Authors: William Shakespeare
136
brewed
i.e. ready to be shown
138
Upon … motion
ready to move
140
our … hid
i.e. temporarily put aside our horror and distress/got dressed
142
question
discuss/inquire into
143
scruples
doubts
144
thence
i.e. with God’s help
145
Against … malice
I shall fight against the unknown purpose that lies behind this treasonous and hostile act
149
briefly
quickly
manly readiness
i.e. clothes/manly resolve
152
consort
associate, accompany
153
office
task/role
157
the … bloody
i.e. the more closely one is related to Duncan, the more likely one is to be murdered
159
shaft
i.e. of an arrow
160
lighted
alighted, landed
162
dainty of leave-taking
scrupulous about formal goodbyes
163
shift away
leave secretly
warrant
justification
164
steals
purloins/slips away
1
Threescore and ten
seventy (years); a score is twenty
3
dreadful
frightening
sore
harsh, grievous
4
trifled former knowings
made previous experiences insignificant
5
father
respectful term of address for an old man
6
heavens
sky/heavenly powers/roof over a
stage
act
deed/theatrical performance/division of a play
8
travelling lamp
i.e. the sun
9
predominance
greater power/ascendancy (as of a planet or star)
shame
i.e. at the murder of Duncan
13
Even
exactly
14
tow’ring
mounting in order to swoop down on her prey (falconry term)
pride of place
the highest point in her flight
15
mousing owl
i.e. inferior bird that usually feeds on mice
hawked at
attacked in flight
17
minions
darlings, favorites
19
as
as if
29
pretend
intend
30
suborned
bribed
35
Thriftless
wasteful, unprofitable
ravin up
devour greedily
36
life’s means
resources necessary for survival/source of life (i.e. father)
like
likely
38
named
selected
Scone
ancient city north of Perth, traditional location for Scottish coronations
39
invested
formally given authority/dressed in the royal garments
41
Colmekill
the Western Hebridean island of Iona, the ancient burial place for Scottish kings
46
thither
go there (to Scone)
48
Lest … new
i.e. in case our former situation proves preferable to what is to come
50
benison
blessing
3
foully
wickedly, sinfully
4
It … posterity
the kingship would not remain in your line of descendants
7
shine
illuminate/look upon favorably
8
verities
truths
made good
fulfilled
Sennet
trumpet fanfare signaling a procession
14
all-thing unbecoming
inappropriate in every way
15
solemn
formal, ceremonious
18
Command upon
lay your commands on
20
knit
united, bound
23
else
otherwise
24
still
always
grave and prosperous
wise and profitable
25
council
i.e. of state officials who advised the king
28
this
now
go … better
if my horse does not go sufficiently quickly
30
twain
two
33
cousins
i.e. Malcolm and Donalbain
bestowed
lodged
35
parricide
murder of one’s father
36
invention
fabrications, lies
37
therewithal
with it, in addition
cause … jointly
affairs of state claiming equal attention
42
commend
entrust
44
To … welcome
in order to make socializing more delightful
46
while
until
47
Sirrah
sir (term of address to a social inferior)
Attend … pleasure?
Are those men waiting for me?
49
without
outside
51
thus
in this position, i.e. king
52
stick
are fixed/pierce, stab
55
to
in addition to
dauntless temper
fearless temperament
58
being
personage/existence
59
genius
personal governing spirit
rebuked
forcibly retrained/reproached
60
Mark … Caesar
the Roman general Mark Antony was defeated by Octavius Caesar
chid
upbraided, rebuked
64
fruitless
useless/childless
65
barren
infertile
sceptre
ornamental rod held by a monarch (possible phallic connotations here)
66
unlineal
not descended directly (from Macbeth)
68
issue
offspring
filed
defiled, corrupted
69
gracious
generous/virtuous/possessed of divine grace
70
rancours
bitter hatred/poison
vessel
cup (perhaps recalling the Holy Communion cup)
71
eternal jewel
i.e. soul
72
common … man
i.e. the devil
74
list
designated combat area at a tournament
75
champion me
support/challenge, i.e. in combat
th’utterance
the limit (death)
80
he
i.e. Banquo
held … fortune
i.e. prevented you from improving your fortunes
82
made good
demonstrated
conference
conversation
83
passed in probation
proved
borne in hand
deceived
84
crossed
thwarted
instruments
means/agents
wrought
worked
85
notion
mind
90
gospelled
filled with the teachings of the Gospel (the New Testament)
92
yours
i.e. your
issue
, children
79
Well … ever?
these two speeches are lineated as verse in Folio, but so irregularly that they are likely to be mistakenly set as prose
95
catalogue
official list
go for
pass for
96
curs
dogs, especially watchdogs or sheepdogs
97
Shoughs
lapdogs
water-rugs
long-haired waterdogs (trained to retrieve waterfowl)
demi-wolves
dogs that are half wolf
clept
called
98
valued file
list classified according to value
99
subtle
wily
100
housekeeper
watchdog
101
bounteous
generous
102
closed
enclosed
103
Particular … alike
special distinction unlike the general list in which they all sound the same
105
station
position/place to stand
file
list/row (of soldiers)
106
rank
quality/row (of soldiers)
108
execution
enactment (plays on the sense of “murder”)
109
Grapples
attaches tightly
110
in his life
while he (Banquo) lives
111
perfect
complete/ entirely healthy
113
buffets
blows/beatings
117
tugged with
knocked about by
118
set
stake, gamble
119
mend
improve
on’t
of it
122
distance
hostility, discord
123
thrusts
stabs
124
near’st of life
vital parts
126
bid … it
justify it on the grounds that it is my wish
127
For
on account of
128
wail
I must lament
130
to … love
do wooingly entreat your help
132
sundry
various
135
Though our lives—
the First Murderer is interrupted as he declares that he and his companion will carry out the deed even if their lives depend upon it
137
advise
inform
138
perfect spy o’th’time
perhaps “exact awareness of the time (to do the deed),” though some editors suppose the line may be a reference to the Third Murderer
140
something
some distance
always … clearness
it being always remembered that I must be considered guiltless
142
rubs nor botches
impediments or flaws
144
material
of consequence
146
Resolve yourselves apart
determine matters (or work up your resolution) in private
149
straight
straight away
abide
remain
6
spent
wasted
7
content
contentedness, peace of mind
9
doubtful
uncertain, fearful
11
sorriest fancies
wretched imaginings
12
Using
entertaining
13
them … on
i.e. past events/Duncan
14
regard
thought, consideration