Len. The night has been unruly. Where we lay, Our chimneys were blown down, and, as they say, Lamentings heard i'the air, strange screams of death; And prophecying, with accents terrible,

Of dire combustion, and confus'd events,

New hatch'd to the woeful time. The obscure bird Clamour'd the live-long night. Some say, the earth Was feverous, and did shake.

Macb. 'Twas a rough night.

Len. My young remembrance cannot parallel A fellow to it.

Re-enter Macduff.

The expedition of my violent love Out-ran the pauser reason.

Here lay Duncan,

His silver skin lac'd with his golden blood;
And his gash'd stabs look'd like a breach in nature,
For ruin's wasteful entrance: there, the murderers,
Steep'd in the colours of their trade, their daggers
Unmannerly breech'd with gore: Who could refrain,
That had a heart to love, and in that heart
Courage, to make his love known?

Lady M. Help me hence, ho!
Macd. Look to the lady!

Mal. Why do we hold our tongues,

Macb. Len. What's the matter?

Macd. Confusion now hath made his master-piece!

Most sacrilegious murder hath broke ope

The Lord's anointed temple, and stole thence
The life o'the building.

Macb. What is't you say? the life?

Len. Mean you his majesty?

-

Macd. Approach the chamber, and destroy your sight With a new Gorgon! Do not bid me speak! See, and then speak yourselves! — Awake! Awake! [Exeunt Macbeth and Lenox. Ring the alarum-bell! - Murder! and treason! Banquo, and Donalbain! Malcolm! awake! Shake off this downy sleep, death's counterfeit, And look on death itself!-Up, up, and see The great doom's image! - Malcolm! Banquo! As from your graves rise up, and walk like sprights, To countenance this horror!

Enter Lady MACBETH.

Lady M. What's the business,

[Bell rings.

That such a hideous trumpet calls to parley'

The sleepers of the house? speak, speak,

Macd. O, gentle lady,

'Tis not for you to hear, what I can speak.
The repetition, in a woman's ear,
Would murder as it fell. -

O Banquo! Banquo!

Enter 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 liv'd a blessed time; for, from this instant, There's nothing serious in mortality, All is but toys; renown, and grace is dead; The wine of life is drawn, and the mere lees Is left this vault to brag of.

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
Is stopp'd: the very source of it is stopp'd.
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 badg'd with blood,
So were their daggers, which, unwip'd, we found
Upon their pillows:

They star'd, 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. Let's briefly put on manly readiness, And meet i'the hall together.

All. Well contented. [Exeunt all but Mal, and Don. Mal. What will you do? Let's not consort with them! To show an unfelt sorrow, is an office

Which the false man does easy. I'll to England.

Don. To Ireland, I; our separate fortune Shall keep us both the safer: where we are, There's daggers in men's smiles: the near in blood, The nearer bloody.

Mal. This murderous shaft, that's shot, Hath not yet lighted, and our safest way Is, to avoid the aim. Therefore, to horse! And let us not be dainty of leave-taking, But shift away! There's warrant in that theft, Which steals itself, when there's no mercy left. [Exeunt.

SCENE IV. -Without the castle.
Enter Rosse 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,
A falcon, tow'ring in her pride of place,
Was by a mousing owl hawk'd at, and kill'd.

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

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: — Enter MACDuff.

How goes the world, sir, now?

Macd. Why, see you not?

Macb. We hear, our bloody cousins are bestow'd In England, and in Ireland, not confessing Their cruel parricide, filling their hearers With strange invention. But of that to-morrow,

Macd. Those that Macbeth hath slain.

Rosse. Alas, the day!

What good could they pretend?

Macd. They were suborn'd.

1

Malcolm and Donalbain, the king's two sons,

Are stol'n away and fled; which puts upon them Suspicion of the deed.

Rosse. 'Gainst nature still :

Thriftless ambition, that wilt raven up

Thine own life's means! - Then, 'tis most like, The sovereignty will fall upon Macbeth.

Macd. He is already nam'd, and gone to Scone, To be invested.

Rosse. Where is Duncan's body?

Macd. Carried to Colmes-kill,

The sacred storehouse of his predecessors,

And guardian of their bones.

Rosse. Will you to Scone?

Macd. No, cousin, I'll to Fife.

Rosse. Well, I will thither.

Craving us jointly! Hie you to horse! Adieu,
Till you return at night! Goes Fleance with you?
Ban. Ay, my good lord: our time does call upon us.
Macb. I wish your horses swift, and sure of foot;
And so I do commend you to their backs.

Farewell!

[Exit Banquo..

Let every man be master of his time,
Till seven at night. To make society
The sweeter welcome, we will keep ourself
Till supper-time alone: while then, God be with you!
[Exeunt Lady Macbeth, Lords, Ladies, etc.
Sirrah, a word! Attend those men our pleasure?
Atten. They are, my lord, without the palace gate.
Macb. Bring them before us!-[Exit Atten.] To be
thus, is nothing;

But to be safely thus. Our fears in Banquo
Stick deep, and in his royalty of nature

Reigns that, which would be fear'd. 'Tis much he dares;

And, to that dauntless temper of his mind,
He hath a wisdom, that doth guide his valour

Ban. Thou hast it now: King, Cawdor, Glamis, all,
As the weird women promis'd; 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,
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
BETH, as Queen: Lenox, Rosse, Lords, Ladies, and
Attendants.

Mucb. Here's our chief guest.

Lady M. If he had been forgotten, It had been as a gap in our great feast, And all things unbecoming.

Macb. To-night we hold a solemn supper, sir, And I'll request your presence.

Ban. Let your highness

Command upon me; to the which my duties
Are with a most indissoluble tie

For ever knit.

Macb. Ride you this afternoon?

Ban. Ay, my good lord.

Whose being I do fear, and, under him,
My genius is rebuk'd, as, it is said,

Mark Antony's was by Caesar. He chid the sisters,
When first they put the name of king upon me,
And bade them speak to him; then, prophet-like,
They hail'd him father to a line of kings:
Upon my head they plac'd a fruitless crown,
And put a barren sceptre in my gripe,
Thence to be wrench'd with an unlineal hand,
No son of mine succeeding. If it be so,
For Banquo's issue have I fil'd my mind,
For them the gracious Duncan have I murder'd,
Put rancours in the vessel of my peace
Only for them, and mine eternal jewel
Given to the common enemy of man,

To make them kings, the seed of Banquo kings!
Rather than so, come, fate, into the list,
And champion me to the utterance !-Who's there?—
Re-enter Attendant, with two Murderers.
Now to the door, and stay there till we call!

[Exit Attendant.

Macb. We should have else desir'd your good advice (Which still hath been both grave and prosperous,) In this day's council; but we'll talk 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 better, I must become a borrower of the night,

For a dark hour, or twain.
Macb. Fail not our feast!
Ban. My lord, I will not.

Have you consider'd of my speeches? Know,
That it was he, in the times past, which held you
So under fortune; which, you thought, had been
Our innocent self. This I made good to you

In our last conference, pass'd in probation with you,
How you were borne in hand, how cross'd, the in-

struments,

Who wrought with them, and all things else, that

might,

To half a soul, and a notion craz'd,
Say, Thus did Banquo.

1 Mur. You made it known to us.
Macb. I did so, and went further, which is now
Our point of second meeting. Do you find
Your patience so predominant in your nature,
That you can let this go? Are you so gospell'd,
To pray for that good man, and for his issue,
Whose heavy hand hath bow'd you to the grave,
And beggar'd yours for ever?

1 Mur. We are men, my liege.

Macb. Ay, in the catalogue ye go for men ;

As hounds, and greyhounds, mongrels, spaniels, curs,

2 Mur. A light, a light!

3 Mur. 'Tis he.

SCENF IV. - A room of state in the palace. Abanquet prepared. Enter MACBETH, Lady MACBETH, ROSSE, LENOX, Lords, and Attendants.

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

Lords. 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.

Enter first Murderer, to the door.

Than pity for mischance!

Rosse. His absence, sir,

Lays blame upon his promise. Please it your highness
To grace us with your royal company?
Macb. The table's full.

Len. Here's a place reserv'd, sir.
Macb. Where?

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

Macb. Which of you have done this?

Lords. What, my goodlord?

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 will 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 that, Which might appal the devil.

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 within.
Is he dispatch'd?

Mur. My lord, his throat is cut; that I did for him. Macb. Thou art the best o'the cut-throats: yet he's good,

That did the like for Fleance: if thou didst it,
Thou art the nonpareil.

Mur. Most royal sir,

Fleance is 'scap'd.

You look but on a stool.

Macb. Pr'ythee, see there! 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. [Ghost disappears.
Lady M. What! quite unmann'd in folly?
Macb. If I stand here, I saw him,
Lady M. Fye, 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 perform'd
Too terrible for the ear: the times have been,

You do not give the cheer: the feast is sold,
That is not often vouch'd, 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.

Mucb. Sweet remembrancer!

Now, good digestion wait on appetite,
And health on oth!

Len. May it please your highness sit?

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.

Do not muse 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.

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,

beth's place.

Mach. Here had we now our country's honour roof'd, Were the grac'd person of our Banquo present,

Only it spoils the pleasure of the time.
Macb. What man dare, I dare.
Approach thou like therugged 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 overcome 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 blanch'd with fear.

Rosse. What sights, my lord?

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 mortals' chiefest enemy.

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.

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

Mach. 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,
By the worst means, the worst: for mine own good
All causes shall give way; I am in blood
St eptin 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.

SCENE V. The heath.

[Exeunt.

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,

Sits in a foggy cloud, and stays for me.

[Exit.

1 Witch. Come, let's make haste! she'll soon be back

Was pitied of Macbeth: — marry, he was dead. —
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,
Macduff lives in disgrace. Sir, can you tell
Where he bestows himself?

Lord. The son of Duncan,

From whom this tyrant holds the due of birth,
Lives in the English court, and is receiv'd
Of the most pious Edward with such grace,
That the malevolence of fortune nothing
Takes from his high respect. Thither Macduff
Is gone to pray the holy king, on his aid
To wake Northumberland, and warlike Siward:
That, by the help of these, (with Him above
To ratify the work,) we may again

Give to our tables meat, sleep to our nights,
Free from our feasts and banquets bloody knives,
Do faithful homage, and receive free honours,
All which we pine for now. And this report
Hath so exasperate the king, that he
Prepares for some attempt of war.

Len. Sent he to Macduff?

Lord. He did and with an absolute, Sir, not I, The cloudy messenger turns me his back,

And hums, as who should say, You'll rue the time, That clogs me with this answer.

Len. And that well might