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NOTES.

HE exact date of the production of "Macbeth" is uncertain, but there is evidence to prove that it was written between the years 1604 and 1610.

The materials for the play were taken from Holinshed's Chronicle, but the account of Banquo's ghost in the Banquet Scene, and the sleep-walking of Lady Macbeth are thought to have been entirely invented by Shakspere.

In the character of Macbeth we are shown in the most powerful way how the yielding to temptation destroys what is noble in a man's nature. The Macbeth who shrinks with horror from the murder of Duncan bears little resemblance to the ferocious and desperate king who appears in the last And the truth that crime and misery ever go handin-hand is in no other of Shakspere's plays brought out with more force and clearness than in this great tragedy.

scenes.

Page 4. Say to the king, etc., tell the king what the state of the battle was when you left the field.

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Show'd, appeared.

kerns, foot soldiers, armed only with darts, daggers, or knives. Wild fighting Irish are spoken of as 'Rough rug-headed kerns" in "Richard II.,' Act II. Scene I.

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Page 5. thane. The literal meaning of thane is servant, but the word was soon used to denote one who served under the king, a nobleman.

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flout, mock.

Page 5. lavish, unrestrained and insolent.

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composition, agreement, terms of peace.
Colmes', Columba's.

present, immediate.

Page 6. mounch'd, munched.

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Aroint thee, begone! ronyon, a contemptuous term sometimes applied to a woman.

in a sieve; this was believed to be a witch's own peculiar sailing vessel.

a rat without a tail. Witches were supposed to be able to take the shape of any animal, only the tail was invariably missing.

I'll do. The witch supposes herself destroying the ship by gnawing through its sides like a rat.

Page 6. pent-house lid, eyelid, which covers the eye as a sloping-roof protects the windows of a house. a man forbid, a man under a curse.

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peak, that is, waste, and so become sharp-featured. Page 7. foul and fair a day, i. e. stormy and fine by turns. choppy, chapped, rough, and covered with cracks. fantastical, imaginary.

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Page 8. Lesser, the same double comparative is used in "Richard II.," Act II. Scene I.—

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"Thy death-bed is no lesser than thy land." Sinel, Macbeth's father.

corporal, corporeal, having a body.

the insane root, the root which causes madness, supposed by some to be the root of the hemlock plant.

Page 9. His wonders and his praises do contend, etc., the king's wonder at the deeds, and his wish to praise the doer, contend for the mastery, so that he cannot express himself.

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for an earnest, as a pledge.

addition, "a title given to a man besides his Christian

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and surname, showing his estate, degree, etc. trusted home, completely, thoroughly trusted. enkindle you unto the crown, awaken in you the desire to win the crown.

prologues; a prologue is the introduction to a play. the imperial theme, i.e., his possession of the crown, which the witches prophesied. Page 10. suggestion, secret prompting.

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unfix my hair, i.e., cause it to stand on end.
seated, securely, firmly placed.

Present fears, etc., real and present dangers are
less dreadful than imagined horrors.

yet but fantasy, as yet only exists in my imagination. single state of man; state here means kingdom, not condition. function is smothered in surmise, the power of action is lost in thought and conjecture. strange garments, garments that are new, and so fit us uncomfortably.

stay upon, await.

give me your favour, pardon me.

wrought, stirred and perplexed.

turn the leaf, i.e., in the book of his memory.

at more time, when we have greater leisure.

the interim having weighed it, having duly considered the matter during the interval.

Page 10. speak our free hearts, open our hearts unreservedly. Page 11. set forth, displayed.

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studied; like an actor who has learnt his part well.
the dearest thing he owed, the most precious thing
in his possession.

a careless trifle, a trifle uncared for, unvalued.
to find, to enable us to find.

the proportion, the right proportion.

more than all, i. e., more than all I possess.

Page 12. Safe tow'rd; this may mean, “with a sure regard to.” plant thee, establish thee prosperously.

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nor. No; an example of the double negative
common in Shakspere's plays.

establish our estate, settle the title to our crown.
the harbinger, the herald.

Page 13. the perfectest report, i.e., my own personal know

ledge.

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the golden round, the kingly crown.

Which fate and metaphysical aid, etc., with which fate and supernatural aid seem to have crowned thee.

Page 14. inform'd for preparation, sent us word that we

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no compunctious visitings of nature, no natural stirrings of compassion within me.

nor keep peace between the effect and it, nor hinder its execution by causing a truce.

take my milk for gall, turn my kindliness into bitter hatred.

sightless substances, invisible bodies.

in the instant, at this present time.

Page 15. To beguile the time, Look like the time, i.e., by way of delusion, look as if nothing were the matter. Compare the words of Brutus in "Julius Cæsar: " "Let not our looks put on our purposes.'

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To alter favour ever is to fear, a changing face always betokens fear.

seat, site or situation.

Page 16. God-ild us, corrupted from "God yield us," that is, 'God reward us. Duncan's words mean some

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thing of this kind: "Our visit causes you troublesome service, yet love brought us here, and love ever demands thanks and gratitude."

Page 16. single, feeble, weak.

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to contend against, to rival.

we rest your hermits, i.e., we are ever bound to pray for you as our benefactor.

Your servants ever have theirs, etc., etc. This might be paraphrased: "We, your servants, are at all times accomptable to you for ourselves and all we possess, so that what we give is yours already." trammel up, ensnare and entangle, as a bird is caught in a net, or a fly in a web.

his surcease; if "his" (often used by Shakspere for "its") refers to "consequence, 99 66

surcease

means here arrest, stoppage; if "his" refers to Duncan, then " surcease is put for death. jump, risk. Macbeth's words mean: "If a single blow would effect what we want, and no afterconsequences could ensue during this life, we dare risk what a future life might bring upon us.' Page 17. that, so that.

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Commends, presents.

faculties, authoritative powers.
clear, blameless.

his taking off, his murder.

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Page 18. Like the poor cat the adage; the proverb here re

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ferred to is this: "The cat would eat fish, and

would not wet her feet."

But screw, etc., only screw.

wassel, a drink made of apples, sugar, ale, etc.; but
the word is here used for merry-making, revelry.
convince, overcome.

put upon, i.e., cause to be falsely accused of.
quell, murder.

Page 19. I'm settled, I am resolved. bend up each corporal

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agent, strain to the utmost all my bodily powers. husbandry, economy, thrift.

candles; Shakspere elsewhere calls stars "candles." Page 20. withal, here used for "with."

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when we can entreat an hour to serve, when we may beg for an hour to be placed at our service. sensible, that which can be perceived by the senses. Page 21. dudgeon, a dagger, or handle of a dagger. gouts, drops.

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informs thus, imparts this knowledge.

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