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.
“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.
“The curtain’d sleepe; witchcraft celebrates.”
Something is evidently lost here. Steevens and Collier’s folio read ‘sleeper.’ (See on Temp. iii. 1.) The usual reading has been that of Davenant, ‘now witchcraft.’
“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.
Sc. 2
“These deeds must not be thought on.”
“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.
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.
“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).