MACBETH. ACT I. SCENE I. An open place. Thunder and lightning. Enter three Witches. First Witch. When shall we three meet again In thunder, lightning, or(1) in rain? Sec. Witch. When the hurlyburly's done, When the battle's lost and won. Third Witch. That will be ere the set of sun. First Witch. Where the place? Sec. Witch. Upon the heath. Third Witch. There to meet with Macbeth. First Witch. I come, Graymalkin! Hover through the fog and filthy air. [Exeunt SCENE II. A camp near Forres. Alarums within. Enter DUNCAN, MALCOLM, DONALBAIN, LENNOX, The newest state. Mal This is the sergeant, Who, like a good and hardy soldier, fought 'Gainst my captivity.-Hail, brave friend! Say to the king thy knowledge of the broil(3) As thou didst leave it. As two spent swimmers, that do cling together And choke their art. The merciless MacdonwaldWorthy to be a rebel, for, to that, The multiplying villanies of nature Do swarm upon him-from the western isles Like valour's minion, Carv'd out his passage till he fac'd the slave; Dun. O valiant cousin! worthy gentleman! Compell'd these skipping kerns to trust their heels, Yes; Our captains, Macbeth and Banquo ?(9) Serg. As sparrows eagles, or the hare the lion. If I say sooth, I must report they were Doubly (10) redoubled strokes upon the foe: I cannot tell : But I am faint, my gashes cry for help. Dun. So well thy words become thee as thy wounds; They smack of honour both.-Go get him surgeons. [Exit Sergeant, attended. Who comes here? Mal. The worthy thane of Ross. Len. What haste looks through his eyes (11) So should Where the Norweyan banners flout the sky Assisted by that most disloyal traitor The thane of Cawdor, began(14) a dismal conflict ; Point against point rebellious, arm 'gainst arm, The victory fell on us. Dun. Ross. That now Great happiness! Sweno, the Norways' king, craves composition ; Nor would we deign him burial of his men Ten thousand dollars to our general use. Dun. No more that thane of Cawdor shall deceive Our bosom interest:-go pronounce his present death, And with his former title greet Macbeth. Ross. I'll see it done. Dun. What he hath lost noble Macbeth hath won. [Exeunt. SCENE III. A heath. Thunder. Enter the three Witches. First Witch. Where hast thou been, sister? Sec. Witch. Killing swine. Third Witch. Sister, where thou? First Witch. A sailor's wife had chestnuts in her lap, And mounch'd, and mounch'd, and mounch'd:-"Give me," quoth I: "Aroint thee, witch!" the rump-fed ronyon cries. Her husband's to Aleppo gone, master o' the Tiger: But in a sieve I'll thither sail, And, like a rat without a tail, I'll do, I'll do, and I'll do. Sec. Witch. I'll give thee a wind. First Witch. Thou art kind. Third Witch. And I another. First Witch. I myself have all the other; And the very ports they blow, All the quarters that they know I' the shipman's card. (15) I will drain him dry as hay: Look what I have. Sec. Witch. Show me, show me. First Witch. Here I have a pilot's thumb, Wreck'd as homeward he did come. Third Witch. A drum, a drum! Macbeth doth come. All. The weird sisters, hand in hand, Posters of the sea and land, Thus do go about, about: Thrice to thine, and thrice to mine, [Drum within. And thrice again, to make up nine :- Enter MACBETH and BANQUO; Soldiers at some distance. Macb. So foul and fair a day I have not seen. Ban. How far is't call'd to Forres ?(16)-What are these So wither'd, and so wild in their attire, That look not like th' inhabitants o' th' earth, And yet are on't?—Live you? or are you aught That man may question? You seem to understand me, Upon her skinny lips :-you should be women, Macb. Speak, if you can ;-what are you? Glamis ! Sec. Witch. All hail, Macbeth! hail to thee, thane of Third Witch. All hail, Macbeth, that shalt be king Ban. Good sir, why do you start; and seem to fear Which outwardly ye show? My noble partner You greet with present grace, and great prediction Of noble having and of royal hope, That he seems rapt withal:-to me you speak not: If you can look into the seeds of time, And say which grain will grow, and which will not, Speak, then, to me, who neither beg nor fear Your favours nor your hate. First Witch, Hail! Sec. Witch. Hail! Third Witch. Hail! First Witch. Lesser than Macbeth, and greater. Sec. Witch. Not so happy, yet much happier. Third Witch. Thou shalt get kings, though thou be none: So, all hail, Macbeth and Banquo! First Witch. Banquo and Macbeth, all hail !(17) |