Alarums continued.

 

V.7Enter Macbeth.

MACBETH

They have tied me to a stake. I cannot fly,

2 But bearlike I must fight the course. What’s he

That was not born of woman? Such a one

Am I to fear, or none.

Enter Young Siward.

YOUNG SIWARD

What is thy name?

MACBETH                     Thou’lt be afraid to hear it.

YOUNG SIWARD

No, though thou call’st thyself a hotter name

Than any is in hell.

MACBETH                     My name’s Macbeth.

YOUNG SIWARD

The devil himself could not pronounce a title

More hateful to mine ear.

MACBETH                     No, nor more fearful.

YOUNG SIWARD

10 Thou liest, abhorrèd tyrant! With my sword

I’ll prove the lie thou speak’st.

Fight, and Young Siward slain.

MACBETH                     Thou wast born of woman.

But swords I smile at, weapons laugh to scorn,

Brandished by man that’s of a woman born.

Exit [with Young Siward’s body].

Alarums. Enter Macduff.

MACDUFF

That way the noise is. Tyrant, show thy face!

If thou beest slain and with no stroke of mine,

My wife and children’s ghosts will haunt me still.

17 I cannot strike at wretched kerns, whose arms

18 Are hired to bear their staves. Either thou, Macbeth,

Or else my sword with an unbattered edge

I sheathe again undeeded. There thou shouldst be–20

By this great clatter one of greatest note21

Seems bruited. Let me find him, Fortune,22

And more I beg not.

Exit. Alarums.

Enter Malcolm and Siward.

SIWARD

This way, my lord. The castle’s gently rendered:24

The tyrant’s people on both sides do fight,

The noble thanes do bravely in the war,

The day almost itself professes yours27

And little is to do.

MALCOLM             We have met with foes

That strike beside us.29

SIWARD               Enter, sir, the castle.

Exeunt. Alarum.

 

V.8Enter Macbeth.

MACBETH

Why should I play the Roman fool and die

On mine own sword? Whiles I see lives, the gashes2

Do better upon them.

Enter Macduff.

MACDUFF                     Turn, hellhound, turn!

MACBETH

Of all men else I have avoided thee.

But get thee back. My soul is too much charged5

With blood of thine already.

MACDUFF                       I have no words;

My voice is in my sword, thou bloodier villain

8 Than terms can give thee out.

Fight. Alarum.

MACBETH                         Thou losest labor.

9 As easy mayst thou the intrenchant air

10 With thy keen sword impress as make me bleed.

Let fall thy blade on vulnerable crests.

I bear a charmèd life, which must not yield

13 To one of woman born.

MACDUFF               Despair thy charm,

14 And let the angel whom thou still hast served

Tell thee, Macduff was from his mother’s womb

Untimely ripped.

MACBETH

Accursèd be that tongue that tells me so,

18 For it hath cowed my better part of man;

19 And be these juggling fiends no more believed,

20 That palter with us in a double sense,

That keep the word of promise to our ear

And break it to our hope. I’ll not fight with thee.

MACDUFF

23 Then yield thee coward,

And live to be the show and gaze o’ th’ time.

25 We’ll have thee, as our rarer monsters are,

26 Painted upon a pole, and underwrit

“Here may you see the tyrant.”

MACBETH                       I will not yield,

To kiss the ground before young Malcolm’s feet

And to be baited with the rabble’s curse.

30 Though Birnam Wood be come to Dunsinane,

And thou opposed, being of no woman born,

Yet I will try the last. Before my body

I throw my warlike shield. Lay on, Macduff,

And damned be him that first cries “Hold, enough!”

Exeunt fighting. Alarums.

[Re]enter fighting, and Macbeth slain.

[Exit Macduff with Macbeth’s body.]

Retreat and flourish. Enter, with Drum and Colors,

Malcolm, Siward, Ross, Thanes, and Soldiers.

MALCOLM

I would the friends we miss were safe arrived.

SIWARD

Some must go off; and yet, by these I see,36

So great a day as this is cheaply bought.

MALCOLM

Macduff is missing, and your noble son.

ROSS

Your son, my lord, has paid a soldier’s debt.

He only lived but till he was a man,40

The which no sooner had his prowess confirmed

In the unshrinking station where he fought42

But like a man he died.

SIWARD                       Then he is dead?

ROSS

Ay, and brought off the field. Your cause of sorrow

Must not be measured by his worth, for then

It hath no end.46

SIWARD             Had he his hurts before?

ROSS

Ay, on the front.

SIWARD             Why then, God’s soldier be he.

Had I as many sons as I have hairs,

I would not wish them to a fairer death:

And so his knell is knolled.50

MALCOLM                       He’s worth more sorrow,

And that I’ll spend for him.

SIWARD                       He’s worth no more.

52 They say he parted well and paid his score,

And so, God be with him. Here comes newer comfort.

Enter Macduff, with Macbeth’s head.

MACDUFF

Hail, king, for so thou art. Behold where stands

Th’ usurper’s cursèd head. The time is free.

56 I see thee compassed with thy kingdom’s pearl,

That speak my salutation in their minds,

Whose voices I desire aloud with mine–

Hail, King of Scotland!

ALL                       Hail, King of Scotland!

Flourish.

MALCOLM

60 We shall not spend a large expense of time

61 Before we reckon with your several loves

62 And make us even with you. My thanes and kinsmen,

Henceforth be earls, the first that ever Scotland

In such an honor named. What’s more to do

65 Which would be planted newly with the time–

As calling home our exiled friends abroad

That fled the snares of watchful tyranny,

68 Producing forth the cruel ministers

Of this dead butcher and his fiendlike queen,

70 Who, as ’tis thought, by self and violent hands

Took off her life–this, and what needful else

That calls upon us, by the grace of Grace

73 We will perform in measure, time, and place.

So thanks to all at once and to each one,

Whom we invite to see us crowned at Scone.

Flourish. Exeunt omnes.

I.1 An open field

3hurly-burly turmoil

9Graymalkin gray cat (her familiar spirit)

10Paddock toad

11Anon at once

I.2 Duncan’s camp s.d.within offstage

3sergeant (generic term for a military officer; he ranks as a captain)

10to that to that end

12Western Isles the Hebrides and Ireland

13kerns and galloglasses Irish mercenary soldiers

19minion darling

 

22nave navel; chaps jaws

 

31surveying vantage seeing an opportunity

37cracks explosives

39Except unless

40memorize another Golgotha make as memorable as Calvary (where the Crucifixion took place)

45Thane (a Scottish lord, equivalent to the English earl)

46looks through appears in

47seems to is ready to

 

51Norway the King of Norway

53dismal ominous

54Bellona the goddess of war; lapped in proof (1) protected by experience, (2) wearing proven armor

55self-comparisons power comparable with his own

56Point sword

60composition terms of surrender

62Saint Colme’s Inch Inchcolm, an island near Edinburgh (Inch means “island”)

63dollars (the German thaler was a pan-European silver currency)

65bosom interest heart’s trust; present immediate

I.3 A heath

6Aroint thee get thee gone; rump-fed runnion fat-rumped slut

7master captain; Tiger (name of his ship)

15ports they blow safe havens they afflict with storms

17shipman’s card nautical chart

20penthouse lid eyelid (what overhangs the eye)

21forbid accursed

23peak waste away

 

32weïrd (two syllables: from Old English “wyrd,” “fate,” hence “supernatural,” associated with fate, with an overtone of the uncanny, suggested by F’s spelling “weyward”)

33Posters swift travelers

39is’t called do they say it is

 

44choppy chapped

48Glamis (one syllable)

 

53fantastical imaginary, hallucinations

55grace honor

57rapt withal spellbound at the thought

58seeds of time sources of future events

 

66happy fortunate

67get beget

70imperfect incomplete

71Finel or Finley, Macbeth’s father (see Note on the Text)

 

81corporal corporeal

84insane inducing insanity

90reads considers

92–93His wonders…or his i.e., dumbstruck admiration makes him keep your praises to himself

97thick as tale fast as they can be counted

98post with post messenger after messenger

 

106addition title

 

111combined leagued

112line support

113vantage assistance

117behind still to come

120home all the way

126deepest consequence the crucial sequel

127Cousins i.e., fellow lords

128swelling act developing drama

 

136seated fixed

137use normal habit

139fantastical imaginary

140single state of man both undivided and weak human condition; function the power to act

145strange new

147Time…day i.e., the worst day comes to an end

149favor pardon

 

155free hearts thoughts freely

I.4 Duncan’s camp

2in commission commissioned to carry out the execution

9studied rehearsed

10owed owned

16before ahead in deserving

19proportion satisfactory apportioning

27Safe fitting

 

28plant nurture

 

34Wanton unrestrained

39Prince of Cumberland (equivalent to the English Prince of Wales, the designated heir to the throne)

 

 

52wink at the hand disregard what the hand does

I.5 Within Macbeth’s castle at Inverness

2perfect’st report most reliable evidence

6missives messengers

 

17catch…way take the most direct route

19illness wickedness

 

27round crown

28metaphysical supernatural

29withal with

 

35breath want of breath

40mortal deadly

43remorse pity

44nature natural feeling

45fell fierce 45–46keep peace…and it i.e., lull it from achieving its end

47take…gall exchange my milk for gall; ministers agents

48sightless invisible

49wait on aid

50pall thee shroud thyself; dunnest darkest

56ignorant unaware

 

62beguile deceive

63Look…time act as the occasion requires

67dispatch efficient management

70look up clear appear untroubled

71alter favor change your countenance

I.6 Before Inverness Castle s.d.Hautboys treble shawms (ancestors of the modern oboe)

1seat site

3gentle soothed

4temple-haunting nesting around churches; martlet swallow, house martin; approve demonstrate

5loved mansionry beloved nest

6jutty projection

7coign of vantage convenient corner

8procreant cradle cradle for breeding

 

12–13The love…as love our subjects’ love sometimes inconveniences us, but we still acknowledge it as love

14God ’ield us God yield us–i.e., God reward me

17single business simple effort

20late recent

21hermits beadsmen (who are obligated to pray for a benefactor’s welfare)

22–23had…purveyor (the purveyor was the chief logistical officer in the royal household, arranging for lodging and supplies; Duncan had wished to provide this service for Macbeth)

24holp helped

27Have theirs have their servants; what is theirs their possessions; in count in trust

29Still always

 

I.7 A room off the great hall in Macbeth’s castle s.d.Sewer chief waiter

1done when ’tis done over and done with when the act is performed

3trammel…consequence entrap the consequences as in a net

4his surcease Duncan’s death

6bank and shoal sandbank and shallows

7jump risk

8that because

9instructions lessons

10evenhanded impartial

11ingredience contents (the ingredients collectively)

17faculties power

18clear innocent

 

23sightless couriers invisible messengers (the winds)

25That so that

 

32bought acquired

37green bilious

 

44wait upon preempt

45cat i’ th’ adage (the adage says, “The cat would eat fish but will not wet her feet”)

47none not a man

48break broach

 

52adhere agree

53that their fitness their very fitness

59fail?…fail? (F’s punctuation mark could represent both modern? and!; it is thus not clear whether Lady Macbeth is acknowledging the possibility of failure)

60But (1) however, (2) merely; sticking place (the notch holding the string taut, on either a crossbow or a musical instrument)

62the rather the sooner

64wassail liquor; convince overwhelm

65warder guardian

66fume vapor; receipt receptacle

67limbeck distilling device

 

72quell killing

73mettle valor

77other otherwise

 

81mock delude

II.1 Another room in Macbeth’s castle

5husbandry economy

7summons signal to sleep

 

15largess…offices gifts to your household staff

17shut up concluded

19will good will; defect deficient means

20should…wrought would have worked liberally

26cleave…’tis support my interests at the proper time

29franchised free of obligations

30be counseled take your advice

40heat-oppressèd overheated

45made the fools o’ playing tricks on

47dudgeon handle; gouts spots

49informs (1) reports, (2) takes shape

53Hecate’s offerings worship of Hecate, goddess of the moon and of witchcraft

 

54Alarumed given the signal

56Tarquin Tarquin Sextus Tarquinius, son of the ancient Roman king Tarquinius Superbus, who raped the chaste Lucretia (the story is recounted in Shakespeare’s poem Lucrece); side arrogance (see Note on the Text)

60take…time i.e., break the silence and thus disrupt the horror appropriate to the moment

II.2

3bellman night watchman

6possets warm milk with spices and liquor

7That so that

 

11Confounds defeats

 

26That so that

27addressed them prepared

30As as if; hangman’s hands executioner’s hands (hence, bloody)

40knits…sleave smooths the tangled skein

42second course the main, and most satisfying, course (sleep, after labor)

48unbend slacken

50witness evidence

59gild paint

 

65incarnadine redden

66the green one Neptune’s ocean (l. 63); most editors, following Johnson, take “one” to mean “uniformly,” but F has a comma after “one”

 

72left you unattended deserted you

73nightgown dressing gown

74watchers i.e., awake

II.3

2 old too much

4Beelzebub one of the biblical devils4–5farmer…plenty (because a crop surplus would lower prices and diminish his profit)

5Come in time you’ve come at the right time5–6napkins enow enough handkerchiefs (to wipe away the sweat caused by hellfire)

8equivocator deceiver, prevaricator (here alluding to the equivocating testimony given by the Jesuit conspirators in the Gunpowder Plot, 1605)

 

13stealing…hose (probably skimping on material in the making of French hose, which were tight-fitting, and hence would lead to discovery)

14roast your goose heat your iron (a goose is a long-handled tailor’s iron)

19remember i.e., tip

 

22–23second cock second crowing of the cock (i.e., till early morning)

26nose-painting i.e., a red nose (from habitual drunkenness)

 

32stand to grow erect

33equivocates…sleep i.e., satisfies him only by putting him to sleep33 –34giving…lie (1) deceiving him (because he cannot perform sexually), (2) overthrowing him, (3) making him lose his erection, (4) accusing him of lying

35gave…lie (1) made you a liar, (2) made you fall down

36i’…throat (to lie in the throat was to lie egregiously)

38took up my legs (1) made me fall down from drunkenness, (2) overthrew me in wrestling

39cast throw

 

44timely early

45slipped missed

48physics pain cures the trouble it gives us

50limited appointed

56combustion tumult

57obscure bird i.e., the owl

 

65Confusion destruction

 

71Gorgon Medusa, a mythical monster whose terrible aspect turned those who saw her to stone

77great doom the Last Judgment

78sprites ghosts

79countenance appear in keeping with

 

 

91mortality human life

92toys trifles

93lees dregs

94vault (1) world (with its vault the sky), (2) wine cellar

100badged marked

107Loyal and neutral loyal to Duncan and impartial on the question of the grooms’ guilt

108expedition haste

 

114Unmannerly breeched indecently garbed

117Look to look after

118argument for ours matter as chiefly our concern

120auger hole i.e., any tiny cranny

123Upon…motion yet in motion

124frailties hid bodies clothed

126question discuss

127scruples doubts

129undivulged pretense secret purposes

 

138near nearer138–39the near…bloody i.e., the closer we are to Duncan in blood, the more likely we are to be killed

140lighted landed

142dainty of scrupulous about

143shift steal; warrant justification

II.4 Somewhere outside the castle

1Threescore and ten seventy years

4trifled…knowings made former experiences seem trifling

5as…act as if troubled by the actions of men

7traveling lamp i.e., the sun

8predominance powerful influence

 

12tow’ring soaring

13mousing owl owl that preys on mice (a mere domestic predator); hawked at caught on the wing

15minions favorites (the most highly prized)

16flung out lunged about

 

24pretend expect; suborned bribed

28Thriftless wasteful; ravin up greedily devour

29like likely

 

31named chosen; Scone (where Scottish kings traditionally were crowned; near Perth)

32invested crowned

33Colmekill (the island of Iona, in the Hebrides, burial place of the ancient Scottish kings)

40benison blessing

III.1 The royal castle at Forres

4stand…posterity continue through your heirs

7shine look auspicious

10 s.d.Sennet trumpet salute

13allthing altogether

14solemn supper formal banquet

 

21still always; prosperous profitable

25Go…better i.e., unless my horse goes faster than anticipated

26borrower of i.e., borrower of time from

 

32invention falsehoods

33–34cause…jointly state business requiring our joint attention

 

43While until

44Sirrah form of address to an inferior)44–45Attend…pleasure are those men awaiting my orders

48but unless

49in Banquo about Banquo; stick deep are deep-seated

50royalty of nature royal nature

51would be deserves to be

56genius is rebuked guiding spirit is daunted

57Mark Antony’s…Caesar (see Antony and Cleopatra, II.3.20–22)

 

65filed defiled

67rancors hatreds

68eternal jewel immortal soul

69common enemy of man i.e., Satan

 

71list lists (the tournament field where knights answered challenges)

72champion…utterance (1) support me to the utmost, (2) fight with me to the death; champion (1) defend, (2) challenge

78under fortune out of favor with fortune

80passed in probation with proved to

81borne in hand manipulated, deceived; crossed thwarted; instruments agents

82wrought worked

83half a soul (even) a half-wit; notion crazed insane mind

86Our point of the point of our

88gospeled religious

 

91yours your families

92catalogue inventory, classification

93curs watchdogs or sheep dogs

94Shoughs lapdogs; waterrugs long-haired water dogs; clept called

95valued file list of valued qualities

97housekeeper watchdog

99closed incorporated

100addition…bill distinction, contrary to the catalogue

102station…file place on the list

104bosoms trust

105execution…off accomplishment kills your enemy

 

113set risk

114on’t of it

116distance enmity

118near’st of life vital parts

120avouch justify

121For because of

122wail I must bewail

130Acquaint…time (a famous crux: the general sense is “spy out the perfect time and inform you of it,” but the syntax has not been satisfactorily explained)

132something some distance; thought bearing in mind

133clearness alibi

134rubs nor botches problems or flaws

 

III.2 A private chamber in the castle

10sorriest fancies most painful delusions

12all any

14scorched slashed

15close heal; poor malice inadequate evil

17frame…disjoint structure of the universe collapse; both the worlds heaven and earth

 

22torture rack

23ecstasy frenzy

26Malice domestic native evil (rebellion)

 

31remembrance reminder

32Present him eminence do him honor

33Unsafe…that while we are unsafe; lave wash

35vizards masks

36leave leave off, stop

39Nature’s copy Nature’s copyhold (their lease on life); eterne eternal

 

43shard-born born in dung

46chuck chick (term of affection)

47seeling sewing up, hooding (from falconry)

48Scarf up blindfold; pitiful pitying, compassionate

50bond contract (Banquo’s tenure of life)

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)

27trenchèd 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 span121–22pay…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 indeed, 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 as125–26am…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 medal154–56’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

6closet chest or cabinet

10do…watching act as if awake

16meet fitting

17–18having…speech (the gentlewoman’s report would amount to charging the king with murder, which would be treasonable)

19guise custom

20close concealed

 

 

42Thane of Fife Macduff

45starting flinching

46Go to, go to come, come

 

53sorely charged heavily burdened

55dignity high rank (i.e., as queen)

58practice professional skill

 

 

75annoyance harm, trouble

77mated defeated (cf. checkmate)

V.2 Open country near Dunsinanes.d.Drum and Colors drummers and standard-bearers

3Revenges burn desire for revenge burns

4bleeding shedding of blood

5Excite incite; mortified dead

8file list

10unrough beardless

11Protest assert

15distempered diseased

16rule authority

18minutely every minute; revolts rebellions; faith breach broken faith

19in command under orders

 

23pestered tormented

27med’cine physician (i.e., Malcolm); weal state

30dew water

V.3 Within Macbeth’s castle at Dunsinane

3taint grow weak

5mortal consequences human eventualities

8English epicures pleasure-loving English

9I sway by (1) that rules me, (2) that I rule by

 

11cream-faced pale (with fear); loon scoundrel

12goose foolish

16over-red paint red (i.e., with ruddy courage)

17patch fool

 

22push attack

23disseat unseat

25sere dry, withered

 

37horses horsemen; skirr scour

 

44Raze out erase

45oblivious causing forgetfulness

49physic medicine

 

52dispatch hurry52–53cast…water analyze the urine (as a way of diagnosing illness)

60it i.e., the remaining armor

61bane destruction

V.4 Before Birnam Wood

2chambers private rooms (i.e., our homes);nothing not at all

5shadow conceal

6discovery (Macbeth’s) reconnaissance

10setting down before laying siege to

11where…given as the opportunity presents itself

12more…revolt high and low (i.e., nobility and commoners) have rebelled against him

14just censures impartial judgment

15Attend…event await the actual result

20certain…arbitrate blows must decide the final outcome

21war army

V.5 Inside Macbeth’s castle

4ague fever

5forced reinforced

6dareful defiant

 

11fell head

12dismal treatise frightening story

14Direness horror

15start frighten

18a time i.e., an appropriate time

 

 

31say insist

40cling shrivel; sooth truth

42pull in curb, check

43doubt suspect; equivocation double-talk

47avouches affirms

50estate order

52harness armor

V.6 Fields outside Dunsinane Castle

4battle battalion

6order battle plan

7power forces

 

V.7 The same

2course attack (like a bear tied to a stake and baited by dogs)

 

17kerns mercenary foot soldiers

18staves lances

20undeeded having done nothing

21note importance

22bruited indicated, noised

24gently rendered surrendered calmly (or nobly)

27itself professes declares itself

29strike beside us (1) fight on our side, (2) strike to one side of us

V.8 2Whiles…lives as long as I see living creatures

V.8 2Whiles…lives as long as I see living creatures

5charged burdened

8give thee out describe you

9intrenchant incapable of being cut

10impress mark

13charm magic

14angel guardian spirit; still always

18cowed made cowardly; better…man most of what makes me a man

19juggling deceiving, quibbling

20palter with us equivocate to us, trick us

23yield thee coward surrender as, or concede that you are, a coward

25monsters freaks

26Painted…pole depicted on a signboard

 

36go off perish; these i.e., these here assembled

 

42unshrinking station place from which he did not retreat

46Had…before were his wounds on the front of his body (i.e., was he running away)

50knolled tolled

52score reckoning

56compassed surrounded; kingdom’s pearl what is most valuable in the kingdom (i.e., the assembled nobility)

 

61reckon settle accounts

62make…with repay our debts to

65planted…time done at the beginning of the new era

68ministers agents

70self and violent her own violent

73perform in measure, time duly perform at the appropriate time

.