Upon the next tree shalt thou hang alive, 4 Till famine CLING thee:] Clung, in the Northern counties, signifies any thing that is shrivelled or shrunk up. By famine, the intestines are, as it were, stuck together. In The Roman Actor, by Massinger, the same word, though differently spelt, appears to be used: 66 my entrails "Are clamm'd with keeping a continual fast." Again, in Pierce's Supererogation, or A New Praise of the Old Asse, &c. 1593: “Who should have thought, or could have imagined, to have found the wit of Pierce so starved and clunged?" Again, in George Whetstone's Castle of Delight, 1576: "My wither'd corps with deadly cold is clung." Again, in Heywood's Pleasant Dialogues and Dramas, 1637: "His entrails with long fast and hunger clung-." Again, in Golding's version of Ovid's Metamorphosis, b. vii. : old Eacus also, cloong 66 "With age-.". Thus also, in Philemon Holland's translation of the 8th book of Pliny's Natural History, ch. xxxvi.: "The first thing that they doe [i. e. the famished bears] is to devoure a certaine herb named Aron and that they doe to open their guts, which otherwise were clunged and growne together." : To cling likewise signifies, to gripe, to compress, to embrace. So, in The Revenger's Tragedy, 1607: 66 -slide from the mother, Again, in Antonio's Revenge, 1607: "And found even cling'd in sensuality." Again, in Northward Hoe, 1607: 'I will never see a white flea, before I will cling you.” Ben Jonson uses the word clem in the Poetaster, Act I. Sc. II.: "I cannot eat stones and turfs; say, what will he clem me and my followers? ask him an he will clem me." To be clemed is a Staffordshire expression, which means, to be starved: and there is likewise a Cheshire proverb: "You been like Smithwick, either clemed, or bursten." Again, in Antonio and Mellida : "Now lions' half-clem'd entrails roar for food." In the following instances, the exact meaning of this word is not very clear: "Andrea slain! then weapon cling my breast." 66 First Part of Jeronimo, 1605. Although my conscience hath my courage cleng'd, "And knows what valour was employ'd in vain." Lord Sterline's Darius, 1603. I care not if thou dost for me as much.- I pull in resolution; and begin To doubt the equivocation of the fiend, That lies like truth: Fear not, till Birnam wood Do come to Dunsinane ;-and now a wood Again, in The Sadler's Play, among the Chester Whitsun Plays, MS. Harl. 1013, p. 154, where the burial of our Saviour is spoken of: "That now is clongen under clay." I have given these varieties of the word, for the sake of any future lexicographer, or commentator on ancient authors. Mr. Whalley, however, observes, that "till famine cling thee," means-till it dry thee up, or exhaust all thy moisture." Clung wood is wood of which the sap is entirely dried or spent. Clung and clem, says he, are terms of very different meaning. The same idea is well expressed by Pope, in his version of the 19th Iliad, 166: Shrunk with dry famine, and with toils declin'd―.” 4 I PULL in resolution; and begin To doubt the equivocation of the fiend, STEEVENS. That lies like truth:] Though this is the reading of all the editions, yet, as it is a phrase without either example, elegance, or propriety, it is surely better to read: I pall in resolution—.” I languish in my constancy, my confidence begins to forsake me. It is scarcely necessary to observe how easily pall might be changed into pull by a negligent writer, or mistaken for it by an unskilful printer. With this emendation Dr. Warburton and Mr. Heath concur. JOHNSON. There is surely no need of change; for Shakspeare, who made Trinculo, in The Tempest, say "I will let loose my opinion," might have written "I pull in my resolution." He had permitted his courage (like a fiery horse) to carry him to the brink of a precipice, but, seeing his danger, resolves to check that confidence to which he had given the rein before. STEEVENS. This reading is supported by a passage in Fletcher's Sea Voyage, where Aminta says: 66 and all my spirits, "As if they had heard my passing bell go for me, 66 Pull in their powers, and give me up to destiny." M. MASON. Comes toward Dunsinane.-Arm, arm, and out!— There is nor flying hence, nor tarrying here. And wish the estate o' the world were now un done. Ring the alarum bell :-Blow, wind! come, wrack ! At least we'll die with harness on our back. 6 [Exeunt. SCENE VI. The Same. A Plain before the Castle. Enter, with Drums and Colours, MALCOLM, old MAL. Now near enough; your leavy screens throw down, And show like those you are:-You, worthy uncle, Fare you well. *First folio, upon's. s I'gin to be a-weary of the sun, &c.] Tum vero infelix fatis exterrita Dido Mortem orat, tædet cæli convexa tueri." harness-] An old word for armour. ler's Prophecy, 1594: 6 THEOBALD. So, in The Cob "His harness is converted to soft silke." HENDERSON. So, in the continuation of Hardyng's Chronicle, 1543: "—well perceyving that the intendours of such a purpose would rather have had their harnesse on their backs, than to have bound them up in barrelles." MALONE. Do we but find the tyrant's power to-night, MACD. Make all our trumpets speak; give them all breath, Those clamorous harbingers of blood and death. [Exeunt. Alarums continued. SCENE VII. The Same. Another Part of the Plain. Enter MACBeth. MACB. They have tied me to a stake; I cannot fly, But, bear-like, I must fight the course 7.-What's he, That was not born of woman? Such a one Am I to fear, or none. Enter young SIWARD. Yo. Siw. What is thy name? Масв. Thou'lt be afraid to hear it. Yo. Siw. No; though thou call'st thyself a hotter name Than any is in hell. Масв. My name's Macbeth. Yo. Siw. The devil himself could not pronounce a title More hateful to mine ear. MACB. No, nor more fearful. 7 -I must fight the COURSE.] A phrase taken from bearbaiting. So, in The Antipodes, by Brome, 1638 : Also you shall see two ten-dog courses at the great bear." STEEVENS. Yo. Siw. Thou liest, abhorred tyrant; with my sword I'll prove the lie thou speak'st. Масв [They fight, and young SIWARD is slain. Thou wast born of woman. But swords I smile at, weapons laugh to scorn, Brandish'd by man that's of a woman born. [Exit. Alarums. Enter MACDuff. MACD. That way the noise is :-Tyrant, show thy face: If thou be'st slain, and with no stroke of mine, I sheathe again undeeded. There thou should'st be; [Exit. Alarum. 8 This short scene is injudiciously omitted on the stage. The poet designed Macbeth should appear invincible, till he encountered the object destined for his destruction. STEEVENS. 9 Seems BRUITED] From bruit, Fr. To bruit is to report with clamour; to noise. So, in King Henry IV. Part II. : "One that rejoices in the common wreck, Again, in Acolastus, a comedy, 1540: "Lais was one of the most bruited common women that clerkes do write of." -There thou should'st be; By this great clatter, one of greatest note STEEVENS. And more I beg not.] I suspect, from deficience of metre, that the latter part of this passage originally stood thus: "Seems bruited there. Let me but find him, fortune! "And more," &c. STEEVENS. |