Hebron, in the first part of Absalom and Achitophel, by Dryden, stands for Holland; but in the second part, by Tate, it stands for Scotland. Hebronite similarly means in one case a Hollander, and in the other a Scotchman.
Hec´ate (2 syl.), called in classic mythology Hec´.a.te (3 syl.); a triple deity, being Luna in heaven, Dian’a on earth, and Proserpine (3 syl.) in hell. Hecate presided over magic and enchantments, and was generally represented as having the head of a horse, dog or boar, though sometimes she is represented with three bodies, and three heads looking different ways. Shakespeare introduces her in his tragedy of Macbeth (act iii. sc. 5), as queen of the witches; but the witches of Macbeth have been largely borrowed from a drama called The Witch, by Thom. Middleton (died 1626). The following is a specimen of this indebtedness:—
Hecate. Black spirits and white, red spirits and grey.
Mingle, mingle, mingle, you that mingle may....
1st Witch. Here’s the blood of a bat.
Hecate. Put in that, oh, put in that.
2nd Witch. Here’s libbard’s bane.
Hecate. Put in again, etc., etc.
Middleton, The Witch.
And yonder pale-faced Hecate there, the moon,