Notes and Glossary
ACT I Scene 2 "Line- 17 Sergeant. A term formerly not implying the subaltern officer now so called; but a man performing a special feudal military service, in rank next to an esquire. The first of many references to blood in the play. The Sergeant presents the heroic ideal that Macbeth is going to violate. ACT I Scene 2 Line 26 For, to that. Here, "for, to that" is an elliptical phrase, expressing 'for, to that end,' 'for, to that purpose, , or 'for, as tending naturally to that effect. , ACT I Scene 2 Line 29 Of kerns and gallowglasses is supplied. Both lightly armed and heavily armed Irish foot soldiers, probably mercenaries. "Of' is here used for 'with'. ACT I Scene 2 Line 30 Fortune, on his damned quarrel smiling. "Quarrel" has been changed to 'quarry' in this passage by some editors. See Act iv "Julius Caesar" and Act v "Romeo and Juliet". Fortune... whore Fortune was often personified as a fickle woman; here she appears to favour the rebel, but like a prostitute, will be unfaithful to him. ACT I Scene 2 Line 37 Which ne'er shook hands. "Which" is here used for 'who', and refers to Macbeth, not to the "slave;" in Shakespeare's mode of allowing a relatively-used pronoun sometimes to refer to the not immediately preceding antecedent. ACT I Scene 2 Line 38 The nave to the chops. The navel to the jaws. ACT I Scene 2 Line 42 Direful thunders break. The first Folio omits the needful verb at the conclusion of this line; the second Folio prints 'breaking;' and many editors give "break" as the probably right word, which we adopt. ACT I Scene 2 Line 54 If l say sooth. 'If l speak the truth.' See Act iv, "Winter's Tale." ACT I Scene 2 Line 55 Cracks. Here used for 'reports,' 'explosions.' This is one of the many small and familiar words to which Shakespeare gives dignity and force by his mode of using them See Act iii, "Tempest". In the present play he uses the word "crack" again with even more strong and even solemn effect. See Act iv. ACT 1 Scene 2 Line 58 Memorise. 'Make memorable' 'commemorate'. See Act iii, "Henry VIII". ACT I Scene 2 Line 67 That seems to speak things strange. 'That seems about to speak strange things, that appears to be on the eve of announcing strange tidings. ' The mode of using "seems" here is peculiar; as is the one pointed out in Act I, "Romeo and Juliet". ACT I Scene 2 Line 76 Bellona's briqegroom. "Bellona" is the goddess of war; and Ross calls Macbeth her "bridegroom." as a poetically-honouring title. ACT I Scene 2 Line 76 Lapp'd in proof. 'Encased in armour of proof.' ACT I Scene 2 Line 77 confronted him with self-comparisons. 'Met him with competitive strokes of the self-same force as those he gave, 'dealt him blows of equal might on his own. , ACT I Scene 2 Line 85 Colmes-inch. Now called 'Inch-comb.' It is a small island in the Firth of Forth, with an abbey upon it dedicated to St. Columb. "Inch" or "inse", in Erse, means 'island. ,

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