MACBETH. ACT I. SCENE I.-A Desert Place. (Thunder and Lightning. Enter three Witches.) First Witch: When shall we three meet again. In thunder, lightning, or in rain? Sec. Witch: When the hurlyburly's done, When the battle's lost and won. Third Witch: That will be ere the set of sun. 5 Sec. Witch: Upon the heath. Third Witch: There to meet with Macbeth. First Witch: I come, Graymalkin! Sec. Witch: Paddock calls. Third Witch: Anon. All: Fair is foul, and foul is fair: Hover through the fog and filthy air. ACT I. SCENE I. 3. hurlyburly, uproar. A sound-word, like hiss, fizz, etc. Such words are common in every language, and Max Müller uses them as illustrations of the "bow-wow" theory of the origin of languages. See Glossary. 6. The student must notice that the second witch completes the line of the first witch. This is general throughout the play. 8. Graymalkin, the name of the witches' cat. Malkin is a diminutive of Mary, as Perkin is of Peter. Cf. lambkin, mannikin. Cats, 9. Paddock, a toad. 10 [Exeunt. toads and snakes were the "familiars of the witches. See Intro., "Witchcraft." 10. Anon, in one moment. See Glossary. 11. Fair is foul. A sharp contrast of exact opposites like these is called an Oxymoron. A living death, bitter sweet, are examples of Oxymoron in ordinary use. The witches made fair things foul and foul things fair. The student will notice that the witches do not use blank verse in any of their scenes, but a line with three or four strong accents, with irregular rhythm and frequent riming. SCENE II.-A Camp near Forres. (Alarum within. Enter DUNCAN, MALCOLM, DONALBAIN, LENNOX, with Attendants, meeting a bleeding Sergeant.) Dun.: What bloody man is that? He can report, As seemeth by his plight, of the revolt The newest state. This is the sergeant Mal.: As two spent swimmers, that do cling together SCENE II. Forres, a town in North Scotland between Elgin and Nairn. Alarum, means literally a call to arms, from the Italian, all' armeto arms, but here means a set of notes on a trumpet, announcing the nearness of a battle. Duncan, grandson of Malcolm II. and cousin to Macbeth, became King of Scotland in 1034, and married the sister of Siward, Earl of Northumbria. Malcolm, nicknamed Canmore, or "Bighead" from the size of his head, was the elder son of Duncan, and became King after Macbeth's defeat in 1057. Donalbain, the second son of Duncan, succeeded his brother Malcolm in 1093. 1. He can report, etc. His condition seems to prove that he may be able to report to us the latest happenings in the revolt. 2. his plight, his condition. See Glossary. 5. 'Gainst my captivity, i.e., against my being taken captive; 5 10 to prevent me from being captured. 6 6. Say to. lish, tell." of French dire means tell." In Modern EngThis seems a relic influence, where "to say' or "to 6, 7. the knowledge of the broil, etc. Tell the king how the battle stood when thou didst leave it. That is, "tell him thy knowledge of the broil." 8. spent, worn out. 9. choke their art, make their art useless by clinging together; a common occurrence with drowning people, who clutch the arm of those who would save them, and so frequently drown themselves and their rescuers. 9. Macdonwald. There seems to have been no rebellion by Macdonwald of the Western Isles, and no invasion by Sweno of Norway, during Duncan's reign. The modern form of the word is Macdonald. 10. Worthy to be, fitted to be by his crimes. 10. for to that, for to that end, for with that effect. |
