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TRAGEDY OF MACBETH
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SHAKESPEARE'S
TRAGEDY OF MACBETH
WITH
Introduction, and Notes Explanatory and Critical
FOR USE IN SCHOOLS AND CLASSES
BY THE
REV. HENRY N. HUDSON, LL.D.
BOSTON, U.S.A.
GINN & COMPANY, PUBLISHERS
Cl)e 9[ti)enarttm ^xtM
1899
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)C\) 1^2^^
Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1879, by
Henry N. Hudson,
In the Office of the Librarian of Congress, at Washington
Typography by J. 8. Cashing & Co., Boston, U.S.A.
Prbsswork by GiNN & Co., Boston, U.S.A.
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INTRODUCTION.
History of the Play.
THE TRAGEDY OF MACBETH was first printed in
the folio of 1623, where it stands the seventh in the
division of tragedies. On the 8th of November, that year,
it was registered at the Stationers' by Blount and Jaggard, as
one of the plays " not formerly entered to other men."
The text of this drama has come down to us in a st^ite far
from satisfactory. Though. not so badly printed as some
other plays in the same volume, for instance, AiPs Well that
Ends Well and Coriolanus, still it has a number of very
troublesome passages. In several cases, the errors are of
such a nature that we can hardly refer them to any other
than a phonographic origin. On this point, the learned
editors of the Clarendon edition observe as follows : " Prob-
ably it was printed from a transcript of the author's manu-
script, which was in great part not copied from the original,
but written to dictation. This is confirmed by the fact that
several of the most palpable blunders are blunders of the
ear, and not of the eye."
The minute and searching criticism of our time has made
out, almost, if not altogether, beyond question, that consid-
erable portions of Macbeth were not written by Shakespeare.
I have been very slow and reluctant to admit this conclu-
sion ; but the evidence, it seems to me, is not to be with-
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4 MACBETH.
Stood. It is, moreover, highly probable, to say the least,
that few of the scenes, perhaps none, have reached us alto-
gether in the form they received from the Poet's hand. But,
as this matter is to be discussed under the heading " Shake-
speare and Middleton," it need not be enlarged upon here.
The date of the composition has been variously argued
and concluded. Until a recent period, there was nothing
but internal evidence at hand for settling the date. Pro-
ceeding upon this, Malone and Chalmers agreed upon the
year 1606 as the probable time of the writing. That the
composition was subsequent to the union of the English and
Scottish crowns, was justly inferred from what the hero says
in his last interview with the Weird Sisters : " And some I
see, that twofold balls and treble sceptres carry." James the
First came to the throne of England in March, 1603 ; but
the two crowns were not formally united, at least the union
was not proclaimed, till October, 1604.
Our earliest authentic notice of Macbeth is from one Si-
mon Forman, M.D., an astrologer, quack, and dealer in the
arts of magic, who kept a sort of diary which he entitled The
Book of Plays and Notes thereof. In 1836 the manuscript
of this diary was discovered in the Ashmolean Museum, and
a portion of its contents published. Forman gives a some-
what minute and particular account of the plot and leading
incidents of the drama, as he saw it played at the Globe
theatre on Saturday the 20th of April, 16 10. The passage is
too long for my space ; but it is a very mark-worthy circum-
stance, that from the way it begins, and from the wording of
it, we should naturally infer that what now stands as the
first scene of the play, then made no part of the perform-
ance. The passage opens thus : " In Macbeth, at the Globe,
1610, the 20th of April, Saturday, there was to be observed,
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INTRODUCTION. 5
first, how Macbeth and Banquo, two noblemen of Scotland,
riding through a wood, there stood before them three wo«
men, fairies or nymphs, and saluted Macbeth, saying three
times unto him, Hail," &c.
It is highly probable, to say the least, that the tragedy was
then fresh from the Poet's hand, and was in its first course
of performance. Some arguments, indeed, or seeming argu-
ments, have been adduced, inferring the play to have been
written three or four years earlier ; but I can see no great
force in them. On the other hand, it appears that Forman
had long been an habitual frequenter of play-houses ; and it
seems nowise likely that one so eager in quest of novelties
would either have missed the play, had it been put upon the
stage before, or have made so special a notice of it, but that
he then saw it for the first time. Nor have the characteristics
of the work itself any thing to say against the date in ques-
tion ; those portions of it that have the clearest and most
unquestionable impress of Shakespeare's hand being in his
greatest, richest, most idiomatic style.
Shakespeare in Scotland.
The drama yields some cause, in the accuracy of local
description and allusion, for thinking that the Poet had been
in Scotland. Nor are these internal likelihoods unsustained
by external arguments. Companies of English players are
known to have visited Scotland several times during Shake-
speare's connection with the stage. The English ambassa-
dor at the Scottish Court in 1589 wrote to Lord Treasurer
Burleigh how " my Lord BothweU showeth great kindness to
our nation, using her Majesty's players with all courtesy."
Archbishop Spottiswood, also, writing the history of the year
1599, gives the following : " In the end of the year happened
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6 MACBETH.
some new jars betwixt the King and the ministers of Edin-
burgh, because of a company of English comedians whom
the King had licensed to play within the burgh. The min-
isters, being offended with the liberty given them, did exclaim
in their sermons against stage-players ; and in their sessions
made an Act prohibiting people to resort to their plays, under
pain of Church censures. The King, taking this to be a dis-
charge of his license, called the sessions before the Council,
and ordained them to annul their Act, and not to restrain
the people from going to these comedies ; which they prom-
ised, and accordingly performed." The public records of
Scotland show, also, that English players were liberally re-
warded by the King on several occasions in 1600 and 1601.
And the registers of Aberdeen inform us that the same play-
ers were received by the public authorities of that place, un-
der the sanction of a special letter from the King, styling
them " our servants." There, too, they had a reward in cash ;
and the freedom of the city was conferred on " Laurence
Fletcher, Comedian to his Majesty " ; he being, no doubt,
the leader of the company. Next, we have a patent made
out by the King's order. May 7, 1603, authorizing Laurence
Fletcher, William Shakespeare, Richard Burbage, and others,
to perform plays in any part of the kingdoms. In this in-
strument the players are termed "our servants," — the same
style which the King had used to the authorities of Aber-
deen. All which, to be sure, does not prove the Poet to have
been of the number who were in Scotland ; still I think that,
coupled with the internal likelihoods of the play itself, it may
fairly be held to warrant a belief to that effect, there being no
evidence to the contrary.
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INTRODUCTION. 7
Historio Basis of the Action.
The story of Macbeth, as it lived in tradition, had been
told by Holinshed, whose Chronicles first appeared in 1577,
and by George Buchanan, the learned preceptor of James the
First, who has been termed the Scotch Livy, and whose His*
tory of Scotland c2iV[iQ forth in 1582. The main features of
the story, so far as it is adopted by the Poet, are the same in
both these writers, save that Buchanan represents Macbeth
to have merely dreamed of meeting the Weird Sisters, and of
being hailed by them successively as Thane of Angus, Thane
of Murray, and as King. Holinshed was Shakespeare's
usual authority in matters of British history. In the present
case the Poet shows no traces of obligation to Buchanan,
unless, which is barely possible, he may have taken a hint
fi-om the historian, where the latter, speaking of Macbeth's
reign, says, "Certain of our writers here relate many idle
things which I omit, as being fitter for Milesian fables or for
the theatre than for sober history." A passage which, as
showing the author's care for the truth of what he wrote,
perhaps should make us wary of trusting too much in later
writers, who would have us believe that, a war of factions
breaking out, Duncan was killed in battle, and Macbeth took
the crown by just and lawful title. And it is considerable
that both Hume and Lingard acquiesce in the old account
which represents Macbeth to have murdered Duncan, and
usurped the throne.
According to the history, Malcolm, King of Scotland, had
two daughters, Beatrice and Doada, severally married to
Abanath Crinen and to Sinel, Thanes of the Isles and of
Glamis, by whom each had a son named Duncan and Mac-
beth. The former succeeded his grandfather in the king-
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8 MACBETH.
dom ; and, he being of a soft and gentle disposition, his reign
was at first very quiet and peaceable, but afterwards, by rea-
son of his slackness, was greatly harassed with troubles and
seditions, wherein his cousin, who was of a valiant and war-
like spirit, did great service to the State.
Instead of giving at length the wordy narration of Holin-
shed, I must, for economy of space, condense the main par-
ticulars of the historic matter. After narrating the victory
of the Scottish generals over the rebels and invaders, the
chronicler proceeds in substance as follows : —
Macbeth and Banquo were on their way to Forres, where
the King then lay ; and, as they were passing through the
fields alone, three women in strange and wild attire suddenly
met them; and, while they were rapt with wonder at the
sight, the first said, " All hail, Macbeth, Thane of Glamis " ;
the second, " Hail, Macbeth, Thane of Cawdor" ; the third,
" Hail, Macbeth, that hereafter shalt be King." Then said
Banquo, " What manner of women are you, that to my fel-
low here, besides high offices, ye assign the kingdom, but
promise nothing to me ? " " Yes," said the first, " we prom-
ise greater things to thee : for he shall reign indeed, but shall
have no issue to succeed him ; whereas thou indeed shalt not
reign, but from thee shall spring a long line of kings." Then
the women immediately vanished. At first the men thought
this was but a fantastical illusion, insomuch that Banquo
would call Macbeth king in jest, and Macbeth in like sort
would call him father of many kings. But afterwards the
women were believed to be the Weird Sisters ; because, the
Thane of Cawdor being condemned for treason, his lands
and tides were given to Macbeth. Whereupon Banquo said
to him jestingly, " Now, Macbeth, thou hast what two of the
Sisters promised ; there remaineth only what the other said
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INTRODUCTION. 9
should come to pass." And Macbeth began even then to
devise how he might come to the throne, but thought he
must wait for time to work his way, as in the former prefer-
ment. But when, shortly after, the King made his oldest
son Prince of Cumberland, thereby in effect appointing him
successor, Macbeth was sorely troubled thereat, as it seemed
to cut off his hope ; and, thinking the purpose was to defeat
his title to the crown, he studied to usurp it by force. En-
couraged by the words of the Weird Sisters, and urged on
by his wife, who was " burning with unquenchable desire to
bear the name of queen," he at length whispered his design
to some trusty friends, and, having a promise of their aid,
slew the King at Inverness; then got himself proclaimed
king, and forthwith went to Scone, where, by common con-
sent, he was invested after the usual manner.
The circumstances of the murder, as set forth in the play,
were taken from another part of the history, where Holin-
shed relates how King Duff, being the guest of Donwald and
his wife in their castle at Forres, was there murdered. The
story ran as follows : King Duff having retired for the rest
of the night, his two chamberlains, as soon as they saw him
well a-bed, came forth, and fell to banqueting with Donwald
and his wife, who had prepared many choice dishes and
drinks for their rear-supper ; wherewith they so gorged them-
selves, that their heads no sooner got to the pillow than they
were so fast asleep that the chamber might have been re-
moved without waking them. Then Donwald, goaded on by
his wife, though in heart he greatly abhorred the act, called
four of his servants, whom he had already framed to the
purpose with large gifts; and they, entering the King's
chamber, cut his throat as he lay asleep, and carried the
body forth into the fields. In the morning, a noise being
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lO MACBETH.
made that the King was slain, Donwald ran thither with the
watch, as though he knew nothing of it, and, finding cakes
of blood in the bed and on the floor, forthwith slew the
chamberlains as guilty of the murder.
The body of Duncan was conveyed to Colmekill, and
there laid in a sepulchre amongst his predecessors, in the
year 1040. Malcolm and Donalbain, the sons of Duncan,
for fear of their lives fled into Cumberland, where Malcolm
remained till Saint Edward recovered England from the
, Danish power. Edward received Malcolm with most friendly
entertainment, but Donalbain passed over into Ireland, where
he was tenderly cherished by the King of that land.
Macbeth, after the departure of Duncan *s sons, used great
liberality towards the nobles of the realm, thereby to win
their favour ; and, when he saw that no man went about to
trouble him, he set his whole endeavour to maintain justice,
and to punish all enormities and abuses which had chanced
through the feeble administration of Duncan. He continued
governing the realm for the space of ten years in equal jus-
tice : but this was but a counterfeit zeal, to purchase thereby
the favour of the people. Shortly after, he began to show
what he was, practising cruelty instead of equity. For the
prick of conscience caused him ever to fear, lest he should
be served with the same cup as he had ministered to his
predecessor. The words, also, of the Weird Sisters would
not out of his mind ; which, as they promised him the king-
dom, did likewise promise it at the same time to the poster-
ity of Banquo. He therefore desired Banquo and his son
named Fleance to come to a supper that he had prepared
for them ; but hired certain murderers to meet them without
the palace as they returned to their lodgings, and there to
slay them. Yet it chanced, by the benefit of the dark night,
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INTRODUCTION. II
that, though the father was slain, the son escaped that dan-
ger ; and afterwards, having some inkhng how his life was
sought no less than his father^s, to avoid further peril he fled
into Wales.
After the slaughter of Banquo, nothing prospered with
Macbeth. For every man began to doubt his own Hfe, and
durst hardly appear in the King's presence : and as there
were many that stood in fear of him, so likewise stood he in
fear of many, in such sort that he began to make those away
whom he thought most able to work him any displeasure.
At length he found such sweetness in putting his nobles to
death, that his thirst after blood might nowise be satisfied.
For, first, they were rid out of the way whom he feared ;
then, his coffers were enriched by their goods, whereby he
might the better maintain a guard of armed men about him,
to defend his person from them whom he had in any suspi-
cion.
To the end he might the more safely oppress his subjects,
he built a strong castle on the top of a high hill called Dun-
sinane. This castle put the realm to great expense, before
it was finished ; for all the stuff necessary to the building
could not be brought up without much toil and business.
But Macbeth, being determined to have the work go forward,
caused the Thanes of each shire within the realm to come
and help towards the building, each man his course about.
At last, when the turn fell to Macduff, Thane of Fife, he sent
workmen with all needful provision, and commanded them
to show such diligence, that no occasion might be given for
the King to find fault with him for not coming himself;
which he refused to do for fear lest the King should lay
violent hands upon him, as he had done upon divers others.
Shortly after, Macbeth, coming to behold how the work
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12 MACBETH.
went forward, was sore offended because he found not Mac-
duff there, and said, " I perceive this man will never obey
my commands till he be ridden with a snaffle ; but I shall
provide enough for him." Nor could he afterwards abide to
look upon Macduff, either because he thought his puissance
over-great, or else because he had learned of certain wizards,
in whose words he put great confidence, that he ought to
take heed of Macduff. And surely he had put Macduff
to death, but that a certain witch, in whom he had great
trust, had told him he should never be slain by a man bom
of any woman, nor be vanquished till the wood of Bimam
came to the castle of Dunsinane. By this prophecy Mac-
beth put all fear out of his heart, supposing he might do
what he would. This vain hope caused him to do many
outrageous things, to the grievous oppression of his sub-
jects.
At length Macduff, to avoid peril of Ufe, purposed with
himself to pass into England, to procure Malcolm to claim
the crown of Scotland. But this was not so secretly devised,
but that Macbeth had knowledge thereof: for he had, in
every nobleman's house, one sly fellow or other in fee with
him, to reveal all that was said or done within the same.
Immediately then, being informed where Macduff went, he
came hastily with a great power into Fife, and forthwith be-
sieged the castle where Macduff dwelt, trusting to find him
therein. They that kept the house opened the gates with-
out any resistance, mistrusting no evil. Nevertheless Mac-
beth most cruelly caused the wife and children of Macduff,
with all others whom he found in the castle, to be slain. He
also confiscated the goods of Macduff, and proclaimed him
traitor ; but Macduff had already escaped out of danger, and
gone into England to Malcolm, to try what he could do, by
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INTRODUCTION. 1 3
his support, to revenge the slaughter of his wife, his children,
and other friends.
Holinshed then proceeds to relate, at considerable length,
the interview between Macduff and Malcolm at the EngUsh
Court, setting forth the particulars of their talk in the same
order, and partly in the same words, as we have them in the
Poet's text.
Soon after, Macduff, repairing to the borders of Scotland,
addressed letters with secret dispatch to the nobles of the
realm, declaring how Malcolm was confederate with him, to
come hastily into Scotland to claim the crown. In the
meantime, Malcolm gained such favour at King Edward's
hands, that old Siward, Earl of Northumberland, was ap-
pointed with ten thousand men to go with him into Scotland,
to support him in this enterprise. After this news was
spread abroad in Scotland, the nobles drew into several fac-
tions, the one taking part with Macbeth, the other with Mal-
colm.
When Macbeth perceived his enemies' power to increase
by such aid as came to them out of England, he fell back
into Fife, purposing to abide at the Casde of Dunsinane,
and to fight with his enemies, if they meant to pursue him.
Malcolm, following hastily after Macbeth, came the night
before the battle to Bimam wood ; and, when his army had
rested awhile there, he commanded every man to get a
bough of some tree of that wood in his hand, as big as he
might bear, and to march forth therewith in such wise, that
on the next morning they might come closely within view of
his enemies.
On the morrow, when Macbeth beheld them coming in
this sort, he first marvelled what the matter meant ; but in
the end remembered himself, that the prophecy, which he
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14 MACBETH.
had heard long before, of the coming of Bimam wood to
Dunsinane-Castle, was likely now to be fulfilled. Neverthe-
less he brought his men in order of battle, and exhorted them
to do valiantly ; howbeit his enemies had scarcely cast from
them their boughs, when Macbeth, perceiving their numbers,
betook him straight to flight. Macduff pursued him with
great hatred, till Macbeth, perceiving that he was hard at his
back, leaped beside his horse, saying, " Thou traitor, what
meaneth it that thou shouldst thus in vain follow me, who
am not appointed to be slain by any creature that is bom of
a woman : come on, therefore^ and receive thy reward " ;
and therewithal he lifted up his sword, thinking to have slain
him. But Macduff, quickly leaping from his horse, answered,
with his naked sword in his hand, " It is true, Macbeth ; and
now shall thy insatiable cruelty have an end : for I am even
he that thy wizards told thee of, who was never bom of my
mother, but ripped out of her womb " : therewithal he