SCENE I. FORES. A ROOM IN THE PALACE.

Enter Banquo.

Ban. Thou hast it now, King, Cawdor, Glamis, As the weird women promis'd; and, I fear, [all, 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
Macbeth, 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.

[advice

Macb. We should have else desir'd 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 I must become a borrower of the night, [better, For a dark hour or twain.

Macb. Fail not our feast.
Ban. My lord, I will 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;
When, therewithal, we shall have cause of state,
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
[foot;
Macb. I wish your horses swift, and sure of
And so I do commend you to their backs.
Farewell.-

upon us.

[exit Banquo.

Let every man be master of his time
'Till seven at night; to make society
The sweeter welcome, we will keep ourself [you.
Till supper-time alone: while then, God be with
[exeunt Lady Macbeth, Lords, Ladies, &c.
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 [dares:
Reigns that, which would be fear'd: 'Tis much he
And, to that dauntless temper of his mind,
He hath a wisdom that doth guide his valour

To act in safety. There is none, but he,
Whose being I do fear; and, under him,
My genius is rebuk'd; as, it is said, [sisters
Mark Anthony's was by Cæsar. He chid the
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 fill'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!-

there?

Who's

Re-enter Attendant, with two Murderer. Now to the door, and stay there till we call. [exit At. 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 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
instruments;
[might,

Who wrought with them; and all things else, that
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 this 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; [curs, As hounds, and greyhounds, mongrels, spaniels, Shoughs, water-rugs, and demi-wolves, are clep'd 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 bosoms, 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

Macb. So is he mine: and in such bloody disThat every minute of his being thrusts Against my near'st of life: and though I could With barefac'd power sweep him from my sight, And bid my will avouch it; yet I must not, For certain friends that are both his and mine, 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—

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.

SCENE II. THE SAME. ANOTHER ROOM.

Enter Lady Macbeth, and a Servant. Lady M. Is Banquo gone from court? Serv. Ay, madam, but returns again to-night. Lady M. Say to the king, I would attend his For a few words.

Serv. Madam, I will.

[leisure

Lady M. Nought's had, all's spent, Where our desire is got without content: 'Tis safer to be that which we destroy, Than, by destruction, dwell in doubtful joy. Enter Macbeth.

[exit.

How now, my lord? why do you keep alone,
Of sorriest fancies your companions making? [died
Using those thoughts, which should indeed have
With them they think on? Things, without remedy,
Should be without regard: what's done, is done.

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

The frame of things disjoint, both the worlds suffer,
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,

'Till thou applaud the deed. Come, sealing night,
Scarf 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
Makes wing to the rooky wood:

[crow

Good things of day begin to droop and drowse;
Whiles night's black agents to their prey do rouse.
Thou marvell'st at my words; but hold thee still;
Things, bad begun, make strong themselves by ill
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.

The west yet glimmers with some streaks of day
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.

[exeunt.

SCENE IV. A ROOM OF STATE IN THE PALACE.

A banquet prepared. Enter Macbeth, Lady Macbeth, Rosse, Lenox, Lords, and Attendants. Macb. You know your own degrees, sit down; And last, the hearty welcome.

[at first

Lords. Thanks to your majesty.
Mach. Ourself will mingle with society,
And play the humble host.

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

[friends; Lady M. Pronounce it for me, sir, to all our 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 : 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 despatch'd?

[him. Mur. My lord, his throat is cut; that I did for 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.

[perfect;

Macb. Then comes my fit again: I had else been Whole as the marble, founded as the rock; As broad, and general, as the casing air: But now, I am cabin'd, cribb'd, confin'd, bound in 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.

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

Len. Here, my lord. What is't that moves your
Mucb. Which of you have done this? [highness?
Lords. What, my good lord?

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, [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 that Which might appal the devil.

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. O, 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.
Why do you make such faces!
You look but on a stool.
Mach. Pr'ythee, see there! behold! look! lo!
how say you?-

Shame itself! When all's done,

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!
Mach. If I stand here, I saw him.
Lady M. Fye, for shame!

Macb. Blood hath been shed ere now, i'the olden Ere human statute purg'd the gentle weal; [time, Ay, and since too, murders have been perform'd Too terrible for the ear: the times have been, That, when the brains were out, the man would And there an end; but now, they rise again, [die, 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 [all;
To those that know me. Come, love and health to

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,
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, 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 With most admir'd disorder. [the good meeting 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?

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 [forth By magot-pies, and choughs, and rooks, brought The secret'st man of blood.-What is the night? Lady M. Almost at odds with morning, which is which. [person, Macb. How say'st thou, that Macduff denies his 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 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 Stept in so far, that, should I wade no more,

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.
[self-abuse
Macb. Come, we'll to sleep. My strange and
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 called 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 mortals' 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 gracious
Duncan

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, [find
(As, an't please heaven, he shall not,) they should
What 'twere to kill a father; so should Fleance.
But, peace! for, from broad words, and 'cause he
His presence at the tyrant's feast, I hear, [fail'd
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
That clogs me with this answer.
[time

Len. And that well might

Advise him to a caution, to hold what distance
His wisdom can provide. Some holy angel
Fly to the court of England, and unfold
His message ere he come; that a swift blessing
May soon return to this our suffering country,
Under a hand accurs'd!

Lord. My prayers with him!

SCENE 1. A DARK CAVE. IN THE MIDDLE, A
CAULDRON, BOILING.

Thunder. Enter 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 has 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,
Sliver'd in the moon's eclipse;
Nose of Turk, and Tartar's lips;
Finger of birth-strangled babe,
Ditch-deliver'd by a drab,
Make the gruel thick and slab:
Add thereto a tiger's chawdron,
For the ingredients of our cauldron.

All. Double, double, toil and trouble;

Fire, burn; and, cauldron, bubble.

2 Witch. Cool it with a baboon's blood, Then the charm is firm and good.

[exeunt.