Notes to Shakespeare, Volume III: The Tragedies | Page 4

these words, OUT
OUT ARONGT, of which the last is evidently the same with aroint,
and used in the same sense as in this passage.
I.iii.15 (405,8) And the very points they blew] As the word very is here
of no other use than to fill up the verse, it is likely that Shakespeare
wrote various, which might be easily mistaken for very, being either
negligently read, hastily pronounced, or imperfectly heard.
I.iii.21 (405,9) He shall live a man forbid] Mr. Theobald has very justly
explained forbid by accursed, but without giving any reason of his
interpretation. To bid is originally to pray, as in this Saxon fragment,
Ðe iÿ þiÿ þ bit y bote He is wise that prays and makes amends.
As to forbid_ therefore implies to prohibit, in opposition to the word
bid in its present sense, it signifies by the same kind of opposition to
curse, when it is derived from the same word in its primitive meaning.
I.iii.42 (409,3) are you aught/That man may question?] Are ye any
beings with which man is permitted to hold converse, or of which it is
lawful _to ask questions_?
I.iii.53 (410,5) Are ye fantastical] By fantastical, he means creatures of
fantasy or imagination; the question is, Are these real beings before us,
or are we deceived by illusions of fancy?
I.iii.97 (412,8) As thick as tale] [As thick as hail] Was Mr. Pope's
correction. The old copy has,
--As thick as tale Can post with post;--
which perhaps is not amiss, meaning that the news came as thick as a
tale can travel with the post. Or we may read, perhaps yet better,

--As thick as tale Came _post with post_;--
That is, posts arrived as fast as they could be counted.
I.iii.130 (414,4) This supernatural solliciting] Solliciting is rather, in
my opinion, incitement than information.
I.iii.134 (414,5) why do I yield] To yield is, simply, to give way to.
I.iii.137 (414,6) Present fears/Are less than horrible imaginings] [W:
feats] Present fears are fears of things present, which Macbeth declares,
and every man has found, to be less than the imagination presents them
while the objects are yet distant. Fears is right.
I.iii.140 (415,7) single state of man] The single state of man seems to
be used by Shakespeare for an individual, in opposition to a
commonwealth, or conjunct body.
I.iii.40 (415,8) function/Is smother'd in surmise; and nothing is,/ But
what is not] 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.
I.iii.147 (415,9) Time and the hour runs through the roughest day] I
suppose every reader is disgusted at the tautology in this passage, Time
and the hour, and will therefore willingly believe that Shakespeare
wrote it thus,
Come what come may, Time! on!--_the hour runs thro' the roughest
day_.
Macbeth is deliberating upon the events which are to befall him, but
finding no satisfaction from his own thoughts, he grows impatient of
reflection, and resolves to wait the close without harrassing hinaelf
with conjectures.
Come what come may.

But to shorten the pain of suspense, he calls upon Time In the usual
stile of ardent desire, to quicken his motion,
_Time! on!_ --
He then comforts himself with the reflection that all his perplexity must
have an end,
--_the hour runs thro' the roughest day._
This conjecture is supported by the passage in the letter to his lady, in
which he says, they referred me to the coming on of time, _with Hail,
King that shalt be_.
I.iii.149 (416,1) My dull brain was wrought] My head was worked,
agitated, put into commotion.
I.iv.9 (417,3) studied in his death] Instructed in the art of dying. It was
usual to say studied, for learned in science.
I.iv.12 (417,4) To find the mind's construction in the face] The
construction of the mind is, I believe, a phrase peculiar to Shakespeare;
it implies the frame or disposition of the mind, by which it is
determined to good or ill.
I.iv.26 (418,5) Which do but what they should, by doing everything,
Safe toward your love and honour] Of the last line of this speech,
which is certainly, as it is now read, unintelligible, an emendation has
been attempted, which Dr. Warburton and Dr. Theobald once admitted
as the true reading:
--_our duties Are to your throne and state, children and servants, Which
do but what they should, in doing every thing_ Fiefs _to your love and
honour._
My esteem for these critics inclines me to believe that they cannot be
much pleased with these expressions fiefs to love, or fiefs to honour,
and that they have