Though bladed corn be lodged and trees blown down; Though castles topple on their warders' heads; Though palaces and pyramids do slope

Their heads to their foundations; though the treasure

Of nature's germens tumble all together,
Even till destruction sicken; answer me

FIRST WITCH. Say, if thou'dst rather hear it

from our mouths,

Or from our masters?

MACB.

Call 'em; let me see 'em.

FIRST 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!

Thunder. First Apparition: an armed Head.

MACB. Tell me, thou unknown power,

FIRST WITCH.

He knows thy thought:

Hear his speech, but say thou nought.

FIRST APP. Macbeth Macbeth! Macbeth!

beware Macduff;

Beware the thane of Fife.

Dismiss me. Enough.

[Descends.

MACB. Whate'er thou art, for thy good caution,

thanks;

Thou hast harp'd my fear aright: but one word

more,

FIRST WITCH. He will not be commanded: here's another,

More potent than the first.

Thunder. Second Apparition: a bloody Child.
SEC. APP. Macbeth! Macbeth! Macbeth!
MACB. Had I three ears, I'ld hear thee.
SEC. APP. Be bloody, bold, and resolute; laugh
to scorn

The

power

of man, 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.

Thunder. Third Apparition: a Child crowned, with a tree in his hand.

That rises like the issue of a king,

What is this

And wears upon his baby-brow the round
And top of sovereignty?

ALL.

Listen, but speak not to 't.

THIRD APP. Be lion-mettled, proud; and take

no care

Who chafes, who frets, or where conspirers are:
Macbeth shall never vanquish'd be until

Great Birnam wood to high Dunsinane hill
Shall come against him.

[Descends.

МАСВ.

That will never be:

Who can impress the forest, bid the tree

Unfix his earth-bound root? Sweet bodements! good!
Rebellion's head, rise never till the wood

Of Birnam rise, and our high-placed Macbeth
Shall live the lease of nature, pay his breath
To time and mortal custom. Yet my heart
Throbs to know one thing: tell me, if your 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 noise is this?

FIRST WITCH. Show!

SEC. WITCH. Show!

THIRD WITCH. Show!

[Hautboys

ALL. Show his eyes, and grieve his heart;
Come like shadows, so depart!

A show of Eight Kings, the last with a glass in
his hand; BANQUo's Ghost following.

MACB. Thou art too like the spirit of Banquo; down!
Thy crown does sear mine eye-balls. And thy hair,
Thou other gold-bound brow, is like the first.
A third is like the former. Filthy hags!

Why do you show me this? A fourth! Start, eyes! What, will the line stretch out to the crack of doom? Another yet! A seventh! I'll see no more: And yet the eighth appears, who bears a glass Which shows me many more; and some I see

That two-fold balls and treble sceptres carry :
Horrible sight! Now, I see, 'tis true;

For the blood-bolter'd Banquo smiles upon me,
And points at them for his. [Apparitions vanish.]

What, is this so?

FIRST WITCH. Ay, sir, all this is so: but why
Stands Macbeth thus amazedly?

Come, sisters, cheer we up his sprites,
And show the best of our delights:

I'll charm the air to give a sound,
While you perform your antic round;
That this great king may kindly say,
Our duties did his welcome pay.

MACB. Where are they? Gone? Let this per

nicious hour

Stand aye accursed in the calendar!

Come in, without there!

MACB. Infected be the air whereon they ride; And damn'd all those that trust them! I did hear

The galloping of horse: who was 't came by?

LEN. 'Tis two or three, my lord, that bring you word Macduff is fled to England.

MACB.

Fled to England!

LEN. Ay, my good lord.

MACB. Time, thou anticipatest my dread exploits: The flighty purpose never is o'ertook

Unless the deed go with it: from this moment

The very firstlings of my heart shall be

The firstlings of my hand. And even now,

To crown my thoughts with acts, be it thought and done:

The castle of Macduff I will surprise;

Seize upon Fife; give to the edge o' the sword
His wife, his babes, and all unfortunate souls
That trace him in his line. No boasting like a fool;
This deed I'll do before this purpose cool.

But no more sights!-Where are these gentlemen ?
Come, bring me where they are.
[Exeunt.

SCENE II.

Fife. Macduff's castle.

Enter LADY MACDUFF, her SON, and Ross. L. MACD. What had he done, to make him fly

the land?

Ross. You must have patience, madam.

L. MACD.

He had none:

His flight was madness: when our actions do not,

Our fears do make us traitors.

Ross.

You know not

Whether it was his wisdom or his fear.

L. MACD. Wisdom! to leave his wife, to leave

his babes,

His mansion and his titles in a place

From whence himself does fly? He loves us not;