FullReads

–To the direction just.

Now nothing remains but that we conform exactly to Macbeth’s directions.

NOTE XXVIII.

SCENE V.

Macbeth.
You know your own degrees, sit down:
At first and last, the hearty welcome.

As this passage stands, 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.

NOTE XXIX

Macbeth.–There’s blood upon thy face.

[–To the murderer, aside at the door.]

Murderer. ‘Tis Banquo’s then.
Macbeth. ‘Tis better thee without, than he within.

The sense apparently requires that this passage should be read thus:

‘Tis better thee without, than him within.

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

NOTE XXX.

Lady Macbeth.
O proper stuff!
This is the very painting of your fear:
[Aside to Macbeth.]
This is the air-drawn dagger, which, you said,
Led you to Duncan. Oh, these flaws and starts,
Impostures to true fear, would well become
A woman’s story at a winter’s fire,
Authoriz’d by her grandam. Shame itself!
Why do you make such faces? When all’s done,
You look but on a stool.

As starts can neither with propriety nor sense be called impostures to true fear, something else was undoubtedly intended by the author, who, perhaps, wrote,
–These flaws and starts,
Impostures true to fear, would well become
A woman’s story.–

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

NOTE XXXI.

Macbeth.
–Love and health to all!
Then I’ll sit down: give me some wine, fill full:–
I drink to the general joy of the whole table,
And to our dear friend Banquo, whom we miss;
Would he were here! to all, and him, we thirst,
And all to all.–

Though this passage is, as it now stands, capable of more meanings than one, none of them are very satisfactory; and, therefore, I am inclined to read it thus:
–to all, and him, we thirst,
And hail to all.

Macbeth, being about to salute his company with a bumper, declares that he includes Banquo, though absent, in this act of kindness, and wishes health to all. Hail or heil for health was in such continual use among the good-fellows of ancient times, that a drinker was called a was-heiler, or a wisher of health, and the liquor was termed was-heil, because health was so often wished over it. Thus in the lines of Hanvil the monk,

Jamque vagante scypho, discincto gutture was-heil
Ingeminant was-heil: labor est plus perdere vini
Quam sitis.–

These words were afterwards corrupted into wassail and wassailer.

NOTE XXXII.

Macbeth.--Can such things be,

And overcome us, like a summer's cloud,

Without our special wonder? You make me strange

Even to the disposition that I owe,

When now I think, you can behold such sights,

And keep the  natural ruby of your cheek,

When mine is blanched with fear.