Macbeth Read online

  52rooky i.e., full of birds

  III.3 Outside the castle

  2He...mistrust we need not mistrust this man

  3offices duties

  4To...just according to the precise instructions

  6lated belated

  7gain...inn reach the inn in good time

  11within...expectation on the list of those invited

  13His...about i.e., he's walking his horses

  23Was't...way wasn't that the plan

  III.4 The great hall of the palace

  1degrees relative rank, order of precedence

  4society the company

  6keeps her state remains seated in her chair of state

  10encounter greet

  19nonpareil absolute best

  21perfect flawless

  22founded solidly based

  23broad and general unconfined and omnipresent; casing enveloping

  24cabined pent up; cribbed boxed in

  25saucy insolent; safe safely disposed of (i.e., dead)

  27trenched deep-furrowed

  29worm snake

  32hear ourselves speak together

  33give the cheer toast the company; sold i.e., not freely given

  34vouched affirmed

  35To...home i.e., mere eating is best done at home

  36From thence away from home

  42challenge for accuse of

  58extend his passion prolong his seizure

  63air-drawn i.e., fashioned of air

  64flaws outbursts

  65to in comparison with

  67Authorized told on the authority of

  73our monuments i.e., our only tombs

  74maws of kites bellies of ravens

  77purged...weal rendered the state civilized

  82murders on their crowns murderous wounds on their heads

  92him we thirst him whom we long for

  93all to all each toast the others

  96speculation vision

  98thing of custom i.e., nothing out of the ordinary

  102Hyrcan from Hyrcania (classical name for the area on the south coast of the Caspian Sea; its tigers were proverbially fierce)

  103but that i.e., but that of Banquo's ghost

  105dare...desert challenge me to fight you in the desert

  106If...inhabit if I make a habit of trembling

  107The...girl a baby girl, or a girl's doll

  111admired amazing

  112overcome pass over

  113-14You...owe you estrange me from my true nature (as a brave man)

  114owe own

  120Stand...going i.e., don't bother about precedence

  125Augurs auguries; understood relations comprehensible relations of causes to effects

  126maggotpies, choughs magpies, crows (both, like rooks, capable of imitating speech, and all three birds of ill omen)

  127secret'st man of blood best-hidden murderer

  131by the way casually; send send a messenger

  133fee'd paid to spy

  134betimes (1) speedily, (2) early

  135bent determined

  141scanned analyzed

  142season (1) the best time (when nature is "in season"), (2) the seasoning (what makes life palatable)

  143self-abuse delusion, hallucination

  144initiate beginner's; wants hard use needs much practice

  III.5 An open place (a non-Shakespearean scene; see the Introduction)

  2beldams hags, witches

  7close secret

  8bear my part participate

  11wayward willful, disobedient

  15Acheron one of the rivers of Hades

  18vessels cauldrons

  24a vap'rous drop profound a misty "exhalation" with deep, hidden properties

  26sleights artifices

  27artificial (1) deceitful, (2) produced by artifice

  29confusion damnation

  32security overconfidence

  41We...you only you are missing

  43'noint anoint myself (with a magic ointment)

  46cull hug

  64water's breach breaking waves

  III.6 Somewhere in Scotland

  1My former speeches what I have just said; hit coincided with

  2interpret farther draw their own conclusions

  8cannot...thought can avoid thinking

  10fact crime

  13thralls slaves

  17borne carried off

  19an't if it

  21from broad words because of his blunt speech

  25holds...birth withholds his birthright

  29his high respect the great esteem for him

  30upon his aid on Malcolm's behalf

  31Northumberland, Siward (the English county bordering Scotland, and the family name of the Earl of Northumberland)

  36free untainted

  42cloudy angry

  44clogs burdens

  45-46Advise...provide caution him to keep as safe a distance as he can manage

  IV.1 The witches' cave

  1brindled striped

  3Harpier (a familiar spirit, like Graymalkin and Paddock)

  8Sweltered...got poisonous sweat generated while asleep

  12fenny marsh

  16fork forked tongue; blindworm adder

  23mummy mummified flesh; maw and gulf devouring stomach; gulf anything voracious

  24ravined ravenous

  31Ditch-delivered born in a ditch; drab whore

  32slab thick, semiliquid

  33chawdron guts

  38 s.d. to 64 (the Hecate section is a non-Shakespearean addition)

  46Mingle mix together (but with an obscene overtone: have intercourse; see l. 49)

  50Firedrake will-o'-the-wisp

  70black evil, malevolent

  72that...profess your profession, witchcraft

  75yeasty foaming

  77bladed...lodged ripe wheat be flattened

  79slope bend

  81Nature's germens the essential seeds of nature

  82sicken surfeit

  85masters instruments, agents, experts (the spirits through whom they communicate with the occult world-a master is a skilled workman)

  87nine farrow litter of nine; sweaten exuded

  90office function

  96harped hit the tune of

  106take a bond of secure a guarantee from

  110-11round...top crown

  117impress conscript

  118bodements prophecies

  121lease of nature full life span

  121-22pay...custom be obligated only to age and normal death

  124issue offspring

  133 s.d.glass mirror

  138Start burst, start from your sockets

  143twofold...scepters two orbs and three scepters (the British royal insignia)

  145blood-boltered matted with blood

  147-54 (a non-Shakespearean addition)

  149sprites spirits

  152antic round grotesque dance

  166anticipat'st forestall

  167flighty fleeting

  169-70firstlings...my hand i.e., I shall act at the moment I feel the first impulse

  175trace follow; line family line

  IV.2 Macduff's castle at Fife

  4traitors i.e., betray our interests

  7titles rights, what he is entitled to

  9wants lacks

  14coz (from "cousin," an affectionate diminutive)

  15school control

  16-17knows...season understands the violent conditions of the time

  18-19we...ourselves we are considered traitors and do not know that we are

  19-20hold...fear believe rumors based on what we fear

  22Each way and none i.e., move every which way but in no settled direction

  24will cease i.e., can get no worse

  29my disgrace (because he would weep)

  35lime birdlime (a sticky substance used to catch birds)

  36gin trap

  42sell deceive them

  43-44with...thee inde
ed, you are witty enough

  48swears and lies takes a vow and violates it

  57enow enough

  66in...perfect I am well aware of your nobility and virtue; state of honor (1) high status, (2) honorable character

  67doubt fear

  68homely plain

  71fell deadly

  72nigh near (i.e., I frighten you to save you from the worse cruelty threatening you)

  83shag-haired unkempt, uncouth

  84, 84egg, fry offspring of birds and fish, respectively

  IV.3 In England, at the court of King Edward the Confessor

  3fast tightly; mortal deadly

  4downfall fallen; birthdom (1) homeland, (2) inheritance

  8Like...dolor the same cry of grief

  10to friend befriending me (i.e., propitious)

  12sole name name alone

  15wisdom you may consider it wise

  19recoil hold back, withdraw

  20In...charge (1) in an imperial military engagement, (2) under royal orders

  21transpose change

  22the brightest Lucifer

  23wear...grace put on the appearance of goodness

  26rawness suddenness, rudeness

  29jealousies suspicions

  32basis foundation

  34The title is affeered (1) your claim is legally confirmed, (2) the valid claimant is frightened (afeard) of you

  38as...fear entirely in fear

  41withal moreover

  43England the King of England

  51particulars varieties; grafted implanted

  52opened revealed

  55confineless limitless

  58Luxurious lecherous

  59Sudden violent

  64continent restraining

  67nature human nature

  71Convey manage

  73-76There...inclined i.e., when you are king, more women will willingly offer to serve your lust than you can possibly consume

  77ill-composed affection ill-regulated passion

  78stanchless insatiable

  79cut off execute

  82that I should forge so that I would fabricate

  86summer-seeming i.e., transitory and hot

  87sword...slain cause of death of our

  88foisons plenty

  89mere very; portable bearable

  93lowliness humility

  95relish trace

  96division variations

  99Uproar throw into chaos

  104untitled not entitled to rule

  107interdiction prohibition

  108blaspheme his breed slander his heritage

  111Died i.e., turned away from this life

  116scruples doubts

  118trains plots

  119modest cautious; plucks restrains

  125For as

  125-26am...woman have never slept with a woman

  135at a point fully prepared

  136we'll together we'll go on together

  136-37the chance...quarrel let our good fortune match our just cause

  140anon soon

  142stay await; convinces overwhelms

  143assay of art attempts of (medical) science

  146the evil the King's Evil, scrofula (a painful inflammation of the lymph nodes, often accompanied by ulcerations)

  150strangely visited seriously afflicted

  152mere utter

  153stamp coin or medal

  154-56'tis...benediction it is said that he bequeaths the healing power to the monarchs who succeed him

  156virtue power

  159speak declare

  162betimes quickly

  166nothing no one

  169marked noticed

  170modern ecstasy commonplace emotion

  171for who for whom it tolls

  173or ere before; relation report

  174nice particular

  175hiss mock

  176teems brings forth

  182heavily borne sadly brought

  183out in arms

  184-85Which...afoot i.e., the fact that I saw Macbeth's troops on the march confirms my belief that his enemies, too, are mobilized

  195latch catch

  196-97fee-grief/Due private grief belonging (from "fee simple," absolute legal possession)

  206quarry heap of game

  208upon your brows down over your eyes

  209speak i.e., speak to other people

  210Whispers whispers to

  212from thence away from home

  219fell savage

  220Dispute confront, contend with

  225Naught wicked

  230play...eyes weep

  232intermission interval; Front to front face to face

  236power army

  237Our...leave we lack only formal permission to depart

  239Put...instruments urge on their agents

  V.1 Macbeth's castle at Dunsinane

  5nightgown dressing gown