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 shown, by one quotation from Camden's account of Ireland, to be founded upon a practice really observed by the uncivilized 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 particularized, in which Shakespeare has shown his judgment and his knowledge[4].
NOTE XXXVI.
SCENE II.
Macbeth. Thou art too like the spirit of Banquo; down!
Thy crown does (a)sear mine eye-balls:—and thy (b)hair,
Thou other gold-bound brow, is like the first:—
A third is like the former.
(a) The expression of Macbeth, that the crown sears his eye-balls, is taken from the method formerly practised of destroying the sight of captives or competitors, by holding a burning bason before the eye, which dried up its humidity. Whence the Italian, abacinare, to blind.
(b) As Macbeth expected to see a train of kings, and was only inquiring from what race they would proceed, he could not be surprised that the hair of the second was bound with gold, like that of the first; he was offended only that the second resembled the first, as the first resembled Banquo, and, therefore, said:
—and thy air, Thou other gold-bound brow, is like the first.
NOTE XXXVII.
I will—give to the edge o' th' sword
His wife, his babes, and all unfortunate souls
That trace him in his line.—No boasting like a fool:
This deed I'll do before my purpose cool.