Mingle, mingle, mingle,
You that mingle say.
And in a former part,
—weyward sisters, hand in hand,—
Thus do go about, about.
Thrice to thine, and thrice to mine.
And thrice again to make up nine!
These two passages I have brought together, because they both seem subject to the objection of too much levity for the solemnity of enchantment, and may both be shewn, by one quotation from Camden's account of Ireland, to be founded upon a practice really observed by the uncivilised natives of that country: "When any one gets a fall, says the informer of Camden, he starts up, and, turning three times to the right, digs a hole in the earth; for they imagine that there is a spirit in the ground, and if he falls sick in two or three days, they send one of their women that is skilled in that way to the place, where she says, I call thee from the east, west, north, and south, from the groves, the woods, the rivers, and the fens, from the fairies red, black, white." There was likewise a book written before the time of Shakespeare, describing, amongst other properties, the colours of spirits.
Many other circumstances might be particularised, in which Shakespeare has shown his judgment and his knowledge.
IV.i.53 (489,6) yesty waves] That is, foaming or frothy waves.