_Insane root_, _iii_, 84. In Plutarch's "Lives," which in the famous translation of North was familiar to Shakespeare and from which he took material for his plays, we are told that the soldiers of Anthony in the Parthian war were forced by lack of provisions to "taste of roots that were never eaten before; among which was one that killed them, and made them out of their wits." Any intelligent student would be likely to understand the force of this phrase from the context, but it is well to speak of it beforehand to avoid distraction of the attention in reading. _Coign_, _vi_, 7. "Jutty," from our common use of the verb "to jut," carries its own meaning, and the use of the word "coign" in this passage is given in the "Century Dictionary." _Sewer_, _vii_, _stage-directions_. The derivation and the meaning are also given in the "Century Dictionary," with illustrative quotations. So far for single words which would be likely to bother the ordinary student in reading. The list might be extended by individual teachers to fit individual cases, and such words included as choppy, _iii_, 44; blasted, _iii_, 77; procreant, _vi_, 8; harbinger, _iv_, 45; flourish, _iv_, _end_; martlet, _vi_, 4; God 'ield, _vi_, 13; trammel up, _vii_, 3; limbec, _vii_, 67. It is well, however, not to make the list longer than is absolute necessary; and as the vocabulary of the whole play is to be taken up, it is better to trust to the general intelligence of the class as far as possible. II These doubtful or obsolete words having been mastered by the class, and the lines in which they occur used as illustrations of their use, the next matter is to take up obscure passages. These may be blind from unusual use of familiar words or from some other cause. Where the difficulty is a matter of diction it is hardly worth while to make further division into groups, and in the first act the following passages may be given to the students to study out for themselves if possible, or to have explained by the teacher if necessary: Say to the king _the knowledge of the broil_ As thou did leave it.—_ii_, 6. * * * * * For brave Macbeth—well he deserves that name— _Disdaining fortune_, with his brandished steel Which smoked with _bloody execution_, Like _valour's minion_ carved out his passage Till he faced the slave; Which ne'er shook hands, nor bid farewell to him, Till he _unseam'd him from the nave to chaps_, And fix'd his head upon our battlements.—_ii_, 16-23. * * * * * Except they meant to bathe in reeking wounds, Or _memorize another Golgotha_, I cannot tell.—_ii_, 39-41. * * * * * Till that _Bellona's bridegroom, lapp'd in proof, Confronted him with self-comparisons, Point against point rebellious_, arm 'gainst arm, Curbing his lavish spirit.—_ii_, 54-57.