mine,

there?

-Who's

Re-enter ATTENDANT, with two MURDERERS.

Now to the door, and stay there till we call. [Exit ATTENDANT. Was it not yesterday we spoke together? 1 Mur. It was, so please your highness. Macb. Well then, now Have you consider'd of my speeches? Know, That it was he, in the times past, which held [been So under fortune; which, you thought, had Our innocent self: this I made good to you In our last conference; pass'd in probation

you

with you,

How you were borne in hand; how cross'd; the instruments;

Who wrought with them; and all things else, that might,

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

I 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, span-
iels, curs,
[cleped
Shoughs, water-rugs, and demi-wolves, are
All by the name of dogs: the valued file
Distinguishes the swift, the slow, the subtle,
The house-keeper, the hunter, every one
According to the gift which bounteous nature
Hath in him clos'd; whereby he does receive
Particular addition,** from the bill

That writes them all alike: and so of men.
Now, if you have a station in the file,
And not in the worst rank of manhood, say it;
And I will put that business in your bosoins,
Whose execution takes your enemy off;
Grapples you to the heart and love of us,
Who wear our health but sickly in his life,
Which in his death were perfect.

2 Mur. I am one, my liege,

Whom the vile blows and buffets of the world
Have so incens'd, that I am recklesstt what
I do, to spite the world.

1 Mur. And I another,

So weary with disasters, tugg'd‡‡ with fortune,
That I would set my life on any chance,
To mend it, or be rid on't.

Macb. Both of you

Know, Banquo was your enemy.

2 Mur. True, my lord.

Macb. So is he mine: and in such bloody distance,

That every minute of his being thrusts [could Against my near'st of life: And though I With bare-fac'd power sweep him from my sight,

And bid my will avouch it; yet I must not,

Challenge me to extremities. + Proved. ↑ Deluded. Are you so obedient to the precepts of the Gospel. Wolf-dogs. ¶ Called **Title, description. Careless. ‡‡ Worried. }} Merial entity.

Whose loves I may not drop, but wail his fall Whom I myself struck down: and thence it is, That I to your assistance do make love; Masking the business from the common eye, For sundry weighty reasons.

2 Mur. We shall, my lord, Perform what you command us.

1 Mur. Though our lives

Macb. Your spirits shine through you. Within this hour, at most,

I will advise you where to plant yourselves.
Acquaint you with the perfect spy o'the time,
The moment on't; for't must be done to-night,
And something from the palace; always
thought,

That I require a clearness: And with him,
(To leave no rubs, nor botches, in the work,)
Fleance his son, that keeps him company,
Whose absence is no less material to me
Than is his father's, must embrace the fate
Of that dark hour. Resolve yourselves apart;
I'll come to you anon.

2 Mur. We are resolv'd, my lord.

Macb. I'll call upon you straight; abide within.

It is concluded:- -Banquo, thy soul's flight, If it find heaven, must find it out to-night.

Exeunt.

Macb. We have scotch'd the snake, not kill'd it; [malice She'll close, and be herself; whilst our poor Remains in danger of her former tooth. But let

[suffer, The frame of things disjoint, both the worlds 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
Than on the torture of the mind to lie [peace,
In restless ecstacy. Duncan is in his grave;
Treason has done his worst: nor steel, nor
After life's fitful fever, he sleeps well;
poison,

Malice domestic, foreign levy, nothing,
Can touch him further!

Lady M. Come on;

Gentle my lord, sleek o'er your rugged looks; Be bright and jovial 'mong your guests tonight. pray, be

Mucb. So, shall I, love; and so,
you:
*Because of.

+ Most melancholy.

Agony.

Macb. There's comfort yet; they are assailable;

summons,

Then be thou jocund: Ere the bat hath flown His cloister'd flight; ere, to black Hecate's [hums, The shard-borne beetle, with his drowsy 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,
[night,
Till thou applaud the deed. Come, seeling||
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

[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.

Ban. O, treachery! Fly, good Fleance, fly, Thou may'st revenge. 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 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. Macb. See, they encounter thee with their hearts' thanks:

Both sides are even: Here I'll sit i'the midst:
The table round.-There's blood upon thy face.
Be large in mirth; anon, we'll drink a measure
Mur. 'Tis Banquo's then.

Is he despatch'd?
Macb. 'Tis better thee without, than he with-

[in.

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.

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

Whole as the marble, founded as the rock;
As broad, and general, as the casing air: [in
But now, I am cabin'd, cribb'd, confin'd, bound
To saucy doubts and fears. But Banquo's safe?
Mur. Ay, my good lord: safe in a ditch he
bides,

With twenty trenched gashes on his head;
The least a death to nature.

[fled,

Macb. Thanks for that:There the grown serpent lies; the worm, that's Hath nature that in time will venom breed, No teeth for the present.-Get thee gone;.to

morrow

We'll hear, ourselves again. [Exit MURDERER. Lady M. My royal lord,

You do not give the cheer: the feast is sold, That is not often vouch'd, while 'tis a making,

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?

[The Ghost of BANQUʊ rises, and sits in MACBETH'S place.

Mucb. Here had we now our country's ho

nour roof'd,

[sent;

Were the grac'd person of our Banquo pre

* Continues in her chair of state.

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

Rosse. His absence, Sir,

[highness

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

[too.

(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.
[one,
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.

Macb. 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, ["otest 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 dispiac'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,t
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?

know,

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 will,) unto the weird sisters: More shall they speak; for now I am bent to [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.

1 Sudden gusts.

[Exeunt.

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

should find

he fail'd

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

* I. e. A drop that has deep 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;

Thou hast harp'd* my fear aright:-But one

word more:

1 Witch. He will not be commanded: Here's More potent than the first. [another,

Thunder.-An APPARITION of a Bloody Child rises.

App. Macbeth! Macbeth! Macbeth!Mach. Had I three ears, I'd hear thee. App. Be bloody, bold, [man, And resolute: laugh to scorn the power of For none of woman born shall harm Macbeth. [Descends.

Macb. Then live, Macduff; What need I fear of thee?

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?

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

Of nature's germins tumble all together, Even till destruction sicken, answer me To what I ask you.

1 Witch. Speak.

2 Witch. Demand.

3 Witch. We'll answer.

1 Witch. Say, if thoud'st rather hear it from

our mouths,

Or from our masters'?

Macb. Call them, let me see them.

1 Witch. Pour in sow's blood, that hath

eaten

Her nine farrow; grease, that's sweaten
From the murderer's gibbet, throw
Into the flame.

All. Come, high, or low;

Thyself, and office, deftly show.

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 breat
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:

Why sinks that cauldron? and what noises is [Haut boys.

this?

1 Witch. Show! 2 Witch. Show! 3 Witch.

Show!

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.