Macbeth (29 page)
Authors: William Shakespeare
55
fantastical
imaginary
indeed
in truth/in deed
56
show
appear to be
57
present grace
immediate honor
58
having
gain
59
rapt withal
entranced, absorbed by it
62
neither … hate
neither begs your favor nor fears your hate
68
happy
favored by fortune/content
69
get
beget, conceive
72
imperfect
unclear/cryptic/incomplete
73
Sinel
Macbeth’s father
76
prospect
field of view/anticipation of the future
77
whence … intelligence
where you got this strange information
79
blasted
blighted/accursed
80
charge
command
83
corporal
physical, bodily
84
Would
I wish
86
on
of
insane root
root of plant (probably henbane) that was reputed to cause madness if eaten
91
th’selfsame
the very same
93
reads
perceives, comprehends
94
venture
risky involvement
95
His … his
i.e. his personal feelings of awe and praises for you are both so great as to compete with one another (the result being that he finds himself
silenced
)
98
stout
brave
99
Nothing afeard
not at all afraid
what … make
i.e. slaughter on the battlefield (
strange images of death
)
100
As … post
messengers arrived as thick and fast as the tales they had to tell (though some editors emend “tale” to “hail,” which fits better with the subsequent
poured down
)
106
Only … thee
only in order to usher you into his presence, not as a means of rewarding you
108
earnest
pledge, foretaste
110
addition
title
115
Who
he who
116
judgement
sentence
118
combined
in league
119
line
reinforce (metaphorically, “line the rebel’s garment”)
rebel
i.e. Macdonald
122
capital
deserving of the death penalty
125
behind
yet to come
129
home
fully
130
enkindle
inflame, provoke
133
darkness
i.e. the devil
134
trifles
insignificant things
135
deepest consequence
the profoundly serious outcome
138
happy
fortunate
prologues
preliminary actions/lines spoken by an actor before the beginning of a play
swelling
growing/exalted
act
division of a play (plays on the sense of “deed, action”)
139
imperial theme
royal subject matter (
theme
plays on the sense of “subject that causes action”)
140
soliciting
incitement
142
earnest
pledge, foretaste
144
suggestion
temptation, incitement
145
horrid
frightful/bristling (like Macbeth’s
hair
)
unfix my hair
make my hair stand on end
146
seated
fixed, stable
147
use
usual practice
148
less
i.e. not as ghastly and terrifying
149
whose murder
the enactment of which (this unusual use of
murder
reveals only too clearly what Macbeth’s
thought
is of)
150
single state
unified existence/weak condition (
state
introduces a human body/body politic metaphor)
151
function … surmise
usual powers of action are overwhelmed by speculation and
imaginings
152
nothing … not
only imaginings have any reality for me
155
stir
stirring, taking action
157
strange
unfamiliar
cleave … use
do not cling snugly to the body’s contours until they have been worn many times
160
Time … day
i.e. time is unstoppable and even the worst day has an end
161
stay
wait
162
favour
pardon
163
wrought
preoccupied/stirred/worked on
164
registered
recorded
165
Where … them
i.e. in his memory
167
chanced
happened
at more time
when we have more time/at a later time
168
The … it
i.e. having had time to consider it thoroughly
169
free
frank, unrestrained
Flourish
trumpet fanfare signaling the arrival of a person of authority
1
or not
or are not
2
in commission
given a warrant to see the execution carried out
3
liege
lord
9
Became
befitted/honored
10
studied
practiced/skilled
11
owed
owned
12
careless
uncared for
13
art
craft, skill
14
construction
interpretation, explanation/way of building itself
18
before
ahead (in terms of merit)
20
Would … mine
I wish that you were less deserving so that I might have had sufficient thanks and payment with which to reward you
23
all
everything, all my
thanks and payment
25
In … itself
i.e. being a loyal servant is sufficient reward
29
Safe toward
to safeguard
33
nor … so
i.e. your equal worth must be recognized
34
enfold
embrace
38
Wanton
unrestrained/abundant
39
drops of sorrow
i.e. tears
40
nearest
closest to Duncan (i.e. relatives and favored nobles)
41
establish our estate
settle the succession of the state
43
Prince of Cumberland
the title given to the heir to the Scottish throne
44
invest
adorn, clothe
which … only
an honor that must not be the only one to be bestowed (i.e. other nobles will be favored too)
46
Inverness
town in the north of Scotland, location of Macbeth’s castle
47
bind … you
make me more indebted to you (as your guest)
48
The … you
a period of rest that is not used to serve you seems like hard work/anything that is not done on your behalf is tedious
49
harbinger
royal messenger
57
wink … hand
shut itself to the deeds carried out by the hand
be
come to pass
59
he … valiant
Macbeth is just as brave (as you say); Duncan and Banquo have been conversing during Macbeth’s aside
60
his commendations
praises given to him
62
care
considerate solicitude
63
peerless
without equal
2
perfect’st report
most accurate testimony
6
missives
messengers
9
deliver thee
report to you
12
Lay … heart
reflect seriously on it/keep it secret
15
o’th’milk … kindness
of compassion/natural humanity
16
catch
seize
nearest
most obvious, most direct
wouldst
want to
18
illness … it
wickedness that must go with it
highly
greatly/ambitiously
19
holily
virtuously
play false
be deceptive, treacherous
20
Thou’dst have
thou wouldst have, i.e. you want
21
have
are to have
22
And … undone
i.e. you fear carrying out the deed (murder) rather than its consequences (the crown)
23
Hie
hasten
25
chastise
rebuke
26
impedes
hinders
golden round
crown
27
metaphysical
supernatural
28
withal
with
32
informed for preparation
sent news so that preparations might be made
34
had … of
overtook
37
tending
attention, care
39
raven
considered a bird of ill omen
42
tend on
attend
mortal
deadly/human
45
remorse
pity
46
compunctious
remorseful, filled with conscience
47
fell
fierce, cruel
keep
maintain, preserve
48
Th’effect and it
the outcome and my intention (
purpose
)
49
take
exchange/consider, treat (as)/feed on
gall
bile, bitterness
ministers
agents/attendants
50
sightless
invisible
51
wait on
wait upon/lie in wait for
nature’s mischief
human evil
52
pall
envelop, wrap (as if with a pall or cloth used to cover a coffin)
dunnest
darkest/murkiest
53
keen
sharp (plays on the sense of “eager, fervent”)
55
Hold
stop, desist
56
all-hail hereafter
the future prophesied by the witches/the salutation of “king” that followed Glamis and Cawdor
58
ignorant
unknowing
59
instant
present moment
63
purposes
intends
67
strange
mysterious/unnatural/unfamiliar
