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.

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.

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?

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

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.

Mar. Most royal Sir, Fleauce is 'scap'd.

Mach. Then comes my fit again: I had else been perfect;

[in

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
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.

[fled,

Len. Here's a place reserv'd, Sir. Macb. Where?

Len. Here my lord.

If trembling I inhibit The baby of a girl.

What is't that moves

your highness ?

Unreal mockery, goue,

Macb. Which of you have done this?
Lords. What, my good lord!

Macb. Thou can'st not say I did it: never Thy gory locks at me.

[shake

Rosse. Gentlemen, rise; his highness is not

(Impostors to true fear,) would well become
A woman's story at a winter's fire,
Authoriz'd by her grandam. Shame itself!
Why do you make such faces? When all's done,
You look but on a stool.

Macb. Pr'ythee, see there! behold! look! lo!
how say you ?——
[too.-
Why, what care I? If thou canst nod, speak
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 ?
Macb. If I stand here, I saw him.
Lady M. Fie, for shame!

Macb. Blood hath been shed ere now i'the olden time,

Ere human statute purg'd the gentle weal; 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 die,

And there an end: but now, they rise again, With twenty mortal murders on their crowns, And push us from our stools: This is more Than such a murder is.

Lady M. My worthy lord, Your noble friends do lack you. Macb. I do forget:--

[strange

Do not muse § at me, my most worthy friends;
I have a strange infirmity, which is nothing
To those that know me. Come, love and health

to all;

Then I'll sit down :--Give me some wine, fill full :-

I drink to the general joy of the whole table,

Ghost rises.

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;

thee, protest me Hence, horrible shadow !

[Ghost disappears hence !-Why, so;-being

I am a man again. Pray you, sit still. Lady M.You have displac'd the mirth, broke the good meeting,

With most admir'd disorder.

Macb. Can such things be,

And overcomet 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 blanched with fear.
Rosse. What sights, my lord?

Lady M. I pray you, speak not; he grows worse and worse;

Question eurages 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 :

Stones have been known to move, and trees to speak :

Augurs, and understood relations, have By magot-pies, and choughs, and rooks, brought forth

The secret'st man of blood.-What is the night! Lady M. Almost at odds with morning,

which is which.

Macb. How say'st thou, that Macduff denies this person,

At our great bidding?

Lady M. Did you send to him, Sır?

know,

Macb. I hear it by the way; but I will send : There's not a 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 [good, By the worst means, the worst: for mine own All causes shall give way; I am în blood Stepped in so far, that, should I wade no more, Returning were as tedious as go o'er : 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,

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 call'd 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,

• Forbid.

↑ Possess.

1 An Individual.

+ Pass over.

Magpies.
Examined nicely.

Meet me i'the morning: thither be
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 mortal's 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.

For Fleance fled. Men must not walk too late.
Who cannot want the thought, how monstrous
h 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, (As, an't please heaven, he shall not,) they should find

What 'twere to kill a father; so should Fleance. But, peace!--for from broad words, and cause

be fail'd

His presence at the tyrant's feast, 1 hear,
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 bomage, and receive free honours, t 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?

SCENE I-A dark Cave.-In the middle, a Cauldron boiling.

Thunder. Enter the three WITCHES.

1 Witch. Thrice the brinded cat hath mew'd. 2 Witch. Thrice; and once the hedge-pig whin'd.

3 Wuch. 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 hast 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 welf;
Witches' mummy; maw and gulf, t
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,
Silver'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 chaudron, $
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.

Enter HECATE, and the other three
WITCHES.

Hec. Oh! well done! I commend your pains;

And every one shall share i'the gains.
And now about the cauldron sing,
Like elves and fairies in a ring,
Enchanting all that you put in.

SONG.

Black spirits and white,
Red spirits and grey;
Mingle, mingle, mingle,

You that mingle may.

2 Witch. By the pricking of my thumbs,

not I,

The cloudy messenger turns me his back,

Le. A drop that has deep or hidden qualities. tHonours freely bostowed. For exasperated.

Open, locks, whoever knocks.

Enter MACBETH.

What is't you do?

All. A deed without a name.

Macb. I conjure you, by that which you profess,

(Howe'er you come to know it,) answer me : Though you untie the winds, and let them fight Against the churches; though the yesty waves Confound and swallow navigation up;

Though bladed corn be lodg'd, † 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 germins § tumble all together, Even till destruction sicken, answer me

To what I ask you.

1 Witch. Speak.

2 Witch. Demand.

3 Witch. We'll answer.

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

Macb. That will never be ;

[Descends.

Unfix his earth-bound root? sweet bodement ? Who can impress the forest; bid the tree

good!

Rebellious head, rise never, till the wood
Of Birnam rise, and our high plac'd 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 [Hautboys.

this?

1 Witch. Show! 2 Witch. Show 3 Witch.

Show !

our mouths,

Or from our masters'?

Macb. Call them, let me see them.

1 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. An APPARITION of an Armed
Head rises.

Macb. Tell me, thou unknown power, 1 Witch. He knows thy though*; Hear his speech, but say thou nought. 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 :

1 Witch. He will not be commanded: Here's another,

More potent than the first.

Eight Kings appear, and pass over the Stage in order; the last with a Glass in his hand; BANQUo 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 scepters carry :
Horrible sight !-Ay, now, I see 'tis true;
For the blood boiter'd Banquo smiles upon
And points at them for his.-What, is this so ?
1 Witch. Ay, Sir, all this is so :-But why
Stands Macbeth thus amazedly ?—

me,

Come, sisters, cheer we up his sprights,
And show the best of our delights;
I'll charm the air to give a sound,

rises.

App. Macbeth! Macbeth! Macbeth !—
Macb. Had I three ears, I'd hear thee.
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-bearted fear, it lies,
And sleep in spite of thunder.-What is this,
Thunder.-AnAPPARITION of a Child Crowned,
with a Tree in his Hand, rises.

That rises like the issue of a king;
And wears upon his baby brow the round
And top of sovereignty ? **

All. Listen, but speak not.

App. Be lion-mettled, proud; and take no

That this great king may kindly say,
Our duties did his welcome pay.

[Music. The WITCHES dance, and varish. Macb. Where are they? Gone?—Let this pernicious hour

Stand aye accursed in the calender !—
Come in, without there!

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 his line. No boasting like a fool;
This deed I'll do, before this purpose cool:
But no more sights 1-Where are these gentle-
men ?

Come, bring me where they are.

[Exeunt.

SCENE 11.—Fife.-A Room in MACDUFF'S

Castle.

Enter Lady MACDUFF, her SON, and Rosse. L. Macd. What had he done, to make him fly the land?

Rosse. 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. †

Rosse. You know not,

Whether it was bis 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

He is noble, wise, judicious, and best knows

Son. Nay, how will you do for a husband ? L. Macd. Why, I can buy me twenty at any market.

Son Then you'll buy 'em to sell again. L. Macd. Thou speak'st with all thy wit; and yet i'faith,

With wit enough for thee.

Son. Was my father a traitor, mother?
L. Macd. Ay, that he was.
Son. What is a traitor?

L. Mucd. Why, one that swears and lies.
Son. And be all traitors, that do so?

L. Macd. Every one that does so, is a traitor, and must be hanged.

Son. And must they all be hanged, that swear and lie ?

L. Macd. Every one.

Son. Who must hang them?

L. Macd. Why, the honest men.

Son. Then the liars and swearers are fools: for there are liars and swearers enough to beat the honest men, and hang up them.

L. Macd. Now, God help thee, poor monkey ! But how wilt thou do for a father?

Son. If he were dead, you'd weep for him : if you would not, it were a good sign that I should quickly have a new father.

L. Mucd. Poor prattler! how thou talk'st.

Enter a MESSENGER.

Mess. Bless you, fair dame! I am not to you known,

Though in your state of honour I am perfect. +
I doubt some danger does approach you nearly:
If you would take a homely man's advice,
Be not found here; hence, with your little

ones.

To fright you thus, methinks, I am too savage;
To do worse to you, were fell cruelty,
Which is too nigh your person. Heaven pre-
serve you!

dare abide no longer.

[Exit MESSENGER.

L. Macd. Whither should I fly ?

I have done no harm. But I remember now

further:

But cruel are the times, when we are traitors, And do not know ourselves; when we hold

rumour

From what we fear, yet know not what we

fear;

But float upon a wild and violent sea,
Each way, and move.-1 take my leave of you:
Shall not be long but I'll be here again:
Things at the worst will cease, or else climb
upward

To what they were before.-My pretty cousin,
Blessing upon you!

L. Macd. Father'd he is, and yet he's fatherless.

Rosse. I am so much a fool, should I stay longer,

It would be my disgrace, and your discomfort : 1 take my leave at once. [Exit Rosse.

L. Macd. Sirrah, your father's dead; And what will you do now? How will you live?

Son. As birds do, mother.

L. Mued. What, with worms and flies? Son. With what I get, I mean; and so do they.

L. Macd. Poor bird! thoud'st never fear the net, nor lime,

The pit-fall nor the gin.

Son. Why should I, mother? Poor birds they

are not set for.

My father is not dead, for all your saying.