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It 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 't. 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.
for from broad words, and 'cause he

But, peace!

fail'd

His presence at the tyrant's feast, I 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 upon 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 homage, and receive free honours ;
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?

Lord. He did: and with an absolute,

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The cloudy messenger turns me his back,

And hums, as who should say, 'You'll rue the time That clogs me with this answer.'

And that well might

Len.
Advise him to a caution, t' hold what distance
His wisdom can provide. Some holy angel
Fly to the Court of England, and unfold
His message ere he come, that a swift blessing
May soon return to this our suffering country
Under a hand accurs'd!

Lord.

I'll send my prayers with him!

[Exeunt.

ACT IV.

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

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3 Witch. Harpier cries, 'Tis time, 'tis time. 1 Witch. Round about the cauldron go;

In the poison'd entrails throw.

Toad, that under [the] cold stone,

Days and nights has thirty-one

Swelter'd venom sleeping got,

Boil thou first i' th' 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 wolf; Witches' mummy; maw and gulf

Of the ravin'd salt-sea shark;
Root of hemlock, digg'd i̇' th' dark;
Liver of blaspheming Jew;
Gall of goat, and slips of yew
Sliver'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 th' 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.

Hec. O, well done! I commend your pains,

And every one shall share i̇' th' gains.

And now about the cauldron sing,
Like elves and fairies in a ring,

Enchanting all that you put in.

[Music and a song, "Black spirits," &c.

2 Witch. By the pricking of my thumbs, Something wicked this way comes.

Open, locks,

Whoever knocks.

Enter MACBETH.

[Knocking.

Macb. How now, you secret, black, and midnight

hags!

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.

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1 Witch. Say, if thou'dst rather hear it from our

mouths,

Or from our masters'

Macb.

Call 'em let me see 'em.

1 Witch. Pour in sow's blood, that hath eaten

Her nine farrow; grease, that sweaten

From the murderer's gibbet, throw

Into the flame.

All.

Come high, or low;

Thyself and office deftly shew.

Thunder. An Apparition of an armed Head appears.

Macb. Tell me, thou unknown power, 2 Witch.

He knows thy thought:

Hear his speech, but say thou naught.

1 Apparition. 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.

more:

But one word

1 Witch. He will not be commanded. Here's an

other,

More potent than the first.

Thunder. An Apparition of a bloody Child appears. Macbeth! Macbeth! Macbeth!

App.

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

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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. An Apparition of a Child crowned, with a tree in his hand, appears.

That rises like the issue of a king,

What is this,

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

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