Inverness.

SCENE V

A Room in Macbeth's Castle

Enter LADY MACBETH, reading a letter

Lady M. "They met me in the day of success : and I have learned, by the perfectest report, they have more in them than mortal knowledge. When I burned in desire to question them further, they made themselves air, into which they vanished. Whiles I stood rapt in the wonder of it, came missives from the king, who all-hailed me Thane of Cawdor; by which title, before, these weird sisters saluted me, and referred me to the coming on of time, with Hail, king that shalt be! This have I thought good to deliver 10 thee, my dearest partner of greatness, that thou mightest not lose the dues of rejoicing, by being ignorant of what greatness is promised thee. to thy heart, and farewell."

Glamis thou art, and Cawdor; and shalt be

What thou art promised:

Lay it

- yet do I fear thy nature; It is too full o' the milk of human kindness

To catch the nearest way. Thou wouldst be great;
Art not without ambition, but without

The illness should attend it. What thou wouldst highly 20
That wouldst thou holily; wouldst not play false,

30

And yet wouldst wrongly win: thou'dst have, great

Glamis,

That which cries, "Thus thou must do, if thou have it:

An act which rather thou dost fear to do

Than wishest should be undone." Hie thee hither
That I may pour my spirits in thine ear;
And chastise with the valor of my tongue
All that impedes thee from the golden round
Which fate and metaphysical aid doth seem
To have thee crown'd withal.

Enter an Attendant

What is your tidings?

Thou'rt mad to say it:

Atten. The king comes here to-night.

Lady M.

Is not thy master with him? who, were't so,

Would have inform'd for preparation.

Atten. So please you, it is true; our thane is coming:

One of my fellows had the speed of him

Who, almost dead for breath, had scarcely more

That croaks the fatal ent(e)rance of Duncan

Under

battlements. Come, you spirits

40

my

That tend on mortal thoughts, unsex me here;
And fill me from the crown to the toe top full
Of direst cruelty! make thick my blood,
Stop up the accéss and passage to remorse
That no compunctious visitings of nature
Shake my fell purpose, nor keep peace between
The effect and it! Come to my woman's breasts,
And take my milk for gall, you murdering ministers,
Wherever in your sightless substances

You wait on nature's mischief! Come, thick night, 50
And pall thee in the dunnest smoke of hell!

That my keen knife see not the wound it makes,
Nor heaven peep through the blanket of the dark
To cry, Hold, hold! —

Enter MACBETH

Great Glamis! worthy Cawdor!

Greater than both, by the all-hail hereafter!

Thy letters have transported me beyond

This ignorant present, and I feel now

The future in the instant.

Macb.

Duncan comes here to-night.
Lady M.

My dearest love,

And when goes

hence?

Macb. To-morrow,

as he purposes.

O, never

60 Lady M.

Shall sun that morrow see!

Your face, my thane, is as a book where men

May read strange matters:

to beguile the time,

Look like the time; bear welcome in your eye,

Your hand, your tongue: look like the innocent flower,

But be the serpent under it. He that's coming

Must be provided for: and you shall put

This night's great business into my despatch:

Which shall to all our nights and days to come 70 Give solely sovereign sway and masterdom.

Macb. We will speak further.
Lady M.

To alter favor ever is to fear:

Leave all the rest to me.

Only look up clear;

[Exeunt.

SCENE VI

The same. Before Macbeth's Castle

Hautboys. Servants of Macbeth attending

Enter DUNCAN, MALCOLM, DONALBAIN, BANQUO, LENNOX, MACDUFF, Ross, ANGUS, and Attendants

Dun. This castle hath a pleasant seat; the air Nimbly and sweetly recommends itself.