Most sacrilegious murder hath broke ope The lord's anointed temple, and stole thence Macb. What is't you say? The life? Len. Mean you his majesty ? Macd. Approach the chamber, and destroy your sight ake! With a new gorgon :-Do not bid me speak Malcolm! Banquo! Enter Lady MACBETH. Lady M. What's the business, That such a hideous trumpet calls to parley 'Tis not for you to hear what I can speak : Would murder as it fell.-O Banquo! Banquo! Our royal master's murder'd! Lady M. Woe, alas! What, in our house? Ban. Too cruel, any where. Dear Duff, I pr'ythee, contradict thyself, And say, it is not so. Re-enter MACBETH and LENOX. Macb. Had I but died an hour before this chance, I had lived a blessed time; for, from this instant, There's nothing serious in mortality: All is but toys: renown, and grace, is dead; Enter MALCOLM and DONALBAIN. Don. What is amiss? Macb. You are, and do not know it: The spring, the head, the fountain of your blood Macd. Your royal father's murder'd. Mal. O, by whom? Len. Those of his chamber, as it seem'd, had done't; Their hands and faces were all badged with blood, So were their daggers, which, unwiped, we found Upon their pillows: They stared, and were distracted; no man's life Was to be trusted with them. Macb. O, yet I do repent me of my fury, That I did kill them. Macd. Wherefore did you so? Macb. Who can be wise, amazed, temperate, and furious, Loyal and neutral, in a moment? No man : Out-ran the pauser reason.-Here lay Duncan, And his gash'd stabs look'd like a breach in nature, refrain, That had a heart to love, and in that heart, Lady M. Help me hence, ho? Mal. Why do we hold our tongues, That most may claim this argument for ours? Where our fate, hid within an augre-hole, Mal. Nor our strong sorrow on The foot of motion. Ban. Look to the lady : [Lady Macbeth is carried out. And when we have our naked frailties hid, That suffer in exposure, let us meet, And question this most bloody piece of work, Of treasonous malice. Macb. And so do I. All. So all. Macb. Let's briefly put on manly readiness, And meet i' the hall together. Covered with blood to their hilt. + Power. Intention. All. Well contented. [Exeunt all but Mal. and Don. Mal. What will you do? Let's not consort with them : To shew an unfelt sorrow, is an office Which the false man does easy: I'll to England. Mal. This murderous shaft that's shot, Hath not yet lighted; and our safest way SCENE IV.-Without the Castle. Enter Ross, and an OLD MAN. Old M. Threescore and ten I can remember well: Within the volume of which time, I have seen Hours dreadful, and things strange; but this sore night Hath trifled former knowings. Rosse. Ah, good father, Thou see'st, the heavens, as troubled with man's act, Threaten his bloody stage: by the clock 'tis day, And yet dark night strangles the travelling lamp: Is it night's predominance, or the day's shame, That darkness does the face of earth intomb, When living light should kiss it? Old M. 'Tis unnatural, Even like the deed that's done. On Tuesday last, Rosse. And Duncan's horses, (a thing most strange and certain,) Beauteous and swift, the minions of their race, Turn'd wild in nature, broke their stalls, flung out, Contending 'gainst obedience, as they would make War with mankind, Old M. 'Tis said, they eat each other. Rosse." They did so; to the amazement of mine eyes, That look'd upon't. Here comes the good Macduff: VOL. II. 000 Enter MACDUFF. How goes the world, Sir, now? Macd. Why, see you not? Rosse. Is't known, who did this more than bloody deed? Macd. Those that Macbeth hath slain. Rosse. Alas, the day! What good could they pretend? Macd. They were suborn'd; Malcolm, and Donalbain, the king's two sons, Rosse. 'Gainst nature still: Thriftless ambition, that will ravin up Thine own life's means !-Then 'tis most like, Macd. He is already named; and gone to Scone, To be invested. Rosse. Where is Duncan's body? Macd. Carried to Colmes-kill; The sacred storehouse of his predecessors, Rosse. Will you to Scone? Macd. No, cousin, I'll to Fife. Rosse. Well, I will thither. Macd. Well, may you see things well done there ;adieu ! Lest our old robes sit easier than our new! Rosse. Father, farewell. Old M. God's benison go with you; and with those That would make good of bad, and friends of foes! [Exeunt. ACT III. SCENE I.-Fores.-A Room in the Palace. Enter BANQUO. Ban. Thou hast it now, King, Cawdor, Glamis, all, As the weird women promised; and, I fear, Thou play'dst most foully for't: yet it was said, It should not stand in thy posterity; But that myself should be the root, and father Of many kings. If there come truth from them, (As upon thee, Macbeth, their speeches shine,) Why, by the verities on thee made good, Intend to themselves. May they not be my oracles as well, And set me up in hope? But, hush; no more. Senet sounded.-Enter MACBETH, as King; Lady MACBETH, as Queen; LENOX, ROSSE, Lords, Ladies, and Attendants. Macb. Here's our chief guest. Lady M. If he had been forgotten, It had been as a gap in our great feast, Macb. To-night we hold a solemn supper, Sir Ban. Let your highness Command upon me; to the which, my duties For ever knit. Macb. Ride you this afternoon ? [advice Macb. We should have else desired your good (Which still hath been both grave and prosperous,) In this day's council; but we'll take to-morrow. Is't far you ride? Ban. As far, my lord, as will fill up the time 'Twixt this and supper: go not my horse the bet ter, I must become a borrower of the night, Macb. Fail not our feast. Macb. We hear, our bloody cousins are bestow'd us. Macb. I wish your horses swift, and sure of foot; And so I do commend you to their backs. Farewell. Let every man be master of his time [Exit Banquo. The sweeter welcome, we will keep ourself Till supper-time alone: while then, God be with you. [Exeunt Lady Macbeth, Lords, Ladies, &c. • Commit, |