King. Whence camest thou, worthy Thane? Where the Norweyan banners flout the sky, Norway himself, with terrible numbers, The Thane of Cawdor, 'gan a dismal conflict, Point against point rebellious, arm 'gainst arm. King. Great happiness! Macd. That now Sweno, the Norway's king, craves composition: King. No more that Thane of Cawdor shall decoivo Our bosom interest ;-Go, pronounce his present death, And with his former titles greet Macbeth. Macd. I'll see it done. [Exeunt Macduff and Lenox, R. King. What he hath lost, noble Macbeth hath won. [Flourish of Trumpets amd Drums - Exeunt, L. SCENE III-A Heath.-Bridge in the background, over the Mountains.-Thunder and Lightning. Enter the Three WITCHES, meeting. 1st Witch. Where hast thou been, sister? 2d Witch. Killing swine. 3d Witch. Sister, where thou? 1st Witch. A sailor's wife had chesnuts in her lap, And mounched, and mounched, and mounched :-" Give me," quoth I. "Aroint thee, witch!" the rump-fed ronyon‡ cries. And like a rat without a tail, 2d Witch. I'll give thee a wind. * Inclosed in armour of proof. ↑ Begone. Fat, bulky woman. 1st Witch. Thou art kind. 3d Witch. And I another. 1st Witch. I myself have all the other; And the very ports they blow, All the quarters that they know I will drain him dry as hay: Weary seven nights, nine times nine, 2d Witch. Show me, show me. 1st Witch. Here I have a pilot's thumb, Wrecked as homeward he did come. [A March at a distance, over the Bridge. 3d Witch. A drum, a drum; Macbeth doth come. All. The weird sisters, hand in hand, Posters of the sea and land, Thus do go about, about. 2d Witch. Thrice to thine,— 3d Witch. And thrice to mine,— 1st Witch. And thrice again, All. To make up nine. [Join hands, and turn. 1st Witch. Peace:-the charm's wound up. [They retire, R. Enter MACBETH, BANQUO, and part of the Army, L. U. E. The remainder halt on the Bridge. Macb. Command they make a halt upon [Within.] Halt,-halt,-halt. the heath, Macb. So foul and fair a day I have not seen. Ban. How far is't called to Fores ?—[Observing the Witches. What are these, So withered, and so wild in their attire, That look not like the inhabitants o' the earth, * Sea-chart. That man may question? You seem to understand me, Upon her skinny lips. You should be women, Mach. Speak, if ye can: -What are you? 1st Witch. All hail, Macbeth! hail to thee, Thane of Glamis ! 2d Witch. All hail, Macbeth! hail to thee, Thane of Cawdor! 3d Witch. All hail, Macbeth! that shalt be king hereafter. [Macbeth starts, confused. Ban. Good sir, why do you start, and seem to fear Things that do sound so fair?-[To Witches.] I'the name of truth, Are ye fantastical, or that, indeed, Which outwardly ye show? My noble partner That he seems wrapt withal: to me you speak not: And say, which grain will grow, and which will not, 1st Witch. Hail! 2d Witch. Hail! 3d Witch. Hail! 1st Witch. Lesser than Macbeth, though greater. 2d Witch. Not so happy, yet much happier. 3d Witch. Thou shalt get kings, though thou be none. All. So, all hail, Macbeth and Banquo! Banquo and Macbeth, all hail! [Going. Macb. Crossing toward Witches.] Stay, you imperfect speakers, tell me more; By Sinel's death, I know I am Thane of Glamis; No more than to be Cawdor. Say, from whence [Thunder and Lightning- Witches vanish, R. Speak, I charge you. Ban. The earth hath bubbles, as the water has, And these are of them :-Whither are they vanished? Macb. Into the air; and what seemed corporal, melted As breath into the wind.-'Would they had staid! Ban. Were such things here, as we do speak about? Or have we eaten of the insane root, That takes the reason prisoner? Macb. Your children shall be kings. Macb. And Thane of Cawdor, too; went it not so? Enter MACDUFF and LENOX, R. Macd. The King hath happily received, Macbeth, Which should be thine, or his: Silenced with that, Came post with post: and every one did bear Len. We are sent To give thee, from our royal master, thanks; Not pay thee. Macd. And, for an earnest of a greater honour, Ban. [Aside.] What! can the devil speak true? me In borrowed robes ? Macd. Who was the Thane, lives yet; But under heavy judgment bears that life, you dress Which he deserves to lose; For treasons capital, confessed, and proved, Macb. Glamis, and Thane of Cawdor! The greatest is behind.—Thanks for your pains.- Ban. That, trusted home, Might yet enkindle you unto the crown, But, 'tis strange : And oftentimes, to win us to our harm, In deepest consequences.-Cousin, a word, I pray you. [They retire up the Stage, Macb. [In front.] Two truths are told, As happy prologues to the swelling act Of the imperial theme.-I thank you, gentlemen.— Cannot be ill; cannot be good.—If ill, My thought, whose murder yet is but fantastical, But what is not. Ban. [To Macduff and Lenox.] Look, how our partner's rapt. Macb. If chance will have me king, why, chance may crown me, Without my stir. Ban. New honours come upon him, Like our strange garments: cleave not to their mould, But with the aid of use. Macb. Come what, come may, Time and the hour runs through the roughest day. B |