Note 2 — Chapter IV
Isabel Hill translation
Madame de Staël says: "Macbeth apprend que l'oracle des sorcières s'est accompli; que le forêt de Birnam paraît s'avancer vers Dunsinane; et qu'il se bat avec un homme né depuis la mort de sa mère."
"Ludicrous perversion of the author's meaning!" The points Shakspeare intended to impress were, that "the weird women," "juggling fiends, who palter with us in a double sense," had promised their victim success and life till events which he naturally conceived impossible, but which they knew would occur.—TR.