Note return to page 1 Kean's 1853 production of MACBETH was only the second of his immense, spectacular Shakespearean revivals at the Princess's Theatre (following his KING JOHN the previous year), and the obsessively scholarly prefatory materials to his acting edition (which were given out in the theatre as programme notes) were designed to leave no-one in any doubt as to his commitment to antiquarian accuracy in staging. As the edition also records, his production— a pictorial lesson in history and geography as much as an interpretation of Shakespeare— used an abbreviated text derived ultimately from Garrick's, retaining Davenant's operatic musical numbers for the witches.

Note return to page 2 For references to Historical authorities indicated by letters, see end of each Act.

Note return to page 3 1Hurly. A noise, or tumult; from hurler, French; also hurluburlu. That with the hurly death itself awakes. 2 Hen. IV. iii. 1. Methinks I see this hurly all on foot. John, iii. 4. Hurlu-burlu, which is not in the common French dictionaries, is in the latest editions of the dictionary of the Academy, both as substantive and adjective. Explained “étourdi.”—Nares's Glossary.

Note return to page 4 2A cat.

Note return to page 5 3The word comes to us from the Saxon Pada, and a toad is still called by a similar term in most of the Teutonic languages. It may be likewise observed that witches have nothing to do with frogs, an animal always regarded as perfectly harmless, though perhaps not more so in reality than the unjustly-persecuted toad. —Douce's Illustrations of Shakespeare.

Note return to page 6 1According to Holinshed, we should read Macdowald.

Note return to page 7 2Kernes and Gallowglasses. Light and heavy armed infantry. Kerne. A foot soldier of the Irish troops; represented always as very poor and wild. —Now for our Irish wars: We must supplant those rough rug-headed kerns Which live like venom, where no venom else, But only they, hath privilege to live. Rich. II. ii. 1. The wild Oneyle, with swarms of Irish kernes Live uncontrol'd within the English pale Edw. II. O. Pl. ii. 350. See the Image of Ireland, by John Derricke, quarto. Also the same kind of troops from other parts: —From the western isles Of kerns and gallowglasses is supplied. Macb. i. 2. Also for any kind of boor, or low-lived person: They han fat kerns, and leany knaves, Their fasting flocks to keep. Spens. Eclog. July, 199. Sometimes kerne is used plurally, or as a collective name: They came running, with a terrible yell, as if heaven and earth would have gone together, which is the very image of the Irish hubub, which their kerne used at their first encounter. Spenser, View of Irel. p. 370, Todd. They are desperate in revenge; and their kerne thinke no man dead until his head be off. Gainsford's Glory of Engl. p. 149. For the supposed etymologies, see Todd. —Nares's Glossary.

Note return to page 8 3The Saxon word Thane, is assuredly derived from the Celtic Tanaist, which means hereditary representative, elected by consent of the clan. See Logan's “Scottish Gael.”

Note return to page 9 4Shakespeare here intends to compare Macbeth to Mars.

Note return to page 10 5Defended by armour of proof.

Note return to page 11 1There is no doubt that aroint signifies away! run! and that it is of Saxon origin. The original Saxon verb has not been preserved in any other way, but the glossaries supply ryne for running; and in the old Islandic, runka signifies to agitate, to move. —Douce's Illustrations of Shakespeare.

Note return to page 12 2A scurvy woman fed on offals.

Note return to page 13 3Reginald Scot, in his Discoverie of Witchcraft, 1584, says it was believed that witches “could sail in an egg shell, a cockle, or muscle shell, through and under the tempestuous seas.” Again, says Sir William D'Avenant, in his Albovine, 1629, “He sits like a witch sailing in a sieve.” Steevens.

Note return to page 14 4It should be remembered (as it was the belief of the times), that though a witch could assume the form of any animal she pleased, the tail would still be wanting. The reason given by some of the old writers, for such a deficiency, is, that though the hands and feet, by an easy change, might be converted into the four paws of a beast, there was still no part about a woman which corresponded with the length of tail common to almost all our four-footed creatures. Steevens.

Note return to page 15 5A sailor's chart.

Note return to page 16 6The words “to show” are added from Mr. Collier's emendations.

Note return to page 17 7Accursed.

Note return to page 18 8This mischief was supposed to be put in execution by means of a waxen figure, which represented the person who was to be consumed by slow degrees. So, in Webster's Dutchess of Malfy, 1623: “—It wastes me more “Than wer't my picture fashion'd out of wax, “Stuck with a magick needle, and then buried “In some foul dunghill.” So, Holinshed, speaking of the witchcraft practised to destroy King Duffe: “—found one of the witches roasting upon a wooden broch an image of wax at the fire, resembling in each feature the king's person, &c. “—for as the image did waste afore the fire, so did the bodie of the king break forth in sweat. And as for the words of the inchantment, they served to keep him still waking from sleepe,” &c. This may serve to explain the foregoing passage: “Sleep shall neither night nor day “Hang upon his pent-house lid.” See Vol. IV. p. 227, n. 4.— Steevens.

Note return to page 19 9Weird, s. and a. From the Saxon wyrd, a witch, or fate, and is used by Scottish writers in that sense. It was particularly applied by Shakespeare to his witches in Macbeth, because he found them called weird sisters in Holinshed, from whom he took the history. —Nares's Glossary.

Note return to page 20 10All hail! is a corruption of al-hael, Saxon, i. e., ave salve.

Note return to page 21 11Supernatural—spiritual.

Note return to page 22 12The father of Macbeth.

Note return to page 23 13“Henbane . . . is called Insana, mad, for the use thereof is perillous; for if it be eate or dronke, it breedeth madnesse, or slow lykenesse of sleepe. Therefore this hearb is called commonly Mirilidium, for it taketh away wit and reason.” Batman Uppon Bartholome de propriet. rerum, lib. xvii. ch. 87. —Douce's Illustrations of Shakespeare.

Note return to page 24 14Posts arrived as fast as they could be counted.

Note return to page 25 15Incitement.

Note return to page 26 16All 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.

Note return to page 27 1Perfect—complete in thy growth. —Steevens.

Note return to page 28 2i.e. He is to the full as valiant as you have described him.

Note return to page 29 1Supernatural.

Note return to page 30 2Murderous, deadly, or destructive designs. —Johnson.

Note return to page 31 3Remorse, in ancient language, signifies pity. —Steevens.

Note return to page 32 4Blankness is here substituted for “blanket,” on the authority of Mr. Collier's emendations.

Note return to page 33 5Ignorant has here the signification of unknowing; that is, I feel by anticipation those future honours, of which, according to the process of nature, the present time would be ignorant. —Johnson.

Note return to page 34 6Look—countenance.

Note return to page 35 1Convenient corner. —Johnson.

Note return to page 36 2We, as hermits, shall always pray for you. —Steevens.

Note return to page 37 3The duty of the purveyor, an officer belonging to the court, was to make a general provision for the royal household. It was the office also of this person to travel before the king, whenever he made his progresses to different parts of the realm, and to see that every thing was duly provided. The right of purveyance and pre-emption having become extremely oppressive to the subject, was included, among other objects of regulation, under the stat. of 12 Car. II. —Reed's Shakespeare.

Note return to page 38 1“Duncan (says Holinshed) was soft and gentle of nature.” And again: “Macbeth spoke much against the king's softness, and overmuch slackness in punishing offenders.”

Note return to page 39 2Invisible winds.

Note return to page 40 3The adage alluded to is, The cat loves fish, but dares not wet her feet. “Catus amat pisces, sed non vult tingere plantas.” Johnson.

Note return to page 41 4Collier's emendations, read “boast” for “beast.”

Note return to page 42 5Drenched in liquor. When Æschines praised Philip King of Macedon for his abilities in drinking, Demosthenes told him, “that was a commendation fit for a sponge.” —Davies's Micellanies.

Note return to page 43 6Murder.

Note return to page 44 3590001[A] (A) Colmes-Inch, now called Inchcomb, is a small island lying in the Firth of Edinburgh, with an Abbey upon it, dedicated to St. Columb. Inch, or Inche, in the Irish or Erse languages, signifies an island.

Note return to page 45 3590002[B] (B) The following quotation from Holinshed's “Chronicle of Scotland” will show the reader how closely Shakespeare followed the narrative of that Historian:— “Word was brought that a new fleet of Danes was arrived at Kingcorne, sent thither by Canute, king of England, in revenge of his brother Sueno's overthrow. To resist these enemies, which were alreadie landed, and busie in spoiling the countrie, Makbeth and Banquho were sent with the king's authoritie, who having with them a convenient power, incountred their enemies, 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 sum of gold, that such of their friends as were slaine at this last bickering, might be buried in St. Colmes Inch. In memorie whereof, manie old sepulchres are yet in the said Inch, there to be seene graven with the armies of the Danes, as the maner of bureing noblemen still is, and heretofore hath been used. “A peace was also concluded at the same time betwixt the Danes and Scotishmen, ratified (as some have written) in this wise: that from thenceforth the Danes should never come into Scotland to make anie wars against the Scots by anie maner of means. And these were the wars that Duncane had with foreign enemies, in the seventh yeare of his reign. Shortlie after happened a strange and uncouth wonder, which afterward was the cause of much trouble in the realme of Scotland, as ye shall after hear. It fortuned as Makbeth and Banquho journed towards Fores, where the king then laie, they went sporting by the way together without other companie, save onlie themselves, passing through 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, whom when they attentivelie beheld, wondering 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 Cader! But the third said; All haile Makbeth that hereafter shall be king of Scotland! “Then Banquho; ‘what maner of woman (saith he) are you, that seeme so little favourable unto me, whereas to my fellow here, besides high offices, ye assigne also the kingdom, appointing forth nothing for me at all?’ ‘Yes’ (saith the first of them) ‘we promise greater benefits unto thee than unto him, for he shall reign indeed, but with an unlucky end; neither shall he leave anie issue behind him to succeed in his place, where contrarilie thou indeed shalt not reigne at all, but of thee those shall be born which shall govern the Scotish kingdome by long order of continual descent.’ Herewith the foresaid women vanished immediatelie out of their sight. This was reputed at the first but some vaine fantasticall illusion by Makbeth and Banquho, insomuch that Banquho would call Makbeth (in jest) king of Scotland; and Makbeth again would call him in sport likewise, the father of manie kings. But afterwards the common opinion was, that these women was either the weird sisters, that is (as ye would say), the goddesses of destinie, or else some nymphs or feiries, indowed with knowledge of prophesie by their necromanticall science, because everything came to pass as they had spoken. For shortlie after, the Thane of Cawder being condemned at Fores of treason against the king committed, his lands, livings, and offices were given of the kings liberalitie to Makbeth. “The same night after, at supper, Banquho jested with him, and said; now Makbeth, thou hast obtained those things which the two former sisters prophesied, there remaineth onlie for thee to purchase that which the third said should come to pass. Whereupon Makbeth revolving the thing in his mind, began even then to devise how he might then attaine to the kingdome; but yet he thought with himself that he must tarrie a time, which should advance him thereto (by divine Providence) as it had come to pass in his former preferment. But shortlie after, it chanced that king Duncane, having two sons 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 successor in the kingdome, immediatelie after his decease. Makbeth, sore troubled herewith, for that he saw by this means his hope sore hindered (where, by the old laws of the realme, the ordinance was, that if he that should succeed were not of able age to take the charge upon himself, he that was next of blood unto him should be admitted), he began to take councell how he might usurp the kingdome by force, having a just quarrell so to do (as he tooke the matter) for that Duncan did what in him lay to defraud him of all manner of title and claime, which he might in time to come pretend unto the crowne. “The words of the three weird sisters also (of whom before ye have heard) greatlie incouraged him hereunto, but speciallie his wife lay sore upon him to attempt the thing, as she that was verie ambitious, burning in unquenchable desire to beare the name of a queen. At length, therefore, communicating his purposed intent with his trustie friends, amongst whom Banquho was the chiefest, upon confidence of their promised aid, he slue the king at Enverness, or (as some say) at Botgosvane, in the sixth yeare of his reigne. Then having a companie about him of such as he had made privie to his enterprize, he caused himself to be proclamed king, and foorthwith went unto Scone, where (by common consent) he received the investure of the kingdome according to the accustomed manner. The body of Duncane was first conveied unto Elgin, and there buried in kinglie wise; but afterwards it was removed and conveied unto Colmekill, and there laid in a sepulchre amongst his predecessors, in the yeare after the birth of our Saviour, 1046. “Malcolme Cammore and Donald Bane the sons of king Duncane, for fear of their lives (which they might well know that Makbeth would seeke to bring to end for his more sure confirmation in the estate) fled into Cumberland, where Malcolme remained, till time that St. Edward the son of Etheldred recovered the dominion of England from the Danish power, the which Edward received Malcolme by way of most friendlie entertainment; but Donald passed over into Ireland, where he was tenderlie cherished by the king of that land.” For further information on the History of the period, consult a most authentic work, Skene's “Highlanders of Scotland.”

Note return to page 46 3590003[C] (C.) The behaviour of the thane of Cawdor corresponds, in almost every circumstance, with that of the unfortunate Earl of Essex, as related by Stowe, p. 793. His asking the Queen's forgiveness, his confession, repentance, and concern about behaving with propriety on the scaffold, are minutely described by that historian. Such an allusion could not fail of having the desired effect on an audience, many of whom were eye-witnesses to the severity of that justice which deprived the age of one of its greatest ornaments, and Southampton, Shakespeare's patron, of his dearest friend. —Steevens.

Note return to page 47 3590004[D] (D.) The crown of Scotland was originally not hereditary. When a successor was declared in the life-time of a king, (as was often the case,) the title of Prince of Cumberland was immediately bestowed on him as the mark of his designation. Cumberland was at that time held by Scotland of the crown of England, as a fief. —Steevens.

Note return to page 48 3590005[E] (E.) What was anciently called was-haile (as appears from Selden's notes on the ninth Song of Drayton's Polyolbion,) was an annual custom observed in the country on the vigil of the new year; and had its beginning, as some say, from the words which Ronix, daughter of Hengist, used, when she drank to Vortigern, loverd king was-heil; he answering her, by direction of an interpreter, drinc-heile; and then, as Robert of Gloucester says, ‘Kuste hire and sitte hire adoune and glad dronke hire heil; ‘And that was tho in this land the verst was-hail, ‘As in language of Saxoyne that me might evere iwite, ‘And so wel he paith the folc about, that he is not yut voryute.’ Afterwards it appears that was-haile, and drinc-heil, were the usual phrases of quaffing among the English, as we may see from Thomas de la Moore in the Life of Edward II. and in the lines of Hanvil the monk, who preceded him: ‘Ecce vagante cifo distento gutture wass-heil, Ingeminant wass-heil—’ But Selden rather conjectures it to have been a usual ceremony among the Saxons before Hengist, as a note of health-wishing, supposing the expression to be corrupted from wish-heil. Wassel or Wassail is a word still in use in the midland counties, and signifies at present what is called Lambs'-Wool, i. e. roasted apples in strong beer, with sugar and spice. See Beggars Bush, Act IV. sc. iv: ‘What think you of a wassel? ‘—thou, and Ferret, ‘And Ginks, to sing the song; I for the structure, ‘Which is the bowl.’ Ben Jonson personifies wassel thus:—Enter Wassel like a neat sempster and songster, her page bearing a brown bowl drest with ribbands and rosemary, before her. Wassel is, however, sometimes used for general riot, intemperance, or festivity. On the present occasion I believe it means intemperance.” —Steevens. So, in Antony and Cleopatra: ‘—Antony, ‘Leave thy lascivious wassels.’ See also Vol. VII. p. 165, n. 6. —Malone.

Note return to page 49 1Husbandry here means thrift—frugality. —Malone.

Note return to page 50 2Presents to the rooms appropriated to servants.

Note return to page 51 3In Stowe's Annals, p. 833, “the king's majestie (K. James) shut up all with a pithy exhortation on both sides.

Note return to page 52 4Handle of a dagger.

Note return to page 53 5Gout—a drop—Goutte, French. —Nares's Glossary.

Note return to page 54 6Entangled unwrought silk which has not been twisted.

Note return to page 55 7To incarnardine is to make red or of a carnation color.

Note return to page 56 8Macbeth is addressing the person who knocks at the outward gate:— —Malone.

Note return to page 57 9Enter Macduff. Duff, in the Erse language, signifies a Captain; Macduff, the son of a Captain. —Douce.

Note return to page 58 10Appointed service.

Note return to page 59 11Pretence is intention—design.

Note return to page 60 3590006[A] (A) “In the times of the feudal system, kings, princes, barons, and all persons of distinguished birth and rank, before they went to rest, partook of a collation called the wines, consisting of delicate cates and wine, warmed and mixed with certain spices. Froissart esteemed it a great piece of good fortune that he spent the greatest part of his life in the courts of princes, for thereby he had gained an opportunity of drinking the wines, which, he says, contributed much to his comfort and repast.* [Subnote: *Froissart. Tom. ii., chap. 81.] This is the cordial which we may reasonably suppose Shakespeare meant by the drink.” —Davies's Miscellanies.

Note return to page 61 3590007[B] (B) “From the history of King Duffus's murder, by Donald, governor of the citadel of Foris, Shakespeare has borrowed some incidents and some embellishments for his fable. Duffus, having determined to bring to justice some robbers, who had laid waste Murray, Ross, and Caithness, caused them to be seized and brought to Foris, there to receive condign punishment. Donald was greatly offended that the king would not be prevailed upon to pardon some friends of his associated in the robberies. His wife, who in violence of disposition, greatly resembles Lady Macbeth, stimulated her husband to murder the king from the conveniency of doing it; for, having the command of the castle, she told him, he had the power of executing the design in his own hands. Buchannan says there was a general darkness, over all Scotland, after the murder of Duffus, that neither sun nor moon were to be seen for the space of six months after.” “The undaunted spirit and determindly-wicked resolution of Macbeth's wife, are no where to be matched, in any female character of the ancient Greek drama, except in the Clytemnestra of Æschylus. Their situations are different, but their characters bear a great resemblance. Both are haughty and intrepid, artful and cruel, in the extreme. Clytemnestra plans the murder of Agememnon, her husband, and is herself the assassin. Lady Macbeth not only encourages her husband to kill the king, but enjoys the fact when it is done; the remorse of the murderer she considers as pusillanimity, and helps to remove the appearance of guilt from him by smearing the faces of the sleeping grooms.” —Davies's Miscellanies.

Note return to page 62 3590008[C] (C) The Chorus of Witches, which closes the second act, is, as is well known to the Shakespearian reader, an introduction which time and habit have so grafted on the play, that it is very doubtful whether the omission of such a powerful musical effect would not be considered a loss by the general public. The following note is from “Davies's Miscellanies:”— “At the Restoration, few of our author's plays were written to the palate of the court and those who assumed the direction of the public amusements. After Macbeth had been thrown aside, or neglected for some years, Sir William Davenant undertook to refine and reduce it, as near as possible, to the standard of the taste in vogue. He likewise brought it, as well as he could, to the resemblance of an opera. In the musical part he was assisted by Mr. Locke, an eminent master of music. It must be confessed the songs of Hecate and the other witches have a solemn adaption to the beings for whom they were composed. Dances of furies were invented for the incantation-scene in the fourth act, and near fifty years since I saw our best dancers employed in the exhibition of infernal spirits. Had Davenant stopped here, it had been well for his reputation, but this ill-instructed admirer of Shakespeare altered the plan of the author's design, and destroyed that peculiarity which distinguishes Macbeth from several of our author's pieces. The jingle of rhyme delighted the ears of our court critics, for no other reason, which I can discover, but because the plays of the French nation, and especially their tragedies, wore the chiming fetters; but the dramatic poets of France knew that their language was too weak for blank verse, or for lines of twelve feet, without the assistance of rhyme, and therefore, what was mere necessity in them, the false judges of our language considered as an essential beauty. “In the Memoirs of Mr. Garrick I have quoted some part of a scene between Macbeth and his lady, upon the most serious and important subject, where poverty of sentiment is only exceeded by wrethedness of rhyme. Davenant had, indeed, disfigured the whole piece, yet, notwithstanding all his added deformities and sad mutilations, so much of the original Macbeth was still retained, that it continued, from the revival in 1665 to 1744, a very favourite entertainment of the stage. Betterton, who was then at the head of the Duke of York's company, under Sir William Davenant, whatever his own taste might be, was obliged to fall in with the views of his master and the fashion of the times. “Happily for the lovers of Shakespeare, Mr. Garrick, some years before he was a patentee, broke through the fetters of foolish custom and arbitrary imposition: he restored Macbeth to the public almost in the same dress it was left us in by the author. A scene or two, which were not conducive to the action, he threw out in representation; others that were too long he judiciously pruned; very few additions were made, except in some passages of the play necessary to the better explanation of the writer's intention. He composed, indeed, a pretty long speech for Macbeth, when dying, which, though suitable perhaps to the character, was unlike Shakespeare's manner, who was not prodigal of bestowing abundance of matter on characters in that situation. But Garrick excelled in the expression of convulsive throes and dying agonies, and would not lose any opportunity that offered to shew his skill in that part of his profession.”

Note return to page 63 1To intend—to design.

Note return to page 64 1Defiled.

Note return to page 65 2Challenge to extremities.

Note return to page 66 3Mortal enmity.

Note return to page 67 4Agony.

Note return to page 68 5Bats flying about cloisters in the dusk of the evening.

Note return to page 69 6The shard-borne beetle is the beetle borne along the air by its shards, or scaly wings.

Note return to page 70 7A term of endearment (probably corrupted from chick, or chicken), to be found in many of our ancient writers.

Note return to page 71 8Seeling is a term in falconry, meaning “blinding.”

Note return to page 72 1Belated—benighted.

Note return to page 73 2They who are set down in the list of guests, and expected to supper. —Steevens.

Note return to page 74 1i.e., continues in her chair of state at the head of the table. This idea might have been borrowed from Holinshed, p. 805: “The king (Henry VIII.) caused the queene to keepe the estate, and then sat the ambassadours and ladies as they were marshalled by the king, who would not sit, but walked from place to place, making cheer, &c. To keep state is a phrase perpetually occurring in our ancient dramas. —Steevens.

Note return to page 75 2That which is not given cheerfully, cannot be called a gift, it is something that must be paid for. —Johnson.

Note return to page 76 3Prolong his suffering—make his fit longer. —Johnson.

Note return to page 77 4Flaws are sudden gusts. —Johnson.

Note return to page 78 5The same thought occurs in Spenser's Fairy Queen: “Be not entombed in the raven or the kight.” —B. ii. c. viii.

Note return to page 79 6Peaceable community. —Johnson.

Note return to page 80 7To muse anciently signified to wonder. —Steevens.

Note return to page 81 8All good wishes to all.

Note return to page 82 9So in the 115th Psalm: “Eyes have they, but see not.” —Steevens.

Note return to page 83 10Dr. Philemon Holland, in his translation of Pliny's Natural History, p. 122, mentions the Hyrcane sea. —Tollet.

Note return to page 84 11To prohibit or forbid. The meaning is, “If I tremble and forbid the meeting.” —Nares's Glossary.

Note return to page 85 12The initiate fear is the fear that always attends the first initiation into guilt, before the mind becomes callous and insensible by frequent repetition of it, or (as the poet says) by hard use. —Steevens.

Note return to page 86 1Shakespeare seems to have thought it allowable to bestow the name of Acheron on any fountain, lake, or pit, through which there was vulgarly supposed to be a communication between this and the infernal world. The true original Acheron was a river in Greece; and yet Virgil gives this name to his lake in the valley of Amsanctus in Italy. —Steevens.

Note return to page 87 2The remaining portion of this scene is introduced from “The Witch,” written by Thomas Middleton, a. 3, s. 3.

Note return to page 88 3590009[A] (A) Macbeth, by his birth, stood next in the succession to the crown, immediately after the sons of Duncan. King Malcolm, Duncan's predecessor, had two daughters, the eldest of whom was the mother of Duncan, the youngest, the mother of Macbeth. —Holinshed. —Steevens.

Note return to page 89 3590010[B] (B) “Colmes-kill, or Colm-kill, is the famous Iona, one of the western isles, which Dr. Johnson visited, and describes in his Tour. Holinshed scarcely mentions the death of any of the ancient kings of Scotland, without taking notice of their being buried with their predecessors in Colme-kill. —Steevens. It is now called Icolmkill. Kill, in the Erse language, signifies a burying-place. —Malone.

Note return to page 90 3590011[C] (C) “Fleance, after the assassination of his father, fled into Wales, where, by the daughter of the prince of that country, he had a son named Walter, who afterwards became Lord High Steward of Scotland, and from thence assumed the name of Walter Steward. From him, in a direct line, King James I. was descended; in compliment to whom, our author has chosen to describe Banquo, who was equally concerned with Macbeth in the murder of Duncan, as innocent of that crime.” —Malone.

Note return to page 91 3590012[D] (D) “Mr. Tollett has already vindicated Shakespeare from the supposed impropriety of introducing Hecate among modern witches. The fact seems to be, that acquainted, as he has elsewhere shown himself to have been, with the classical connection which this deity had with witchcraft, but knowing also, as Mr. Tollett's quotation from Scot indicates, that Diana was the name by which she was invoked in modern times, he has preferred the former rather than the latter name of the goddess, for reasons that were best known to himself. “That there existed during the middle ages numerous superstitions relating to a connection that witches were imagined to have had with Diana, it will be no difficult task to prove. From an ecclesiastical statute, promulgated during the reign of Louis II., King of France, it appears that certain mischievous women professed their belief in that goddess, obeying her as their mistress; and that accompanied by her and a great multitude of other females, they travelled over immense spaces of the earth at midnight, mounted upon various animals. Many other ecclesiastical regulations, and some of the councils, notice these superstitions, and denounce very severe vengeance against those persons who were thought to practise them. “His Majesty, King James the First, author of that most sapient work, entitled Dæmonologie, informs his readers that the spirits whom the gentiles called Diana, and her wandering court, were known among his countrymen by the name of pharie. Other appellations of this personage are likewise to be met with as Hera, Nicneven, and Dame Habunde; all as the chief or queen of the witches, whom she generally accompanied in their nocturnal dances and excursions through the air. “Dr. Leyden, in p. 318 of the glossary to his edition of The Complaynt of Scotland, mentions the “gyre carling, the queen of fairies, the great hag Hecate, or mother witch of peasants.”— Douce's Illustrations of Shakespeare. Reginald Scot's “Discoverie of Witchcraft,” published 1584, is a very curious and interesting book, full of learning. Shakespeare, no doubt, had it in his library, and many passages in his works bear evidence of his reference to it. See especially pages 315, 316, 393, 419, and 542.

Note return to page 92 1This word is employed to signify that the animal was hot and sweating with venom, although sleeping under a cold stone.

Note return to page 93 2Throat.

Note return to page 94 3Ravenous.

Note return to page 95 4Entrails.

Note return to page 96 5The ingredients thrown into the cauldron are to be found in “The “Witch”, a. 5, s. 2., by Thomas Middleton.

Note return to page 97 6It is a very ancient superstition, that all sudden pains of the body, and other sensations which could not naturally be accounted for, were presages of somewhat that was shortly to happen. Hence Mr. Upton has explained a passage in The Miles Gloriosus of Plautus: “Timeo quod rerum gesserim hic, ita dorsus totus prurit.” —Steevens.

Note return to page 98 7Shakespeare probably caught the idea of this offence against nature from the laws of Kenneth II., King of Scotland: “If a sowe eate hir pigges, let hyr be stoned to death and buried, that no man eate of hyr fleshe.” —Holinshed's History of Scotland, edit. 1577, p. 181. —Steevens.

Note return to page 99 8Adroitly.

Note return to page 100 9The armed head represents symbolically Macbeth's head cut off and brought to Malcolm by Macduff. The bloody child is Macduff untimely ripped from his mother's womb. The child with a crown on his head and a bough in his hand, is the royal Malcolm, who ordered his soldiers to hew them down a bough, and bear it before them to Dunsinane. This observation I have adopted from Mr. Upton. —Steevens.

Note return to page 101 10Silence was necessary during all incantations.

Note return to page 102 11“He had learned of certain wizzards, in whose words he put great confidence, how that he ought to take heed of Macduff.” —Holinshed.

Note return to page 103 12To touch on a passion as a Harper touches a string.

Note return to page 104 13So, Holinshed: “And surely hereupon he had put Macduff to death, but that a certeine witch, whom he had in great trust, had told him, that he should never be slaine with man borne of anie women, nor vanquished till the wood of Bernane came to the castell of Dunsinane. This prophecie put all feare out of his heart.” —Steevens.

Note return to page 105 14The present quantity of Dunsinane is right. In every subsequent instance the accent is misplaced. Thus, in Hervey's Life of King Robert Bruce, 1729 (a good authority): “The noble Weemyss, Mcduff's immortal son, “Mcduff! th' asserter of the Scottish throne; “Whose deeds let Birnam and Dunsinnan tell, “When Canmore battled, and the villain* [Subnote: *Mc.beth.] fell.” Ritson.

Note return to page 106 15Prophecies of apparent impossibilities were common in Scotland; such as the removal of one place to another. —Warton.

Note return to page 107 16Noise, in our ancient poets, is often literally synonymous for music. Thus in Spenser, Fairie Queene. B. i. xii. 39: “During which time there was a heavenly noise.” Steevens.

Note return to page 108 17The dissolution of nature.

Note return to page 109 18In an Extract from the Penal Laws against Witches, it is said “they do answer either by voice, or else do set before their eyes in glasses, chrystal stones, &c., the pictures or images of the persons or things sought for.” Spenser has given a very circumstantial account of the glass which Merlin made for King Ryence, in the second canto of the third Book of The Fairy Queen. A mirror of the same kind was presented to Cambuscan, in The Squier's Tale, of Chaucer; and in John Alday's translation of Pierre Boisteau's Theatrum Mundi, &c., bl. l. no date: “A certaine philosopher did the like to Pompey, the which shewed him in a glasse the order of his enemies march.” —Steevens.

Note return to page 110 19To bolter, in Warwickshire, signifies to daub, dirty, or begrime.” —Steevens.

Note return to page 111 20In the ancient almanacks, the unlucky days were distinguished by a mark of reprobation. —Steevens.

Note return to page 112 21To anticipate is here to prevent, by taking away the opportunity. —Johnson.

Note return to page 113 3590013[A] (A) As this is the chief scene of enchantment in the play, it is proper, in this place, to observe, with how much judgment Shakespeare has selected all the circumstances of his infernal ceremonies, and how exactly he has conformed to common opinions and traditions: “Thrice the brinded cat hath mew'd.” The usual form in which familiar spirits are reported to converse with witches, is that of a cat. A witch, who was tried about half a century before the time of Shakespeare, had a cat named Rutterkin, as the spirit of one of those witches was Grimalkin; and when any mischief was to be done, she used to bid Rutterkin go and fly. But once, when she would have sent Rutterkin to torment a daughter of the Countess of Rutland, instead of going or flying, he only cried mew, from whence she discovered that the lady was out of his power, the power of witches being not universal, but limited, as Shakspeare has taken care to inculcate: “Though his bark cannot be lost, “Yet it shall be tempest-tost.” The common afflictions which the malice of witches produced, were melancholy, fits, and loss of flesh, which are threatened by one of Shakespeare's witches: “Weary sev'n nights, nine times nine, “Shall he dwindle, peak, and pine.” It was likewise their practice to destroy the cattle of their neighbours, and the farmers have to this day many ceremonies to secure their cows and other cattle from witchcraft; but they seem to have been most suspected of malice against swine. Shakespeare has accordingly made one of his witches declare that she has been killing swine, and Dr. Harsnet observes, that, about that time, “a sow could not be ill of the measles, nor a girl of the sullens, but some old woman was charged with witchcraft.” “Toad, that under the cold stone, “Days and nights hast thirty-one, “Swelter'd venom sleeping got, “Boil thou first i' the charmed pot.” Toads have likewise long lain under the reproach of being by some means accessory to witchcraft, for which reason Shakespeare, in the first scene of this play, calls one of the spirits Paddock or Toad, and now takes care to put a toad first into the pot. When Vaninus was seized at Thoulouse, there was found at his lodgings ingens bufo vitro inclusus, a great toad shut in a vial, upon which those that prosecuted him Veneficium exprobrabant, charged him, I suppose, with witchcraft. “Fillet of a fenny snake, “In the cauldron boil and bake: “Eye of newt, and toe of frog;— “For a charm,” &c. The propriety of these ingredients may be known by consulting the books De Viribus Animalium and De Mirabilibus Mundi, ascribed to Albertus Magnus, in which the reader, who has time and credulity, may discover very wonderful secrets. “Finger of birth-strangled babe, “Ditch-deliver'd by a drab;”— It has been already mentioned, in the law against witches, that they are supposed to take up dead bodies to use in enchantments, which was confessed by the woman whom King James examined; and who had of a dead body, that was divided in one of their assemblies, two fingers for her share. It is observable, that Shakespeare, on this great occasion, which involves the fate of a king, multiplies all the circumstances of horror. The babe, whose finger is used, must be strangled in its birth; the grease must not only be human, but must have dropped from a gibbet, the gibbet of a murderer; and even the sow, whose blood is used, must have offended nature by devouring her own farrow. These are touches of judgment and genius. “And now about the cauldron sing,— “Black spirits and white,   “Red spirits and grey, “Mingle, mingle, mingle,   “You that mingle may.” And in a former part: “—weird sisters, hand in hand,— “Thus do go about, about; “Thrice to thine, and thrice to mine, “And thrice again to make up nine!” These two passages I have brought together, because they both seem subject to the objection of too much levity for the solemnity of enchantment, and may both be shown by one quotation from Camden's account of Ireland, to be founded upon a practice really observed by the uncivilised natives of that country: “When any one gets a fall, says the informer of Camden, he starts up, and, turning three times to the right, digs a hole in the earth; for they imagine that there is a spirit in the ground, and if he falls sick in two or three days, they send one of their women that is skilled in that way, to the place, where she says, I call thee from the east, west, north, and south, from the groves, the woods, the rivers, and the fens, from the fairies, red, black, white.” There was likewise a book written before the time of Shakespeare, describing, amongst other properties, the colours of spirits. Many other circumstances might be particularised, in which Shakespeare has shown his judgment and his knowledge. Johnson.

Note return to page 114 3590014[B] (B) “Though” says Lamb, “some resemblance may be traced between the Charms in Macbeth and the Incantations in the Play of the “Witch,” which is supposed to have preceded it, this coincidence will not detract much from the originality of Shakespeare. His Witches are distinguished from the Witches of Middleton by essential differences. These are creatures to whom man or woman plotting some dire mischief might resort for occasional consultation. Those originate deeds of blood and begin bad impulses to men From the moment that their eyes first meet with Macbeth's, he is spell-bound. That meeting sways his destiny. He can never break the fascination. These Witches can hurt the body; those have power over the soul. Hecate, in Middleton, has a son, a low buffoon: the hags of Shakespeare have neither child of their own, nor seem to be descended from any parent. They are foul Anomalies, of whom we know not whence they are sprung, nor whether they have beginning or ending. As they are without human passions, so they seem to be without human relations. They come with thunder and lightning, and vanish to airy music. This is all we know of them. Except Hecate, they have no names; which heightens their mysteriousness. The names and some of the properties which Middleton has given to his Hags excite smiles. The Weird sisters are serious things. Their presence cannot coexist with mirth. But in a lesser degree, the Witches of Middleton are fine creations. Their power too is, in some measure, over the mind. They raise jars, jealousies, strifes, like a thick scurf o'er life.” Lamb's Spec. of Engl. Dram. Poets, p. 174.

Note return to page 115 1Birthright.

Note return to page 116 2A good mind may recede from goodness in the execution of a Royal commission. —Johnson.

Note return to page 117 3Without previous provision, without due preparation, without maturity of counsel. —Johnson.

Note return to page 118 4This expression is borrowed from the sacred writings: “I die daily.” Malone.

Note return to page 119 5From over-hasty credulity.

Note return to page 120 6A common distress of mind.

Note return to page 121 7Put off.

Note return to page 122 8Catch.

Note return to page 123 9A grief that hath a single owner.

Note return to page 124 10The game after it is killed. A term used in hunting and falconry. —Steevens.

Note return to page 125 11All pause, all intervening time.

Note return to page 126 1Sink down.

Note return to page 127 2At present this word is only used in Scotland, and signifies a base fellow. —Steevens.

Note return to page 128 3An appellation of contempt, alluding to the pied, patched, or party colored coats, anciently worn by the fools belonging to noble families. —Steevens.

Note return to page 129 4Mr. Collier's recently discovered folio substitutes grief for “stuff.”

Note return to page 130 1Wherever an opportunity of flight is given them.

Note return to page 131 2Property and allegiance. —Warburton.

Note return to page 132 3Determine.

Note return to page 133 1Skin.

Note return to page 134 2Clung, in the northern counties signifies anything that is shrivelled or shrunk up. —Steevens.

Note return to page 135 3An old word for armour.

Note return to page 136 1A phrase taken from bear-baiting.

Note return to page 137 2From bruit, Fr. To bruit is to report with clamour. —Steevens.

Note return to page 138 1Alluding, perhaps, to the suicide of Cato Uticensis, which our author must have read of in the old translation of Plutarch, as the same circumstance is mentioned again in Julius Cæsar: “—I did blame Cato for the death “Which he did give himself.” Steevens.

Note return to page 139 2“To cry hold! is the word of yielding,” says Carew's Survey of Cornwall, p. 74, i.e., when one of the combatants cries so.— Tollet

Note return to page 140 3590015[A] (A) “The part of Holinshed's Chronicle which relates to this play, is no more than an abridgment of John Bellenden's translation of The Noble Clerk, Hector Boece, imprinted at Edinburgh, 1541. For the satisfaction of the reader, I have inserted the words of the first mentioned historian, from whom this scene is almost literally taken. “Though Malcolme was verie sorrowfull for the oppression of his countriemen the Scots, in manner as Makduffe had declared, yet doubting whether he was come as one that ment unfeinedlie as he spake, or else as sent from Makbeth to betraie him, he thought to have some further triall, and thereupon 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 have never so great affection to relieve the same, yet by reason of certaine incurable vices, which reign in me, I am nothing meet thereto. First, such immoderate lust and voluptuous sensualitie (the abhominable fountain of all vices) followeth me, that if I were made King of Scots, I should seek to defloure your maids and matrones, in such wise that my intemperancie should be more importable unto you than the bloudie tyrannie of Makbeth now is. Hereunto Makduffe answered: This surelie is a very euil fault, for manie noble princes and kings have lost both lives and kingdomes for the same; neverthelesse there are women enow in Scotland, and therefore follow my counsell. Make thy selfe kinge, and I shall conveie the matter so wiselie, that thou shalt be satisfied at thy pleasure in such secret wise, that no man shall be aware thereof. “Then said Malcolme, I am also the most avaritious creature in 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 surmized accusations, to the end I might injoy their lands, goods, and possessions; and therefore to shew you what mischiefs may issue on you through mine unsatiable covetousness, I will rehearse unto you a fable. There was a fox having a sore place on him overset 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 have the flies driven beside hir, she answered no; for if these flies that are alreadie full, and by reason thereof sucke not verie eagerlie, should be chased awaie, other that are emptie and fellie an hungred, should light in their places, and sucke out the residue of my bloud farre more to my greevance than these, which now being satisfied doo not much annoie me. Therefore saith Malcolme, suffer me to remaine where I am, lest if I atteine to the regiment of your realme, mine unquenchable avarice may proove such, that ye would thinke the displeasures which now grieve you, should seeme easie in respect of the unmeasurable outrage which might insue through my comming amongst you. “Makduffe to this made answer, how it was a far worse fault than the other: for avarice is the root of all mischiefe, and for that crime the most part of our kings have been slaine, and brought to their finall end. Yet, notwithstanding, follow my counsell, and take upon thee the crowne. There is gold and riches inough in Scotland to satisfie thy greedie desire. Then said Malcolme again, I am furthermore inclined to dissimulation, telling of leasings, and all other kinds of deceit, so that I naturallie rejoise in nothing so much, as to betraie and deceive such as put anie trust or confidence in my woords. Then sith there is nothing that more becometh a prince than constancie, veritie, truth, and justice, with the other laudable fellowship of those faire and noble vertues which are comprehended onelie in soothfastnesse, and that lieng utterlie overthroweth the same, you see how unable I am to governe anie province or region; and therefore sith you have 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 is yet the worst of all, and there I leave thee, and therefore saie: Oh ye unhappie and miserable Scotishmen, which are thus scourged with so manie and sundrie calamities ech one above other! Ye have one cursed and wicked tyrant that now reigneth over 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 inconstant behaviour and manifest vices of Englishmen, that he is nothing woorthie to injoie it: for by his owne confession he is not onlie avaritious and given to unsatiable lust, but so false a traitor withall, that no trust is to be had unto anie woord he speaketh. Adieu Scotland, for now I account myself a banished man for ever, without comfort or consolation: and with these woords the brackish tears trickled downe his cheeks verie abundantlie. “At the last, when he was ready to depart, Malcolme tooke him by the sleeve, and said: Be of good comfort Makduffe, for I have none of these vices before remembered, but have jested with thee in this manner, onlie to prove thy mind: for divers times heretofore Makbeth sought by this manner of means to bring me into his hand,” &c. Holinshed's History of Scotland, p. 175. Steevens.

Note return to page 141 3590016[B] (B) Of the ancient poverty of Scotland, the following mention is made by Froissart, Vol. II. cap. iii.: “They be lyke wylde and savage people—they dought ever to lese that they have, for it is a poore countrey. And when the Englysshe men maketh any roode or voyage into the countrey, if they thynke to lyve, they must cause their provysion and vitayle to followe theym at their backe, for they shall find nothyng in that countrey,” &c. Shakespeare, however, took the thought from Holinshed, p. 179 and 180, of his History of Scotland: “—the Scotish people before had no knowledge nor understanding of fine fare or riotous surf t; yet after they had once tasted the sweet poisoned bait thereof, &c.—those superfluities which came into the realme of Scoteand with the Englishmen” &c. Again: “For manie of the people abhorring the riotous manners and superfluous gormandizinlg brought in among them by the Englysshemen, were willing inough to receive this Donald for their king, trusting (because he had beene brought up in the Isles, with the old customes and manners of their antient nation, without tast of English likerous delicats), they should by his seuere order in gouernement recouer againe the former temperance of their old progenitors.” The same historian informs us, that in those ages the Scots eat but once a day, and even then very sparingly. It appears from Dr. Johnson's Journey to the Western Islands of Scotland, that the natives had neither kail nor brogues, till they were taught the art of planting the one, and making the other, by the soldiers of Cromwell; and yet King James VI., in his 7th parliament, thought it necessary to form an act “against superfluous banqueting.” —Steevens.

Note return to page 142 3590017[C] (C) “Malcolm, immediately after his coronation, called a parlement at Forfair, in the which he rewarded them with lands and livings that had assisted him against Macbeth. Manie of them that were before thanes, were at this time made earles, as Fife, Menteth, Atholl, Levenox, Murrey, Cathness, Rosse, and Angus.” —Holinshed's History of Scotland. p. 176. Malone. How frequent the practice of enquiring into the events of futurity, similar to those of Macbeth, was in Shakespeare's time, may be seen in the following instances: “The Marshall of Raiz wife hath bin heard to say, that Queen Katherine beeing desirous to know what should become of her children, and who should succeed them, the party which undertooke to assure her, let her see a glasse, representing a hall, in the which either of them made so many turns as he should raigne yeares; and that King Henry the Third, making his, the Duke of Guise crost him like a flash of lightning; after which the Prince of Navarre presented himselfe, and made 22 turnes, and then vanished.” P. Mathieu's Heroyk Life and deplorable Death of Henry the Fourth, translated by Ed. Grimeston, 4to. 1612, p. 42. Again: “It is reported that a Duke of Bourgondy had like to have died for feare at the sight of the nine worthies which a magician shewed him.” —Ibid. p. 116. Reed.

Note return to page 143 John K. Chapman and Co., 5, Shoe Lane, and Peterborough Court, Fleet St.

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