*

streams;

summons,

Then be thou jocund: Ere the bat hath flown His cloister'd light; ere, to black Hecate's The shard-borne 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? Macb. Be innocent of the knowledge, dearest chuck, Till thou applaud the deed. Come, seeling|| [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; Whiles night's black agents to their prey do Thou marv'llest at my words; but hold thee [still; Things, bad begun, make strong themselves by ill:

rouse.

So, pr'ythee, go with me.

[Exeunt.

SCENE III.-The same.-A Park or Lawn, with a Gate leading to the Palace.

Enter three MURDERERS.

1 Mur. But who did bid thee join with us? 3 Mur. Macbeth.

2 Mur. He needs not our mistrust; since he delivers

Our offices, and what we have to do,
To the direction just.

1 Mur. Then stand with us.

[day:

The west yet glimmers with some streaks of Now spurs the lated traveller apace,

To gain the timely inn; and near approaches The subject of our watch.

3 Mur. Hark! I hear horses.

Ban. [Within.] Give us a light there, ho! 2 Mur. Then it is he; the rest That are within the note of expectation, Already are i'the court.

1 Mur. His horses go about.

3 Mur. Almost a mile: but he does usually, So all men do, from hence to the palace gate Make it their walk.

333

Thou may'st revenge. Ban. O, treachery! Fly, good Fleance, fly, O slave! [fly, fly; [Dies. FLEANCE and Servant escape. 3 Mur. Who did strike out the light? 1 Mur. Was't not the way?

3 Mur. There's but one down; the son is fled. 2 Mur. We have lost best half of our affair. 1 Mur. Well, let's away, and say how much is done. [Exeunt. SCENE IV.—A Room of State in the Palace. A Banquet prepared. Enter MACBETH, Lady MACBETH, ROSSE, LENOX, LORDS, and AT

TENDANTS.

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

Lords. Thanks to your majesty.

And play the humble host.
Macb. Ourself will mingle with society,

Our hostess keeps her state;* but in best time,
We will require her welcome.

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

Enter first MURDERER, to the door. 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.-There's blood upon thy face. Mur. 'Tis Banquo's then.

Macb. "Tis better thee without, than he with

Is he despatch'd?

(in.

morrow

torch preceding them.

2 Mur. A light, a light!

3 Mur. 'Tis he.

1 Mur. Stand to't.

Ban. It will be rain to-night.

1 Mur. Let it come down.

Who may 1 rather challenge for unkindness, Than pity for mischance!

[highness

Rosse. His absence, Sir,
Lays blame upon his promise. Please it your
To grace us with your royal company?
Mach. The table's full.

Len. Here's a place reserv'd, Sir.
Mucb. Where?

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

Macb. Which of you have done this?
Lords. What, my good lord!

Macb. Thou canst not say, I did it: never Thy gory locks at me. [shake Rosse. Gentlemen, rise; his highness is not well.

Lady M. Sit, worthy friends :-my lord is often thus, [seat; And hath been from his youth: 'pray you, keep 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.-Are you a man? Macb. Ay, and a bold one, that dare look on Which might appal the devil. [that

Lady M. O proper stuff! This is the very painting of your fear: This is the air-drawn dagger, which, you said, Led you to Duncan. Ö, these flaws, and starts,

(Impostors to true fear,) would well become A woman's story, at a winter's fire, Authoriz'd by her grandam. Shame itself! Why do you make such faces? When all's You look but on a stool. [done,

[too.

Macb. Pr'ythee, see there! behold! look! lo! how say you?Why, what care I? If thou canst nod, speak If charnel-houses, and our graves, must send Those that we bury, back, our monuments Shall be the maws of kites. [Ghost disappears. Lady M. What! quite unmann'd in folly? Macb. If I stand here, I saw him. Lady M. Fie, for shame!

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

Ere human statute purg'd the gentle weal; Ay, and since too, murders have been per

form'd

Do not muses at me, my most worthy friends; I have a strange infirmity, which is nothing To those that know me. Come, love and health to all;

Then I'll sit down:- -Give me some wine, fill full:

I drink to the general joy of the whole table, Ghost rises.

And to our dear friend Banquo, whom we miss;

Would he were here! to all, and him, we thirst, And all to all.

Lords. Our duties, and the pledge.

As quick as thought.

Macb. Avaunt! and quit my sight! Let the earth hide thee?

Thy bones are marrowless, thy blood is cold; Thou hast no speculation in those eyes Which thou dost glare with!

Lady M. Think of this, good peers, But as a thing of custom: 'tis no other; Only it spoils the pleasure of the time.

Mucb. What man dare, I dare: Approach thou like the rugged Russian bear, The arm'd rhinoceros, or the Hyrcan tiger, Take any shape but that, and my firm nerves Shall never tremble: Or, be alive again, And dare me to the desert with thy sword; If trembling I inhibit thee, protest me The baby of a girl. Hence, horrible shadow! [Ghost disappears. Unreal mockery, hence!-Why, so;-being

gone,

I am a man again.-Pray you, sit still.
Lady M. You have displac'd the mirth, broke
the good meeting,
With most admir'd disorder.
Macb. Can such things be,

And overcomet us like a summer's cloud, Without our special wonder? You make me strange

Even to the disposition that I owe,‡
When now I think you can behold such sights
And keep the natural ruby of your cheeks,
When mine are blanched with fear.
Rosse. What sights, my lord?

Lady M. I pray you, speak not; he grows worse and worse;

Question enrages him: at once, good night :-
Stand not upon the order of your going,
But go at once.

Len. Good night, and better health
Attend his majesty!

Lady M. A kind good night to all!

[Exeunt LORDS and ATTENDANTS. Macb. It will have blood; they say, blood

will have blood:

[speak;

Stones have been known to move, and trees to Augurs, and understood relations, have By magot-pies, and choughs, and rooks, brought forth [night? The secret'st man of blood.-What is the Lady M. Almost at odds with morning,

which is which.

Macb. How say'st thou, that Macduff denies his person,

At our great bidding?

Lady M. Did you send to him, Sir?

Macb. I hear it by the way; but I will send : There's not a one of them, but in his house I keep a servant fee'd. I will to-morrow, (Betimes I will,) unto the weird sisters: More shall they speak; for now I am bent to know, [good, By the worst means, the worst: for mine own All causes shall give way; I am in blood Stepped in so far, that, should I wade no more, Returning were as tedious as go o'er: Strange things I have in head, that will to hand;

Which must be acted, ere they may be scann'd.¶ Lady M. You lack the season of all natures,

sleep.

Macb. Come, we'll to sleep: My strange and self-abuse

Is the initiate fear, that wants hard use:-
We are yet but young in deed.

I. e. All good wishes to all

An individual

↑ Sudden gusts.

[Exeuna.

+ Pass over. Magpies. Examined nicely.

SCENE V.-The Heath.

Thunder. Enter HECATE, meeting the three WITCHES.

1 Witch. Why, how now, Hecate? you look angerly.

Hec. Have I not reason, beldams, as you are,
Saucy, and overbold? How did you dare
To trade and traffic with Macbeth,
In riddles, and affairs of death;
And I, the mistress of your charms,
The close contriver of all harms,
Was never call'd to bear my part,
Or show the glory of our art?

And, which is worse, all you have done
Hath been but for a wayward son,
Spiteful, and wrathful; who, as others do,
Loves for his own ends, not for you.
But make amends now: Get you gone,
And at the pit of Acheron,
Meet me i'the morning; thither he
Will come to know his destiny.

Your vessels, and your spells, provide,
Your charms, and every thing beside:
I am for the air; this night I'll spend
Unto a dismal-fatal end.

Great business must be wrought ere noon :
Upon the corner of the moon

There hangs a vaporous drop profound ;*
I'll catch it ere it come to ground:
And that, distill'd by magic slights,
Shall raise such artificial sprights,
As, by the strength of their illusion,
Shall draw him on to his confusion:
He shall spurn fate, scorn death, and bear
His hopes 'bove wisdom, grace, and fear:
And you all know, security

Is mortal's chiefest enemy.

Song, [Within.] Come away, come away, &c. Hark, I am call'd; my little spirit, see, Sits in a foggy cloud, and stays for me. [Exit. 1 Witch. Come, let's make haste; she'll soon be back again. [Exeunt.

SCENE VI.--Fores.-A Room in the Palace.

Enter LENOx and another LORD.

Len. My former speeches have but hit your thoughts,

Which can interpret further: only, I say, Things have been strangely borne: The gra[dead:

cious Duncan

Was pitied of Macbeth:-marry, he was
And the right-valiant Banquo walk'd too late;
Whom, you may say, if it please you, Fleance
kill'd,

For Fleance fled. Men must not walk too late.
Who cannot want the thought, how monstrous
It was for Malcolm, and for Donalbain,
To kill their gracious father? damned fact!
How it did grieve Macbeth! did he not straight,
In pious rage, the two delinquents tear,

That were the slaves of drink, and thralls of sleep?

Was not that nobly done? Ay, and wisely too; For 'twould have anger'd any heart alive, To hear the men deny it. So that, I say, He has borne all things well: and I do think, That, had he Duncan's sons under his key, (As, an't please heaven, he shall not,) they should find

What 'twere to kill a father; so should Fleance. But, peace!-for from broad words, and 'cause

he fail'd

His presence at the tyrant's feast, I hear,

Le. A drop that has crep or hidden qualities,

SCENE 1.-A dark Cave.-In the middle, a Cauldron boiling.

Thunder. Enter the three WITCHES.

1 Witch. Thrice the brinded cat hath mew'd. 2 Witch. Thrice; and once the hedge-pig whin'd.

3 Witch. Harper cries:-'Tis time, 'tis time.
1 Witch. Round about the cauldron go;
In the poison'd entrails throw.-
Toad, that under coldest stone,
Days and nights hast thirty-one
Swelter'd venom sleeping got,
Boil thou first i'the charmed pot!

All. Double, double toil and trouble;
Fire, burn; and, cauldron, bubble.

2 Witch. Fillet of a fenny snake,
In the cauldron boil and bake:
Eye of newt, and toe of frog,
Wool of bat, and tongue of dog,
Adder's fork, and blind-worm's sting,
Lizard's leg, and owlet's wing,
For a charm of powerful trouble,
Like a hell-broth boil and bubble.

All. Double, double toil and trouble;
Fire, burn; and, cauldron, bubble.

3 Witch. Scale of dragon, tooth of wolf;
Witches' mummy; maw, and gulf,
Of the ravin'd salt-sea shark;
Root of hemlock, digg'd i'the dark;
Liver of blaspheming Jew;
Gall of goat, and slips of yew,
Silver'd in the moon's eclipse;
Nose of Turk, and Tartar's lips;

* Honours freely bestowed. + For exasperated. This word is employed to signify that the animal was hot and sweating with enom, although sleeping under a cold stone.

The throat.

|| Ravenous

But yet I'll make assurance double sure,
And take a bond of fate: thou shalt not live;
That I may tell pale-hearted fear, it lies,
And sleep in spite of thunder.-What is this,
Thunder.-An APPARITION of a Child Crowned,
with a Tree in his Hand, rises.

That rises like the issue of a king;

And wears upon his baby brow the round
And top of sovereignty ?t

All. Listen, but speak not.

App. Be lion-mettled, proud; and take no

care

midnight hags?

What is't you do?

All. A deed without a name.

Macb. I conjure you, by that which you profess,

(Howe'er you come to know it,) answer me: Though you untie the winds, and let them fight Against the churches; though the yesty+ waves Confound and swallow navigation up; Though bladed corn be lodg'd, and trees blown down;

Though castles topples on their warders' heads;

Though palaces, and pyramids, do slope
Their heads to their foundations; though the

treasure

Macbeth shall never vanquish'd be, until
Great Birnam wood to high Dunsinane hill
Shall come against him.
[Descends.

Macb. That will never be;
Who can impress the forest; bid the tree
Unfix his earth-bound root? sweet bodement?
good!

Rebellious head, rise never, till the wood
Of Birnam rise, and our high plac'd Macbeth
Shall live the lease of nature, pay his breath
Throbs to know one thing; Tell me, (if your
To time, and mortal custom.-Yet my heart

art

Can tell so much,) shall Banquo's issue ever Reign in this kingdom?

All. Seek to know no more.

Macb. I will be satisfied: deny me this, And an eternal curse fall on you! Let me

know:

All. Show his eyes, and grieve his heart; Come like shadows, so depart.

Eight Kings appear, and pass over the Stage in order; the last with a Glass in his hand; BANQUO following.

Macb. Thou art too like the spirit of Banquo; down!

Thy crown does sear mine eye-balls:-And thy hair,

[first:

rises.

A third is like the former :-Filthy hags! Why do you show me this?-A fourth ?-Start,

eyes!