head of a third. Sueno was successful in one battle, but in a second was routed; and, after a great slaughter of his troops, he escaped with ten persons only, and fled back to Norway. Though there was an interval of time between the rebellion of Macdowald and the invasion of Sueno, our author has woven these two actions together, and immediately after Sueno's defeat the present play commences. It is remarkable that Buchanan has pointed out Macbeth's history as a subject for the stage. "Multa hic fabulose quidam nostrorum affingunt; sed, quia theatris aut Milesiis fabulis sunt aptiora quam historiæ, ea omitto." RERUM SCOT. HIST. L. VII. But there was no translation of Buchanan's work till after our author's death. This tragedy was written, I believe, in the year 1606. See the notes at the end; and An Attempt to ascertain the Order of Shakspeare's Plays, Vol. II. MALONE. Young Siward, his Son. Seyton, an Officer attending on Macbeth. An English Doctor. A Scotch Doctor. Lady Macbeth. Lady Macduff. Gentlewoman attending on Lady Macbeth. Hecate, and three Witches.2 Lords, Gentlemen, Officers, Soldiers, Murderers, Attendants, and Messengers. The Ghost of Banquo, and several other Apparitions. SCENE, in the End of the fourth Act, lies in England; through the rest of the Play, in Scotland; and, chiefly, at Macbeth's Castle. Lady Macbeth.] Her name was Gruach, filia Bodhe. See Lord Hailes's Annals of Scotland, II. 332. RITSON. Androw of Wyntown, in his Cronykil, informs us that this personage was the widow of Duncan; a circumstance with which Shakspeare must have been wholly unacquainted: "Dame Grwok, hys Emys wyf, "Tuk, and led wyth hyr hys lyf, " And held hyr bathe hys Wyf and Qweyne, "Quhen he was Kyng wyth Crowne rygnand: "The greys of affynyte." B. VI. 35. From the incidents, however, with which Hector Boece has diversified the legend of Macbeth, our poet derived greater advantages than he could have found in the original story, as related by Wyntown. The 18th Chapter of his Cronykil, Book VI. together with observations by its accurate and learned editor, will be subjoined to this tragedy, for the satisfaction of inquisitive readers. 2 STEEVENS. -three Witches.] As the play now stands, in Act IV. sc. i. three other witches make their appearance. See note thereon. STEEVENS. МАСВЕТН. ACT I. SCENE I. An open Place. Thunder and Lightning. Enter three Witches. 1 WITCH. When shall we three meet again In thunder, lightning, or in rain? 2 WITCH. When the hurlyburly's done,1 When the battle's lost and won:2 hurlyburly's-] However mean this word may seem to modern ears, it came recommended to Shakspeare by the authority of Henry Peacham, who, in the year 1577, published a book professing to treat of the ornaments of language. It is called The Garden of Eloquence, and has this passage: "Onomatopeia, when we invent, devise, fayne, and make a name intimating the sownd of that it signifyeth, as hurliburly, for an uprore and tumultuous stirre." HENDERSON. So, in a translation of Herodian, 12mo. 1635, p. 26: "-there was a mighty hurlyburly in the campe," &c. Again, p. 324: 66 great hurliburlies being in all parts of the empire," &c. REED. * When the battle's lost' and won:] i. e. the battle, in which Macbeth was then engaged. WARBURTON. So, in King Richard III: 66 while we reason here, "A royal battle might be won and lost." So also Speed, speaking of the battle of Towton: "-by which only stratagem, as it was constantly averred, the battle and day was lost and won." Chronicle, 1611. MALONE. |