Chapter 16

_Malcolm_. Let us seek out some desolate shade, and there Weep our sad bosoms empty. _Macduff_. Let us rather Hold fast the mortal sword; and, like good men, Bestride our _downfal birth-doom_: each new morn, New widows howl, new orphans cry, new sorrows Strike heaven on the face, that it resounds As if it felt with Scotland, and yell'd out Like syllables of dolour.

He who can discover what is meant by him that earnestly exhorts him to _bestride_ his _downfal birth-doom_, is at liberty to adhere to the present text; but those who are willing to confess that such counsel would to them be unintelligible, must endeavour to discover some reading less obscure. It is probable that Shakespeare wrote:

--like good men, Bestride our _downfall'n birthdom_--

The allusion is to a man from whom something valuable is about to be taken by violence, and who, that he may defend it without encumbrance, lays it on the ground, and stands over it with his weapon in his hand. Our birthdom, or birthright, says he, lies on the ground, let us, like men who are to fight for what is dearest to them, not abandon it, but stand over it and defend it. This is a strong picture of obstinate resolution.

_Birthdom_ for _birthright_ is formed by the same analogy with _masterdom_ in this play, signifying the _privileges_ or _rights of a master_.

Perhaps it might be _birth-dame_ for _mother_; let us stand over our mother that lies bleeding on the ground.

NOTE XL.

_Malcolm_. Now we'll together; and the _chance of goodness_ Be like our warranted quarrel!

The _chance of goodness_, as it is commonly read, conveys no sense. If there be not some more important errour in the passage, it should, at least, be pointed thus:

--And the chance, of goodness, Be like our warranted quarrel!

That is, may the event be, of the goodness of heaven, [_pro justicia divina_,] answerable to the cause.

But I am inclined to believe that Shakespeare wrote,

--and the chance, O goodness, Be like our warranted quarrel!

This some of his transcribers wrote with a small _o_, which another imagined to mean _of_. If we adopt this reading, the sense will be, _and O! thou sovereign goodness, to whom we now appeal, may our fortune answer to our cause._

NOTE XLI.