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Hid in an auger-hole, may rush, and seize us?

Let's away;

Our tears are not yet brew'd.

MAL. [Aside to DoN.] Nor our strong sorrow Upon the foot of motion.

BAN.

Look to the lady:

[LADY MACBETH is carried out.

And when we have our naked frailties hid,
That suffer in exposure, let us meet,

And question this most bloody piece of work,
To know it further. Fears and scruples shake us:
In the great hand of God I stand; and thence
Against the undivulged pretence I fight

Of treasonous malice.

MACD.

ALL.

And so do I.

So all.

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

ALL.

Well contented.

[Exeunt all but MALCOLM and DONALBAIN.

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 separated 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

D

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.

SCENE IV.

Outside MACBETH's castle.

Enter Ross and an Old Man.

[Exeunt.

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.

Ah, good father,

Ross. Thou seest, 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 't night's predominance, or the day's shame, That darkness does the face of earth entomb, When living light should kiss it?

OLD M.

'Tis unnatural, Even like the deed that's done. On Tuesday last,

A falcon, towering in her pride of place,

Was by a mousing owl hawk'd at and kill'd.

Ross.

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 War with mankind.

OLD M.

'Tis said they eat each other.

Ross. 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?

Ross. Is 't known who did this more than bloody

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Malcolm and Donalbain, the king's two sons,

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

Ross.

'Gainst nature still!

Thriftless ambition, that wilt ravin up

Thine own life's means! Then 'tis most like

The sovereignty will fall upon Macbeth.

MACD. He is already named, and gone to Scone

To be invested.

Ross.

Where is Duncan's body?

MACD. Carried to Colmekill,

The sacred storehouse of his predecessors,

And guardian of their bones.

Ross.

Will

you to Scone?

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

Ross.

Well, I will thither.

MACD. Well, may you see things well done

there: adieu!

Lest our old robes sit easier than our new

Ross. Farewell, father.

OLD M. God's benison go with you; and with those

That would make good of bad, and friends of foes!

[Exeunt.

ACT THE THIRD.

SCENE I.

Forres. The palace.

Enter BANQUO.

BAN. Thou hast it now: king, Cawdor, Glamis, all,
As the weird women promised, 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.
Sennet sounded. Enter MACBETH, as king, LADY
MACBETH, as queen, Lennox, Ross, Lords, Ladies,
and Attendants.

MACB. Here's our chief guest.

LADY M.

If he had been forgotten,

It had been as a gap in our great feast,
And all-thing 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.

MACB. We should have else desired your good advice,

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 better, I must become a borrower of the night

For a dark hour or twain.

МАСВ.

BAN. My lord, I will not.

Fail not our feast.

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 upon's. MACB. I wish your horses swift and sure of foot;

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