Samuel Johnson - Notes to Shakespeare, Volume III - The Tragedies

I.iii.147 (415,9) Time and the hour runs through the roughest day] I suppose every reader is disgusted at the tautology in this passage, Time and the hour , and will therefore willingly believe that Shakespeare wrote it thus,

Macbeth is deliberating upon the events which are to befall him, but finding no satisfaction from his own thoughts, he grows impatient of reflection, and resolves to wait the close without harrassing hinaelf with conjectures.

Come what come may .

But to shorten the pain of suspense, he calls upon Time In the usual stile of ardent desire, to quicken his motion,

He then comforts himself with the reflection that all his perplexity must have an end,

This conjecture is supported by the passage in the letter to his lady, in which he says, they referred me to the coming on of time, with Hail, King that shalt be .

I.iii.149 (416,1) My dull brain was wrought] My head was worked , agitated , put into commotion.

I.iv.9 (417,3) studied in his death] Instructed in the art of dying. It was usual to say studied , for learned in science.

I.iv.12 (417,4) To find the mind's construction in the face] The construction of the mind is, I believe, a phrase peculiar to Shakespeare; it implies the frame or disposition of the mind, by which it is determined to good or ill.

I.iv.26 (418,5) Which do but what they should, by doing everything, Safe toward your love and honour] Of the last line of this speech, which is certainly, as it is now read, unintelligible, an emendation has been attempted, which Dr. Warburton and Dr. Theobald once admitted as the true reading:

My esteem for these critics inclines me to believe that they cannot be much pleased with these expressions fiefs to love , or fiefs to honour , and that they have proposed this alteration rather because no other occured to them, than because they approved of it. I shall therefore propose a bolder change, perhaps with no better success, but sua cuique placent . I read thus,

We do but perform our duty when we contract all our views to your service, when we act with no other principle than regard to your love and honour .

It is probable that this passage was first corrupted by writing safe for save , and the lines then stood thus:

which the next transcriber observing to be wrong, and yet not being able to discover the real fault, altered to the present reading.

Dr. Warburton has since changed fiefs to fief'd , and Hanmer has altered safe to shap'd . I am afraid none of us have hit the right word.

I.v.2 (420, 6) by the perfected report ] By the best intelligence. Dr. Warburton would read, perfected , and explains report by prediction . Little regard can be paid to an emendation that instead of clearing the sense, makes it more difficult.

I.v.23 (420, 7) thoud'st have, great Glamis,/That which cries, Thus thou must do, if thou have it ] As the object of Macbeth's desire is here introduced speaking of itself, it is necessary to read,

I.v.39 (422, 8) The raven himself is hoarse] Dr. Warburton reads,

Yet I think the present words may stand. The messenger, says the servant, had hardly breath to make up his message ; to which the lady answers mentally, that he may well want breath, such a message would add hoarseness to the raven. That even the bird, whose harsh voice is accustomed to predict calamities, could not croak the entrance of Duncan but in a note of unwonted harshness.

I.v.42 (422, 2) mortal thoughts] This expression signifies not the thoughts of mortals , but murtherous, deadly , or destructive designs . So in act 5,

And in another place,

I.v.47 (422, 3) nor keep peace between/The effect, and it!] The intent of lady Macbeth evidently is to wish that no womanish tenderness, or conscientious remorse, may hinder her purpose from proceeding to effect; but neither this, nor indeed any other sense, is expressed by the present reading, and therefore it cannot be doubted that Shakespeare wrote differently, perhaps thus,

To keep pace between may signify to pass between , to intervene . Pace is on many occasions a favourite of Shakespeare's. This phrase is indeed not usual in this sease, but was it not its novelty that gave occasion to the present corruption? [The sense is, that no compunctious visitings of nature may prevail upon her, to give place in her mind to peaceful thoughts, or to rest one moment in quiet, from the hour of her purpose to its full completion in the effect. REVISAL.] This writer thought himself perhaps very sagacious that be found a meaning which nobody missed, the difficulty still remains how such a meaning is made by the words. (see 1765, VI, 394, 6)

I.v.49 (423, 5) take my milk for gall] Take away my milk , and put gall into the place.

I.v.51 (423, 6) You wait on nature's mischief!] Nature's mischief is mischief done to nature, violation of nature's order committed by wickedness.

I.v.55 (423,8) To cry, _hold, hold_!] On this passage there is a long criticism in the Rambler .

I.v.58 (424,1) This ignorant present time] Ignorant has here the signification of unknowing ; that it, I feel by anticipation these future hours, of which, according to the process of nature, the present time would be ignorant .

I.vi.3 (425,3) our gentle senses] Senses are nothing more than each man's sense . Gentle senses is very elegant, as it means placid , calm , composed , and intimates the peaceable delight of a fine day. (see 1765, VI,396,2)

I.vi.7 (426,5) coigne of 'vantage] Convenient corner.

I.vi.13 (426,7) How you should bid god-yield as for your pains] I believe yield , or, as it is in the folio of 1623, eyld , is a corrupted contraction of shield . The wish implores not reward but protection .

I.vii.1 (428,1) If it were done ] A man of learning recommends another punctuation:

I.vii.2 (428,2) If the assassination/Could tramel up the consequence] Of this soliloquy the meaning is not very clear; I have never found the readers of Shakespeare agreeing about it. I understand it thus,