28 The raised position of the s.h. FIRESTONE in MS means that the whole line is often attributed to him.

panax panacea, all-heal

pan socket, as of the thigh bone or knee cap, or short for ‘brain pan’ or skull

29 selago club moss

30 Hedge-hyssop medicinal plant

32 moon-calf congenital idiot

37 noise company or band of musicians

38 there ed. (they MS)

39–80 Come away … reach also used in Macbeth III.v.33 s.d. (see Introduction, pp. xii, xiv-xvi). See Appendix for music. Several of these lines are not attributed in MS, and any of the witches or Malkin have a claim to them. Malkin has to sing/mew some of them in a cat-like voice (easy enough with ‘muse’, ‘refuse’) for 11. 61–2 to make sense.

50 s.d. descends As with the later ascent with Hecate, this is a spectacular effect, but easily achievable in the Jacobean playhouse, where there was a winch in the roof which overhung the stage.

51 coll See I.ii.29.

61–2 her own language According to V.ii.31 this would be French. ‘Oui’ was thought to sound like a cat miaowing.

65 dainty precious

68 toy pet

Compare this line with I.ii.28–9.

70 mistress’ fountains The moon (Diana, the goddess Hecate) affects the seas and controls fountains. Davenant has ‘misty’.

71 steeples ed. (Steepe MS) See also the description of the witches flying at I.ii.22.

77–80 In MS the repeated lines are indicated by ‘No Ring of Bells &c.’

Act IV, Scene i

1 endued endowed

3 rub out erase, do without

5 formal according to form, but also suggesting the forms students were divided into according to proficiency. The ability to be merry without supper would be an asset because of student poverty.

6 lunary lunatic, affected by the moon

7–9 I know … brimstone Cf. Hamlet II.ii.378–9. Almachildes claims he can distinguish between things which are habitually closely associated.

8 aqua-vitae literally water of life, but also strong revivifying spirits such as whisky or brandy

8–9 wild-fire a name for erysipelas and other inflammatory diseases which spread easily

9 beadle parish constable

brimstone sulphur, also hellfire

10 She reckoning a hint that the duke may not be dead

15 ‘A fair … hair-bracelets’ love tokens made from a lover’s hair. Almachildes parodies moralistic play titles such as Heywood’s A Warning for Fair Women.

20 rudeness roughness, ignorance

stranger foreigner

24 crosses thwartings, frustrations

28 Goes … heaven is on a course to heaven, i.e. trusting the duchess will send him to hell

29 ’em the people

39 take… me feign a great grief

44 spoon-meat soft or liquid food taken with a spoon especially by infants or invalids, believed to have been used to poison Sir Thomas Overbury

49 sway and countenance be a commanding presence

51 beck gesture

52–3 Again the assumption is that ‘great’ people get away with murder.

53 popular of the common people

65 rankness excess in numbers and indiscipline or corruption. Regular war could be seen as healthy for a state; see Coriolanus IV.v.218–32.

70 that blessing her love

75 up risen up in rebellion

79 Cf. Hamlet I.ii. 10–13, King Lear IV.iii.17ff.

81 ensign sign, token