Re-enter Attendant, with two Murderers. Now to the door †, and stay there till we call. [Exit Attendant. Well then, now Was it not yesterday we spoke together? Who wrought with them; and all things else, that might, And champion me to the utterance!] This passage will be best explained by translating it into the language from whence the only word of difficulty in it is borrowed. Que la destinée se rende en lice, et qu'elle me donne un defi à l'outrance. A challenge, or a combat à l'outrance, to extremity, was a fixed term in the law of arms, used when the combatants engaged with an odium internecinum, an intention to destroy each other, in opposition to trials of skill at festivals, or on other occasions, where the contest was only for reputation or a prize. The sense therefore is: Let fate, that has foredoomed the exaltation of the sons of Banquo, enter the lists against me, with the utmost animosity, in defence of its own decrees, which I will endeavour to invalidate, whatever be the danger. JOHNSON. "Now go to the door,"-MALONE. 1 pass'd in probation with you, How you were borne in hand; &c.] Pass'd in probation is, perhaps, only a bulky phrase, employed to signify-proved. - To bear in hand is, to delude by encouraging hope and holding out fair prospects, without any intention of performance. 1 Mur. You made it known to us. Macb. I did so; and went further, which is now 1 Mur. We are men, my liege. Macb. Ay, in the catalogue ye go for men ; As hounds, and greyhounds, mongrels, spaniels, curs, That writes them all alike: and so of men. it ; 2 Are you so gospell'd,] Are you of that degree of precise virtue? Gospeller was a name of contempt given by the Papists to the Lollards, the puritans of early times, and the precursors of protestantism. JOHNSON. Shoughs,] Shoughs are probably what we now call shocks, demiwolves, lyciscæ; dogs bred between wolves and dogs. 4 the valued file] In this speech the word file occurs twice. The valued file is the file or list where the value and peculiar qualities of every thing is set down, in contradistinction to what he immediately mentions, the bill that writes them all alike. File, in the second instance, is used in the same sense as in this, and with a reference to it: Now if you belong to any class that deserves a place in the valued file of man, and are not of the lowest rank, the common herd of mankind, that are not worth distinguishing from each other. Who wear our health but sickly in his life, 2 Mur. I am one, my liege, Whom the vile blows and buffets of the world Have so incens'd, that I am reckless what I do, to spite the world. 1 Mur.. And I another, So weary with disasters, tugg'd with fortune, To mend it, or be rid on't. Macb.' Both of you Know, Banquo was your enemy. 2 Mur. True, my lord. Macb. So is he mine; and in such bloody distance, That every minute of his being thrusts Against my near❜st of life: And though I could 2 Mur. We shall, my lord, Perform what you command us. 1 Mur. Though our lives 5 Macb. Your spirits shine through you. Within this hour, at most, 5 in such bloody distance,] By bloody distance is here meant, such a distance as mortal enemies would stand at from each other, when their quarrel must be determined by the sword. This sense seems evident from the continuation of the metaphor, where every minute of his being is represented as thrusting at the nearest part where life resides. 6 For certain friends —] For, in the present instance, signifies because of. I will advise you where to plant yourselves. 2 Mur. It is concluded: Macb. I'll call upon you straight; abide within. We are resolv'd, my lord. Banquo, thy soul's flight, [Exeunt. If it find heaven, must find it out to night. SCENE II. The same. Another Room. Enter Lady MACBETH and a Servant. Lady M. Is Banquo gone from court? Serv. Ay, madam, but returns again to-night. Lady M. Say to the king, I would attend his leisure r 7 Acquaint you with the perfect spy o'the time, The moment on't;] i. e. in ancient language, " acquaint yourselves" with the exact time most favourable to your purposes; for such a moment must be spied out by you, be selected by your own attention and scrupulous observation. You is ungrammatically employed, instead of yourselves. 8 always thought, That I require a clearness:] i. e. you must manage matters so, that throughout the whole transaction I may stand clear of suspicion. 'Tis safer to be that which we destroy, Than by destruction, dwell in doubtful joy. Enter MACBETH. How now, my lord? why do you keep alone, Macb. We have scotch'd' the snake, not kill'd it; She'll close, and be herself; whilst our poor malice Remains in danger of her former tooth. But let The frame of things disjoint, both the worlds suffer, Ere we will eat our meal in fear, and sleep In the affliction of these terrible dreams, That shake us nightly: Better be with the dead, In restless ecstacy.2 Duncan is in his grave; Treason has done his worst: nor steel, nor poison, Can touch him further! Lady M. Come on; Gentle my lord, sleek o'er your rugged looks; Present him eminence3, both with eye and tongue : 9 sorriest fancies] i. e. worthless, ignoble, vile. +" without all remedy," - MALONE. scotch'd] i. e. cut slightly. "But let the frame of things disjoint, "Both the worlds suffer," MALONE. 2 In restless ecstacy.] Ecstacy, for madness, or agony. |