Well then, now

I Mur. It was, so please your highness.
Macb.
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
Who wrought with them, and all things else that might,
To half a soul, and to a notion craz'd,

Say, "Thus did Banquo."

I Mur.

You made it known to us

Macb. I did so; and went farther, 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,
Το 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?

I Mur.

We are men, my liege.

Mach. Ay, in the catalogue ye go for men,

As hounds, and grey-hounds, mongrels, spaniels, curs,
Shoughs, water-rugs, and demi-wolves, are clepèd

All by the name of dogs: the valu'd 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,
Not i' 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

Have so incens'd, that I am reckless what

I do to spite the world.

I Mur.

And I another,

So weary with disasters, tugg'd with fortune,

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

That every minute of his being thrusts

Against my near'st of life: and though I could
With bare-fac'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.

I Mur.

Though our lives

Mach. 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.

SCENE II.-FORES.

[Exeunt Murderers.

Another Room in the Palace.

Enter LADY MACBETH and a Servant.

Lady M. Is Banquo gone from court?

Serv. Ay, Madam, but returns again to-night.

[Exit.

Lady M. Say to the king, I would attend his leisure

Where our desire is got without content: 'Tis safer to be that which we destroy,

Than, by destruction, dwell in doubtful joy.

Enter MACBETH.

How now, my lord! why do you keep alone,

Of sorriest fancies your companions making;

Using those thoughts, which should indeed have died
With them they think on? Things without all 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,
Whom we, to gain our peace, have sent to peace,

Than on the torture of the mind to lie

In restless ecstacy. Duncan is in his grave;
After life's fitful fever, he sleeps well;

Treason has done his worst: nor steel, nor poison,

Malice domestic, foreign levy, nothing,

Can touch him farther.

Gentle my lord, sleek o'er your rugged looks;
Be bright and jovial among your guests to-night.
Macb. So shall I, love; and so, I pray, be you :
Let your remembrance apply to Banquo;

Present him eminence, both with eye and tongue :
Unsafe the while, that we

Must lave our honours in these flattering streams;
And make our faces vizards to our hearts,

Disguising what they are.

Lady M.

You must leave this. Macb. O, full of scorpions is my mind, dear wife! Thou know'st that Banquo, and his Fleance, live. Lady M. But in them nature's copy's not eterne. Mach. There's comfort yet; they are assailable; Then be thou jocund: ere the bat hath flown

His cloister'd flight; ere, to black Hecate's summons,
The shard-borne beetle, with his drowsy hums,
Hath rung night's yawning peal, there shall be done
A deed of dreadful note.

Lady M.

What's to be done?

Mach. Be innocent of the knowledge, dearest chuck,
Till thou applaud the deed.-Come, seeling 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 crow
Makes wing to the rooky wood:

Good things of day begin to droop and drowse;
Whiles night's black agents to their preys 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.-FORES. A Park, with a path leading to the Palace gate.

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.

I 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.

Then, 'tis he: the rest

Ban. [Within.] Give us a light there, ho!
2 Mur

That are within the note of expectation
Already are i' the court.

I 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.

2 Mur.

A light, a light!

3 Mur.

'Tis he.

I Mur. Stand to't.

Enter BANQUO and FLEANCE, with a torch.

Ban. It will be rain to-night.

I Mur.

Let it come down.

Ban. O, treachery!-Fly, good Fleance, fly, fly, fly!

[Assaults BANQUO.

Thou mayst revenge.-O slave!

[Dies. FLEANCE escapes.

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.-FORES. A Room of State in the Palace.

A banquet prepared. Enter MACBETH, LADY MACBETH, Rosse, Lenox, Lords, and Attendants.

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.

Macb. See, they encounter thee with their hearts' thanks.

Both sides are even: here I'll sit i' the midst :

Enter first Murderer, to the door.

Be large in mirth; anon, we'll drink a measure
The table round.-There's blood upon thy face.
Mur. 'Tis Banquo's then.

Mach. 'Tis better thee without, than he within.

Is he despatch'd?

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

Mach. 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.

Fleance is 'scap'd.

Most royal Sir,

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:

But now, I am cabin'd, cribb'd, confin'd, bound in

Το

saucy doubts and fears.-But Banquo's safe?