Sey. Ay, madam; but returns again to-night. Lady M. Say to the King, I would attend his leisure For a few words.

Sey. Madam, I will.

Lady M. Naught's had, all's spent,
Where our desire is got without content:
'Tis safer to be that which we destroy,
Than, by destruction, dwell in doubtful joy.
Enter MACBETh, l.

[Exit, L.

How now, my lord? why do you keep alone,
Of sorriest fancies your companions making,-
Using those thoughts, which should indeed have died
With them they think on? Things without remedy
Should be without regard: what's done, is done.

Macb. We have scotched the snake, not killed it;
She'll close, and be herself; whilst our poor malice
Remains in danger of her former tooth.

But let

The frame of things disjoint, both the worlds suffer,
Ere we will eat our meal in fear, and sleep

In the affliction of these terrible dreams,

That shake us nightly: better be with the dead,
Whom we, to gain our place, have sent to peace,
Than on the torture of the mind to lie,

In restless ecstacy. Duncan is in his grave;
After life's fitful fever, he sleeps well;

Treason has done his worst; nor steel, nor poison,
Malice domestic, foreign levy, nothing,
Can touch him further!

[Retires, R.

Lady M. Come on; gentle my lord,
Sleek o'er your rugged looks; be bright and jovial
Among your guests to-night.

Mach. Oh, full of scorpions is my mind, dear wife!
Thou know'st that Banquo and his Fleance live.
Lady M. But in them nature's copy's not eterne.
Mach. There's comfort yet: they are assailable.
Then be thou jocund; ere the bat hath flown
His cloistered flight; ere, to black Hecate's summons,
The shard-bone beetle, with his drowsy hums,
Hath rung night's yawning peal, there shall be done
A deed of dreadful note.

Lady M. What's to be done?

Mach. Be innocent of the knowledge, dearest chuck, Till thou applaud the deed.-Come, seel ng night, Skarf up the tender eye of pitiful day;

And, with thy bloody and invisible hand,
Cancel, and tear to pieces, that great bond

Which keeps me pale!—Light thickens; and the crow
Makes wing to the rooky wood:

Good things of day begin to droop and drowse,
While night's black agents to their prey do rouse.
Thou marvell'st at my words: but hold thee still;
Things, bad begun, make strong themselves by ill.

[Exeunt, L. SCENE III.—A Park, near the Palace, at Fores.

Enter the Two Officers, L.

1st Off. The west yet glimmers with some streaks of

Now

day :

spurs

the lated traveller apace,

To gain the timely inn, and near approaches

The subject of our watch.

2d Off Hark! I hear horses.

Banquo. [Within.] Give us a light, there, ho'
1st Off. Then it is he; the rest

That are within the note of expectation,
Already are i' the court.

2d Off. His horses go about.

1st Of. Almost a mile; but he does usually, So all men do, from hence to the palace gate, Make it their walk.

2d Off. A light, a light!

1st Off. 'Tis he.

Enter FLEANCE, with a Torch, and BANQUO, R.

Ban. It will be rain to-night.

[Exeunt Fleance and Banquo, L.

1st Off. Let it come down.

[Exeunt, L.

Ban. [Within.] Oh, treachery! Fly, good Fleance,

fly, fly, fly!

Fle. Within, L.] Murder! murder! murder!

* Seeler (French) to seal, to close the eyes,

Ban. [Within, L.] Thou may'st revenge. -Oh, slave!

Oh, Oh, Oh !

Re-enter OFFICERS.

1st Off. Who did strike out the light? 2d Off. Was't not the way ?

[Dies.

1st Off. There's but one down; the son is fled. 2d Off. We have lost the best half of our affair. 1st Off. Well, let's away, and say how much is done. [Exeunt, L.

SCENE IV.-The Banqueting Room in the Palace, at Fores. Music. A Banquet prepared.

MACBETH, LADY MACBETH, ROSSE, LENOX, Seyton, AtTENDANTS, GUARDS, &c., discovered.

Macb. You know your own degrees, sit down: at first, And last, the hearty welcome.

Rosse. Thanks to your majesty.

Macb. Ourself will mingle with society,

And play the humble host:

Our hostess keeps her state; but in best time,

We will require her welcome.

Lady M. Pronounce it for me, sir, to all our friends; For my heart speaks, they are welcome.

Macb. See, they encounter thee with their hearts'

thanks :

Both sides are even; here I'll sit i' the midst.

Be large in mirth; anon, we'll drink a measure

The table round.—

Enter FIRST OFFICER, L. Macbeth leaves the throne to meet

him.

There's blood upon thy face.

1st Off. 'Tis Banquo's, then. Mach. Is he dispatched?

1st Off. My lord, his throat is cut; that I did for him. Macb. Thou art the best o' the cut-throats :-Yet he's

Macb. Then comes my fit again; I had else been per

fect:

Whole as the marble, founded as the rock;

As broad, and general, as the casing air;

But now I am cabined, cribbed, confined, bound in
To saucy doubts and fears.—But Banquo's safe?

1st Off. Ay, my good lord; safe in a ditch he bides, With twenty trenchéd gashes on his head; The least a death to nature.

Macb. Thanks for that :

There the grown serpent lies; the worm, that's fled,
Hath nature that in time will venom breed,

No teeth for the present.-Get thee gone; to-morrow
We'll hear, ourselves again.

Lady M. My royal lord,

[Exit Officer, L.

You do not give the cheer; the feast is sold,

That is not often vouched; while 'tis a making,

'Tis given with welcome: to feed, were best at home; From thence, the sauce to meat is ceremony;

Meeting were bare without it.

Macb. Sweet remembrancer!

Now, good digestion wait on appetite,

And health on both.

Len. May it please your highness, sit?

Macb. Here had we now our country's honour roofed,

[Crossing, R. Were the graced person of our Banquo present, Whom I may rather challenge for unkindness,

Than pity for mischance !

[The blood-stained ghost of BANQUo enters, L., and ocpies the vacant chair.

Rosse. His aosence, sir,

Lays blame upon his promise. Please it your highness To grace us with your royal company ?

Macb. The table's full.

Len. Here is a place reserved, sir.

Macb. Where?

Len. Here, my good lord. What is't that moves your highness?

Macb. [Seeing Banquo.] Which of you have done this? Len. What, my good lord?

D

Macb. Thou canst not say I did it; never shake Thy gory locks at me.

Rosse. Gentlemen, rise: his highness is not well.

Lady M. Sit, worthy friends :-my lord is often thus, And hath been from his youth; 'pray you, keep seat; The fit is momentary; upon a thought,

He will again be well: If much you note him,
You shall offend him, and extend his passion.
Feed, and regard him not.—[Leaves the Throne, and
to Macbeth.] Are you a man?

Macb. Ay, and a bold one, that dare look on that
Which might appal the devil.

Lady M. Oh, proper stuff!

This is the very painting of your fear;

This is the air-drawn dagger, which, you said
Led you to Duncan. Oh, these flaws, and starts,
(Impostors to true fear), would well become
A woman's story, at a winter's fire,

Authorised by her grandam. Shame itself!
Why do you make such faces?

You look but on a stool.

When all's done,

goes

Macb. Pr'ythee, see there! [Pointing to Ban.] behold! look! lo!-How say you ?—

Why, what care I? If thou canst nod, speak, too.—
If charnel-houses, and our graves, must send
Those that we bury, back, our monuments
Shall be the maws of kites.

[Exit Ghost, L. Lady M. What! quite unmanned in folly! Macb. If I stand here, I saw him.

Lady M. Fie, for shame!

[Returns to the Throne.

Macb. Blood hath been shed ere now, i' the olden time,

Ere human statute purged the gentle weal;

Ay, and since, too, murders have been performed
Too terrible for the ear; the times have been,

That when the brains were out, the man would die,
And there an end; but now, they rise again,
With twenty mortal murders on their crowns,
And push us from our stools! This is more strange
Than such a murder is.

Lady M. My worthy lord,
Your noble friends do lack you.
Macb. I do forget:-

[Crosses, L.