Upon this general infatuation Shakespeare might be easily allowed to found a play, especially since he has followed with great exactness such histories as were then thought true; nor can it be doubted that the scenes of enchantment, however they may now be ridiculed, were both by himself and his audience thought awful and affecting[3].

NOTE III. [Transcriber’s note:  sic]

ACT I. SCENE II.

 —­The merciless Macdonal,—­from the western isles
  Of Kernes and Gallowglasses was supply’d;
  And fortune on his damned quarry smiling,
  Shew’d like a rebel’s whore.—­

Kernes are light-armed, and Gallowglasses heavy-armed soldiers.  The word quarry has no sense that is properly applicable in this place, and, therefore, it is necessary to read,

  And fortune on his damned quarrel smiling.

Quarrel was formerly used for cause, or for the occasion of a quarrel, and is to be found in that sense in Hollingshed’s account of the story of Macbeth, who, upon the creation of the prince of Cumberland, thought, says the historian, that he had a just quarrel to endeavour after the crown.  The sense, therefore, is, fortune smiling on his execrable cause, &c.

NOTE III.

If I say sooth, I must report, they were
As cannons overcharg’d with double cracks. 
So they redoubled strokes upon the foe.

Mr. Theobald has endeavoured to improve the sense of this passage by altering the punctuation thus: 

—­They were
As cannons overcharg’d; with double cracks
So they redoubled strokes.—­

He declares, with some degree of exultation, that he has no idea of a cannon charged with double cracks; but, surely, the great author will not gain much by an alteration which makes him say of a hero, that he redoubles strokes with double cracks, an expression not more loudly to be applauded, or more easily pardoned, than that which is rejected in its favour.  That a cannon is charged with thunder or with double thunders may be written, not only without nonsense, but with elegance:  and nothing else is here meant by cracks, which in the time of this writer was a word of such emphasis and dignity, that in this play he terms the general dissolution of nature the crack of doom.

There are among Mr. Theobald’s alterations others which I do not approve, though I do not always censure them; for some of his amendments are so excellent, that, even when he has failed, he ought to be treated with indulgence and respect.

NOTE IV.

King.  But who comes here?

Mal.  The worthy Thane of Rosse.

Len.  What haste looks through his eyes? 
So should he look, that seems to speak things strange. 
The meaning of this passage, as it now stands, is, so should he look, that looks as if he told things strange.  But Rosse neither yet told strange things, nor could look as if he told them; Lenox only conjectured from his air that he had strange things to tell, and, therefore, undoubtedly said,