Chapter CXXXV: Act II

SC. 1. "Sent forth great largess to your officers."

The correction of Malone for 'offices' of the folio, which also makes good sense. In a following line 'shut up' seems to apply to Duncan, as denoting the pleasure he felt. The expression is similar to "I am wrapp'd in dismal thinkings." All's Well, v. 3.

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"If you shall cleave to my consent, when 'tis
It shall make honour for you."

I cannot make sense of 'consent.' I had thought of _content_, also the conjecture of Malone; but it does not quite _content_ me.

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"The curtain'd sleepe; witchcraft celebrates."

Something is evidently lost here. Steevens and Collier's folio read 'sleepe_r_.' (See on Temp. iii. 1.) The usual reading has been that of Davenant, '_now_ witchcraft.'

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"With Tarquin's ravishing strides, towards his design
Moves like a ghost.--Thou sure and firm-set earth
Hear not my steps which way they walk."

Here 'strides,' 'sure,' and 'way,' are corrections of _sides_, _sowne_, and _may_ of the folio.

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SC. 2. "These deeds must not be thought _on_."

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"I am afraid to think _on_ what I have done."

Here the addition is not absolutely necessary, but it makes the language more forcible and more idiomatic.

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SC. 3. "To countenance this horror. Ring the bell.--
What is the business?"

Theobald regarded 'Ring the bell' as a stage-direction; but a direction follows, and Macduff, in his anxiety and impatience, reiterates his order.

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"Let's briefly put on manly readiness."

A very awkward way of expressing Let us make haste and put on our clothes (see Index _v._ Ready), for they must have been in their nightgowns. (Ham. iii. 4.) I greatly doubt if the editors have understood it; for they have no note on it; and Singer quotes it as a parallel to "Put on the dauntless spirit of resolution" (K. John, v. 1).