Notes to Shakespeare, Volume III: The Tragedies | Page 9

the thought but the numbers are injured, the lines of
Shakespeare close together without any traces of a breach.
_My genius is rebuk'd. He chid the sisters._
This note was written before I was fully acquainted with Shakespeare's
manner, and I do not now think it of much weight; for though the
words, which I was once willing to eject, seem interpolated, I believe
they may still be genuine, and added by the authour in his revision. The

authour of the Revisal cannot admit the measure to be faulty. There is
only one foot, he says, put for another. This is one of the effects of
literature in minds not naturally perspicacious. Every boy or girl finds
the metre imperfect, but the pedant comes to its defence with a
tribrachys or an anapaest, and sets it right at once by applying to one
language the rules of another. If we may be allowed to change feet, like
the old comic writers, it will not be easy to write a line not metrical. To
hint this once, is sufficient. (see 1765, VI, 424, 2)
III.i.65 (460,5) For Banquo's issue have I fil'd my mind] [W: 'filed]
This mark of contraction is not necessary. To file is in the bishop's
Bible.
III.i.69 (460,6) the common enemy of man] It is always an
entertainment to an inquisitive reader, to trace a sentiment to its
original source; and therefore, though the term enemy of man, applied
to the devil, is in itself natural and obvious, yet some may be pleased
with being informed, that Shakespeare probably borrowed it from the
first lines of the Destruction of Troy, a book which he is known to have
read. This expression, however, he might have had in many other
places. The word fiend signifies enemy.
III.i.71 (461,7) come, Fate, into the list,/And champion me to the
utterance!] This passage will be best explained by translating it into the
language from whence the only word of difficulty in it is borrowed,
"_Que la destinée se rende en lice, et qu'elle me donne un defi a
l'outrance_." A challenge or a combat _a l'outrance_, to extremity, was
a fix'd term in the law of arms, used when the combatants engaged with
an _odium internecinum, an intention to destroy each other_, in
opposition to trials of skill at festivals, or on other occasions, where the
contest was only for reputation or a prize. The sense therefore is, _Let
Fate, that has foredoom'd the exaltation of the sons of Banquo, enter the
lists against me, with the utmost animosity, in defence of its own
decrees, which I will endeavour to invalidate, whatever be the danger_.
[Johnson quotes Warburton's note] After the former explication, Dr.
Warburton was desirous to seem to do something; and he has therefore
made Fate the marshal, whom I had made the champion, and has left

Macbeth to enter the lists without an opponent.
III.i.88 (462,9) Are you so gospell'd] Are you of that degree of precise
virtue? Gospeller was a name of contempt given by the Papists to the
Lollards, the puritans of early times, and the precursors of
protestantism.
III.i.94 (463,1) Showghes] Showghes are probably what we now call
shocks, demi-wolves, _lyciscae_; dogs bred between wolves and dogs.
(1773)
III.i.95 (463,2) the valued file] In this speech the word file occurs twice,
and seems in both places to have a meaning different from its present
use. The expression, valued file, evidently means, a list or catalogue of
value. A station in the file, and not in the worst rank, may mean, a place
in the list of manhood, and not in the lowest place. But file seems rather
to mean in this place, a post of honour; the first rank, in opposition to
the last; a meaning which I have not observed in any other place.
(1773)
III.i.112 (465,2) So weary with disasters, tug'd with fortune] _Tug'd
with fortune_ may be, _tug'd_ or worried by fortune.
III.i.130 (465,4) Acquaint you with the perfect spy o' the time] What is
meant by the spy of the time, it will be found difficult to explain; and
therefore sense will be cheaply gained by a slight alteration.--Macbeth
is assuring the assassins that they shall not want directions to find
Banquo, and therefore says,
_I will_-- Acquaint you with a perfect spy _o' the time_.
Accordingly a third murderer joins them afterwards at the place of
action.
Perfect is well instructed, or well informed, as in this play,
Though in your state of honour I am perfect.

though I am well acquainted with your quality and rank. [Warburton
explained this as "the critical juncture"] How the critical juncture is the
_spy o' the time_ I know not, but I think my own conjecture right.
III.ii.38 (467,1) nature's copy's not eternal] The copy, the