If you can look into the seeds of time,
Banquo
And say which grain will grow and which will not…”
The earliest recorded performance of the Scottish play took place at the Globe on 20 April 1610. Or 20 April 1611. Secondary sources – including two contrary Wikipedia entries – go each way.
And for good reason. Dr Simon Forman, writing in 1611, stated “In Macbeth at the Globe, 1610, the 20th of April (Sat.), there was to be observed…” As scholars have noted, there was a Saturday 20 April in 1611 but not in 1610.
The first lesson for 20 April is the obvious one: even primary sources, being human, get it wrong.
The second is the more interesting. As far as I can see, the scholars have suggested the alternative as a different year. Why is this? Why not an error on the author’s part? Why not 20 April 1610, whatever the day? Why not the nearest Saturday to 20 April 1610?
Doubtless there is a sensible explanation. I can only assume that the performance was in the evening; after Macbeth farewells Banquo, he leaves himself to utter:
Let every man be master of his time
Till seven at night.”
