Notes to Shakespeare, Volume III: The Tragedies eBook

This eBook from the Gutenberg Project consists of approximately 303 pages of information about Notes to Shakespeare, Volume III.

Notes to Shakespeare, Volume III: The Tragedies eBook

This eBook from the Gutenberg Project consists of approximately 303 pages of information about Notes to Shakespeare, Volume III.

III.ii.38 (467,1) nature’s copy’s not eternal] The copy, the lease, by which they hold their lives from nature, has its time of termination limited.

III.iii.1 (469,6) But who did bid thee join with us?] The meaning of this abrupt dialogue is this.  The perfect spy, mentioned by Macbeth in the foregoing scene, has, before they enter upon the stage, given them the directions which were promised at the time of their agreement; yet one of the murderers suborned suspects him of intending to betray them; the other observes, that, by his exact knowledge of what they were to do, he appears to be employed by Macbeth, and needs not be mistrusted.

III.iv.1 (470,9) You know your own degrees, sit down:  at first,/And last the hearty welcome] As this passage stands [sit down:/At first and last], not only the numbers are very imperfect, but the sense, if any can be found, weak and contemptible.  The numbers will be improved by reading,

  —­sit down at first,
  And last a hearty welcome
.

But for last should then be written next.  I believe the true reading is,

  You know your own degrees, sit down.—­To first
  And last the hearty welcome
.

All of whatever degree, from the highest to the lowest, may be assured that their visit is well received.

III.iv.14 (471,1) ’Tis better thee without, than he within] The sense requires that this passage should be read thus: 

  ’Tis better thee without, than him within.

That is, I am better pleased that the blood of Banquo should be on thy face than in his body.

The authour might mean, It is better that Banquo’s blood were on thy face, than he in this room.  Expressions thus imperfect are common in his works.

III.iv.33 (472,2) the feast is sold] The meaning is,—­That which ia not given cheerfully, cannot be called a gift, it is something that must be paid for. (1773)

III.iv.57 (473,3) extend his passion] Prolong his suffering; make his fit longer.

III.iv.60 (473,4) O proper stuff!] This speech is rather too long for the circumstances in which it is spoken.  It had begun better at, Shame itself!

III.iv.63 (473,5)

  Oh, these flaws, and starts,
  (Impostors to true fear,) would well become
  A woman’s story at a winter’s fire,
  Authoriz’d by her grandam]

Flaws, are sudden gusts.  The authour perhaps wrote,

  —­Those flaws and starts,
  Impostures true to fear would well become;
  A woman’s story,—­

These symptoms of terrour and amazement might better become impostures true only to fear, might become a coward at the recital of such falsehoods as no man could credit, whose understanding was not weaken’d by his terrours; tales told by a woman over a fire on the authority of her grandam.

Copyrights
Project Gutenberg
Notes to Shakespeare, Volume III: The Tragedies from Project Gutenberg. Public domain.