlement at Forfair, in the which he rewarded them with
lands and liuings that had assisted him against Makbeth, aduancing
them to fees and offices as he saw cause, & commanded that
speciallie those that bare the surname of anie offices or lands, should
haue and inioy the same. He created manie carles, lords, barons,
and knights. Manie of them that before were thanes, were at this
time made carles, as Fife, Menteth, Atholl, Leuenox, Murrey,
Cathnes, Rosse, and Angus. These were the first carles that haue
beene heard of amongst the Scotishmen, (as their histories doo
make mention.) '

1 Withdrawing, dismounting. Cf. W. T. 1.2. 462: " Let us avoid;"
Cor. iv. 5. 34 : " here's no place for you ; pray you, avoid." See also
I Samuel, xviii. n. — (Ed.)

Notes 185

" In the ' fift Chapter ' of ' the eight Booke of the historic of
England,' Shakespeare found the account of young Siward's death
(v. 7):-

"'About the thirteenth yeare of king Edward his reigne (as
some write) or rather about the nineteenth or twentith yeare, as
should appeare by the Scotish writers, Sivvard the noble earle of
Northumberland with a great power of horssemen went into Scot-
land, and in battell put to flight Mackbeth that had vsurped the
crowne of Scotland, and that doone, placed Malcolme surnamed
Camoir, the sonne of Duncane, sometime king of Scotland, in the
gouernement of that realme, who afterward slue the said Mack-
beth, and then reigned in quiet. Some of our English writers say
that this Malcolme was king of Cumberland, but other report him
to be sonne to the king of Cumberland. But heere is to be noted,
that if Mackbeth reigned till the yeare 1061, and was then slaine
by Malcolme, earle Si ward was not at that battell; for as our
writers doo testifie, he died in the yeare 1055, which was in the
yeare next after (as the same writers affirme) that he vanquished
Mackbeth in fight, and slue manie thousands of Scots, and all those
Normans which (as ye haue heard) were withdrawen into Scotland,
when they were driuen out of England.

" ' It is recorded also, that in the foresaid battell, in which earle
Siward vanquished the Scots, one of Siwards sonnes chanced to be
slaine, whereof although the father had good cause to be sorrowfull,
yet when he heard that he died of a wound which he had receiued
in fighting stoutlie in the forepart of his bodie, and that with his
face towards the enimie, he greatlie reioised thereat, to heare that
he died so manfullie. But here is to be noted, that not now, but a
little before (as Henrie Hunt, saith) that earle Sivvard went into
Scotland himselfe in person, he sent his sonne with an armie to
conquere the land, whose hap was there to be slaine; and when
his father heard the newes, he demanded whether he receiued
the wound whereof he died, in the forepart of the bodie, or in the
binder part : and when it was told him that he receiued it in the

1 86 Notes

forepart ; I reioise (saith he) euen with all my heart, for I would
not wish either to my sonne nor to my selfe any other kind of
death.' "

DR. FORMAN'S DESCRIPTION OF THE PLAY. — The manuscript
mentioned on p.. 9 above is in the Bodleian Library at Oxford.
The sketch of Macbeth is as follows, the spelling being modernized :

"In Macbeth, at the Globe, 1610, the 2Oth of April, Saturday,
there was to be observed first how Macbeth and Banquo, two
noblemen of Scotland, riding through a wood, there stood before
them three women, fairies or nymphs, and saluted Macbeth, saying
three limes unto him, Hail, Macbeth, king of Codor, for thou shall
be a king, but shall beget no kings, etc. Then said Banquo, What,
all to Macbeth and nothing to me? Yes, said the nymphs, Hail, to
thee, Banquo; thou shall beget kings, yet be no king. And so they
departed, and came to the Court of Scotland, to Duncan king of
Scots, and it was in the days of Edward the Confessor. And
Duncan bade them both kindly welcome, and made Macbeth [sic']
forthwith Prince of Northumberland, and sent him home to his
own castle, and appointed Macbeth to provide for him, for he
would sup with him the next day at night, and did so. And Mac-
beth contrived to kill Duncan, and through the persuasion of his
wife did that night murder the king in his own castle, being his
guest. And there were many prodigies seen that night and the
day before. And when Macbeth had murdered the king, the blood
on his hands could not be washed off by any means, nor from his
wife's hands, which handled the bloody daggers in lading them, by
which means they became both much amazed and affronted. The
murder being known, Duncan's two sons fled, the one to England,
the [other to] Wales, to save themselves ; they being fled, they
were supposed guilty of the murder of their father, which was noth-
ing so. Then was Macbeth crowned king, and then he for fear of
Banquo, his old companion, that he should beget kings but be not
king himself, he contrived the death of Banquo, and caused him to

Notes 1 87

be murdered on the way as he rode. That next night, being at
supper with his noblemen, whom he had bid to a feast, to the
which also Banquo should have come, he began to speak of noble
Banquo, and to wish that he were there. And as he thus did,
standing up to drink a carouse to him, the ghost of Banquo came
and sat down in his chair behind him. And he, turning about to
sit down again, saw the ghost of Banquo, which fronted him so that
he fell in 'a great passion of fear and fury, uttering many words
about his murder, by which, when they heard that Banquo was
murdered, they suspected Macbeth. Then Macduff fled to England
to the king's son, and so they raised an army and came into Scot-
land, and at Dunscenanyse overthrew Macbeth. In the mean time,
while Macduff was in England, Macbeth slew Macduff's wife and
children, and after, in the battle, Macduff slew Macbeth. Observe
also how Macbeth's queen did rise in the night in her sleep, and
walked, and talked and confessed all, and the Doctor noted her
words."

FORRES

ACT I

In the Folio of 1623 the acts and scenes are all marked, though
the play is perhaps the worst printed in the volume.

SCENE I. — i. This trochaic metre is elsewhere used by S. when
supernatural beings are speaking; as in Temp, and M. N. D.

The folios put an interrogation mark at the end of the first line.

3. Hurly-burly. Doubtless an onomatopoetic word, as Peacham
explained it in the Garden of Eloquence in 1577: " Onomatopeia,
when we invent, devise, fayne. and make a name intimating the
sound of that it signifyeth, as hurlyburly, for an uprore and
tumultuous stirre" S. uses hurly-burly only here and in I Hen. IV.
188

Scene II] Notes 189

v. I. 78, where it is an adjective. He has hurly in the same sense
in T. of S. iv. I. 216: "amid this hurly;" K. John, iii. 4. 169:
" Methinks I see this hurly all on foot;" and 2 Hen. IV. iii. i. 25:
"That with the hurly death itself awakes."

8. Graymalkin. Also spelled Grimalkin ; it means a gray cat.
Malkin is a diminutive of Mary, and, like maukin (or mawkiii)
which is the same word, is often used as a common noun and
contemptuously (= kitchen-wench); as in Cor. ii. i. 224 and Per.
iv. 3. 34. Cf. Tennyson, Princess, v. 25 : "a draggled mawkin."
Malkin is the name of one of the witches in Middleton's Witch.

9. Paddock. A toad. R. Scot {Discovery of Witchcraft, 1584)
says: "Some say they [witches] can keepe divels and spirits in the
likenesse of todes and cats." Cf. Ham. iii. 4. 190. In New Eng-
land " bull-paddock " is a popular synonym for bullfrog.

10. Anon. Presently, immediately : especially by waiters, instead
of the modern "coming." Cf. I Hen. IV. ii. I. 5, ii. 4. 29, 36, 41,
49, 58, etc.

11. Fair is foul, etc. "The meaning is, that to us, perverse and
malignant «as we are, fair is foul, and foul is fair" (Johnson). Cf.
Spenser, F. Q. iv. 8. 32 : " Then faire grew foule, and foule grew
faire in sight."

SCENE II. — A few of the critics believe that this scene was not
written by S., but there seems to be no sufficient reason for reject-
ing it.

i. Bloody. Bodenstedt (cited by Furness) remarks that "this
word bloody reappears on almost every page, and runs like a red
thread through the whole piece ; in no other of Shakespeare's
dramas is it so frequent."

3. Sergeant. Here a trisyllable.

5. Hail. Metrically equivalent to a dissyllable.

6. Say . . . the knowledge. Tell what you know. Cf. Cymb.
iv. 2. 376: "say his name;" C. of E.\. \. 29: "say, in brief, the
cause," etc.

190

Notes [Act I

Broil. Battle; as often in S. Cf. i Hen. IV. i. i. 3, 47> Cor.
iii. 2. Si, Oth. i. 3. 87, etc.

9. Choke their art. Drown each other by rendering tb.eir skill
useless. Cf. Mark, v. 13.

10. To that. To that end. " His multiplied villainies fit him
for that rebel's trade" (Moberly).

13. Of kerns and gallowglasses. Of = with; as often. Kerns
were light-armed soldiers. See Rich. IT. ii. i. 156: "rough rug-
headed kerns." Gallowglasses were heavy-armed troops. Cf. 2
Hen. VI. iv. 9. 26 : " Of gallowglasses and stout kerns." S. takes
both words from Holinshed (see p. 1 66). Cf. v. 7. 17 below. See
also Drayton, Heroical Epist. : — •

" Bruce now shall bring his Redshanks from the seas,
From the isled Oreads and the Hebrides;
And to his western havens give free pass
To land the Kerne and Irish Galliglasse."

14. Quarrel. As the word occurs in Holinshed's relation of this
very fact, it is probably the right one, but many editers retain
quarry, the reading of the early eds. For quarrel in this sense
{cause or occasion of a quarrel) cf. Bacon, Essay 8 : " So as a Man
may have a Quarrell to marry, when he will ;" Latimer, Sermon on
Christmas Day: "to live and die in God's quarrel," etc. Cf. iv. 3.
137: "our warranted quarrel."

15. Showed. Appeared. Cf. M. of V. iv. 1.196: —

" And earthly power doth then show likest God's
When mercy seasons justice."

The meaning is that Fortune, while she smiled on him, deceived
him.

19. Minion. Favourite, darling. It is the French mignon. Cf.
Temp.'\\. i. 98: "Mars's hot minion,"»etc. The word would be
a trisyllable if we followed the folio " carv'd," but the editors gen-
erally make carved a dissyllable.

Scene II] Notes 19!

21. Which. If this is the right word, it is equivalent to -who.
There may be some corruption of the text.

22. Nave. Navel. Cf. Nash, Dido (1594): "Then from the
navel to the throat at once He ript old Priam."

24. Cousin. Macbeth and Duncan were both grandsons of
King Malcolm. See on i. 3. 127 below.

25. Gins. Not a contraction of begin, but the original word.
Schmidt also gives it as a complete word, and recognizes can in
L. L. L. iv. 3. 106 as its past tense — an old form which Spenser
sometimes uses.

The general meaning of this passage is : " As thunder and storms
sometimes come from the East, whence we expect the sunrise, so
out of victory a new danger arises."

31. Norweyan. The spelling of the folio, as in line 49 and i. 3.
95 below. Surveying vantage = perceiving his opportunity ; used
in a different sense in Rich. III. v. 3. 15 : " Let us survey the van-
tage of the field."

32. FurbisKd. Burnished; that is, not before used in the fight,
not yet stained with blood.

34. Captains. A trisyllable here; like the old form capitain.

36. Sooth. Truth. Cf. v.. 5. 40 below.

37. Cracks. Charges; the effect being put for the cause. For
crack = report, cf. Temp. i. 2. 203 and T. of A. ii. I. 3. The word
was much stronger in sense (as applied to sounds) than now. Cf.
iv. i. 117 below.

38. Doubly redoubled. Cf. Rich. II. i. 3. 80 : " thy blows, doubly
redoubled."

40. Memorize. Make memorable, render famous. The mean-
ing is, " make another Golgotha, which should be celebrated like
the first." Cf. Hen. VIII. iii.* 2. 52. For Golgotha, see Mark,
XV. 22.

41. I cannot tell. I know not what to say or think of it ; as in
T. of S. iv. 3. 22 : "I cannot tell; I fear 't is choleric."

43. So well. We should say, as well.

192

Notes [Act i

45. Thane. An Anglo-Saxon nobleman, inferior in rank to an
eorl and ealdorman.

46. So should he look, etc. The meaning is, " So should he look
that appears to be on the point of speaking things strange," or
" whose appearance corresponds with the strangeness of his mes-
sage." Cf. Rich. II. iii. 2. 194-197.

49. Flout. Mock. Cf. K. John, v. I. 72 : " Mocking the air
with colours idly spread."

53. Cawdor. Cawdor Castle is about five miles south of Nairn
and about fifteen miles from Inverness. The royal license to build
it was granted by James II. in 1454. There is a tradition that a
" wise man " counselled the Thane of Cawdor to load an ass with
a chest full of gold, and to use the money in building a castle at the
third hawthorn tree at which the beast should stop. The advice
was followed, and the castle built round the tree, the trunk of
which is still shown in the basement of the tower. The castle is
still in excellent preservation, being used as a summer residence by
the Earl of Cawdor.

54. Till that. That is often used as " a conjunctional affix," with
if, but, lest, when, etc.

Bellona's bridegroom. No doubt S. means to compare Macbeth
to Mars (cf. Rich. II. ii. 3. 100 : " the Black Prince, that young
Mars of men"), though Mars was not the husband of Bellona.
Lapp'd in proof = clad in armour of proof. Cf. Cymb. v. 5, 360:
"lapp'd In a most curious mantle; " and Rich. II. i. 3. 73: "Add
proof unto mine armour with thy prayers."

55. Confronted him, etc. That is, gave him as good as he
brought, showed he was his equal. Him refers to Norway.

57. Lavish. Unrestrained, insolent. Cf. 2 Hen. IV. iv. 4. 62:
"lavish manners; " and I Hen. VI. ii. 5. 47: "his lavish tongue."

58. That now. The omission of so with that is common. Cf
i. 7. 8, ii. 2. 7, ii. 2. 23, iv. 3. 6, iv. 3. 82, etc.

59. Composition. Terms of peace. Cf. M. for M. i. 2. 2 : " If
the duke with the other dukes come not to composition with tne

Scene III] Notes 193

king of Hungary, why then all the dukes fall upon the king."
Norways1 = Norwegians'.

61. Saint Colme's Inch. The Island of St. Columba, now Inch-
colm, an islet in the Firth of Forth, about two miles south of Aber-
dour. Here are the remains of a monastery founded in 1123 by
Alexander II., who had been driven on the island by stress of
weather. There is also an oratory of rude construction, probably as
old as the gth century. St. Columba is said to have resided here for
a time; but the island must not be confounded with Colmes-kill,
Icolmkill, or lona, the Island of St. Columba, on the west coast of
Scotland, where " the gracious Duncan " (see ii. 4. 33 below) was
laid beside his royal predecessors. Inch (the Gaelic inis, island) is
found in the names of many Scotch islands, as Inchkeith, Inchken-
neth, Inchmurrin, Inchcruin, Clairinch, Torrinch, Bucinch, etc.

62. Dollars. Of course, an anachronism, the thaler, or dollar,
having been first coined about 1518, in the Valley of St. Joachim,
Bohemia. Thaler is derived from thai, valley.

64. Bosom interest. Intimate affection. Cf. M. of V. iii. 4. 17:
" bosom lover." Present = immediate. Cf. J. C. ii. 2. 5 : " Go bid
the priests do present sac/ifice; " 2 Hen. IV. iv. 3. 80: "To York,
to present execution." So presently = instantly; as in iv. 3. 145
below. See another example in the next note.

SCENE III. — 2. Killing swine. Witches were often suspected of
malice against swine. " Harsnet observes that, about that time, a
sow could not be sick of the measles, nor a girl of the sullens, but
some old woman was charged with witchcraft " (Johnson.) Stee-
vens cites A Detection of Damnable Driftes practized by Three
Witches, etc. (1579): "she came on a tyme to the house of one
Robert Lathburie, . . . who, dislyking her dealyng, sent her home
emptie ; but presently after her departure, his hogges fell sicke and
died, to the number of twentie."

5. Give me. For the omission of the direct object, cf. R. and J.
iv. i. 121 : " Give me, give me ! "
MACBETH — 13

i^4 Notes [Act I

6. Aroint thee. Cf. Lear, iii. 4. 129 : " Aroint thee, witch, aroint
thee!" The meaning is evidently "Away with thee!" but the
derivation of aroint is unknown (New Eng. Diet.}.

Rump-fed. According to Colepepper, this means fed on offal
(kidneys, rumps, and other scraps being among the low perquisites
of the kitchen given away to the poor) ; but more likely it means
well-fed: "she fed on best joints, I hungry and begging for a
chestnut" (Moberly). Ronyon = a. scabby or mangy woman.
The word is used again in M. W. iv. 2. 195.

7. Aleppo. From this place there was a large caravan trade to
Ispahan, Bussora, and Damascus. In Hakluyt's Voyages (1589)
there are accounts of a voyage made to Aleppo by the ship Tiger of
London, in 1583. Cf. '/'. ;V. v. i. 65 : "And this is he that did
the Tiger board."

8. A sieve. A favourite craft with witches. Sir W. Davenant
says, in his Albovine (1629) : "He sits like a witch sailing in a
sieve."

9. Without a tail. It was believed that a witch could take the
form of any animal, but that the tail would be wanting. Accord-
ing to Sir F. Madden, one distinctive mark of a werwolf, or human
being changed to a wolf, was the absence of a tail.

10. / 'It do. That is, like a rat, gnaw through the hull of the
Tiger and make her leak.

11. / '// give thee a wind. Witches were generally supposed to
sell winds. Cf. Sumner's Last Will and Testament (1600) : —

" in Ireland and Denmark both,
Witches for gold will sell a man a wind,
Which, in the corner of a napkin wrap'd,
Shall blow him safe unto what coast he will."

15. And the very ports they blow. That is, to which they
blow.

17. The shipmates card. The card of the compass. Halliwell-
Phillipps quotes The Loyal Subject: —

Scene III] Notes 195

" The card of goodness in your minds, that shews ye
When ye sail false ; the needle touch'd with honour,
That through the blackest storms still points at happiness," etc.

Cf. also Pope, Essay on Man, ii. 108 : —

" On life's vast ocean diversely we sail,
Reason the card, but passion is the gale."

For shipman, cf. T. and C. \. 2. 172; also I Kings, ix. 27 and
Acts, xxvii. 27, 30.

20. Pent-house lid. A pent-house was a porch with sloping roof,
common in the domestic architecture of the time of S. There
was one on the house in which he was born. Cf. Much Ado,
iii. 3. 1 10 : " under this pent-house," etc. ; also Drayton, David
and Goliath : —

" His brows, like two steep pent-houses, hung down
Over his eyelids."

21. Forbid. Under a ban, or accursed.

32. Weird. The folios have " weyward," but weird is Holin-
shed's word. " The weird sisters " is Gawin Douglas's translation
of Virgil's " Parcae." For the dissyllabic pronunciation of the
word, cf. ii. i. 20, iii. 4. 133, and iv. I. 136.

33. Posters. Rapid travellers.

34. About, about, etc. The witches here take hold of hands
.and dance in a ring nine times, three rounds for each witch. Mul-
tiples of three were specially affected by witches.

38. Foul and fair. Macbeth and Banquo appear to be talking
about the recent battle and its varying fortune.

39. Forres. Forres is on the southern shore of the Moray Frith,
about twenty-five miles from Inverness. At its western extremity
there is a height commanding the river, the level country to the
south, and the town. Here are the ruins of an ancient castle, a
stronghold of the Earls of Moray. Some believe that it was the
residence of Duncan, and afterwards of Macbeth, when the court

196

Notes [Act I

was at Forres. Not far distant is the famous "blasted heath," uf
which Knight says : " There is not a more dreary piece of moor-
land to be found in all Scotland. It is without tree or shrub. A
few patches of oats are visible here and there, and the eye reposes
on a fir plantation at one extremity; but all around is bleak and
brown, made up of peat and bog water, white stones and bushes of
furze. The desolation of the scene in stormy weather, or when the
twilight fogs are trailing over the pathless heath or settling down
upon the pools, must be indescribable."

43. That man may question. With whom man may hold con-
verse, or whom he may question.

46. Beards. Cf. Beaumont and Fletcher, Honest Man's for-
tune, ii. I : —

" And the women that

Come to us, for disguises must wear beards ;
And that 's, they say, a token of a witch."

See also M. W. iv. 2. 202 : " I think the 'oman is a witch indeed;
I like not when a 'oman has a great peard."

48. Glamis. In Scotland pronounced as a monosyllable, with
the first vowel as in alms. Glamis, or Glammis, is a village about
twenty-five miles north-east of Perth, in a very beautiful situation.
Near by is Glamis Castle, " perhaps the finest and most picturesque
of the Scottish castles now inhabited." In its present form, it
dates back only to the I7th century, though portions of it are much
older. The original castle was frequently used as a residence by
the Scottish kings, especially by Alexander II. in 1263-64. Robert
II. gave it to John Lyon, who had married his daughter, but in
1537 it reverted to the Crown, and James V. occupied it for some
time. In front of the manse at Glamis is an ancient sculptured
obelisk called " King Malcolm's Gravestone," and here tradition
says he was buried.

Sir Walter Scott says : " I was only nineteen or twenty years old
when I happened to pass a night in this magnificent old baronial
castle. The hoary old pile contains much in its appearance, and in

Scene III] Notes 197

the traditions connected with it, impressive to the imagination. It
was the scene of the murder of a Scottish king of great antiquity;
not indeed the gracious Duncan, with whom the name naturally
associates it, but Malcolm II. It contains also a curious monu-
ment of the peril of feudal times, being a secret chamber, the en-
trance to which, by the law or custom of the family, must only be
known to three persons at once — the Earl of Strathmore, his heir-
apparent, and any third person whom they may take into their
confidence. The extreme antiquity of the building is vouched by
the immense thickness of the walls, and the wild and straggling
arrangement of the accommodation within doors. I was conducted
to my apartment in a distant corner of the building; and I must
own that, as I heard door after door shut, after my conductor had
retired, I began to consider myself too far from the living and
somewhat too near the dead."

51. Good sir, why do you start, etc. Coleridge comments on
this speech and the context as follows : —

" But O ! how truly Shakespearian is the opening of Macbeth's
character given in the unpossessedness of Banquo's mind, wholly
present to the present object — an unsullied, unscarified mirror !
And how strictly true to nature it is that Banquo, and not Macbeth
himself, directs our notice to the effect produced on Macbeth's
mind, rendered temptable by previous dalliance of the fancy with
ambitious thoughts : —

' Good sir, why do you start, and seem to fear
Things that do sound so fair ? '

And then, again, still unintroitive, addresses the witches : —

' I' the name of truth,
Are ye fantastical, or that indeed
Which outwardly ye show ? '

Banquo's questions are those of natural curiosity — such as a girl
would put after hearing a gipsy tell her school-fellow's fortune; —
all perfectly general, or rather planless. But Macbeth, lost in

198 Notes [Act i

thought, raises himself to speech only by the witches being about
to depart: 'Stay, you imperfect speakers, tell me more;' and all
that follows is reasoning on a problem already discussed in his
mind — on a hope which he welcomes, and the doubts concerning
the attainment of which he wishes to have cleared up."

53. Fantastical. That is, creatures of fantasy, or imagination.
The word occurs in Holinshed's account of this interview with the
weird sisters (see p. 172). Cf. line 139 below, and Kick. II. i.

3- 299-

54. Show. Appear. See on i. 2. 15.

56. Having. Possession, estate. Cf. M. W.\\\. 2. 73: "The
gentleman is of no having;" T. of A. ii. 2. 153 : —

" The greatest of your having lacks a half
To pay your present debts."

See also Hen. VIII. ii. 3. 23 and iii. 2. 159.

57. That. On the omission of so, see i. 2. 58 above.

60. Who neither beg, etc. Who neither beg your favours nor
fear your hate. Cf. ii. 3. 48 below, and IV. T. iii. 2. 164: — •

" Though I with death and with
Reward did threaten and encourage him."

The figure (called by some rhetoricians a form of chiasmus, or
chiasni) is a favourite with S. See other examples of it in
i Hen. VI. \. 5. 23, 24, C. of E. ii. 2. 115-120, M. N. D. iii. i. 113,
114 (where five verbs are followed by five nouns), Temp. i. 2.
334, 335, A. and C. iii. 2. 15-18 (six nouns and verbs) and iv. 15.
25, 26, Ham. iii. I. 158, 159, Lear, iv. 2. 65, 66, and Cymb. iii.
I. 3, 4. In the last three instances the order of nouns and verbs is
irregular.

65. Lesser. Still sometimes used as an adjective, but never ad-
verbially, as in T. and C. ii. 2. 8: "Though no man lesser fears
the Greeks than I." See also v. 2. 13 below.

66. Happy. Fortunate; like the Latin felix. Cf. Lear, iv.
6. 230.

Scene III] Notes 199

67. Get. Beget; but not a contraction of that word. See note
on i. 2. 25 above.

71. Sine!. The father of Macbeth, according to Holinshed.
Ritson says his true name was Finleg (Finley).

72. Johnson asks: " How can Macbeth be ignorant of the state
of the thane whom he has just defeated and taken prisoner (see i.
2. 50 fol.), or call him a prosperous gentleman who has forfeited
his title and life by open rebellion? He cannot be supposed to
dissemble, because nobody is present but Banquo, who was equally
acquainted with Cawdor's treason." See Introduction, p. 16 above.

76. Owe. Own, have; as very often. Cf. Rich. IL iv. I. 184:
"That owes two buckets," etc.

81. Corporal. Corporeal. S. never uses corporeal or incor-
poreal. He has incorporal in Ham. Hi. 4. 118: " the incorporal

air.

On. Cf. /. C. i. 2. 71 : "jealous on me;" M. of V. ii. 6.
67 : " glad on 't," etc. The insane root is an example of " pro-
lepsis"; insane = making- insane. It is impossible to decide what
plant is meant. Steevens quotes Greene, Never too Late (1616) :
" you have eaten of the roots of hemlock, that makes men's eyes
conceit unseen objects." " Root of hemlock " is one of the ingre-
dients of the witches' cauldron, iv. I. 25. Douce cites Batman,
Uppon Bartholome de Prop. Kerum : " Henbane ... is called in-
sana, mad, for the use thereof is perillous, for if it be eate or
dronke, it breedeth madnesse, or slow lyknesse of sleepe." The
deadly nightshade (Atropa belladonna} has also been suggested.
Gerard, in his Herball, says of it : " This kinde of Nightshade
causeth sleepe, troubleth the minde, bringeth madness, if a few
of the berries be inwardly taken." John Bauhin, in his Histjria
Plantarum, says : " Hyoscyamus was called herba insana." Insane
is used by S. only here. The accent is on the first syllable.

89. Ross. Some editors print the name Rosse; but as French
(Shakespeareana Genealogtca) points out, that is " an Irish dignity,"
and should not be confounded with this Scottish title, which

2OO Notes [Act i

" really belonged to Macbeth, who, long before the action of the
play begins, was Thane, or more properly, Maormor of Ross by the
death of his father, Finley."

92, 93. Thine refers to praises, his to wonders, and the reference
is to the conflict in the king's mind between his astonishment at the
achievement and his admiration of the achiever. Silenced with
that has been variously explained, but it probably refers to this
mental conflict.

96. Nothing afeard. Nothing is often used adverbially. S. uses
afeard 32 times and afraid 44 times (including the poems as well
as the plays).

97. As thick as tale. That is, as fast as they could be counted.
The folio reading is " as thick as Tale Can post with post," etc.
Came for "Can" is generally adopted. Tale, in this sense (num-
bering, counting), is not found elsewhere in S., but it was then a
common word. Cf. Exodus, v. 8. 18, I Samuel, xviii. 27, I Chron-
icles, ix. 28, etc. Some editors, however, adopt the plausible emen-
dation, "As thick as hail."

106. Addition. Title. Cf. Cor. i. 9. 66, Hen. V. v. 2. 467,
Ham. i. 4. 20, M. W. ii. 2. 312, etc.

107. Devil. Metrically a monosyllable, like the Scotch de'ii.
So whether in 1 1 1 just below.

108. The thane of Cawdor lives, etc. See on line 72 above.

109. Who. He who; a common ellipsis.

112. Line. Strengthen, fortify. Cf. i Hen. IV. ii. 3. 86: "To
line his enterprise;" Hen. V. ii. 4. 7 : "To line and new repair our
towns of war."

113. Vantage. See on i. 2. 31 above.

114. Wrack. The spelling wreck is never found in the early
eds. It rhymes with back in v. 5. 52 below, and in four other
passages in S. ; also with alack once.

1 20. Trusted home. Trusted completely. Cf. the expression
still in use, " to strike home."

121. Enkindle you unto. Incite you to hope for. Cf. A. Y. L.

Scene III] Notes 2OI

i. I. 179: "nothing remains but that I kindle the boy thither"
(that is, incite him to it).

127. Cousins. The word was loosely used in the time of S.,
being applied by him to nephew, niece, uncle, brother-in-law, and
grandchild. It was sometimes a mere complimentary title given by
one prince to another or to distinguished noblemen.

128. Swelling act. Cf. Hen. V. prol. 4: —

" princes to act,
And monarchs to behold the swelling scene."

130. Soliciting. That is, incitement.

135. Unfix my hair. Cf. v. 5. 11-13.

136. Seated. Fixed, firmly placed. Cf. Milton, P. L. vi. 644:
"the seated hills."

137. Present fears. For fear = object of fear, cf. M. N. ZX v.

I. 21 : —

" Or in the night, imagining some fear,

How easy is a bush suppos'd a bear ! "

139. Fantastical. See on 53 above. Murther and murder are
used indiscriminately in the early eds.

140. My single state of man. Here single may mean "indi-
vidual " (Schmidt) or perhaps " weak," as others explain it. On the

passage, cf./. C. ii. I. 67: —

"the state of man,

Like to a little kingdom, suffers then
The nature of an insurrection."

Cf. also T. and C. ii. 3. 184: —

" 'rwixt his mental and his active parts
Kingdom'd Achilles in commotion rages,
And batters down himself."

For single = weak, unsupported, cf. Temp. i. 2. 432 : " A single
thiiTg, as I am now." This may also be the meaning in i. 6. 16
below.

2O2 Notes [Act i

That function, etc. " All powers of action are oppressed and
crushed by one overwhelming image in the mind, and nothing is
present to me but that which is really future. Of things now about
me I have no perception, being intent wholly on that which has yet
no existence " (Johnson).

144. Stir. Motion, action. Cf. Rich. II. ii. 3. 51, etc.

Come. Cf. R. of L. 1784: "Weak words, so thick come in his
poor heart's aid."

145. Our strange garments. That is, new ones.

147. Time and the hour, etc. That is, time and occasion will
carry the thing through, let its nature be what it will. A singular
verb (like runs here) is often found with two singular nominatives,
even when they are not so closely connected in sense as in this
instance.

149. Favour. Indulgence, pardon. Wrought = agitated. Cf.
W. T. v. 3. 58 : -

" If I had thought the sight of my poor image
Would thus have wrought you."

151. Registered. That is, in his memory.

154. The interim having weighed. That is, having allowed time
for weighing, or considering it.

SCENE IV. — 9. Had been studied. Had made it his study. Cf.
M. of V, ii. 2. 205 : —

" Like one well studied in a sad ostent
To please his grandam."

10. Owed. See on i. 3. 76 above.

11. As'twere. As if it were. Cf. ii. 2. 27 below; and for care-
less in the passive sense (= uncared-for), cf. sightless = invisible, in
i. 7. 23.

There 's no art, etc. " Duncan's childlike spirit makes a mo-
ment's pause of wonder at the act of treachery, and then fling."
itself, like Gloster in King Lear, with still more absolute trust ana

Scene IV] Notes 203

still more want of reflection, into the toils of a far deeper and darker
treason. The pause on the word trust, shortening the line by two
syllables, is in this point of view very suggestive" (Moberly).

19. Proportion. The proper proportion. Cf. T. and C. i. 3. 87 :
" proportion, season, form."

20. Mine. In my power, mine to give ; as all in the next lint-
means all / have.

23. Pays itself. Is its own reward.

27. Safe toward. With sure tendency, or certain direction.

30. Nor. We should now use And. Cf. M. of V. iii. 4. n:
"Nor shall not now."

33. My plenteous joys, etc. Cf. R. and J. iii. 2. 102: —
" Back, foolish tears, back to your native spring;
Your tributary drops belong to woe,
Which you, mistaking, offer up to joy ; "

and W. T. v. 2. 47 : " There might you have beheld one joy crown
another, so and'in such manner that it seemed sorrow wept to take
leave of them, for their joy waded in tears."

37. We will establish our estate, etc. The throne of Scotland
was originally not hereditary.

39 Cumberland. When the successor to the throne was desig-
nated in the lifetime of the king, the title of Prince of Cumberland
was bestowed upon him. Cumberland was at that time helc
Scotland of the crown of England as a fief.

45. Harbinger. Used here in its original sense of an officer
whose duty it was to ride in advance of the king and secure lodg-
ings for the royal retinue. Nares cites the old play of Albumaz,

vii. 137: —

" I have no reason, nor spare room lor any.
Love's harbinger hath chalk'd upon my heart,
And with a coal writ on my brain, for Flavia,
This house is wholly taken up for Flavia"

It appears that the custom was kept up as late as the time of
Charles II. Hawkins, in his Life of Bishop Ken, says: "On the

204 Notes [Act i

removal of the court to pass the summer at Winchester, Bishop
Ken's house, which he held in the right of his prebend, was
marked by the harbinger for the use of Mrs. Eleanor Gwyn; but
he refused to grant her admittance, and she was forced to seek for
lodgings in another place."

50. Stars, hide your fires ! This does not imply that it is now
night, but only that he looks forward to night as the time for com-
mitting the crime.

52. The eye, etc. Let the eye not see what the hand does.

54. Full so valiant. Quite as brave as you say. While Macbeth
has been soliloquizing, Duncan and Banquo have been talking about
his recent deeds.

56. Banquet. Feast. It sometimes meant merely the dessert.
Cf. T. of S.v. 2. 9 : -

" My banquet is to close our stomachs up
After our great good cheer."

58. It is. The it is here used with "affectionate familiarity."
Often it expresses contempt or detestation ; as in Temp. i. 2. 309,
M. of V. i. 2. 15, Hen. V. iii. 6. 70, etc.

SCENE V. — 2. By the perfectest report. By the best intelligence
— that of experience.

4. They made themselves air. Sheridan Knowles remarks that
in the look and tone with which Mrs. Siddons delivered the word
air "you recognized ten times the wonder with which Macbeth
and Banquo actually beheld the vanishing of the witches."

5. Whiles. Properly the genitive of while, meaning "of, or
during, the time." Cf. Matthew, v. 25.

6. Missives. Messengers; as in the only other instance in which
S. uses the word (A. and C. ii. 2. 74).

7. All-hailed. The folio has the hyphen. Cf. Florio (ftal.
Diet.) : " Salutare, to salute, to greet, to alhaile."

10. Deliver thee. Report to thee. Cf. Temp. v. i. 313: "I'll
deliver all," etc.

Scene V] Notes 205

17. It is too full o1 the milk of human kindness. For the meta-
phor, cf. iv. 3. 98 below, R. and J. iii. 3. 55, and Lear, i. 4. 364.

20. The illness should. The evil which should. S. uses ill-
ness only here; and the word does not occur at all in Milton's
poems.

22-25. Thou >dst have, etc. The general meaning seems to be :
" You want to have what can only be obtained on conditions which
it proclaims of itself; you wish also to have what you rather fear to
do than wish not to be done."

25. Hie thee. Here, as in "Look thee " (W. T. iii. 3- Il6)>
"Hark thee" (Cymb. i. 5. 32), etc., thee seems to be used for

thou.

27. Chastise. Accented by S. on the first syllable. Cf. Rich. II.

ii. 3. 104.

28. The golden round. Cf. iv. I. 88: —

" And wears upon his baby brow the round
And top of sovereignty."

29. Metaphysical. Supernatural (to which word it is etymolog-
ically analogous). S. uses the word nowhere else. Cf. Flono's

World of Wordes, 1598: " Metafisico, one that professeth things
supernaturall." On seem, cf. i. 2. 4? above ; also A. W. iii. 6. 94 =
"that so confidently seems to undertake this business," etc. Doth
seem to have is nearly equivalent to would have.

30. Tidings. Like news, used by S. both as singular and

plural.

31 Thou 'rtmad, etc. "The lady's self-control breaks down

for a moment at hearing that Duncan is rushing into the toils;
and is only by a powerful effort regained in the next words

(Moberly).

35 Had the speed of him. Has outstripped him.
37. Tending. Attendance; or tendance, which S. uses instead.
Cf. T. of A. i. i. 57, Hen. VIII. iii. 2. 149, Cymb. v. 5. 53, etc.
Tending occurs as a noun only here.

206 Notes [Act i

38. The raven himself is hoarse, etc. Cf. James Russell Lowell's
remarks on the passage (Among My Books, p. 186) : —

" Here Shakespeare, with his wonted tact, makes use of a vulgai
superstition, of a type in which mortal presentiment is already em-
bodied, to make a common ground on which the hearer and Lady
Macbeth may meet. After this prelude we are prepared to be pos-
sessed by her emotion more fully, to feel in her ears the dull tramp
of the blood that seems to make the raven's croak yet hoarser than
it is, and to betray the stealthy advance of the mind to its fell pur-
pose. For Lady Macbeth hears not so much the voice of the bode-
ful bird as of her own premeditated murder, and we are thus made
her shuddering accomplices before the fact. Every image receives
the colour of the mind, every word throbs with the pulse of one
controlling passion. The epithet fatal makes us feel the implacable
resolve of the speaker, and shows us that she is tampering with her
conscience by putting off the crime upon the prophecy of the Weird
Sisters to which she alludes. In the word battlements, too, not only
is the fancy led up to the perch of the raven, but a hostile image
takes the place of a hospitable one ; for men commonly speak of
receiving a guest under their roof or within their doors. When
Duncan and Banquo arrive at the castle, their fancies, free from all
suggestion of evil, call up only gracious and amiable images. The
raven was but the fantastical creation of Lady Macbeth's over-
wrought brain.

' This guest of summer,
The temple-haunting martlet, doth approve
By his lovd mansionry that the heaven's breath
Smells ivooingly here ; no jutty, frieze,
Buttress, or coign of vantage, but this bird
Hath made his pendent bed and procreant cradle."

" The contrast here cannot but be as intentional as it is marked.
Every image is one of welcome, security, and confidence. The sum-
mer, one may well fancy, would be a very different hostess from hei
whom we have just seen expecting them. And why temple-haunting,

Scene V] Notes 207

unless because it suggests sanctuary? O immaginativa, eke si ne
rubi delle cose di fuor, [O imagination, who takest away outward
things], how infinitely more precious are the inward ones thou
givest in return ! If all this be accident, it is at least one of those
accidents of which only this man was ever capable."
39. Entrance. A trisyllable here.

41. Mortal. Deadly; as very often in S. and other writers. On
tend, see on 37 above.

42. Top-full. Used again in K.John, iii. 4. 180.

44. Access. Accented as here by S. except in Ham. ii. I. no.
Remorse = relenting, pity; as in V. and A. 257: "'Pity,' she
cries, 'some favour, some remorse!'" See also Temp. v. I. 76,
M. ofV. iv. I. 20, K. John, ii. I. 478, etc. So S. uses remorseful
= pitiful (T. G. of V. iv. 3. 13, A. W. v. 3. 58, etc.) and remorse-
less = pitiless (J?. of L. 562, Ham. ii. 2. 609, etc.). This last word
is still used in the same sense.

46. Keep peace between, etc. Come between the purpose and
its accomplishment; "as one who interferes between a violent
man and the object of his wrath keeps peace."

48. Take my milk for gall. That is, turn it to gall.

49. Sightless substances. Invisible forms. See on careless, i. 4.
II, and cf. i. 7. 23 below.

51. Pall. Wrap (Latin pallire, from pallium}. Used by S.
only here, and perhaps by no other writer as a verb. Of course,
pall— become vapid (Ham. v. 2. 9, A. and C. ii. 7. 88) is an
entirely different word.

53. Blanket. This word has sorely troubled the critics. Cole-
ridge suggested "blank height," but omitted it in the 2d ed. of his
Table Talk. Blackness and blankest are other attempts at emen-
dation where none is needed. Malone remarks: "Blanket was
perhaps suggested by the coarse woollen curtain of S.'s own theatre,
through which, probably, while the house was but yet half-lighted,
he had himself often peeped." Whiter (quoted by Furness) says :
" Nothing is more certain than that all the images in this pas-

208 Notes [Act I

sage are borrowed from the stage. The peculiar and appropriate
dress of Tragedy is a pall * and a knife. When tragedies were
represented, the stage was hung with black. ... In R. of I..
(764-770) there is a wonderful coincidence with this passage, in
which we have not only ' Black stage for tragedies and murders
fell,' but also ' comfort-killing Night, image of hell,' corresponding
with thick Night and the dunnest smoke of hell. Again, in line
788, we have 'Through Night's black bosom should not peep
again.' " But, whatever may have suggested it, blanket, though
homely, is Shakespearian.

55. Hereafter. Mrs. Jameson remarks : " This is surely the very
rapture of ambition ! and those who have heard Mrs. Siddons pro-
nounce the word hereafter cannot forget the look, the tone, which
seemed to give her auditors a glimpse of the awful future, which
she, in her prophetic fury, beholds upon the instant."

57. Ignorant. "Unknowing; I feel by anticipation those future
honours, of which, according to the process of nature, the pres-
ent time would be ignorant" (Johnson). Feel is metrically a
dissyllable.

63. To beguile the time. That is, to deceive the world.

65. Look like the innocent flower, etc. Cf. Rich. II. iii. 2. 19: —

"And when they from thy bosom pluck a flower,
Guard it, I pray thee, with a lurking adder ; "

and 2 Hen. VI. iii. i. 228 : "The snake roll'd in a flowering bank."
72. To alter favour, etc. To bear an altered face marks fear in
you and creates it in others. On favour = face, cf. /. C. i. 2. 91 :
" Your outward favour," etc. See also Proverbs, xxxi. 30.

SCENE VI. — Sir Joshua Reynolds remarks : " This short dia-
logue between Duncan and Banquo has always appeared to me a

1 Cf. Milton, // Pens. 97 : —

" Sometime let gorgeous Tragedy
In sceptred pall come sweeping by." — (Ed.)

Scene VI] Notes 209

striking instance of what in painting is termed repose. Their con-
versation very naturally turns upon the beauty of the situation, and
the pleasantness of the air; and Banquo, observing the martlets'
nests in every recess of the cornice, remarks that where those birds
most breed and haunt the air is delicate. The subject of this quiet
and easy conversation gives that repose so necessary to the mind
after the tumultuous bustle of the preceding scenes, and perfectly
contrasts the scene of horror that immediately succeeds."

3. Gentle senses. That is, which it makes gentle, or soothes; an
instance of " prolepsis," or the anticipation, in an adjective, of the
result of the action. There is a striking example of this figure in
Keats's Isabella : —

" So the two brothers and their murder'd man
Rode past fair Florence ; "

the murder'd man being not yet despatched, though soon to be so.
Cf. i. 3. 84 and iii. 4. 76 below.

4. Martlet. The folios have " Barlet." The emendation is
Rowe's, and is adopted by all the editors. It is supported by M. of
V. ii. 9. 28 : " Like the martlet, Builds in the weather on the out-
ward wall." Cf. T. of A. iii. 6. 31. Approve = \rtov&; as often in
S. Cf. M. of V. iii. 2. 79, 2 Hen. IV, i. 2. 1 80, A. W. iii. 7.
13, etc.

5. Mansionry. Theobald's emendation for the " Mansonry " of
the folios. Mansionry is found nowhere else, but it is generally
adopted by the editors here.

6. Jutty. The folios read " jutty frieze " without a comma be-
tween, as if jutty were an adjective. It is not, however, found as
an adjective, though it occurs both as a substantive and as a verb.
For the latter, see Hen. V. iii. I. 13 : " O'erhang and jutty his con-
founded base." S. uses the word only twice.

7. Coign of vantage. Convenient corner. Cf. Cor. v. 4. I. As
an architectural term it is now commonly written quoin.

11-14. The love, etc. "Duncan says that even love sometimes
MACBETH — 14

210

Notes [Act i

occasions him trouble, but that he thanks it as love, notwithstand-
ing; and that thus he teaches Lady Macbeth, while she takes
trouble on his account, to ' bid God yield,' or reward, him for giving
that trouble." S. uses sometime and sometimes indifferently, both in
this sense and as an adjective = former. God 'te/d is a corruption
of " God yield." " God ild " and " God dild " are common forms
of it in the old writers. Cf. A. Y. L. iii. 3. 76, v. 4. 56, A. and C.
iv. 2. 33, Ham. iv. 5. 41, etc.

1 6. Single business. That is, small business. Cf. i. 3. 140
above. To contend against = to vie with.

19. To them. Cf. iii. I. 51 below.

20. Hermits. We as hermits, or beadsmen, will pray for you.

21. Cours'd. Chased. Cf. Lear, iii. 4. 58: "to course his own
shadow," etc.

22. Purveyor. An officer sent forward to provide food for the
king and his retinue, as the harbinger to obtain lodging. The
word, used nowhere else by S., is accented on the first syllable.

23. Holp. An old past tense and participle of help ; used by S.
much oftener than helped. Cf. Rich. II. v. 5. 62, Temp. i. 2. 63, etc.

26. In compt. In account, accountable. Cf. A. W.\. 3. 57, etc.
31. By your leave. Duncan gives his hand to Lady Macbeth,
and leads her into the castle.

SCENE VII. — The sewer in the stage-direction was the servant
who put the dishes on the table, and tasted of them before serving
them. Cf. Rick. II. v. 5. 99.

i, 2. The punctuation given is essentially that of the folios, and
is followed by most of the editors. A few point it thus : —

" If it were done when 't is done, then 't were well.
It were done quickly if the assassination
Could trammel," etc.

If we retain the old pointing — which seems best, on the whole —
the meaning is: "If the act were really over when done, then the
sooner we accomplish it the better."

Scene VII] Notes 211

3. Trammel up. Entangle as in a net. A trammel was a kind
of net. Cf. Quarles, Emblems : " Nay, Cupid, pitch thy trammel
where thou please." In Spenser it is a net for the hair; as in
F. Q.u. 2. 15: —

" Her golden lockes she roundly did uptye
In breaded tramels" (that is, braided nets).

4. His surcease. Its conclusion, or cessation. His was often
used for its, which was just coming into use in the time of S. Sur-
cease has no etymological connection with cease, being derived from
the Fr. surseoir (Lat. supersedere), S. uses it as a noun only
here; but as a verb in R. of L. 1766, Cor. iii. 2. 121, and R, and J.
iv. I. 97. Success is used in its ordinary sense; as in i. 3. 90, 132,
and i. 5. 2 above. It sometimes means "sequel, what follows";
as in T. and C. ii. 2. 117: "fear of bad success," etc.

6. But here. Only here, only in this life.

Shoal. The folios have " Schoole," which some critics would
retain, but shoal is generally adopted. It means " this shallow of
human life, as opposed to the great abyss of eternity."

7. Jump. For jump — risk, hazard, cf. Cor. iii. I. 154: "To
jump a body with a dangerous physic;" and Cymb. v. 4. 188:
" jump the after inquiry on your own peril."

8. That. So that ; as in line 25 below. See on i. 3. 57 above.
II. Commends. Offers, commits. Cf. Rich. II. iii. 3. 116:

"His glittering arms he will commend to rust;" A. and C. iv. 8.
23 : " Commend unto his lips thy favouring hand," etc. See also
iii. i. 38 below.

17. Faculties. Official powers or prerogatives. Cf. Hen. VIII.

i. 2. 73 : —

" If I am

Traduced by ignorant tongues, which neither know
My faculties nor person."

20. Taking-off. Cf. Lear, v. I. 65: "His speedy taking off."
See also iii. i. 104 below.

212

Notes [Act i

21. A naked new-born babe. " Either like a mortal babe terrible
in helplessness ; or like heaven's child-angels, mighty in love and
compassion" (Moberly).

22. Cherubin. Cf. Temp. i. 2, 152: "a cherubin," etc. The
form cherubim is not used by S. He has the plural cherubins in
Sonn. 114. 6.

23. Sightless. See on i. 5. 49 above.

25. 7%#/ (ears, etc. See on 8 above. Cf. T. and C. iv. 4. 55 :
" Where are my tears? Rain, to lay this wind."

I have no spur, etc. Malone says : " There are two distinct
metaphors. I have no spur to prick the sides of my intent : I have
nothing to stimulate me to the execution of my purpose, but am-
bition, which is apt to overreach itself; this he expresses by the
second image, of a person meaning to vault into his saddle, who,
by taking too great a leap, will fall on the other side."

28. On the other. That is, the other side; but there is no
necessity for supplying " side," as some have done.

32. Bought. Acquired, gained; a figurative use of the word
natural enough, and common in S. Cf. L. L. L. i. I. 5 : —

" The endeavour of this present breath may buy
That honour," etc.

Cf. also the use of purchase in Rich. II. i. 3. 282 and M. of V.
ii. 9. 43.

35. Was the hope drunk, etc. A mixture of metaphors ; but
the sense is clear : " Were you drunk when you formed your bold
plan, and are you now just awake from the debauch, to be crest-
fallen, shrinking, mean-spirited?" The dressed was apparently
suggested by the figure just used by Macbeth. For a similar figure,
without the " mixture," see K.John, iv. 2. 116.

41. Wouldst thou have, etc. Do you desire the crown, yet
resolve to live a coward because your daring will not second your
desire ?

45. The poor cat, etc. Johnson quotes the Low Latin form of

Scene VII] Notes

the proverb : " Catus amat pisces, sed non vult tingere plantas."
In French it is " Le chat aime le poisson, mais il n'aime pas a
mouiller ses pattes." Cf. Heywood's Proverbs, 1566: "The cate
would eate fishe, and would not wet her feete."

47. Who dares do more is none. Cf. At. for M. ii. 4. 134: —

" Be that you: are,
That is, a woman ; if you be more, you're none."

Hunter would retain the folio reading ("no more"), and give the
line to Lady Macbeth.

What beast, etc. If this enterprise be not the device of a man,
what beast induced you to propose it?

48. Break. Here followed by to, as it would be now, but often
in S. by with; as inf. C. ii. i. 150, Hen. VIII. v. I. 47, etc.

52. Adhere. Cohere, be suitable. Cf. M. W. ii. I. 62 and T. N.
iii. 4. 86.

53. That their fitness. Cf. ii. 2. 61 and iii. 6. 48 below.

59. We fail. Mrs. Jameson says: " In her impersonation of the
part of Lady Macbeth, Mrs. Siddons adopted successively three
different intonations in giving the words we fail. At first a quick
contemptuous interrogation — ' we fail? ' Afterwards with the note
of admiration — 'we fail!' and an accent of indignant astonish-
ment, laying the principal emphasis on the word we — we fail!
Lastly, she fixed on what I am convinced is the true reading —
'we fail.' with the simple period, modulating her voice to a deep,
low, resolute tone, which settled the issue at once — as though she
had said, ' if we fail, why then we fail, and all is over.' This is con-
sistent with the dark fatalism of the character and the sense of the
line following, and the effect was sublime, almost awful."

Compare what Fletcher (Studies of Shakespeare} says : " Her quiet
reply, 'We fail,' is every way most characteristic of the speaker —
expressing that moral firmness in herself which makes her quite
prepared to endure the consequences of failure — and, at the same
time, conveying the most decisive rebuke of such moral cowardice

2I4

Notes [Act i

in her husband as can make him recede from a purpose merely on
account of the possibility of defeat — a possibility which, up to the
very completion of their design, seems never absent from her own
mind, though she finds it necessary to banish it from that of her
husband."

60. But screw your courage, etc. A metaphor from screwing up
the chords of stringed instruments. Cf. Cor. i. 8. n : " Wrench up
thy power to the highest; " and T. N. v. i. 125 : —

"And that I partly know the instrument
That screws me from my true place in your favour."

64. Wassail. Originally, the "toast," or form of words (=be
well, a health to you!) in which healths were pledged in drinking;
thence a drinking-bout or carousal; and also applied to the spiced
ale or wine used on such occasions. Cf. L. L. L. v. 2. 318: "At
wakes and wassails; " Ham. i. 4. 9: "keeps wassail," etc. Con-
vince = overcome (Lat. convincere)', as in iv. 3. 142 below. See
also Oth. iv. i. 28.

66. Shall be a fume. Cf. Temp. v. I. 67: —

" The ignorant fumes that mantle
Their clearer reason."

Receipt. Receptacle; the only instance of this meaning in S. Cf.
Matthe-LV, ix. 9 : " the receipt of custom."

67. Limbeck. Alembic; as in So tin. 119.2. Cf. Milton, P. L.
iii. 605 : " Drain'd through a limbec."

68. A death. A kind of death, a sleep like death. Cf. IV. T.
iv. 2. 3.

71. Spongy. Drunken. In M. of V. i. 2. 108, the guzzling Ger-
man is compared to a sponge.

72. Quell. Murder. Quell in Old English = kill, which is origi-
nally the same word. Cf. Spenser, F. Q. ii. 7. 40 : —

"and well could weld [wield]
That cursed weapon, when his cruell foes he queld."

Scene VII] Notes 215

Man-queller (= manslayer, murderer) occurs in 2 Hen. IV. ii.
I. 58. The redoubtable "Jack" was formerly called "the giant -
queller," instead of " giant-killer."

73. Mettle. In the early eds. no distinction is made between
metal and mettle.

74. Received. Accepted as true, believed. Cf. M. for M. i. 3.

16: —

" For so I have strew'd it in the common ear,
And so it is receiv'd ; "

T. G. of V. v. 4. 78 : " And once again I do receive thee honest,"
etc.

77. Other. Otherwise. Cf. v. 4. 8 below.

79. Bend up. Strain, like a bow. Cf. Hen. V. Hi. I. 16: —

" Hold hard the breath, and bend up every spirit
To his full height."

80. Each corporal agent. All my bodily powers.

81. Mock Hie time. See on i. 5. 63 above.

ACT II

SCENE I. — The old stage-direction says nothing about "a ser-
vant with a torch," as in many modern eds.; though "a Torch"
sometimes means a torch-bearer, as " a Trumpet " means a trtimpeter.

4. Husbandry. Thrift, economy. Cf. Ham. i. 3. 77 : " borrow-
ing dulls the edge of husbandry." S. several times uses heaven as
plural (= heavenly beings). Cf. Rich. II. i. 2. 7: —

" Put we our quarrel to the will of heaven :
Who, when they see the hours ripe on earth,
Will rain hot vengeance on offenders' heads ; "

For the metaphor, cf. M. of V. v. i. 220: "these blessed candles
of the night; " R. and J. iii. 5. 9 : " Night's candles are burnt out; "
and Sonn. 21. 12 : " those gold candles fix'd in heaven's air."
216

Scene I] Notes 21 J

5. Take thee that too. Probably his shield or targe.

6. Heavy. Drowsy, sleepy; as often. Cf. R. of L. 121, 163, •
1574, Temp, \. z. 189, 194, 198, M. N. D. v. I. 380, etc.

9. Give me my sword. He does not recognize Macbeth at first,
and does not know whether the late-comer is friend or foe.

14. Offices. The servants' quarters. Cf. Rich. //. i. 2. 69, etc.

15. This diamond, etc. Grant White says that this "shows the
result of hasty writing," because Banquo " had been charged to
deliver a diamond to Lady Macbeth " and had not done it; but
the preceding dialogue shows that he had just received it, and that
he supposed Macbeth and his wife had retired for the night.

1 6. Shut up. The expression has been much discussed. It is
commonly explained as = " concluded "; but I am inclined to think
it means that the king is now shut up in his chamber, having retired
with measureless content, or satisfaction.

1 8. Our -Mill, etc. Our will had to submit to our deficient means
instead of being free to carry out our wishes.

22. When, etc. When we can ask you to put an hour at our
service.

24. Kindest. Cf. "stern'st" (ii. 2. 4), "near'st" (iii. I. 117),
and "secret'st" (iii. 4. 126) below; all harsh contractions.

25. If you, etc. If you adhere to my party whenever it is estab-
lished.

In Davenant's version of Macbeth, this passage reads : —

" If when the Prophesie begins to look like truth
You will adhere to me, it shall make honour for you."

28. Franchis'd. Free, unstained.

31. My drink. This night-cup or posset was a common indul-
gence of the time. Cf. ii. 2.6: "I have drugg'd their possets."

33. Is (his a dagger, etc. " A delusion appearing after the man-
ner of the Highland second sight ; more substantial than the ' im-
age of murder' which shakes his soul in i. 4, but not accepted

2i 8 Notes [Act ii

and believed by him like the apparition of Banquo afterwards "
(Moberly).

34. Toward. S. used toward and towards (see line 55 below)
interchangeably, or as either suited his ear; at least, both are
found in the early eds. Cf. i. 3. 152, i. 4. 27, i. 6. 30, v. 4. 21, etc.

36. Sensible. Perceptible, tangible. Cf. M. of V. ii. 9. 89:
"sensible regreets," etc.

44, 45. Mine eyes, etc. Either my eyes are deceived while the
other senses are not, or they are more trustworthy than the latter.

46. Dudgeon. This undoubtedly means here the handle of a
dagger, but its derivation is doubtful. It was some kind of wood
used by turners; boxwood, according to several old authorities.
Gerard, in his Herball, under the article Box-tree, says : " The
root is likewise yellow, and harder than the timber, but of greater
beauty, and more fit for dagger-hafts, boxes, and such like uses.
. . . Turners and cutlers, if I mistake not the matter, doe call this
wood dudgeon, wherewith they make dtidgeon-hafted daggers."

Gouts. Drops (Fr. gotttte), S. uses the word (in this sense)
only here.

48. Informs. Creates forms; or, perhaps, takes form, shapes
itself.

49. The one-half world. Cf. I Hen. IV. iv. I. 136: "this one
half year."

50. Abuse. Deceive ; as often. Cf. Temp. v. 1 . 112: " some
enchanted trifle to abuse me; " Much Ado, v. 2. 100 : " the prince
and Claudio mightily abused," etc. In iii. 4. 142, " self-abuse "
means self-deception.

52. Hecate's. A dissyllable. Cf. Lear,\. I. 112 : "The mys-
teries of Hecate and of night; " Ham. iii. 2. 269 : "With Hecate's
ban thrice blasted, thrice infected." See also iii. 2. 41 and iii. 5. i
below.

53. Alaruni'd. The same word as alarmed. The derivation
(Ital. air anne} may be illustrated by Holland's Livy, p. 331 :
"This sayd, he runs downe with as great a noyse and showting as

Scene II] Notes 219

he could, crying, at arme, help help citizens, the castle is taken by
the enemie, come away to defense."

54. Whose howl 's his watch. Who marks the nightwatches by
howling.

55. Strides. The folios have " sides," which a few editors retain,
making it a verb = matches. Cf. Rich. II. i. 3. 268 : " Every
tedious stride I make;" and Harrington's Ariosto, 1591 : "He
takes a long and leisurable stride." The word as then used was not
inconsistent with " stealthy pace."

59. And take, etc. That is, break the silence that added such a
horror to the night as suited well with the deed he was about to
perform.

60. Whiles. See on i. 5. 5 above.

62. The bell invites me. See 32 above.

63. Knell. Alluding to the " passing bell " which was formerly
tolled when a person was dying.

SCENE II. — The folio has "Scena Secunda" here, but some
editors make no change of scene. I adhere to the old division of
scenes solely to avoid confusion in referring to this part of the
play.

i. That which hath made them drunk, etc. Some critics have
supposed that the Lady had taken wine to support her courage.
But in saying "That which hath made them drunk," she implies
that she herself was not drunk. Is anything more meant than that
she had taken her regular night-cup (see on ii. I. 31 above), and
that she felt the slightly stimulating effect of the " posset " ? The
grooms would not have been " drunk," or stupefied, if their possets
had not been drugged.

3. The fatal bellman, etc. Cf. Webster's Duchess of Malfi,

iv. 2 : —

" I am the common bellman,

That usually is sent to condemn'd persons
The night before they suffer."

220

Notes [Act ii

See also R. of L. 165 : "No noise but owls' and wolves' death-
boding cries; " Rich. III. iv. 4. 509 : " Out on you, owls ! nothing
but songs of death," etc.

5. Grooms. Originally, servants of any kind.

6. Possets. See on ii. I. 31 above. Randle Holmes {Academy
of Armoiirie, 1688) says : " Posset is hot milk poured on ale or sack,
having sugar, grated bisket, and eggs, with other ingredients,
boiled in it, which goes all to a curd." This explains why the
posset is often spoken of as "eaten." Cf. M. IV. v. 5. 180 : "Thou
shall eat a posset to-night at my house." S. uses posset as a verb
in Ham. \. 5. 68 : —

" And with a sudden vigour it doth posset
And curd, like eager droppings into milk,
The thin and wholesome blood."

7. That. So that. See on i. 3. 57 above, and cf. line 23 below.

8. Who 's there? what, ho ! Macbeth fancies that he hears some
noise (see line 14), and in his nervous excitement he rushes to the
balcony, and calls beneath, "Who 's there ?" In his agony, how-
ever, he waits for no answer, but hurries back into the chamber to
execute the murder.

ii. Confounds. Ruins, destroys; the most common meaning of
the word in S. Cf. iv. I. 54 and iv. 3. 99 below. See also M. of V.
iii. 2. 78, Rich. If. iii. 4. 60, etc.

20. Sorry. Sad. Cf. Spenser, F. Q. v. I, 14: —

"To whom as they approched, they espide
A sorie sight as ever scene with eye,
An headlesse Ladie lying him beside
In her own blood all wallow'd woefully."

24. Addressed them. "Made themselves ready" (Schmidt). Cf.
M. W. iii. 5. 135, M. of V. ii. 9. 19, etc.

27. As they had seen me, etc. See on i. 4. n above.
Hangman. Executioner. Cf. M. of V. iv. i. 125: "the hang-

Scene II] Notes 221

man's axe." It is applied jocosely to Cupid in Much Ado, iii. 2. 1 1 :
" the little hangman dare not shoot at him."

28. Listening. Used transitively, as in Much Ado, iii. I. I2,/. C.
iv. I. 41, and Rich. II. ii. I. 9.

33. Thought. That is, thought of.

34. So. If we so think of them.

35-40. We follow Johnson and most of the recent editors in
limiting what the " voice " says to " Sleep no more ! Macbeth does
murther sleep!" The earlier editors generally, except Johnson,
make the "voice" continue to "feast"; but all from "the innocent
sleep " is evidently his own conscience-stricken reflections on the
imaginary utterances.

37. Sleave. Coarse, soft, unwrought silk. Cf. Florio, Ital. Diet.,
1598 : " Sfilazza. Any kind of ravelled stuffe, or sleave silk; " also
" Capitone, a kind of coarse silk, called sleave silke." Cf. T. and C.
v. i. 35: "Thou idle immaterial skein of sleave-silk." See also
Drayton, Quest of Cynthia : —

" The bank, with daffidillies dight,
With grass, like sleave, was matted."

40. Nourisher. Cf. Chaucer, C. T. 10661: "The norice of
digestion, the sleep." Rushton (quoted by Furness) cites Ovid,
Met. xi. 623 : —

" Somne, quies rerum, placidissime Somne deorum,
Pax animi, quern cura fugit, qui corda diurnis
Fessa ministeriis mulces, reparasque labori."

Cf. Golding's quaint translation (1587) : —

" O sleepe, quoth she, the rest of things, O gentlest of the goddes
Sweet sleepe, the peace of mind, with whom crookt care is aye at odds ;
Which cherishest men's weary limbs appall'd with toyling^sore,
And makest them as fresh to worke, and lustie as before."
46. Brainsickly. Madly; the only instance of the adverb in S.

The adjective brainsick occurs six times. Cm get some water, etc.,

cf. v. I. 66.

222 Notes [Act II

55. A painted devil. Cf. Webster, White Devil: "Terrify
babes, my lord, with painted devils."

56. / 'II gild, etc. Though there is no real resemblance between
the colour of blood and that of gold, to gild with blood was an ex-
pression not uncommon in the i6th century. Gold was popularly
and very generally styled red, as it still is in poetry sometimes. So
we have "golden blood," ii. 3. 97 below. Cf. K. John, ii. i. 316:
" all gilt with Frenchmen's blood." For the quibble on gilt and
guilt, cf. 2 Hen. IV. iv. 5. 129 and Hen. V. ii. chorus, 26. See also
Middleton, A Mad World : "Though guilt condemns, 't is gilt must
make us glad;" Marlowe, Hero and Leander : —

" That, this word gilt including double sense,
The double guilt of his incontinence
Might be express'd," etc.

57. That knocking. Macduff and Lennox are knocking at the
south gate, as the next scene shows.

On the dramatic purpose of this knocking, De Quincey remarks :
"The murderers, and the murder, must be insulated — cut off by
an immeasurable gulf from the ordinary tide and succession of human
affairs — locked up and sequestered in some deep recess;, we must
be made sensible that the world of ordinary life is suddenly arrested
— laid asleep — tranced — racked into a dread armistice; time must
be annihilated; relation to things without abolished; and all must
pass self-withdrawn into a deep syncope and suspension of earthly
passion. Hence it is that when the deed is done, when the wort
of darkness is perfect, then the world of darkness passes away like
a pageantry in the clouds: the knocking at the gate is heard; and
it makes known audibly that the reaction has commenced; the
human has made its reflux upon the fiendish; the pulses of life are
beginning to beat again; and the reestablishment of the goings-on
of the world in which we live first makes us profoundly sensible of
the awful parenthesis that had suspended them."

62. The multitudinous feat. As admirably descriptive as

Scene III] Notes 22J

Homer's wo\v<f>\olff(3oio 6a\dffffr)s. One can almost hear in it the
sound of the sea with its numberless waves.

Incarnadine. Used as adjective and noun before the time of
S., but as a verb first by him. Carew uses the verb in his Obsequies
to the Lady Anne Hay, 1639 (" Incarnadine Thy rosy cheek "), but
he probably borrowed it from S.

63. Making, etc. The folio has " Making the Greene one, Red,"
and some of the earlier editors follow that pointing; but of course
Macbeth dwells upon the conversion of the tiniversal green into one
pervading red. Cf. Ham. ii. 2. 479 : " Now is he total gules; " and
Milton, Comns, 133: "And makes one blot of all the air."

65. A heart so white. Cf. Marlowe, Lust^s Dominion (written
before 1593): "Your cheeks are black, let not your soul look
white."

68. Your constancy, etc. Your firmness has forsaken you. Cf.
A. W. ii. I. 87, /. C. ii. I. 299, etc.

70. Nightgown. A dressing-gown. Cf. v. i. 6 below. See also
Much Ado, Hi. 4. 18, Oth. iv. 3. 34, and stage-direction in/. C. ii. 2.
In Macbeth's time, and for centuries later, it was customary for both
sexes to sleep without any other covering than that belonging to
the bed.

72. Poorly. Without spirit, dejectedly. Cf. Rich. II, Hi. 3. 128:
" To look so poorly and to speak so fair." Cf. poor in R. of L. 710.

74. Wake Duncan with thy knocking ! An apostrophe to the
person knocking; not to Duncan, as some would make it.

SCENE III. — The Porter's part in this scene has been the subject
of much discussion. Coleridge says of it : " This low soliloquy of
the Porter and his few speeches afterwards I believe to have been
written for the mob by some other hand, perhaps with Shake-
speare's consent; and that finding it take, he with the remaining
ink of a pen otherwise employed just interpolated the words : —

" ' I '11 devil-porter it no further : I had thought to have let in some of
all professions, that go the primrose way to the everlasting bonfire.'

224

Notes [Act ii

Of the rest not one syllable has the ever-present being of Shake-
speare."

Mr. J. W. Hales, in a paper read before the New Shakspere
Society, May 22, 1874 (see the Transactions, 1874, p. 255 fol.),
takes the ground : —

" (i.) That a Porter's speech is an integral part of the play.
(ii.) That it is necessary as a relief to the surrounding horror,
(iii.) That it is necessary according to the law of contrast elsewhere

obeyed.

(iv.) That the speech we have is dramatically relevant.
(v.) That its style and language are Shakespearian."

After the reading of this paper Mr. Tom Taylor remarked : " The
reasons set forth by Mr. Hales appear to me so consonant with what
we know of Shakespeare, the general character of his plays, his lan-
guage, and the relation of serious and comic in his treatment of
dramatic subjects, that to me they carry absolute conviction that
the Porter's speech is an integral part of the play."

Dr. Furnivall says that he asked Dr. George Macdonald what he
thought of the Porter's speech, and the reply was : " Look at the
grim humour of it. I believe it 's genuine." He put the same ques-
tion to the poet Browning, who answered : " Certainly the speech is
full of humour; and as certainly the humour and the words are
Shakespeare's. I cannot understand Coleridge's objection to it.
As to Lamb, I 've no doubt that he held the speech genuine, for he
said that, on his pointing out to his friend Munden the quality of
the Porter's speech, Munden was duly struck by it, and expressed
his regret at never having played the part." At the meeting of the
New Shakspere Society, June 26, 1874, Dr. Furnivall stated that
Mr. Hales's conclusions had been accepted by every critic in Eng-
land whose opinion he had asked; among them Mr. Tennyson,
Mr. J. Spedding, Mr. A. J. Ellis, Professor Dowden, and Professor
H. Morley.

2. Porter of hell-gate. Cf. Oth. iv. 2. 90 : —

Scene III] Notes

225

" You, mistress,

That have the office opposite to St. Peter,
And keep the gate of hell."

Old. A "colloquial intensive" used several times by S.; as in
M. of V. iv. 2. 16, 2 Hen. IV. ii. 4. 21, M. W. i. 4. 5, Much Ado,
v. 2. 98. Mr. J. R. Wise {Shakespeare : His Birthplace, etc. ) says :
" Whenever there has been an unusual disturbance or ado . . . the
lower orders round Stratford-on-Avon invariably characterize it by
the phrase, ' There has been old work to-day.' " Cf. the modern
slang expression, " a high old time."

4. A farmer, etc. Malone quotes Hall, Satires, iv. 6: —

" Ech Muck-worme will be rich with lavvlesse gaine,
Altho he smother vp mowes of seuen yeares graine,
And hang'd himself when corne grows cheap again."

This helps to fix the date of the play in 1606; for the price of
wheat in that year was lower than it was for thirteen years after-
wards, and barley and malt were considerably cheaper than in the
next two years.

6. Come in time. That is, you 've come in time; probably allud-
ing to his suicide. Napkins = handkerchiefs. Cf. Z. C. 15 : "Oft
did she heave her napkin to her eyne; " also Oth. iii. 3. 287, 290,
321, etc. Enoiv is the plural of enough. Cf. M. of V. iii. 5. 24:
"Christians enow." See also Id. iv. I. 29, Hen. V. iv. I. 240, etc.

15. A French hose. Cf. The Black Year, by Anthony Nixon,
1606: "Gentlemen this year shall be much wronged by their tay-
lors, for their consciences are now much larger than ever they were,
for where [whereas] they were wont to steale but half a yeard of
brood cloth in making up a payre of breeches, now they do largely
nicke their customers in the lace too," etc. In M. of V. i. 2. 80
there is another reference to the large "round hose" borrowed
from France. Cf. also Hen. V. iii. 7. 56.

1 6. Roast your goose. Playing upon the two meanings of goose.

1 7. At quiet. Dr. Furnivall remarks that, " as S. uses both ' in

MACBETH — 15

226 Notes [Act ii

rest' and 'at rest,' there is nothing strange in his using both ' i n
quiet ' and 'at quiet.' " Cf. Judges, xviii. 27.

20. The primrose way, etc. Cf. Ham. i. 3. 50 : " the primrose
path of dalliance; " and A. IV. iv. 5. 56: "the flowery way that
Jeads to the broad gate and the great fire."

25. The second cock. The time meant is shown by A', and J. iv.
4. 3 : " The second cock hath crow'd, ... 't is three o'clock." Cf.
Lear, iii. 4. 121 and M. N. D. ii. I. 267.

30. Timely. S. often uses adjectives ending in -ly as adverbs.
Cf. unmannerly in loi below, etc. We have timely as an adjective
in iii. 3. 7.

34. Physics. Cures. Cf. Cymb. iii. 2. 34 : " For it doth physic
love." See also W. T.\. I. 43 and Temp. iii. I. I.

35. So bold to call. Cf. M. of V. iii. 3. 10 : " So fond to come
abroad," etc.

36. Limited. Appointed. Cf. M. for M. iv. 2. 176: "having
the hour limited; " K.John, v. 2. 123: "warrant limited," etc.

42. Combustion. Used by S. only here and in Hen. VIII. v. 4.
51; in both instances figuratively. Combustions occurs in V. and
A. 1162: "As dry combustious matter is to fire."

43. Obscure. Accent on the first syllable, as in Rich. II. iii. 3.
154, etc. Dissyllabic adjectives and participles are often thus ac-
cented when coming before a noun, but on the final syllable when
in the predicate. The obscure bird is " the nightly owl " ( T. A. ii.
3. 97). See on ii. 2. 3 above.

45. Cf. Cor. i. 4. 6 1 : —

"Thou madest thine enemies shake, as if the world
Were feverous and did tremble."

The reference is to an ague, or " shaking fever," as it is called in
K. John, ii. i. 228.

48. Tongue nor heart, etc. Cf. i. 3. 60 above. On the use of
the negatives, cf. Sonn. 86. 9 : "He nor that affable familiar ghost
. . . cannot boast."

Scene III] Notes 227

50. Confusion. Destruction. Cf. iii. 5. 29 below; also K. John,

iv. 3- 153-

51. Hath broke ope, etc. This has been called "a confusion of
metaphors," but it is not really such. The temple is the body (cf.
2 Corinthians, ci. 16), and the life of the building has been stolen
from it by the murderer.

56. Gorgon. For the allusion to the Gorgon's head, cf. T. and
C.v. 10. 18: —

" Go into Troy and say there Hector 's dead ;
There is a word will Priam turn to stone."

60. Death's counterfeit. Cf. R. of L. 402: "the map of death"
(that is, sleep) ; and M. N. D. iii. 2. 364 : " death-counterfeiting
sleep."

62. The great doom's image. An image of the Last Judgment.
Cf. Lear, v. 3. 264.

64. Countenance. Be in keeping with.

66. Parley. CLparle in Rich. II. i. 1. 192 and 3 Hen. VI. v. 1 . 16.

75. Had I but died, etc. Cf. W. T. iv. 4. 472: —

" If I might die within this hour, I have liv'd
To die when I desire."

77. Mortality. Human . life. Cf. R. of L. 403 : " life's mor-
tality; " K.John, v. 7. 5 : " the ending of mortality; " M. for M.
iii. 2. 196: "No might nor greatness in mortality," etc.

78. Is dead. The singular verb with two -singular nominatives is
not rare in S. Lees in the next line seems to be treated as virtually
singular.

86. Badg'd. Not elsewhere used as a verb by S. Cf. the noun
in 2 Hen. VI. iii. 2. 200 : " Murder's crimson badge."

^.Expedition. Haste. Cf. T. G. of V. i. 3. 37 :" the speediest
expedition," etc.

96. Outrun. These past indicative forms in u are common in S.

97. Lac'd. To lace was "to adorn with a texture sewed on."

228 Notes [Act ii

S. uses it literally in Muck Ado, iii. 4. 20 : " cloth o' gold, and cuts,
and laced with silver; " and figuratively, as here, in R. and J. iii.

5.8: —

" What envious streaks

Do lace the severing clouds in yonder east ! "

and Cymb. ii. 2. 22 : —

" White and azure lac'd

With blue of heaven's own tinct."

See also Sonn. 67. 4. For golden blood, see on ii. 2. 56 above.

98. A breach in nature. Steevens cites Sidney, Arcadia : " bat-
tering down the wals of their armour, making breaches almost in
every place, for troupes of wounds to enter ; " and A Herring's
Tayk, 1598: "A batter'd breach where troopes of wounds may
enter in."

101. Breech V -with gore. Covered with blood as with a garment.
Corruption of the text has been suspected, and various emendations
have been proposed.

103. Make 's. The abbreviation 's for his (also for us) was com-
mon even in serious style.

104. T. Whately {Remarks on Characters of 5.) says : "On
Lady Macbeth's seeming to faint while Banquo and Macduff are
solicitous about her, Macbeth, by his unconcern, betrays a con-
sciousness that the fainting is feigned." Fletcher {Studies of S.),
referring to this theory that the fainting is feigned, remarks : " We
believe, however, that the reader will bear in mind the burst of
anguish which had been forced from her by Macbeth's very first
ruminations upon his act : 'These deeds must not be thought After
these ways; so, it will make us mad.' Remembering this, he will
see what a dreadful accumulation of suffering is inflicted upon her
by her husband's own lips [ii. 3. 93-98], painting in stronger,
blacker colours than ever the guilty horror of their common deed."

105. Argument. Theme, subject. Cf. Sonn. 76. 10 : " And you
and love are still my argument," etc. See also Milton, P. /,. i. 24 :
" the highth of this great argument."

Scene IV] Notes 229

107. Hid in an auger-hole. Concealed in obscure places. Cf.
Cor. iv. 6. 87 : " Confin'd Into an auger's bore."

109. Nor our strong sorrow, etc. Cf. iv. 3. 209, and 3 Hen.
VI. iii. 3. 22 : " And give my tongue-tied sorrows leave to
speak."

in. When we have, etc. When we have clothed ourselves anJ
no longer suffer with cold. The Porter had observed that the place
was " too cold for hell."

1 1 6. Pretence. Intention, purpose. Cf. W. T. iii. 2. 18, Cor.
i. 2. 20, etc. In ii. 4. 24 below we have/r^«</ = intend, design.

118. Put on manly readiness. That is, dress ourselves. So
ready = dressed. Cf. Cymb. ii. 3. 86 : —

" Cloten. Your lady's person ; is she ready?
Lady. Ay,

To keep her chamber; "

and the stage-direction in i Hen. VI. ii. I. 38: "The French leap
ever the walls in their shirts. Enter, several ways, the Bastard of
Orleans, Alencon, and Reignier, half ready and half unready."

122. Easy. Easily; the adjective used adverbially, as often.

125. There 's. The singular verb is often used before a plural
subject. Cf. Cymb. iv. 2. 371 : "There is no more such masters,"
etc. Near — nearer; as in Rich. II. iii. 2. 64 : " Nor near nor
farther off," etc.

127. Hath not yet lighted. Has not yet spent its force.

129. Dainty of. Particular about. Cf. T. and C. i. 3. 145 :
" grows dainty of his worth."

130. There 's warrant, etc. Cf. A. W. ii. i. 33 : —

" Bertram. I '11 steal away.

First Lord. There 's honour in that theft."

SCENE IV. — 4. Trifled. Made trivial. In Elizabethan writers
intransitive verbs are often made transitive.

230

Notes [Act ii

Knowings. Experiences. Cf. Cymb. i. 4. 30 and ii. 3. 102; but
the plural is used by S. only here.

6. Threaten his bloody stage. " Frown upon the earth where
such horrors are enacted " (Moberly).

7. Strangles the travelling lamp. Cf. the description of the sun
in I Hen. IV. i. 2. 226 : —

— "breaking through the foul and ugly mists
Of vapours, that did seem to strangle him."

The folio has here " the trauailing Lampe." In the time of S. the
present distinction between travel and travail was not recognized,
the forms being used indiscriminately without regard to the
meaning.

8. Is V night 's predominance, etc. "Is it that night is aggres-
sive, or that the day is ashamed to appear ? " Predominant and
predominance were astrological terms. Cf. Lear, i. 2. 134 :
" Knaves, thieves, and treachers by spherical predominance ; "
A. W. i. i. 211 : —

" Helena. The wars have so kept you under that you must needs
have been born under Mars.

Parolles. When he was predominant ? "

See also Milton, Lycidas, 101 : —

" It was that fatal and perfidious bark,
Built in the eclipse, and rigg'd with curses dark."

32. Slab. Viscous, glutinous. Slabby has the same meaning.

33. Chaudron. Entrails. Steevens found in a cookery book,
printed in 1597, a receipt " to make a pudding of a calf's chaldron."
At the coronation feast of Elizabeth of York, queen of Henry VII.,
one of the dishes was " a swan with chaudron," meaning sauce
made with its entrails.

37. Baboon's. Accented here on the first syllable, but on the
second in T. of A. i. I. 260: " Into baboon and monkey," etc.

38. The stage-direction in the folios is " Enter Hecat, and the
other three Witches" ; but there is no good reason for supposing
that there are any other witches in the scene than those already on
the stage. Steevens suggested that others might be brought in to
join in the coming dance.

43. The stage-direction is from the 1st folio. The "Song" is
found in The Witch of MiddleWh, where it begins thus : —

" Black spirits and white, red spirits and gray,
Mingle, mingle, mingle, you that mingle may ! "

Davenant introduced this much of it into his version.

44. Pricking, etc. It is a very ancient superstition that all sud-

256

Notes [Act IV

den pains of the body, which could not naturally be accounted for,
were presages of somewhat that was shortly to happen.

50. Conjure. S. always has the accent on the first syllable,
except in R. and J. ii. i. 26, Oth. I. 3. 105, and Ham. v. i. 279.

53. Yesty. Foamy. Cf. Ham. v. 2. 198, where it is used figura-
tively = light, frivolous.

55. Bladed. In the blade. Cf. M. N. D. i. i. 211 : "the bladed
grass." On lodged ( = thrown down, laid), cf. Rich. II. iii. 3. 162.

57. Slope. S. has the word nowhere else, either as verb or
noun. Its transitive use here is peculiar.

59. Gennens. Germs, seeds. The folios have " germaine " or
" germain." Cf. Lear, iii. 2. 8 : " Crack nature's moulds, all ger-
mens spill at once " (" germaines " or " germains " in the early eds.).

60. Sicken. Be surfeited. Cf. T. N. i. i. 3.

65. Farrow. A litter of pigs. Steevens cites the law of Ken-
neth II., of Scotland, given by Ilolinshed : "If a sowe eate hir
pigges, let hyr be stoned to death and buried." Sweaten is an
irregular form, used here for the rhyme.

68. The armed head represents symbolically Macbeth's head cut
off and brought to Malcolm by Macduff (v. 8. 53). The bloody
child 'is Macduff (v. 8. 15). The child crowned, -with a tree in his
hand, is the royal Malcolm (v. 4. 4).

78. Had I three ears, etc. Whately {Rhetoric, iv. 2. 2), in illus-
trating the imperfection of any system of marks or signs to indicate
tones in elocution, says of this passage : " No one would dispute
that the stress is to be laid on the word three, and thus much might
be indicated to the reader's eye; but if he had nothing else to trust
to, he might chance to deliver the passage in such a manner as to
be utterly absurd; for it is possMe to pronounce the emphatic
word three in such a tone as to indicate that ' since he has but two
ears he cannot hear.' "

84. And take a bond of fate. This legal metaphor is often used
by S. Cf. iii. 2. 49 above.

85. Pale-hearted fear. See on ii. 2. 65.

Scene I] Notes 257

88. The round, etc. On round, cf. i. 5. 28; and on top, see
Temp. iii. I. 38 : " the top of admiration ; " 2 Hen. VI. i. 2. 49 :
"the top of honour;" M. for M. ii. 2. 76: "the top of
judgment," etc.

93. Great Birnam wood, etc. The incident of the moving
forest is found in various myths. Cf. the story of King Griinewald,
which Professor Schwarz has preserved in his Hessian Notabilia
derived from oral tradition : " A King had an only daughter, who
possessed wondrous gifts. Now, once upon a time there came his
enemy, a King named Griinewald, and besieged him in his castle,
and, as the siege lasted long, the daughter kept continually encour-
aging her father in the castle. This lasted till May-day. Then all
of a sudden the daughter saw the hostile army approach with green
boughs : then fear and anguish fell on her, for she knew that all
was lost, and said to her father : —

" ' Father, you must yield, or die,

I see the green-wood drawing nigh." "

See other instances in Grimms' Tales, and elsewhere.

The village of Birnam is a modern suburb of Dunkeld, which
is about sixteen miles from Perth. Birnam Hill (1580 feet high)
rises in front of the village, at present almost bare of trees, though
an attempt is being made to clothe it again with fir saplings taken
from the original " Birnam Wood." In the rear of the hotel are
two trees, an oak and a plane, which are believed to be a remnant
of this famous forest. The Dunsinane hills, twelve miles distant,
are visible from the northern side of Birnam Hill, which, as a recent
writer remarks, "is precisely the point where a general, in full march
towards Dunsinane, would be likely to pause to survey the plain
which he must cross, and from this spot would the leafy screen
devised by Malcolm become necessary to conceal the number of the
advancing army." Dunsinane is here accented on the second syl-
lable; but elsewhere in the play on the last syllable, or the first and
MACBETH — 17

258 Notes [Act IV

last. The former is the local pronunciation, according to Chambers'*
Encyclopedia.

95. Impress. Press (as in Rich. II. iii. 2. 58, etc.), force into his
service. Cf. i Hen. IV. i. I. 21, etc.

96. Bodements. Prophecies. Used by S. only here and in
T. and C. v. 3. 80.

98. Our high-placed Macbeth. This seems strange in Macbeth's
mouth, and I have seen no satisfactory explanation of it. The pas-
sage, from Sweet bodements good ! to mortal custom, is probably either
corrupt or spurious.

99. Lease of nature. That is, the natural period.
106. Noise. Music. Cf. Temp. iii. 2. 144: —

" the isle is full of noises,
Sounds and sweet airs, that give delight and hurt not."

See also Cor. iii. i . 95, Ham. v. 2. 360, etc. Cf. too Spenser, F. Q.
i. 12, 39 : " During the which there was a heavenly noise; " Milton,
Hymn on Nativ. 97: "the stringed noise; " Ode at a Solemn
Mustek, 18: "that melodious noise;" and Coleridge, Ancient
Mariner : —

" It ceased ; yet still the sails made on

A pleasant noise till noon —

A noise like of a hidden brook

In the leafy month of June,

That to the sleeping woods all night

Singeth a quiet tune."

The word was also used in the sense of a company of musicians, as
in 2 Hen. IV. ii. 4. 13.

in. The stage-direction in the folio reads: "A shew of eight
Kings, and Banquo last, with a glasse in his hand." This has bee^
regarded as inconsistent with what Macbeth says in line 119; bvt
the figures shown in the glass are not included.

1 1 6. Start, eyes ! Apparently meaning, " Start from your sockets,
so that I may see nothing more."

Scene II] Notes

117. The crack of doom. The burst of sound at the day of doom;
or the thunder announcing that day. Cf. T. A. ii. i. 3: "thunder's
crack;" and Temp. i. 2. 203: " cracks of sulphurous roaring." See
also on i. 2. 37 above.

121. Twofold balls. This may refer to the double coronation of
James, at Scone and Westminster; or, as otherwise explained, to
the two islands, while the treble sceptres refers to the three king-
doms (England, Scotland, and Ireland), Henry VIII. having taken
the title of King of Ireland in 1542.

123. Blood-bolter 'd. Clotted or matted with blood. According
to the New English Diet. (Oxford) battered \s related to the provin-
cial baiter, to become matted.

127. Sprights. This is the spelling of the folio, and is preferred
by some editors when, as here, the word does not refer to appari-
tions. Cf. V. and A. 181 : "And now Adonis, with a lazyspright; "
R. of L. 121 : " with heavy spright," etc.

130. Antic. The folio has "Antique" here. We find "antick"
and " antique " (the accent always on the first syllable) used pro-
miscuously in the early eds. without regard to the meaning.

144. Anticipafst. Dost prevent. Cf. Sonn. 118.9: "to antici-
pate The ills that were not," etc.

145. Flighty. Fleeting. Used by S. nowhere else. Overtook is
the usual form of the participle in S.

147. Firstlings. First produce or offspring. Cf. T. and C.
prol. 27 : " The vaunt and firstlings of those broils."

150. The castle of Macduff. Tradition makes this Dunnemarle
Castle near Culross, on the Forth.

152. All unfortunate souls, etc. All who are so unlucky as to
be of his lineage.

153. Trace. Follow. Cf. Hen. VIII. iii. 2. 45 : "Now all my
joy Trace the conjunction ! " See also I Hen. IV. iii. I. 47.

SCENE II. — 4. Traitors. The treason is the desertion of his
family.

260 Notes [Act iv

7. -Titles. Possessions, property; whatever he had title to.

9. Touch. Sensibility, or feeling. Cf. T. G. of V. ii. 7. 18,
A. W. i. 3. 122, A. and C. i. 2. 187, etc.

The poor wren, etc. Harting ( Ornithology of S.~) remarks that
the wren is not the smallest of birds, that it is doubtful whether it
would fight against a bird of prey in defence of its young, and that
the owl will not take young birds from the nest.

12. All is the fear. The fear is all that can have influenced him.

15. For. As regards. Cf. Rich. II. v. 3. 137: "But for our
trusty brother-in-law," etc.

17. The jits o1 the season. The chances or uncertainties of the
time. Cf. Cor. iii. 2. 33.

1 8. When we are traitors, etc. That is, are counted traitors,
but are not conscious of being such.

19. When we hold rumour, etc. When we believe rumours
because of our fears, yet know not why we should fear, being con-
scious of no fault.

On from •=. because of, cf. iii. 6. 21 above.

22. Each way and move. A doubtful passage; but none of the
emendations are satisfactory. If move is what S. wrote, it is prob-
ably a noun (= movements, motion) rather than a verb (=toss
about), as some make it.

23. Shall. The ellipsis of the nominative when it can be readily
supplied is not uncommon.

29. ft would be my disgrace. That is, I should give way to
unmanly weeping. Cf. Hen. V. iv. 6. 30 : —

" But I had not so much of man in me,
And all my mother came into mine eyes,
And gave me up to tears."

See also T. N. ii. I. 42, for the "mother" excuse.

30. Sirrah. Used playfully. It was ordinarily addressed to
inferiors, and was considered disrespectful, or unduly familiar, if
applied to a superior. Cf. Much Ado, iv. 2. 14: —

Scene II] Notes 261

" Dogberry . . . Yours, sirrah ?
Conrad*. I am a gentleman, sir, and my name is Conrade."

It was also addressed to women. See A. and C. v. 2. 229 :
" sirrah Iras, go."

32. With worms. On worms. Cf. Rick. II. iii. 2. 175 : "I live
with bread like you."

34. Lime. Bird-lime. Cf. Temp. iv. I. 246 and T. G.ofV.\\.
2.68.

35. Gin. Snare. Cf. T. N. ii. 5. 92, 2 Hen. VI. iii. I. 262, etc.
See also Psalms, cxl. 5.

36. They. It is a question whether this refers to the traps just
mentioned, or to birds. In either case, the meaning is that in life
traps are not set for the poor but for the rich.

47. Swears and lies. That is, proves false to his oath, perjures
himself.

56. Enow. See on ii. 3. 6 above.

65. In your state, etc. I am perfectly acquainted with your
noble rank and character. Clarke remarks : " The man sees her in
her own castle, and knows her to be its lady mistress; but he also
seems to know that she is a virtuous, a kind, a good lady as well
as a noble lady, and therefore comes to warn her of approaching
danger." On perfect, cf. W. T. iii. 3. I : —

"Thou art perfect, then, our ship hath touch'd upon
The deserts of Bohemia ? "

and Cymb. iii. I. 73 : —

" I am perfect

That the Pannonians and Dalmatians for
Their liberties are now in arms."

66. / doubt. I suspect, fear. Cf. M. W. i. 4. 42, etc.

67. Homely. Plain, humble. S. also uses it in the other sense
of plain-featured, ugly; as in T. G. of V. ii. 4. 98, C. of E. ii. I.
89, etc.

70. To do worse. That is, to let her and her children be

262 Notes [Act iv

destroyed without warning (Johnson). Another explanation as-
sumes that the messenger was one of the murderers who, actuated
by pity and remorse, had outstripped his companions to give warn-
ing of their approach.

75. Sometime. See on i. 6. II above.

81. Where. On where following so, cf. T. and C. iii. 3. 155:
"So narrow Where one but goes abreast."

82. Shag-haired. Cf. 2 Hen. VI. iii. I. 367: "a shag-hair'd
crafty kern" (the "rough, rug-headed kerns" of Rich. II. ii. I.
156). On egg, cf. L. L. L. v. i. 78: " thou pigeon-egg of discre-
tion; " and T. and C.\. I. 41 : " Finch-egg ! "

83. Fry. Cf. V. and A. 526 : " No fisher but the ungrown fry
forbears."

SCENE III. — Before the King's Palace. Some eds. have " A
Room in the King's Palace " ; but cf. line 140 : " Comes the king
forth, I pray you? "

3. Mortal. Deadly. Cf. i. 5. 41 above.

4. Bestride. Stand over to defend. Cf. C. of E. v. I. 192: —

" When I bestrid thee in the wars and took
Deep scars to save thy life ; "

and 2 Hen. IV. i. i. 207 : —

" Tells them he doth bestride a bleeding land,
Gasping for life under great Bolingbroke."

Birthdom (used by S. nowhere else) — mother country.
6. Strike heaven, etc. Cf. M. of V. ii. 7. 45 : —

" The watery kingdom, whose ambitious head
Spets in the face of heaven."

We have also " the face of heaven ' in Rich. III. iv. 4. 239; "the
cloudy cheeks of heaven" in Rich. II. iii. 3. 57. The sun is called
" the eye of heaven " in i. 3. 275, and " the searching eye of heaven "

Scene III] Notes 263

in iii. 2. 37, of the same play. For that = so that, see on i. 2. 58
above.

8. Syllable. Expression, cry. Cf. the figurative use of the word
in v. 5. 21 below.

10. To friend. On to = for, cf. J, C. iii. I. 143: "I know that
we shall have him well to friend; " Rich. II. iv. I. 307 : " I have a
king here to my flatterer," etc. See also Matthew, iii. 9, Luke,
iii. 8, etc.

1 2. Blisters our tongues. We have the same figure in R. andj.
iii. 2. 90, L. L. L. v. 2. 335, and W. T. ii. 2. 33. Sole name = mere
name, very name.

14. Touch' d. Cf. iii. 2. 26 above.

15. And wisdom. And it is wisdom. The ellipsis of it is, there
is, and simple is occurs not unfrequently.

19. Recoil. Fall off, degenerate (Schmidt). Cf. Cymb. i. 6.
128: " Recoil from your great stock." In an imperial fharge =
when acting by a king's command.

21. Transpose. Change, transform. It has the same meaning
in the only other passage where S. uses it, M. N. D. i. I. 233 : —

" Things base and vile, holding no quality,
Love can transpose to form and dignity."

24. Look so. That is, look like grace. Cf. M. for M. ii. I. 297 :
" Mercy is not itself that oft looks so." My hopes = my hope of
being welcomed by you as an ally.

25. Perchance, etc. Perhaps because your own course (in leav-
ing your family as you did) compels me to distrust you.

26. Rawness. Want of due preparation. S. uses the word only
here, but the adverb rawly (also used but once) has a similar sense
in Hen. V. iv. I. 147: "children rawly left."

27. Motives. Often applied by S. to persons. Cf. T. of A. v.
4. 27, Oth. iv. 2. 43, A. and C. ii. 2. 96, etc.

29. Jealousies. " The plural indicates the repeated occasions for
his suspicion to which the arrival of messengers from Scotland gives

264 Notes [Act iv

rise, not merely his present feelings towards Macduff ; and this plura!
occasioned the two others, dishonours and safeties" (Delius). See
on iii. I. 121 above.

34. Affeer'd. Confirmed, sanctioned. It is a law term, applied
to the fixing of a fine in cases where it is not fixed by the statute.
Toilet explains the passage thus: "Poor country, wear thou thy
wrongs; the title to them is legally settled by those who had the
final adjudication of it."

37. To boot. In addition; still in colloquial use, at least in New
England.

39. / think, I think on the fact that, bear in mind that. Cf. iii.
I. 131 : "always thought," etc.

43. England. The king of England. Cf. line 189 below. See
also K. John, iii. 4. 8: "And bloody England into England gone; "
Hen. V. iii. 6. 131 : " England shall repent his folly; " Id. iii. 6. 166 :
"Though France himself," etc.; W. T. i. I. 23: " Sicilia cannot
show himself overkind to Bohemia," etc.

49. What should he be ? What = who ; as often. Cf. Hen. V.
iv. 3. 18: "What's he that wishes so?" etc.

52. Opened. Unfolded, like buds or leaves; carrying out the
metaphor in grafted.

55. Confineless. Boundless. Not found elsewhere in S., but we
have " fineless " in the same sense in Of A. iii. 3. 1 73 : " riches fineless."

57. Top. Overtop, surpass. Cf. Cor. ii. I. 23: "topping all
others in boasting," etc.

58. Luxurious. Lustful, licentious; the only sense in which S.
uses the word. Cf. Much Ado, iv. I. 42, etc. Luxury is used in a
kindred sense; as in Rich. III. iii. 5. 80, Ham. i. 5. 83, etc.

59. Sudden. Violent, impetuous, passionate. Cf. A. Y. L. ii. 7.
151 : " Sudden and quick in quarrel; " Of A. ii. I. 279 : " he is rash
and very sudden in choler," etc.

64. Continent. Restraining. Cf. Lear, i. 2. 182 : "a continent
forbearance." Cf. also the use of the noun in Lear, iii. 2. 58,
A. and C. iv. 14. 40, etc.

Scene III] Notes 265

66. Such an one. Cf. 101 below, where we have "such a one."
Both forms are found in the early eds.

67. In nature. In its nature.

71. Convey your pleasures. Indulge them secretly. So in
Rich. III. iv. 2. 96, " convey letters " = send them secretly. Cf.
also Lear, i. 2. 109, and Hen. V. i. 2. 74. Convey was used as a
cant term for steal; as in M. W. i. 3. 32, Kick. II. iv. I. 317, etc.

72. The time you may so hoodwink. "That no man shall be
aware thereof" (Holinshed).

77. Ill-composed. Compounded of evil qualities. Cf." well com-
posed " in T. and C. iv. 4. 79. Affection — disposition.

78. Stanchless. Insatiate. Cf. stanch = satiate, in T. A. iii. 1.15.

82. That. So that. See on i. 3. 57 above. Forge = frame, fab-
ricate; used by S. in both a good and a bad sense. Cf. A. W. i. I.
85 : "The best wishes that can be forged in your thoughts; " Id.
iv. i. 26: "the lies he forges," etc.

86. Summer-seeming. Which appears to belong to youth, and
to pass with it. It is contrasted with avarice, which is lifelong.

88. Poisons. Rich harvests, plenty. Cf. Sonn. 53. 9 : —

" Speak of the spring and foison of the year;
The one doth shadow of your beauty show,
The other as your bounty doth appear."

See also Temp. ii. I. 163, iv. i. no, etc.

89. Mere own. Absolutely your own. Cf. line 152 below, and
also Oth. ii. 2. 3 : " the mere perdition (that is, entire destruction)
of the Turkish fleet; " Hen. VIII. iii. 2. 329: "the mere undoing
(the utter ruin) of all the kingdom," etc.

Portable. Endurable; as in Lear, iii. 6. 115: "How light and
portable my pain seems now." In the only other instance of the
word in S. it is used in the literal modern sense : " an engine not
portable " ( T. and C. ii. 3. 144)- Holinshed has importable in this
connection : " mine intemperancie should be more importable vnto
you," etc.

266 Notes [Act iv

90. Weighed with. Weighed against, counterbalanced by.

92. Verity. Truthfulness, honesty. Cf. A. Y. L. iii. 4. 25 : "his
verity in love." Temperance = self-restraint. Cf. M. for M. iii. 2.
251, Hen. VIII. i. i. 124, Cor. iii. 3. 28, Ham. iii. 2. 8, etc.

93. Perseverance. Accented on the second syllable, as in
T. and C. iii. 3. 150. S. uses the word nowhere else. Per sever
he always accents on the penult ; as in T. G. of V. iii. 2. 25 :
"Ay, and perversely she persevers so." See also C. of E. ii. 2.
217, M. N. D. iii. 2. 237, etc.

95. Relish of. Not = relish for, but smack or flavour of. Cf.
2 Hen. IV. i. 2. I ii : " some smack of age, some relish of the salt-
ness of time; " Ham. iii. 3. 92: "no relish of salvation."

98. The sweet milk, etc. Cf. i. 5. 17 above.

99. Uproar. Stir up to tumult. It is found nowhere else as a
verb.

104. Untitled. Without rightful title.

105. Wholesome. Healthy, prosperous. Cf. M. W. v. 5. 63:
" In state as wholesome as in state 't is fit ; " Lear, i. 4. 230 : " whole-
some weal," etc.

106. Since that. See on i. 2. 54 above.

108. Breed. Parentage. Cf. Rich. II. ii. i. 45: "This happy
breed (race) of men; " and Id. ii. i. 52: "royal kings, Fear'd by
their breed" (on account of their birth), etc.

in. Died every day she liv'd. Lived a life of daily mortifica-
tion (Delius). Cf. I Corinthians, xv. 31 : "I die daily." Fare is a
dissyllable.

118. Trains. Artifices, lures. Cf. the use of the verb (= entice,
allure) in C. of E. iii. 2. 45, L. L. L. i. i. 71, i Hen. IV. v. 2. 21, etc.

119. Modest wisdom, etc. Cautious wisdom holds me back.
123. Unspeak. Cf. "unsay" in Rich. II. iv. i. 9, M. N. D. i. I.

181, Hen. VIII. v. i. 177, etc.

133. Here-approach. Cf. " here-remain " in line 148.

134. Old Siward. He was the son of Beorn, Earl of Northum-
berland, and rendered great service to King Edward in the sup-

Scene III] Notes 267

pression of the rebellion of Earl Godwin and his sons, 1053.
According to Holinshed, Duncan married a daughter of Siward;
but in v. 2. 2 S. calls Siward Malcolm's uncle.

135. At a foint. Like at point = completely, prepared for any
emergency. Cf. Ham. i. 2. 200 : " Arm'd at point; " Lear, i. 4. 347 :
" keep At point a hundred knights," etc.

136. The chance, etc. May the chance of success be as certain
as the justice of our cause.

140-159. The authenticity of these lines has been disputed.
Fleay ascribes them to Middleton. Hales suggests that, if they are
an interpolation, S. may himself have inserted them for the Court
•performance.

142. Stay his cure. Wait to be healed by him. Cf. T. G. of V.
ii. 2. 13 : " My father stays my coming; " M. of V. ii. 8. 40: " But
stay the very riping of the time," etc. Convinces, etc. = overpowers
the utmost efforts of medical skill. On convinces, cf. i. 7. 64 above.

145. Presently. Immediately. See on i. 2. 64 above.

146. The evil. The scrofula, or " the king's evil," as it was long
called. Edward's miraculous powers were believed in by his con-
temporaries, and were recognized by Pope Alexander III., who can-
onized him. The power of healing was claimed for his successors
early in the twelfth century. James the First's practice of touching
for the evil is mentioned several times in Nichols's Progresses.
Charles I., when at York, touched seventy persons in one day.
Charles II. touched when an exile at Bruges, and also after his
restoration. One of Dr. Johnson's earliest recollections was the
being taken to be touched by Queen Anne in 1712. A form of
prayer to be used at the ceremony was introduced into the Book
Common Prayer as early as 1684, and was retained up to 1719.
As late as 1745 Prince Charles at Holyrood touched a child for tl

CV^' I TT '

149. Solicits. Moves by his prayers. Cf. Rich. II. i. 2. 2
"Doth more solicit me than your exclaims."
152. Mere. See on line 89 above.

268 Notes [Act iv

153. A golden stamp. There is no evidence that the Confessor
hung a golden coin or stamp about the necks of the patients, but
this custom prevailed in later days. Previously to Charles II.'s
time some current coin, as an angel, was used for the purpose, but
in his reign a special medal was struck and called a " touch-piece."
The touch-piece which Queen Anne hung round the neck of Dr.
Johnson is preserved in the British Museum. On stamp — coin, cf.
M. W. iii. 4. 16: "Stamps in gold or sums in sealed bags; " and
Cymb. v. 4. 24 : " they weigh not every stamp."

154. Spoken. Said. See on iii. 4. 8 above.

160. My countryman. He recognizes him as such by his dress.

163. Means. S. sometimes uses means as a singular. QX.M.ofV.
ii. 1. 19: "that means;" W. T. iv. 4. 632 : "this means;" C. of E.
i. I. 76: "Other means was none," etc. He also often uses the
singular mean; as in IV. T. iv. 4. 89, Oth. iii. I. 39, J. C. iii. I.
161, etc.

170. Modern. Ordinary, common; as in R. and J. iii. 2. 120:
"modern lamentation;" A. W. ii. 3. 2: "modern and familiar,"
etc. For ecstasy, see on iii. 2. 22.

171. Scarce ask'd for who. See on iii. I. 122 above.

172. Flowers in their caps. It was customary with the High-
landers, when on a march, to stick sprigs of heath in their bonnets.

173. Or ere. Cf. Temp. i. 2. ii, Ham. i. 2. 147, etc. The or,
like the ere, is the Anglo-Saxon &r, which is found in Early English
in the forms er, air, ar, ear, or, etc. Ere seems to have been added
to or for emphasis when the meaning of the latter was coming to
be forgotten.

174. Too nice. Too precise or minute; not "too fancifully
minute," as some explain it. " Notwithstanding the relation is so
full of distressing particulars, it is yet too true " (Noble Butler).

175. That of an four's age, etc. If a man tells of a crime that
is an hour old, it exposes him to derision.

176. Teems. Brings forth. Cf. T. of A. iv. 3. 179, and Hen. V.
v. 2. 51.

Scene III] Notes 269

177. Children. A trisyllable here. The word was originally
childeren.

179. At peace. Cf. Rich. II. iii. 2. 127: —

" Richard. I warrant they have made peace with Bolingbroke.
Scroop. Peace have they made with him indeed, my lord."

183. Were out. Had taken the field. In Lear, i. I. 33 (" He
hath been out nine years ") out = abroad, in foreign countries.

184. Witness 'd. Made credible.

185. For that. See on 106 above. Power = army, forces; as
often. Cf. line 236 below. The plural was used in the same sense
(so force and forces now).

191. None. There is none. See on 15 above.

192. Gives out. Shows. Cf. W. T. iv. 4. 149. T. N. iii. 4. 203,
OtA. iii. 3. 209, etc.

195. Latch. Catch. Cf. Sonn. 113.6: —

" For it no form delivers to the heart
Of bird, or flower, or shape, which it doth latch."

In M. N. D. iii. 2. 36 some make it = smear; a meaning found
nowhere else.

196. A fee-grief. A grief that affects a single person; like

property held in fee.

202. Possess them with. Fill them with. Cf. K.John, iv. 2. 203 :
"Why seek'st thou to possess me with these fears?" See also
I Hen. IV. ii. 2. 112, Hen. VIII. ii. \. 158, M. W. i. 3- "°» etc-

206. Quarry. Dead bodies; literally, the game killed in hunt-
ing Cf. Cor. i. i. 202, and Ham. v. 2. 375.

208. Ne'er pull your hat, etc. Cf. the old ballad of « Northum-
berland betrayed by Douglas " : —

" He pulled his halt down over his browe,
And in his heart he was full woe," etc.

209. The grief that does not speak, etc. Steevens quotes Web-
ster, White Devil: —

270 Notes [Act iv

" Poor heart, break ;
These are the killing griefs which dare not speak."

Cf. V. and A. 329: —

" the heart hath treble wrong

When it is bacr'd the aidance of the tongue."

210. Whispers. Cf. Much Ado, iii. 1.4: " Whisper her ear," etc.

212. Must be. Was destined to be.

216. He has no children. Some refer this to Macbeth : " there-
fore my utmost revenge must fall short of the injury he has inflicted
upon me." I prefer, with Malone, to apply it to Malcolm. Cf.
K.John, iii. i. 91: "He talks to me that never had a son."
Moberly refers it to Macbeth, but explains it thus : " Had he had
children, he could not have done it." He cites 3 Hen. VI. v. 5.

63:-

" You have no children, butchers ; if you had,

The thought of them would have stirr'd up remorse."

220. Dispute it. Fight against it; or, perhaps, "reason upon
it," as some explain it.

223. That. On that following such, cf. /. C. i. 3. 1 16 : " to such
a man That is no fleering tell-tale," etc.

225. Naught. Worthless thing. Cf. Ham. iii. 2. 157: "You are
naught," etc.

229. Convert. Change. Cf. R. of L. 592 : " For stones dissolv'd
to water do convert; " Id. 691 : "This hot desire converts to cold
disdain; " Much Ado, i. I. 123: "Courtesy itself must convert to
disdain," etc.

232. Intermission. Delay. Cf. M. of V. iii. 2. 201 : —

" You lov'd, I lov'd ; for intermission
No more pertains to me, my lord, than you."

234. Scape. See on iii. 4. 20 above.

235. Too. " If I don't kill him, then I am worse than he, and
I not only forgive him myself, but pray God to forgive him also. "
On the adverbial use of manly, cf. iii. 5. I above.

Scene I]

Notes

271

Coleridge observes: "How admirably Macduff's grief is in har-
mony with the whole play ! It rends, not dissolves the heart.
'The tune of it goes manly.' Thus is S. always master of himself
and of his subject — a genuine Proteus; we see all things in him,
as images in a calm lake, most distinct, most accurate, only more
splendid, more glorified."

237. Our lack, etc. We need only the king's leave to set out;
or, perhaps, to take our leave of the king.

239. Put on. Instigate, incite; as in Lear, \. 4. 227, Oth. ii. 3.
357, etc. For instruments applied to persons, cf. i. 3. 124 and iii.
1 . 80 above.

CORONATION CHAIR, WITH STONE OF SCONE

ACT V

SCENE I. — 4. Went into the field. Steevens thinks S. forgot that
he had shut up Macbeth in Dunsinane; but, as Boswell notes, Ross

272 Notes [Act V

says (iv. 3. 185) that he had seen "the tyrant's power afoot." The
strength of his adversaries, and the revolt of his own troops (v. 2.
18), had probably led him to retreat into his castle.
6. Nightgown. See on ii. 2. 70 above.

11. Effects. Actions. Cf. Ham. iii. 4. 129, Lear, i. I. 1 88, ii. 4.
182, etc.

12. Slumbery. Used by S. only here.

13. Actual. "Consisting in doing anything, in contradistinction
to thoughts or words" (Schmidt); as in Oth. iv. 2. 153, the only
other instance of the word in S.

22. Close. Hidden; as in/. C. i. 3. 131, etc.

25. 'T is her command. Dr. Bucknill asks : " Was this to avert
the presence of those 'sightless substances' (i. 5. 49) once im-
piously invoked ? She seems washing her hands, and ' continues
in this a quarter of an hour.' What a comment on her former
boast, ' A little water clears us of this deed ! ' >:

27. Are shut. The folio reading, generally changed to " is shut."
Sense is apparently a plural like horse, etc. See on ii. 4. 14. Cf.
Sonn. 112. 10: —

" my adder's sense
To critic and to flatterer stopped are."

38. Hell is murky. Steevens thinks that she imagines herself
talking to Macbeth, and that these are his words which she repeats
contemptuously; but it seems better (with Clarke and Noble Butler)
to regard them as the expression of her own dread of hell.

48. You mar all, etc. Alluding to the terror of Macbeth, when
the Ghost broke in on the banquet.

49. Go to. Often used as an expression of exhortation or re-
proof. Cf. Temp. iv. I. 253, Oth. iv. 2. 194, etc. See also Genesis,
xi. 3, 4, 7 and xxxviii. 16, 2 Kings, v. 5, etc.

54. Smell. Verplanck, after remarking that " the more agree-
able associations of this sense " are often used for poetic effect,
adds : " But the smell has never been successfully used as a means
of impressing the imagination with terror, pity, or any of the deeper

Scene II] Notes 273

emotions, except in this dreadful sleep-walking scene of the guilty
Queen, and in one parallel scene of the Greek drama, as wildly
terrible as this. It is that passage of the Agamemnon of yEschylus,
where the captive prophetess, Cassandra, wrapt in visionary in-
spiration, scents first the smell of blood, and then the vapours of
the tomb breathing from the palace of Atrides, as ominous of his
approaching murder."

58. Sorely charged. Heavily laden. Cf. iv. 3. 210: "the o'er-
fraught heart."

60. The dignity, etc. The queenly rank of the lady.

64. Which. See on i. 2. 21 above.

68. On Js. Of his. Cf. "on 't," i. 3. 42, and iii. I. 130. See
also Lear, i. 4. 114, iv. 5. 20, etc.

81. Remove, etc. Lest she commit suicide. On annoyance, cf.
K.John, v. 2. 150, T. and C. i. 3. 48, etc.

83. Mated. Bewildered, paralyzed. Cf. V. and A. 909, C. of E.
iii. 2. 54, v. i. 281, and 2 Hen. VI. iii. I. 265.

SCENE II. — 3. Revenges. For the plural, see on iii. 1. 1 21, and cf.
M.forM. iv. 3. 140, A. IV. v. 3. 10, T. N.V.I. 385, Cor. iv. 5. 143, etc.

Dear causes. Causes in which they are intensely interested.
Cf. Lear, iv. 3. 53: "Some dear cause." Dear often meant
" earnest, heartfelt, vital," and was applied to what was disagree-
able or hateful as well as what was agreeable and lovable.

4. Alarm. Call to arms. See on " alarum'd," ii. I. 53 above.

5. The mortified man. "The veriest ascetic " (Moberly). Cf.
L. L. L.\. i. 28. Schmidt explains mortified as " deprived of vital
faculty, made apathetic and insensible." There is little to choose
between the two.

8. File. List. See on iii. I. 94 above.

10. Unrough. Beardless. Cf. Temp. ii. I. 250: "rough and
razorable." See also W. T. \. 2. 128, iv. 4. 744, etc.

11. Protest. Proclaim. Cf. iii. 4. 105 : and on first of manhood,
iii. I. 117.

MACBETH — 1 8

274 Notes [Act v

13. Lesser. S. uses it several times as an adverb. See on i. 3. 65.
15. He cannot buckle, etc. We have the same metaphor in
T. and C. ii. 2. 30 : —

" And buckle in a waist most fathomless
With spans and inches so diminutive
As fears and reasons."

Distempered = disordered, disorganized.

1 8. Minutely. Happening every minute, continual; used no-
where else by S.

20. Nothing. Adverbial, as in v. 4. 2. For the figure that fol-
lows, cf. i. 3. 145.

23. Pestered. Troubled, perplexed. Cf. Ham. i. 2. 22, T. and
C, v. I. 38, etc. On to recoil (= for recoiling), cf. iv. 3. 19.

27. Medicine. Some critics take this to mean physician (Fr.
medecin), as in A. W. ii. I. 75 and W. T. iv. 4. 598; but the next
line rather favours taking it in its ordinary sense. Him may refer
to Malcolm, as Heath suggests, not to medicine. It is not easy to
decide between the two interpretations. Cf. iii. 4. 76.

30. Dew. Also used as a verb in V. and A. 66, M. N. D. ii. I.
9, R. andf. v. 3. 14, etc.

SCENE III. — i. Them. That is, the thanes.

3. Taint. Be infected. Cf. Cymb. i. 4. 148, and T. N. iii. 4. 145.

5. For prono unce, cf. Hen. VIII. i. I. 196.

8. English epicures. The Scotch often accused the English
of gluttony. The English too brought similar charges against
their Continental neighbours. Delius quotes from the drama of
Edward III., falsely attributed to Shakespeare : —

" Those ever-bibbing epicures,
Those frothy Dutchmen, puff "d with double beer."

9. The mind I sway by. That is, am directed by. Some ex-
plain it, "by which I bear rule."

10. Sag. Droop. The word appears to be only provincial in

Scene III] Notes 275

England. Like some other words I have noted in S., it is still in
common use in New England. See on sliver' d, iv. i. 28 above.

13. There is. The singular verb is often used with numbers,
which seem to be viewed as an aggregate.

15. Lily-liver '</. Cowardly. Cf. Lear, ii. 2. 18: " A lily-liver'd,
action-taking knave; " M. of V. iii. 2. 86 : " livers white as milk; "
2 Hen. IV. iv. 3. 113: "the liver white and pale," etc. Patch =
clown, fool; as in Temp. iii. 2. 71, C. of E. iii. I. 32, etc.

1 6. Linen cheeks. Steevens quotes Hen. V. ii. 2. 74: "Their
cheeks are paper." See on iii. 4. 1 16.

20. Push. Attack, onset; as in_/. C., v. 2. 5, etc.

21. Will cheer me, etc. The ist folio has " Will cheere me euer,
or dis-eate me now"; the other folios have " disease " for "dis-
eate." Capell conjectured " disseat," which has been generally
adopted by the editors, with Bishop Percy's suggestion of " chair "
for cheer. S. uses neither disseat nor the verb chair anywhere else.
Furness suggests dis-ease, which, as he remarks, " is the logical
antithesis to cheer, and is used with no little force in the earlier
versions of the New Testament." Cf. Luke, viii. 49 (both in Cran-
mer's Version, 1537, and in the version of 1581) : "Thy daughter
is dead, disease not the Master." Cotgrave gives "disease,
trouble," etc., as translations of the Fr. malaiser. Furness might
have added as a confirmation of his reading that in the only other
instance in which S. uses disease as a verb it is in this sense. See
Cor. i. 3. 117: " She will but disease our better mirth." He uses
the noun disease in the sense of trouble, vexation; as in A. W. v.
4. 68 and T. of A. iii. I. 56.

23. On yellow leaf, cf. Sonn. 73. I : —

" That time of year thou mayst in me behold
When yellow leaves, or none, or few, do hang
Upon those boughs," etc.

24. Old age. Clarke suggests that Macbeth's mention of himself
as in the autumn of life is " one of those touches of long time

276 Notes [Act v

systematically thrown in at intervals, to convey the effect of a suf-
ficiently elapsed period for the reign of the usurper since his murder
of the preceding king, Duncan." Furness asks : " May we not add
as one of these ' touches ' the tardy recognition of Ross by Malcolm
in iv. 3. 160?"

35. Moe. More; used only with plural or collective nouns. Cf.
Much Ado, ii. 3. 72 : " Sing no more ditties, sing no moe " (where
it rhymes with so, as it does in R. of L. 1479); J. C. ii. I. 72:
"there are moe with him," etc. Skirr = scour ; used by S. only
here and in Hen. V. iv. 7. 64, where it is intransitive.

43. Oblivious. Causing forgetfulness. S. uses the word only here
and in the compound " all-oblivious " (forgetful of all), Sonn. 55. 9.

44. Stujfd bosom of that perilous stuff. There may be a corrup-
tion of the text here, as many critics have supposed, but similar
repetitions are not uncommon in S. Cf. v. 2. 19 and v. 8. 72 in the
present play. See also A. and C. \. I. 44, A. W. ii. i. 163, v. I. 35,
R. and J. iii. 2. 92, K. John, ii. i. 471, etc.

48. Staff. Lance, according to Schmidt; as in K. John, ii. i.
318, Rich. III. v. 3. 65, 341, Much Ado, v. I. 138, etc. It may be
" the general's baton," as .Wright explains it.

50. Come, sir, dispatch. This is said to the attendant who is
buckling on the armour. The agitation of the speaker's mind is
marked by the conflicting orders he gives the man. Cast was the
technical term for finding out disorders by inspection of the urine.

52. Purge, etc. Cf. iii. 4. 76 above.

55. Senna. The reading of the 4th folio. The 1st has " Cyme " ;
the 2d and 3d, " Geny."

59. Bane. Ruin, destruction; as in T. and C, iv. 2. 98, T. A.
v. 3. 73, etc.

61, 62. This second "rhyming tag" may be spurious.

SCENE IV. — 2. That chambers will be safe. The allusion may
be to the spies mentioned at iii. 4. 131; or, perhaps, to Duncan's
murder.

Scene V] Notes 277

6. Discovery. This refers to Macbeth's spies.

10. For set down = sit down, or begin a siege, cf. Cor. i. 2. 28,
i. 3. lio, T. of A. v. 3. 9, etc.

11. Given. The sense seems to require "gain'd," "ta'en," or
"got," all of which have been suggested as emendations; but it
may mean " given them."

12. More and less. Great and small. Cf. I Hen. IV. iv. 3. 68:
" More and less came in with cap and knee; " 2 Hen. IV. i. i. 209 :
" And more and less do flock to follow him," etc.

14. Let our just censures, etc. "Let our just decisions on the
defection of Macbeth's followers attend upon the actual result of
the battle, and let us meanwhile be industrious soldiers; that is,
let us not be negligent through security" (Elwin). On censure =
judgment, opinion, cf. IV. T. ii. I. 37, Hen. VIII. i. I. 33, Rich. III.
ii. 2. 144, etc.

1 8. Owe. Here used in the modern sense, as in i. 4. 22 and
v. 2. 26. For the other meaning (= have, possess) cf. i. 3. 76, i. 4.
10, and iii. 4. 113. "The decision of the battle will show us what
we have, and at the same time what it is our duty yet to do."

20. Arbitrate. Decide. Mere speculations are of no use; fight-
ing must settle it.

SCENE V. — 5. Forced. Reinforced, strengthened.

6. Dareful. Used nowhere else by S.

7. Beat. S. uses both beat and beaten for the participle, but the
latter more frequently.

10. CooTd. Felt the chill of fear or apprehension.

11. Fell. Literally, skin. Cf. A. IV. iii. 2. 55 and Lear, v. 3. 24.

12. Treatise. Tale, story; as in V. and A. 774 and Much Ado,
i. 3. 317, the only other instances in which S. uses the word. On
rouse, cf. iii. 2. 53 above.

13. As. As if. Cf. i. 4. ii above. On the passage, cf. Ham.
iii. 4. 121. For with, see on iv. 2. 32.

14. Direness. Horror. Not used elsewhere by S.

278 Notes [Act v

15. Once, Ever, at any time; as in iv. 3. 167. Cf. Rich. II. ii.
3. 91, Ham. i. 5. 121, etc. Start — startle ; as in T. and C. v. 2.
101, etc.

17. She should have died hereafter. It has been suggested that
should '— would (" She would have died some day ") ; but it is
probably an expression of disgust that it should have happened
when he had so much else to trouble him.

21. Last syllable. Cf. A. W. iii. 6. 75: "even to the utmost
syllable of your worthiness."

23. Dusty. Collier quotes Anthony Copley, Fig for Fortune,
1596: "Inviting it to dusty death's defeature."

24. A poor player, etc. Cf. T. and C. i. 3. 153: "Like a strut-
ting player." S. has frequent figurative allusions to the stage; as
in i. 3. 128 and ii. 4. 6 above.

30. Gracious my lord. See on iii. 2. 27 above.

37. This three mile. On this, cf. i Hen. IV. iii. 3. 54; and for
mile in the plural, M. W. iii. 2. 33, Much Ado, ii. 3. 17, etc.

40. Cling. Shrink or shrivel up. Moor, in his Suffolk Words,
gives: "Clung: shrunk, dried, shrivelled; said of apples, turnips,
carrots," etc.

42. Pull in. Rein in, check. Cf. Fletcher, Sea Voyage, ii. I : —

" All my spirits,

As if they had heard my passing-bell go for me,
Pull in their powers and give me up to destiny."

" Pall in " and " pale in " have been suggested as emendations.

49. Gin. See on i. 2. 25. On aweary, cf. M. of V. i. 2. 2,
M. N. D.\. i. 255, etc.

50. The estate of the world. From the context this would seem
to mean " this worldly life," and undone = ended. It is otherwise
explained as " the world's settled order."

51. Alarum-bell. See on ii. i. 53. On wrack, cf. i. 3. 114.

52. Harness. Armour; as in T. and C. v. 3. 31, A. and C. iv. 8.
15, etc. See also I Kings, xxii. 34, 2 Chronicles, xviii. 33 and ix. 24.

Scene VII] Notes

SCENE VI.— I. Leavy. Leafy. Cf. Much Ado, ii. 3. 75.

2. Show. See on i. 3. 54 above.

4. Battle. Battalion. Cf. /. C. v. I. 4, v. 3 108, /fen. P. iv. 3.

69, etc.

7. £>o «/<? but find. If we only find.
10. Harbingers. See on i. 4. 45 above.

SCENE VII. — i. They have tied, etc. Cf. Lear, iii. 7. 54: "I
am tied to the stake, and I must stand the course; " also/. C. iv.
i. 48: "For we are at the stake, And bay'd about with many ene-
mies " Bear-baiting was a favourite sport in the olden time. The
bear was tied to a stake, and a certain number of dogs allowed to
attack him at once. Each of these attacks was called a course.
Steevens quotes Brome, The Antipodes, 1638: "You shall ,
ten-dog courses at the great bear."

2 What V he, etc. See on iv. 3. 49 above.
4. Young Siward. His name was really Osbeorn ; but his co
Siward was slain in the same battle.
7. Than any is. Any which is.
17. Kerns. See on i. 2. 13 above.

18 Staves. The word Oaf was applied both to the shaft of
lance' and to the lance itself. See on v. 3. 48- After thou, « must
be encountered," or something equivalent, is understood.

20. Undeeded. Not used elsewhere by S.; and the same is true
of clatter in the next line.

spiriting gently."

27 Itself firofesses. Declares itself.

29! Strike beside us. « Strike the air," or - deliberately miss us.'

Ci.$Hen. VI.\\. i. 129: —

•• Their weapons like to lightning came and went;
Our soldiers', like the night-owl's lazy flight,

28o Notes [Act v

Or like an idle thresher with a flail,

Fell gently down, as if they struck their friends."

SCENE VIII. — There is no new scene in the folios.

1. The Roman fool. This alludes perhaps to Cato, whose suicide
is mentioned in J. C.v. i. 101; or it may refer more generally to
" the high Roman fashion of self-destruction, as in Brutus, Cassius,
Antony," etc.

2. Whiles. See on i. 5. 5.

4. Of all men, etc. A "confusion of construction," common
even now.

7. Bloodier villain, etc. For the transposition, see on iii. 6. 48.

9. Easy. The adjective for the adverb, as often. Intr enchant
— that cannot be cut; the active word in a passive sense. Tren-
chant is used actively in T. of A. iv. 3. 115.

13. Despair. Not elsewhere used transitively by S. The verb
is similarly used in Ben Jonson's verses prefixed to the folio of
1623 : —

" Shine forth, thou Starre of Poets, and with rage,
Or influence, chide, or cheere the drooping Stage ;
Which, since thy flight from hence, hath mourn'd like night,
And despaires day, but for thy Volumes light."

14. Angel. Genius, demon; as in A. and C. ii. 3. 21. We have-
angel in a bad sense in 2 Hen. IV. i. 2. 186, Lear, iii. 6. 34, C. of E,
iv. 3. 20, etc. Still^ constantly; as in iii. i. 21, etc.

18. My better part of man. Cf. A. and C. iv. 6. 39 : " my latter
part of life," etc.

20. Palter. Equivocate. Cf. T.and C. ii. 3. 244,^. C. ii. 1. 126, etc.

24. And live to be the show, etc. Thus Antony threatens Cleo-
patra in A. and C. iv. 12/36. For the time, cf. i. 5. 63, i. 7. 81, and
iv. 3. 72.

26. Upon a pole. That is, upon a cloth hung to a pole. No ex-
planation would seem to be needed, but some critics have thought
it necessary to change pole to " scroll " or " cloth."

Scene VIII] Notes 28 1

34. Him. The cases of pronouns are often confused by S. and
other writers of the time. See on iii. 4. 14 above.

36. Go off. Die; as "take off" = kill, in i. 7. 20 and iii. I. 104.

40. On only . . . but, cf. 2 Hen. IV. i. \. 192: "My lord, your
son had only but the corpse," etc.

41. The which. See on iii. I. 16 above.

42. Unshrinking station. Unshrinking attitude. Cf. Ham. iii.
4. 58, and A. and C. iii. 3. 22, where station is similarly used.

49. Wish them to. Wish to them; " the relation of the dative
and accusative peculiarly inverted."

52. Parted. Departed, died. Cf. Hen. V. ii. 3. 12, Rich. III.
ii. i. 5, etc. Qn paid his score, cf. line 39 above.

54. Stands. This is explained by Holinshed, who states that the
tyrant's head was set upon a pole.

56. Pearl. Used somewhat like flower as applied to more than
one person in " the flower of the kingdom," etc.

61. Loves. See on iii. I. 121 above : also L. L. L. v. 2. 793, 798,
W. T. i. i. 10, /. C. iii. 2. 241, etc.

66. ExiPd friends abroad. See on iii. 6. 48. Cf. 7 above.

68. Producing forth. Bringing forward; that is, in a court of
justice. Cf. J. C. iii. I. 228: "Produce his body to the market-
place." See also W. T. iii. 2. 8, A. W. iv. 1 . 6, A". John, i. i. 46, etc.

70. Self and violent hands. Cf. Rich. II. iii. 2. 166: "self and
vain conceit."

72. The grace of .Grace. This is a favourite repetition with S.
Cf. T. G. of V. iii. I. 146, and A. W. ii. I. 163. See on v. 3. 44.

74. One. Rhyming with Scone, in accordance with the old pro-
nunciation of one (like own). Cf. V. and A. 293, and Sonn. 39. 6.

75. Scone. See on ii. 4. 31 above.

APPENDIX

COMMENTS ON SOME OF THE CHARACTERS

BANQUO. — Several critics have taken the ground that Banquo
was not " the soul of honour " that has generally been assumed.
The German Flathe (quoted by Furness in his " New Variorum "
edition of the play) argued in 1863 that he was a bad character.
In 1893 a little book entitled, Some Few Notes on Macbeth, was pri-
vately printed by Mr. M. F. Libby, English master of the Jameson
Avenue Collegiate Institute, Toronto, the main purpose of which
was to prove " that Cawdor died unjustly, that he was no traitor,
but an honourable gentleman, sacrificed to ambition by Macbeth,
Banquo, and Ross."

In Poet-lore for January, 1 899, Mr. C. S. Buell agrees with these
critics in their estimate of Banquo. These novel views are main-
tained by all three writers with much ingenuity, but I believe they
can be shown to be wrong in every particular.

In the first place, it is pretty certain that the play was written
just after James came to the throne. Banquo was held to be an
ancestor of the new king, and Shakespeare directly refers to this in
iv. I, where, in the line of spectral monarchs called up by the
Weird Sisters, some appear " That twofold balls and treble sceptres
carry," and the blood-boltered Banquo smiles and "points at them
as his." Is it conceivable that the ancestor of the sovereign whom
the dramatist thus desired to compliment would be represented as
the accomplice of the regicide Macbeth?

Note, also, Macbeth's own estimate of Banquo as expressed when
he is meditating his murder (iii. i. 48) : —

282

Appendix 283

" Our fears in Banquo
Stick deep, and in his royalty of nature
Reigns that which would be fear' d ; 'tis much he dares,
And, to that dauntless temper of his mind,
He hath a wisdom that doth guide his valour
To act in safety."

Shakespeare is fond of making his villains pay an honest tribute to
the worth of the men against whom they are plotting ; and Mac-
beth, like Orlando, lago, Edmund, Antonio (in The Tempest, ii. I.
286), and others, does it here as he had done it before with refer-
ence to the gracious Duncan. Observe that he goes out of his way,
so to speak, in order to do it. This makes it the more significant;
and, as in other instances of the kind, Shakespeare meant that we
should note it. Otherwise, it would have been quite sufficient to
make Macbeth base his fears of Banquo solely upon the fact that
the Weird Sisters had " hailed him father to a line of kings."

Banquo, as Macbeth admits, is noble, wise, and brave; but
Heaven help him when a perverse critic is determined to " spell
him backward," or " turn him the wrong side out ! " Banquo warns
his friend to beware of trusting " the instruments of darkness," even
when they tell us truths; " but, we are told, "he is preaching, not
so much to Macbeth as to himself." The critic goes on to read a
deal of stuff into Banquo's simple and honest utterance which is
not there. " Realizing the danger of falling into temptation," he
yet believes " that the only way to really fall is by doing something."
I cannot see how this is implied in what Banquo has said; but our
critic sees it and much more. The Weird Sisters have " asked him
to do nothing, to say nothing that will prevent Macbeth from carry-
ing out his scheme; " and he decides to obey them, "arguing with
himself that he is not his brother's keeper, and that what Macbeth
may do is no concern of his." But at this time why should he as-
sume or even suspect that Macbeth is going to do anything, good
or bad, to bring about the fulfilment of the prophecy? He does, to
be sure, observe that his " partner 's rapt." Well might any man

284 Appendix

be at predictions so strange and startling, especially when at the
very moment they begin to be verified; and what more natural than
that a friend, noticing his absorption, should ascribe it to the " new
honours come upon him " ? But our critic asks : " Is it possible
that Banquo does not suspect what Macbeth is thinking of in so
absorbed a manner? Why is it necessary to call attention to his
rapt condition at all?" To the first question I reply: Yes, it is
possible; indeed, that he should suspect is inconceivable. Up to
this time Macbeth has won "golden opinions from all sorts of
people," Banquo included, as we know from what he has said
(though not recorded by Shakespeare) in a following scene (i. 4.
54) when Duncan replies : —

" True, worthy Banquo : he is full so valiant,
And in his commendations I am fed;
It is a banquet to me."

To the second question the obvious answer is that it is Shake-
speare's device — and a very common one with him — for breaking
up a long soliloquy, and at the same time giving another actor
something to say that will at once be natural and also serve to
relieve him from the awkwardness of standing and looking on with
nothing to say.

The critic answers his own questions by saying that " two pos-
sible explanations present themselves," the first of which is " that
Banquo, in his innocence, meant what he said." So far as Banquo
is concerned, that is a perfectly natural and satisfactory explana-
tion; for, as I have shown, Banquo at this time had no reason for
suspecting that the thought of murdering Duncan had entered
Macbeth's mind. Macbeth's soliloquy tells us that it had, but
Banquo would not have believed it if anybody else had sug-
gested it.

It was natural, moreover, that he should refrain from telling Ross
and Angus what had just occurred; but if he had told them, it is

Appendix 285

absurd to say that " Duncan would never have been murdered by
the hand of Macbeth." This is a palpable non sequitur.

" But a second opportunity (to escape from destruction) was to
come to" Banquo just before he retired for the night. He is
sleepy, but does not want to go to sleep, because " a heavy summons
lies like lead upon" him. This is merely due to Shakespeare's
fondness for presentiments (illustrated so often in the plays), and
does not show, as we are told by the critic, that " he feels, yes, he
knows, that all is not as it should be," etc. He utters the prayer

(ii. I. 7) : —

" Merciful powers

Restrain in me the cursed thoughts that nature
Gives way to in repose! "

As the critic admits, this is " capable of the construction ordina-
rily put upon it, a devout prayer that he may be kept from bad
dreams " ; but he reads into it " more than meets the ear " or any
unbiassed judgment — namely, that Banquo is " terrified by his wak-
ing thoughts as well," which have taken a " cursed " turn ! Simi-
larly, his natural exclamation of surprise when Macbeth is hailed
Thane of Cawdor — " What, can the devil speak true?" — shows
that "the real fall" of Banquo occurs; "the temptation is
complete ! "

When Macbeth endeavours to draw from Banquo some assurance
that he will be loyal to him after he becomes king, adding that " it
shall make honour for " him, Banquo, like the honest man he is,
replies that this may be (" I shall be counsell'd," that is, will give
due consideration to what Macbeth may then have to propose) if
he loses no honour " in seeking to augment it," etc. Here again
our critic reads into his words what is not justified by any fair
understanding of them; he assumes that Macbeth wants him to
help bring the prophecy of sovereignty to pass, " and yet he does
not warn his friend," but goes off to bed to "dream of the honour
that is so soon to come ! "

After the murder of Duncan is known, Banquo, who perhaps

286 Appendix

suspects that Macbeth had a hand in it, is the first to propose an
investigation of this " most bloody piece of work." Then follows
that noble utterance, in which he pledges himself, in God's name,
to do his uttermost " to know it further " (ii. 3. 1 14) : —

" Fears and scruples shake us ;
In the great hand of God I stand, and thence
Against the undivulg'd pretence I fight
Of treasonous malice."

It would seem that this at least could not be twisted or tortured to
support the theory we are considering ; but our critic is equal to
the occasion. Ah ! " Fears and scruples ! " The scruples are
scruples of conscience, "because he has not done all he should
have done"; and he fears "that he may fail to convince and so
may bring ruin upon himself." So " his fears get the better of his
scruples, and he remains silent." He is now " forever knit with a.
most indissoluble tie to the fortunes of Macbeth," and " his doom
is sealed ! "

Of course " Fears and scruples shake us " is naturally connected
with what precedes. " Scruples " means " doubts, perplexities,"
as in the only other instance of the word in this play (iv. 3. 116)
and often in other plays. Well might doubts and fears shake not
Banquo alone but all the rest at the discovery of this mysterious
act of treason and murder. What can be done but endeavour to
probe the mystery? When Banquo suggests this, all heartily ap-
prove it.

But our critic would have Banquo tell at the moment what he
knows of the prophecy of the Weird Sisters and suspects of Mac-
beth. He would have been a fool, a madman, to have done it.
This was neither the time nor the place for doing it, and to have
done it would almost inevitably have defeated the ends of justice.
Banquo displays here the " wisdom " for which Macbeth gives him
credit, and his fellow nobles have the good sense to recognize
the fact.

Appendix 287

The flight of Malcolm and Donalbain enables Macbeth to throw
the suspicion of the murder upon them, and he secures the throne.
Banquo evidently has seen that he can have no hope of turning
the current of popular feeling against the murderer and usurper, as
he now believes Macbeth to be. It is not until after the coronation
(iii. i. I ) that Shakespeare makes him distinctly indicate his sus-
picions, and he is murdered on the evening of that day. In the
conversation with Macbeth that follows the soliloquy, and which
takes place in the presence of Lady Macbeth and others, he is
compelled to disguise his true feelings and to indulge in common-
place expressions of allegiance. Had he lived we may safely
assume that he would have taken the earliest prudent opportunity
of uniting his fortunes with those of Macduff and the fugitive
princes against the bloody tyrant.

Much stress is laid by the critic on the fact that Banquo " dwells
upon the prophecy" that he is to be the father of a line of kings.
" It is a sweet morsel for him to chew upon." Why should he not
feel an honest pride in it? He has seen that the prophecies of the
Weird Sisters inevitably fulfil themselves, and he is willing to wait
for the fulfilment of the prediction which concerns himself, or rather
his descendants, though it may not be fulfilled until after his own
death. Perhaps he remembered the significant utterances of the
Weird Sisters — " Lesser than Macbeth, and greater," " Not so
happy, yet much happier " — and understood their deeper mean-
ing: greater, because of "his royalty of nature"; happier, in not
giving his eternal jewel to the common enemy of man, only to feel,

like Macbeth, that —

" Nought 's had, all 's spent
Where our desire is got without content."

Indeed, this utterance of the Weird Sisters really settles the
question we are considering. It fixes the character of Banquo, &nd
foreshadows the moral lesson of the play. At the outset Macbeth
and Banquo appear together. They are friends and equals in rank
and fortune. They are brave soldiers who up to this time bave

288 Appendix

won equal reputation in the field, and both alike can look forward
to further honour and promotion. As they are returning from the
battle with the forces of Norway the three hags cross their path.
Their mission is to Macbeth, whom they have come to meet (i. I.
7). They have no errand for Banquo, but after hearing their pro-
phetic message to Macbeth, he asks them to speak to him, though
he neither begs their favour nor fears their hate. They know the
man, as they knew Macbeth, and the Power that makes for right-
eousness, whose ministers they are through the mysterious agency
of evil, compels them to speak truth to him as they have spoken it
to his friend. It is because their wiles have no power over him
that he is happier than Macbeth, whom their prophecies instigate
to crime and drive to destruction. If Macbeth had been offered the
choice of being either king or the mere ancestor of kings, he would at
once have decided on the former. The greater and happier fortune
of Banquo did not consist alone or chiefly in the sovereignty that
was to come to his descendants.

It seems to me, moreover, that to make Banquo bad would
destroy the artistic balance of the drama. The royal pair of
criminals, " magnificent in sin," need no iniquitous rivals near
their infernal throne. Banquo is wanted on the other side. To
Macbeth he seems, like Duncan, an obstacle in his ambitious
career. He kills Duncan to get the throne, he kills Banquo in
the hope of securing the succession to the throne for his own
family. There is no "poetic justice" in either case; both, like
Macduff's wife and children, are innocent victims of the sin of
others, not of their own.

It is not to be wondered at that a critic who can believe Banquo
bad should adopt (as Mr. Buell does) the notion that Macbeth was
the third murderer. That question is settled beyond dispute by the
fact that when one of the murderers appears in iii. 4, Macbeth does
not know that Fleance has escaped. His surprise and disgust on
learning this are evidently real, being expressed in soliloquy, which
gives us what the person actually believes and feels. If Macbeth

Appendix 289

had been present when Banquo was slain, Shakespeare would not
have introduced one of the murderers in that scene, or would have
let Macbeth dismiss him as soon as he had reported what was
done.

Mr. Libby, on the other hand, makes Ross the third murderer.
He says of that worthy thane : " Ross, from a desire to curry favour
with Macbeth, and from other motives, traduced and ruined Cajv-
dor : Macbeth and Banquo allowed Cawdor to be ruined, that the
words of the Witches might prove true : Cawdor was in the camp,
unaware of the plot against him, and the conspirators, armed with
the hasty command of the king, put him to death with complete
injustice." Later Ross, having thus put Macbeth under obligations
to him, follows the new Thane of Cawdor to Inverness, and becomes
his chief minister after his accession to the throne of the murdered
Duncan. " He is jealous of Banquo, who is the only courtier able
to be his rival as chief adviser of Macbeth. He is the actual assas-
sin of Banquo (the 'Third Murderer ' of iii. 3). At the banquet he
does all that a skilful intriguer can do to assist Lady Macbeth in
protecting Macbeth in his aberration. Later on he becomes the
agent of Macbeth in the murder of the Macduffs. At this time he
sees Macbeth's power on the wane, and deserts him solely on that
account. He goes to England and finds Macduff and Malcolm,
and throws in his lot with the cause he rejected in iii. 4, when
Macduff remained loyal toward Malcolm. He returns with the
prince, sees Macbeth defeated, and as a reward of endless treachery
is made an earl, escaping immediate punishment that the Fates
may torture him later, in which he resembles lago, whom he also
resembles in many other respects."

I shall not waste time and space in defending Ross against these
charges. I doubt whether the reader who has not seen Mr. Libby's
book can, from a study of the small part that Ross has in the play,
even guess what the critic supposes he finds in support of his theory
concerning the man.

HECATE. — As I have said (p. 248 above), I fully agree with the

MACBETH — 19

290 Appendix

critics who believe that the part of Hecate is an interpolation by
another hand than Shakespeare's.

In the first place, the measure of Hecate's speeches is against the
theory that Shakespeare could have written them. She speaks in
iambics, while the eight-syllable lines that he puts into the mouth
of supernatural characters — witches, fairies, spirits, etc. — are regu-
larly trochaic. In iii. 5, which is spurious throughout, the two lines
of the First Witch are iambic, like those of the same personage in
iv. i. 125-132 ("Ay, sir, all this," etc.), which are also an obvious
interpolation; but elsewhere she and her sisters speak only in tro-
chaics when not using the ordinary blank verse, as occasionally
they do.

Again, every word that Hecate utters is absurdly out of keeping
with the context. In iii. 5, she begins by chiding the Witches for
daring to " trade and traffic " with Macbeth without calling on her
to bear her part. The reference to trading and trafficking appears
to have been suggested by the common notion that the help of
witches was to be secured by a bargain with them; and there
seems to be a similar reference in iv. i. 40, where Hecate, com-
mending the Witches, says, " And every one shall share i' the gains."
What can this possibly mean ? What were the " gains " in the busi-
ness? Macbeth has offered the Witches no bribe, nor have they
intimated that they expect or desire any.

Besides, as mistress of the Witches, Hecate certainly has no
reason to find fault with what they have done, or with the manner
in which Macbeth has acted under their inspiration. She could
not herself have managed the affair better. Wherein, so far as
the Witches are concerned, has Macbeth proved " a wayward son,
spiteful and wrathful"?

But this leads up to the reference to love, introducing an idea
which Shakespeare has entirely excluded from his delineation of
the Witches. He was familiar with it from his readings in Regi-
nald Scot's Discoverie of Witchcraft, where we are told that " in a
moone light night they [the Witches] seeme to be carried in the

Appendix 291

aire to feasting, singing, dansing, kissing, culling, and other acts of
venerie, with such youths as they love and desire most," etc. In
The Witch of Middleton, which some critics have believed to be
earlier than Macbeth, this idea is repeatedly introduced. Hecate,
for instance, says of Sebastian : —

" I know he loves me not, nor there 's no hope on 't;
'T is for the love of mischief I do this,
And that we 're sworn to, the first oath we take."

Other allusions of this kind in the play are too gross for quotation
here. The curious reader can refer to Middleton or to the extracts
from the play in Furness's edition of Macbeth.

Some editors who did not doubt the authorship of this scene
have felt that " loves " was incongruous here, and have suggested
sundry emendations; as "lives for his own sake; " "loves evil tor
his own sake," etc. But these readings merely substitute one diffi-
culty for another. Why should Macbeth be supposed to " live " or
to " love evil " for the sake of the Witches rather than his own?

Hecate also tells the Witches to meet her " at the pit of Ache-
ron," for "thither he [Macbeth] will come to know his destiny."
The Folio does not indicate the locality of iv. I ; it simply has
" Thunder. Enter the three Witches" like iii. 5. Rowe was the
first to insert " A Dark Cave " — or " A Cavern," etc., as Capell
and later editors have it. The Cowden-Clarkes have this note on
" Acheron " : " The Witches are poetically made to give this name
to some foul tarn or gloomy pool in the neighbourhood of Mac-
beth's castle, where they habitually assemble." This is not satis-
factory. The place is one where Lennox comes (iv. I. 135), though
not to consult the Witches. I suspect that Shakespeare had in
mind the blasted heath where Macbeth first encountered them.
However that may be, the reference of Hecate to Acheron is best
explained as one of the many incongruities in this poor stuff thrust
into the play by some hack writer at the suggestion of a theatrical
manager.

292 Appendix

Hecate's mention of the moon is suggested by the familiar idea
(often found in Shakespeare's own work) of the "watery moon,"
not by the mythological connection of the goddess with that orb;
and profound (" a vaporous drop profound ") was probably intro-
duced for the rhyme, though some critics have thought the epithet
profoundly Shakespearian. Hecate says that she is going to use it
for magic influence on Macbeth, but we hear nothing of it after-
ward. In iv. i the infernal cuisine seems to be entirely in charge
of the three Witches, and Hecate appears only to commend them
for what they have done.

As I have already said, the speech of the First Witch after the
procession of spectral kings (iv. I. 125-132) is another interpola-
tion, and no less out of keeping than the stuff ascribed to Hecate.
"What, is this so?" is appended to the preceding speech of Mac-
beth to prepare the way for it. Omit this and the Witch's speech,
and Macbeth's " Where are they? " follows naturally on the sudden
disappearance of the apparitions. The inserted speech is thrust in
solely to prepare the way for the dance; and what could be more
ridiculous than the reason given for this performance?

" Come, sisters, cheer we up his sprights,
And show the best of our delights.
I '11 charm the air to give a sound
While you perform your antic round,
That this great king may kindly say
Our duties did his welcome pay."

Imagine Macbeth, in his present mood, waiting patiently to see
this beldame ballet through, and then, when the withered ttanseuses
vanish, exclaiming : —

" Where are they ? Gone ? Let this pernicious hour
Stand aye accursed in the calendar! "

The attempt to " cheer up his sprights," even from the stand-
point of Shakespeare's unauthorized collaborator, was evidently a

Appendix 293

dismal failure. It did not occur to him to modify the speech that
follows his preposterous interpolation.

A writer in Poet-lore is compelled to admit " the inferiority of
Hecate's words, from a poetic standpoint," but the explanation of it
is an amusing "trick of desperation." It is "an evidence of her
genuineness as a creation of Shakespeare," who, " with his subtle
sense of discrimination, made her what she represented to the popu-
lar mind : a creature approaching the reality of the human, — vul-
gar, prosaic, practical, yet in power akin to the divine." That was
also the popular conception of the devil ; and Milton, though
familiar with Shakespeare, evidently missed an opportunity in not
modelling his Satan after the pattern of this vulgar Hecate.

I may remind the reader that the managers of Shakespeare's day
were much given to these sensational additions to Shakespeare's
plays. The Hymen of As You Like It and the Vision in Cymbeline
are clear instances of the kind. Some critics regard the Masque
in The Tempest as another, but I cannot agree with them. Songs
(like those from Middleton in iii. 5 and iv. I of Macbeth) and dances
were often thus interpolated. These facts render the theory I have
here advocated the more probable.

LADY MACBETH'S PHYSIQUE. — Dr. J. C. Bucknill, in his Mad
Folk of Shakespeare (1867), asks, " What was Lady Macbeth's form
and temperament? " Mrs. Kemble, as we have seen (p. 29 above),
calls her " a masculine woman," but the majority of critics who have
discussed the question think otherwise; and I heartily agree with
them. Dr. Bucknill goes on to say: " In Maclise's great painting
of the banquet scene she is represented as a woman of large and
coarse development : a Scandinavian Amazon, the muscles of whose
brawny arms could only have been developed to their great size by
hard and frequent use; a woman of whose fists her husband might
well be afraid. . . . Was Lady Macbeth such a being? Did the
fierce fire of her soul animate the epicene bulk of a virago? Never !
Lady Macbeth was a lady, beautiful and delicate, whose one vivid
passion proves that her organization was instinct with nerve-force,

294 Appendix

unoppressed by weight of flesh. Probably she was small; for it is
the smaller sort of women whose emotional fire is the most fierce,
and she herself bears unconscious testimony to the fact that her
hand was little. . . . Although she manifests no feeling towards
Macbeth beyond the regard which ambition makes her yield, it is
clear that he entertains for her the personal love which a beautiful
woman would excite. . . . Moreover, the effect of remorse upon
her own health proves the preponderance of nerve in her organiza-
tion. Could the Lady Macbeth of Maclise, and of others who have
painted this lady, have been capable of the fire and force of her
character in the commission of her crimes, the remembrance of them
would scarcely have disturbed the quiet of her after-years. We
figure Lady Macbeth to have been a tawny or brown blond Rachel,
with more beauty, with gray and cruel eyes, but with the same slight,
dry configuration and constitution, instinct with determined nerve-
power."

In a foot-note, Dr. Bucknill states that when he wrote the above he
was not aware that Mrs. Siddons held a similar opinion as to Lady
Macbeth's personal appearance. I append what Mrs. Siddons says on
this subject in her " Remarks on the Character of Lady Macbeth " : —

" In this astonishing creature one sees a woman in whose bosom
the passion of ambition has almost obliterated all the characteristics
of human nature; in whose composition are associated all the sub-
jugating powers of intellect, and all the charms and graces of per-
sonal beauty. You will probably not agree with me as to the
character of that beauty; yet, perhaps, this difference of opinion
will be entirely attributable to the difficulty of your imagination
disengaging itself from that idea of the person of her representative
which you have been so long accustomed to contemplate. Accord-
ing to my notion, it is of that character which I believe is generally
allowed to be most captivating to the other sex — fair, feminine,
nay, perhaps, even fragile —

" ' Fair as the forms that, wove in Fancy's loom,
Float in light visions round the poet's head.'

Appendix 295

" Such a combination only, respectable in energy and strength of
mind, and captivating in feminine loveliness, could have composed
a charm of such potency as to fascinate the mind of a hero so
dauntless, a character so amiable, so honourable as Macbeth — to
seduce him to brave all the dangers of the present and all the
terrors of a future world; and we are constrained, even whilst we
abhor his crimes, to pity the infatuated victim of such a thraldom."

Campbell, on the other hand, in his Life of Mrs. Siddons, says
of Lady Macbeth : " She is a splendid picture of evil, ... a sort
of sister of Milton's Lucifer; and, like him, we surely imagine her
externally majestic and beautiful. Mrs. Siddons's idea of her having
been a delicate and blond beauty seems to me to be a pure caprice.
The public would have ill exchanged such a representative of Lady
Macbeth for the dark locks and the eagle eyes of Mrs. Siddons."

Maginn {Shakespeare Papers, 1860) remarks: "Shakespeare
gives us no hint as to her personal charms, except when he makes
her describe her hand as ' little.' We may be sure that there were
few ' more thoroughbred or fairer fingers ' in the land of Scotland
than those of its queen, whose bearing in public towards Duncan,
Banquo, and the nobles is marked by elegance and majesty, and
in private by affectionate anxiety for her sanguinary lord."

Fletcher (Studies of Shakespeare, 1847) says: "[Shakespeare]
has combined in Macbeth an eminently masculine person with a
spirit in other respects eminently feminine, but utterly wanting the
feminine generosity of affection. To this character, thus contrasted
within itself, he has opposed a female character presenting a con-
trast exactly the reverse of the former. No one doubts that he has
shown us in the spirit of Lady Macbeth that masculine firmness of
will which he has made wanting in her husband. The strictest
analogy, then, would lead him to complete the harmonizing con-
trast of the two characters by enshrining this ' undaunted mettle '
of hers in a frame as exquisitely feminine as her husband's is mag-
nificently manly. This was requisite, also, in order to make her
taunts of Macbeth's irresolution operate with the fullest intensity.

296 Appendix

Such sentiments from the lips of what is called a masculine-looking
or speaking woman have little moral energy compared with what
they derive from the ardent utterance of a delicately feminine voice
and nature. Mrs. Siddons, then, we believe, judged more correctly
in this matter than the public."

Dowden quotes Mrs. Siddons and Dr. Bucknill approvingly, and
says of the Lady : " Her delicate frame is filled with high-strung
nervous energy. . . . She is Macbeth's ' dearest chuck.' "

Mr. F. S. Boas {Shakspere and his Predecessors, 1896) says: "It
is plain that the woman who is addressed by her husband as ' my
dearest chuck,' and who talks of her ' little hand,' must have been
feminine in feature and in bearing. . . . She is not a tigress like
Regan, a she-wolf like Margaret of Anjou, but a woman with the
instincts of womanhood, which she cannot crush without a deliberate
effort of will."

THE TIME-ANALYSIS OF THE PLAY

This is summed up by Mr. P. A. Daniel in his paper " On the
Times or Durations of the Action of Shakspere's Plays " ( Transac-
tions of New Shakspere Society, 1877-79, p. 207), as follows: —

"Time of the Play nine days represented on the stage, and in-
tervals.

Day i. Act I. sc. i. to iii.
" 2. Act I. sc. iv. to vii.
" 3. Act II. sc. i. to iv.

An interval, say a couple of weeks.
" 4. Act III. sc. i. to v.

[Act III. sc. vi., an impossible time.]
" 5. Act IV. sc. i.

[Professor Wilson supposes an interval of certainly not
more than two days between Days 5 and 6; Paton
marks two days, The general breathless haste of the

Appendix 297

play is, I think, against any such interval between
Macbeth's purpose and its execution.]
Day 6. Act IV. sc. ii.

An interval. Ross's journey to England. Paton allows

two weeks.
" 7. Act IV. sc. iii., Act V. sc. i.

An interval. Malcolm's return to Scotland. Three

weeks, according to Paton.
" 8. Act V. sc. ii. and iii.
" 9. Act V. sc. iv. to viii."

On i. 3 Mr. Daniel comments as follows : " Ross and Angus come
from the King. Ross describes how the news of Macbeth's success
reached the King, by post after post. He appears to have entirely
forgotten that he himself was the messenger; he, however, greets
Macbeth with the title of Cawdor, and Angus informs Macbeth
that Cawdor lies under sentence of death for ' treasons capital,' but
whether he was in league with Norway, or with the rebel [Mac-
donwald], or with both, he knows not. Ross did know when, in
the preceding scene, he took the news of the victory to the King ;
but he also appears to have forgotten it; at any rate he does not
betray his knowledge. Macbeth's loss of memory is even more re-
markable than Ross's. He doesn't recollect having himself defeated
Cawdor but a few short hours — we might say minutes — ago; and
the Witches' prophetic greeting of him by that title, and Ross's
confirmation of it, fill him with surprise ; for, so far as he knows
(or recollects, shall we say?), the thane of Cawdor lives, a prosper-
ous gentleman."

As to the interval between Days 3 and 4, Mr. Daniel says : " Be-
tween Acts II. and III. the long and dismal period of Macbeth's
reign described or referred to in Act III. sc. vi., Act IV. sc. ii. and
iii., and elsewhere in the play, must have elapsed. Macbeth him-
self refers to it where, in Act III. sc. iv., speaking of his Thanes,
he says : —

298 Appendix

" ' There 's not a one of them but in his house
I keep a servant fee'd.' —

And again : —

" ' I am in blood

Stepp'd in so far, that, should I wade no more,
Returning were as tedious as go o'er."

Yet, almost in the same breath he says : —

" ' My strange and self-abuse
Is the initiate fear that wants hard use :
We are yet but young in deed.'

" And the first words with which Banquo opens this Act — ' Thou
hast it now," etc. — would lead us to suppose that a few days at the
utmost can have passed since the coronation at Scone; in the same
scene, however, we learn that Malcolm and Donalbain are bestowed
in England and in Ireland: some little time must have elapsed
before this news could have reached Macbeth. Professor Wilson
suggests a week or two for this interval. Mr. Paton would allow
three weeks."

Of iii. 6, Mr. Daniel says : " It is impossible to fix the time of
this scene. In it ' Lennox and another Lord ' discuss the position
of affairs. The murder of Banquo and the flight of Fleance are
known to Lennox, and he knows that Macduff lives in disgrace
because he was not at the feast, but that is the extent of his knowl-
edge. The other lord informs him that Macbeth did send to Mac-
duff, and that Macduff has fled to England to join Malcolm; and
that 'thereupon Macbeth 'prepares for some attempt of war.' All
this supposes the lapse, at the very least, of a day or two since the
night of Macbeth's banquet; but in the next scene to this we find
we have only arrived at the early morning following the banquet,
up to which time the murder of Banquo could not have been
known; nor had Macbeth sent to Macduff, nor was the flight of the
latter known. The scene in fact is an impossibility in any scheme
of time, and I am compelled therefore to place it within brackets.

Appendix 299

See Professor Wilson's amusing account of this ' miraculous '
scene in the fifth part of Dies Boreales [reprinted in New Shak-
spere Society Transactions, 1875-76, pp. 351-58]."

LIST OF CHARACTERS IN THE PLAY

The numbers in parentheses give the number of lines the char-
acters have in each scene.

Duncan : i. 2(15), 4(36), 6(18). Whole no. 69.

Malcolm: i. 2(6), 4(10); ii. 3(14); iv. 3(141); v. 4(11), 6(6),
7(2), 8(20). Whole no. 210.

Sergeant: i. 2(35). Whole no. 35.

Lennox: 1.2(2); ii. 3(20); iii. 4(5), 6(32); iv. 1(6); v. 2(7).
Whole no. 72.

Ross: i. 2(18), 3(16); ii. 4(26); iii. 4(5); iv. 2(19), 3(41);
V. 8(9). Whole no. 134.

Macbeth: i. 3(50), 4(16), 5(4), 7(48); ii. 1(45), 2(39), 3(33);
iii. 1(114), 2(40,4(105); iv. i(75); v- 3(55)» 5(44). 7(IO)> 8(26)-
Whole no. 705.

Banquo: i. 3(42), 4(2), 6(8); ii. 1(24), 3(11); iii. 1(21), 3(4).
\Vhole no. 112.

Angus : i. 3(12); v. 2(9). Whole no. 21.

Messenger : i. 5(5); iv. 2(9); v. 5(9). Whole no. 23.

Porter : ii. 3(40). Whole no. 40.

Macduff: ii. 3(40), 4(14); iv. 3(91); v. 4(3), 6(2), 7(10),
8(19). Whole no. 179.

Donalbain : ii. 3(9). Whole no. 9.

Old Man: ii. 4(11). Whole no. ii.

Attendant: iii. 1(1). Whole no. I.

1st Murderer: iii. i(io), 3(11), 4(7); iv. 2(4). Whole no. 32.

2d Murderer : iii. 1(8), 3(9). Whole no. 17.

•^d Murderer : iii. 3(8). Whole no. 8.

300 Appendix

Servant: iii. 2(2); v. 3(3). Whole no. 5.
Lord: iii. 4(3), 6(21). Whole no. 24.
1st Apparition : iv. 1(2). Whole no. 2.
2d Apparition : iv. 1(4). Whole no. 4.
^d Apparition : iv. 1(5). Whole no. 5.
English Doctor : iv. 3(5). Whole no. 5.
Scotch Doctor : v. 1(38), 3(9). Whole no. 47.
Menteith: v. 2(10), 4(2). Whole no. 12.
Caithness: v. 2(11). Whole no. n.
Seyton: v. 3(3), 5(2). Whole no. 5.

Old Siward: v. 4(10), 6(3), 7(6), 8(11). Whole no. 30.
Young Siward : v. 7(7). Whole no. 7.
Fleance : ii. 1(2). Whole no. 2.
Son to Alacduff : iv. 2(21). Whole no. 21.
\st Witch: i. 1(6), 3(34); iii. 5(2); iv. 1(40). Whole no. 82.
zd Witch: i. 1(6), 3(12); iv. 1(30). Whole no. 48.
•$d Witch: i. 1(5), 3(14); iv. 1(29). Whole no. 48.
Hecate : iii. 5(34) ; iv. 1(5). Whole no. 39.
Lady Macbeth: i. 5(71), 6(11), 7(43); ii. 2(46), 3(6); iii. 1(3),
2(18), 4(40); v. 1(23). Whole no. 261.
Lady Alacduff : iv. 2(42). Whole no. 42.
Gentlewoman: v. 1(27). Whole no. 27.
"All": ii. 3(2); iii. 5(1). Whole no. 3.

In the above enumeration parts of lines are counted as whole
lines, making the total of lines in the play greater than it is. The
actual number of lines is: i. 1(12), 2(67), 3(156), 4(58), 5(74),
6(30. 7(82); ii. 1(64), 2(73), 3(152), 4(41); iii. 1(142), 2(56),
3(22), 4(144), 5(37), 6(49); iv. 1(156), 2(85), 3(240); v. 1(87),
2(3I)» 3(62). 4(21). 5(52)» 6(io), 7(29), 8(75). Whole no. in
the play, 2108. The line-numbering is that of the Globe ed.

Macbeth is the shortest of the plays, with the exception of the
Comedy of Errors (1778 lines) and The Tempest (2065).

INDEX OF WORDS AND PHRASES
EXPLAINED

abuse (= deceive), 218.

battle (= battalion), 279.

chuck, 240.

access (accent), 207.

bellman, 219.

clept, 236.

actual, 272.

Bellona, 192.

cling, 278.

addition (= title), 200,

bend up, 215.

cloistered, 240.

237.

benison, 233.

close (= secret), 248,272.

addressed (= made ready),

bestowed, 234, 251.

closed (= enclosed) , 237.

220.

bestride, 262.

cloudy ( = frowning) , 252.

adhere (= cohere), 213.

Birnam, 257.

coign, 209.

admired (= admirable) ,

birthdom, 262.

cold (dissyllable), 254.

246.

bladed, 256.

Colme-kill, 232.

advise (= instruct), 238.

blanket, 207.

combustion, 226.

afeard, 200.

blind-worm, 254.

commend (= offer), 211,

affeered, 264.

blood-boltered, 259.

234.

alarm, 273.

bloody, 189.

composition, 192.

alarumed, 218.

bodements, 258.

compt, 210.

Aleppo, 194.

boot, to, 264.

connneless, 264.

all-hailed, 204.

borne (= managed), 250.

confound (= ruin), 220.

all-thing, 234.

borne in hand, 236.

confusion (=ruin), 227,

angel (= genius), 280.

bosom interest, 193.

249.

angerly, 248.

both the worlds, 239.

conjure (accent). 256.

anon, 189, 242.

bought (= gained), 212.

content (= satisfaction) ,

antic, 259.

brainsickly, 221.

239.

anticipate (= prevent),

break to (with), 213.

continent (adjective), 264.

259.

breeched, 228.

convert (intransitive),

approve (= prove), 209.

breed (= race) , 266.

270.

arbitrate, 277.

brinded, 253.

convey, 265.

argument (= theme), 228.

broad (= free), 251.

convince ( = overcome) ,

armed (= armoured), 245.

broil (= battle), 190.

214, 267.

aroint, 194.

bruited, 279.

corporal, 199.

artificial, 249.

countenance (verb), 227.

as (= as if), 202, 220, 231,

cancel, 240.

course, 279.

277.

captains (trisyllable), 191. coursed, 210.

as who should say, 252.

card (of compass) , 194.

cousin, 191, 201.

at a point, 267.

careless (passive), 202.

crack (of doom), 259.

at first and last, 242.

casing, 242.

cracks (= charges), 191.

at odds, 247.

Cawdor Castle, 192.

Cumberland, 203.

at quiet, 225.

censure ( = judgment) ,

auger-hole, 229.

277.

dainty of, 229.

augurs, 247.
authorized (accent), 244.

champion (verb), 236.
chastise (accent), 205.

dear, 273.
deliver (= report) , 204.

choke their art, 190.

demi-wolves, 236.

baboon (accent), 255.

chaudron, 255.

deny (= refuse), 247.

baby (= doll), 246.

cheer, 243.

despair (transitive), 280.

badged, 227.

cherubin, 212.

devil (monosyllable), 200.

bane (= ruin), 276.

children (trisyllable) , 269.

dew (verb, 274).

banquet, 204.

chough, 247.

digged, 254.

301

302 Index of Words and Phrases

direness, 277.

Forres, 195.

his (= its), 211.

dis-ease, 275.

frame, 239.

holds (= withholds), 251.

displaced (= banished),

franchised, 217.

holp, 210.

246.

free (= remove), 251.

home (= completely) , 200.

dispute, 270.

from (= apart from), 237,

homely, 261.

distance (= alienation),

243-

horses (metre), 230.

237.

from (= because of ) , 260.

hose (French), 225.

distempered, 274.

from (= on account of) ,

housekeeper (dog), 237.

dollars, 193.

251-

howlet, 254.

doubt (= suspect), 261.

fry, 262.

human ( = humane), 245.

drowse, 241.

fume, 214.

hurly-burly, 188.

dudgeon, 218.

furbished, 191.

husbandry (= thrift), 216.

Dunsinane, 257.

Hyrcan, 245.

gallowglasses, 190.

each way and move, 260.

gentle my lord, 239.

ignorant, 208.

easy (adverb), 229, 280.

gentle (proleptic), 209.

ill-composed, 265.

eat (= ate), 231.

gently (= readily), 279.

illness (= evil), 205.

eclipse, 255.

germens, 256.

impress (= press), 258.

ecstasy, 239.

get (= beget), 199.

in (repeated), 248.

effects (= actions), 272.

gild (with blood), 222.

incarnadine, 223.

egg, 262.

gilt (play upon), 222.

Inchcolm, 193.

embrace(= undergo), 238.

gin (= begin), 191, 278.

informs, 218.

England (= King of Eng-

gin (= snare), 261.

inhabit, 246.

land), 264.

give out (= show), '269.

initiate (adjective), 248.

enkindle unto, 200.

Glamis Castle, 196.

insane (proleptic), 199.

enow, 225, 261.

go off (= die), 281.

instruments (of persons),

entrance (metre), 207.

go to, 272.

271.

estate, 278.

go with me, 241.

intermission, 270.

eternal jewel, 235.

God 'ield, 210.

intrenchant, 280.

evil (= scrofula), 267.

golden (blood), 222, 228.

lona, 232.

exasperate, 252.

Golgotha, 191.

it (of persons), 204.

expedition, 227.

goose (tailor's), 225.

Gorgon, 227.

jump (= risk), 211.

fact (= evil deed), 251.

gospelled, 236.

jutty, 209.

faculties, 211.

gouts, 218.

fail (his presence), 251.

graced, 243.

kerns, 190, 279.

fantastical, 198, 201.

grave = (weighty), 234.

knell (= passingbell),2i9.

fare (dissyllable), 266.

Graymalkin, 189.

knowings, 230.

farrow, 256.

grooms, 220.

favour, 202, 208.

gulf (= gullet), 254.

laced, 227.

fear (= cause of fear), 201.

lack (= miss), 245.

fee-grief, 269.

hail (dissyllable), 189.

lamp (travelling), 230.

fell (= skin), 277.

hangman, 220.

lapped, 192.

file (= list), 237, 273.

happy (= fortunate) , 198.

large (= unrestrained),

filed (=defiled), 235.

harbinger, 203.

242.

firstlings, 259.

harness (= armour), 278.

latch (= catch), 269.

fits o" the season, 260

Harpier, 254.

lated, 241.

flaws, 244.

having (= possessions),

lavish (= insolent), 192.

flighty, 259.

198.

leave (= leave off), 240.

flout, 192.

heaven (plural), 216.

leavy, 279.

foisons, 265.

heavy (= drowsy), 217.

lesser, 198, 274.

for (= as regards) , 260.

Hecate, 218, 248.

like (= likely), 231.

for (= because of), 237.
forbid (= accursed) , 195.

hedge-pig, 253.
here-approach, 266.

lily-livered, 275.
limbeck, 214.

forced, 277.

hermits (beadsmen), 210.

lime (= bird-lime\ 261.

forge (= frame), 265.

him (= he), 281.

limited (=appointed), 226.

Index of Words and Phrases 303

line (= strengthen), 200.
list (= lists), 236.

note (= notoriety), 240. proportion, 203.
nothing (adverb), 200. prosperous, 234.

listening (transitive), 221.

protest, 273.

lodged, 256.

oblivious, 276. pull in, 278.

loves (plural), 237.

obscure (accent), 226. purveyor, 210.

luxurious (= licentious),

of (= by), 250, 251.

push (= onset), 275.

264.

offices, 217.

put on (= set at work),

old (colloquial), 225.

271.

magot-pies, 247.

on (= of) , 199, 237, 238,

mansionry, 209.

273. quarrel, 190.

marry, 250.

one (pronunciation), 281. quarry, 269.

martlet, 209.

once (= ever), 278,

quell (= murder), 214.

mated (= bewildered) ,

opened, 264.

273.

or ere, 268.

ravin, 231.

maukin (ormawkin), 189.

other (= otherwise), 215.

ravined, 254.

maw, 254.

ourselves (= each other), rawness, 263.

medicine, 274.

243. readiness, 229.

memorize, 191.
mere (= absolute) , 265,

out (= in the field), 269. receipt(= receptacle), 214.
overcome, 246. receive (= believe), 215.

267. | owe (=own), 199, 202, recoil (= fall off), 263."

metaphysical, 205. i 246, 277.

relish of, 266.

mettle, 215.

remembrance (metre),

mile (plural), 278. Paddock, 189.

240.

minion (= darling), 190, pall (= wrap), 207.

remorse (= pity) , 207.

231. palter, 280.

require (= request), 242.

minutely (= every min- parley, 227

resolve yourselves, 238.

ute), 274. parted (=died), 281.

ronyon, 194.

missives (= messengers), passion, 244.

roofed, 243.

204. i patch (=fool), 275.

rooky, 241.

mockery, 246. pearl, 281.

Ross, 199.

modern (= ordinary), 268. . pent-house, 195.

round(= crown), 205, 257.

moe, 276. perfect, 261.

rouse (intransitive), 241.

monstrous (trisyllable), perseverance (accent),

rub, 238.

251. 266.

rump-fed, 194.

mortal (= deadly), 207, pestered, 274.

245, 262. physic (= cure), 226.

safe toward, 203.

mortality (= life), 227. place (in falconry), 230.

sag, 274.

mortified, 273. poorly, 223.

Saint Colme's Inch, 193.

motives (persons), 263. portable, 265.

saucy, 242.

mousing, 230. possess with, 269.

say (= tell), 189.

mummy, 254. posset, 220.

scanned, 248.

murther, 201.

posters, 195.

scaped, 242, 270.

muse (= wonder), 245.

power (= army) , 269.

Scone, 231.

predominance, 230.

scotched, 239.

napkin, 225.

present (= immediate) ,

screw, 214.

naught, 270. 193.

season, 248.

nave (= navel), 191. \ presently (= at once), 193,

seated (= fixed), 201.

near (= nearer) , 229.

267.

security, 249.

near'st, 237.

pretence (= purpose) , 229.

seeling, 240.

nice (= precise), 268.

pretend (= intend), 229, shipman, 194.

nightgown, 223.

231. self (adjective), 281.

noise (= music), 258.

probation (= proof) , 236. self-abuse, 248.

nonpareil, 242.

producing forth, 281. sennet, 234.

Norways', 193.

profound, 248.

sense (plural), 272.

Norweyan, 191.

proof (= armour), 192.

sensible, 218

note (= list), 241.

proper (ironical), 244. sergeant (metre), 189.

304 Index of Words and Phrases

set down, 277.

stay (= wait for) , 267.

ranspose, 263.

sewer, 210.

still (= always), 234, 280.

realise, 277.

shag-haired, 262.

stir (= motion), 202.

renched, 242.

shard-borne, 240.

studied, 200.

rifled, 229.

shine, 233.

success, 211.

ugged, 237.

shoal, 211.

sudden (= violent), 264.

wofold balls, 259,

shoughs, 236.

summer-seeming, 265.

show (= appear) , 190, 198,

surcease, 211.

undeeded, 279.

252.

surveying, 191.

unrough, 273.

shut up, 217.

sway by, 274.

unspeak, 266.

sicken (=be surfeited),

sweaten, 256.

untitled, 266.

256.

syllable, 263.

upon a thought, 244.

sightless (= invisible),

uproar (verb), 266.

202, 207, 212.

taint (= be infected), 274.

using (= cherishing), 239

Sinel, 199.

taking-off, 211.

utterance, to the, 236.

single, 201, 210.

tale (= counting), 200.

sirrah, 260.

teems (transitive), 268.

valued (= valuing), 237.

Siward, 266.

temperance, 266.

vantage, 191.

skirr, 276.

tending, 205.

venom (adjective), 254.

slab, 255.

thane, 192. .

verity (= truthfulness).

sleave, 221.

that, 152.

266.

sleights, 248.

the which, 234, 281.

vessel, 235.

slivered, 255.

thee (= thou), 205.

visards, 240.

slope (transitive), 256.

thickens, 241.

slumbery, 272.

think, 264.

wassail, 214.

so (omitted), 192, 198,

thought (= kept in mind) ,

water-rugs, 236.

211, 220, 265.

221.

weird, 195.

sole, 263.

thralls (= slaves), 251.

what, 264, 279.

solemn (= formal), 234.

tidings (number), 205.

which (= who), 191.

solicit (= move by pray-

timely (= betimes), 241.

while (= till), 235.

ers), 267.

timely (adverb), 226.

whiles, 204, 219, 241.

soliciting, 201.

titles (= claims). 260.

who (= whom), 238, 243.

something (adverb), 238.

to (= compared with),

wholesome (= healthy),

sometime, 210, 262.

244.

266.

sooth, 191.

to (= for), 263.

with (= by), 235.

sorry, 220, 239.

to (= in addition to), 235.

with (= on), 261.

speak (= say), 242.

to (omitted), 243.

without (= beyond), 239.

speculation, 245.

top (= crown) , 257.

witnessed, 269.

spoken (= said), 268.

top (verb), 264.

worm (= serpent), 243.

spongy (= drunk), 214.

top-full, 207.

wrack, 200.

sprights, 259.

touch (= sensibility), 260.

wren, 260.

spy o' the time, 238.

toward (and towards) ,

wrought (= agitated),

staff (= lance), 276,279.

218.

202.

stamp (= coin) , 268.

towering (in falconry),

stanchless, 265.

230.

yesty, 256.

start (= startle), 278.

trace, 259.

yew (poisonous), 255.

state (= chair), 242.

trains (= tricks), 266.

station (= attitude), 281.

trammel up, 211.

tr.

fc^jfc

ill
111

7 QOO'034845 8

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Full text of "Shakespeare's tragedy of Macbeth"

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