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The moment on't; for't must be done to-night,
And something from the palace; always thought
That I require a clearness: and with him-
To leave no rubs nor botches in the work-
Fleance his son, that keeps him company,
Whose absence is no less material to me
Than is his father's, must embrace the fate
Of that dark hour. Resolve yourselves apart:
I'll come to you anon.
Both Mur.
Macb. I'll call
within.
It is concluded.
If it find heaven, must find it out to-night. [Exit.

We are resolved, my lord. upon you straight: abide [Exeunt Murderers. 140 Banquo, thy soul's flight,

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With them they think on? Things without all remedy

Should be without regard: what's done is done. Macb. We have scotch'd the snake, not kill'd it:

She'll close and be herself, whilst our poor malice Remains in danger of her former tooth.

But let the frame of things disjoint, both the worlds suffer,

Ere we will eat our meal in fear and sleep
In the affliction of these terrible dreams
That shake us nightly better be with the dead,
Whom we, to gain our peace, have sent to peace,
Than on the torture of the mind to lie

In restless ecstasy. Duncan is in his grave;
After life's fitful fever he sleeps well;

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Treason has done his worst: nor steel, nor poison,
Malice domestic, foreign levy, nothing,
Can touch him further.

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· What's to be done? Macb. Be innocent of the knowledge, dearest chuck,

Till thou applaud the deed. Come, seeling night,
Scarf
up the tender eye of pitiful day;
And with thy bloody and invisible hand
Cancel and tear to pieces that great bond
Which keeps me pale! Light thickens; and the

crow

Makes wing to the rooky wood:

50

Good things of day begin to droop and drowse; Whiles night's black agents to their preys do

rouse.

Thou, marvell'st at my.words: but hold thee still:
Things bad begun make strong themselves by ill.
So, prithee, go with me.
[Exeunt.

SCENE III. A park near the palace.

Enter three Murderers.

Macbeth.

First Mur. But who did bid thee join with us?
Third Mur.
Sec. Mur. He needs not our mistrust, since
he delivers

Our offices and what we have to do
To the direction just.

First Mur.

Then stand with us.
The west yet glimmers with some streaks of day:
Now spurs the lated traveller apace
To gain the timely inn; and near approaches
The subject of our watch.

Third Mur.
Hark! I hear horses.
Ban. [Within] Give us a light there, ho!
Sec. Mur.
Then 'tis he: the rest

That are within the note of expectation
Already are i' the court.
First Mur.

Third Mur.

usually,

10

His horses go about.
Almost a mile: but he does

So all men do, from hence to the palace gate
Make it their walk.

Sec. Mur.

A light, a light!

Enter BANQUO, and FLEANCE with a torch. Third Mur.

First Mur. Stand to't.

Ban. It will be rain to-night.
First Mur.

Ban. O, treachery!
fly, fly!

Thou mayst revenge.

'Tis he.

Let it come down. [They set upon Banguo. Fly, good Fleance, fly,

O slave!

[Dies. Fleance escapes.

Third Mur. Who did strike out the light?

First Mur.

Third Mur. is filed. Sec. Mur.

Was't not the way! There's but one down; the son

We have lost 20

Best half of our affair. First Mur. Well, let's away, and say how much is done. [Exeunt.

SCENE IV. The same. Hall in the palace. A banquet prepared. Enter MACBETH, LADY MACBETH, Ross, LENNOX, Lords, and Attend

ants.

Macb. You know your own degrees; sit down: at first

And last the hearty welcome.

Lords.
Thanks to your majesty.
Mach. 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.

First Murderer appears at the door.

Macb. See, they encounter thee with their hearts' thanks.

Both sides are even: here I'll sit i' the midst: 10 Be large in mirth; anon we'll drink a measure The table round. [Approaching the door.] There's blood upon.thy face.

Mur. 'Tis Banquo's then.

Macb. 'Tis better thee without than he within. Is he dispatch'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.

Mur.

Fleance is 'scaped.

Most royal sir,

20

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And hath been from his youth: pray you, keep seat;

The fit is momentary; upon a thought
He will again be well: if much you note him,
You shall offend him and extend his passion:
Feed, and regard him not. Are you a man?
Mach. Ay, and a bold one, that dare look on
that

Which might appal the devil.
Lady M.

O proper stuff! 60
This is the very painting of your fear:
This is the air-drawn dagger which, you said,
Led you to Duncan. O, these flaws and starts,
Impostors to true fear, would well become
A woman's story at a winter's fire,
Authorized by her grandam. Shame itself!
Why do you make such faces? When all's done,

Macb. Then comes my fit again: I had else You look but on a stool. been perfect,

Whole as the marble, founded as the rock,
As broad and general as the casing air:

But now I am cabin'd, cribb'd, confined, bound in
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.

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Macb. Prithee, see there! behold! look! lo! how say you?

71

Why, what care I? If thou canst nod, speak too.
If charnel-houses and our graves must send
Those that we bury back, our monuments
Shall be the maws of kites. [Ghost vanishes.
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 humane.statute purged the gentle weal;
Ay, and since too, murders have been perform'd
Too terrible for the ear: the time has been,
That, when the brains were out, the man would
die,

80

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 strange
Than such a murder is.
Lady M.
My worthy lord,
Your noble friends do lack you.
Macb.
I do forget.
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 o' the whole table, 89

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.

Re-enter Ghost.

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, 100
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;
If trembling I inhabit then, protest me
The baby of a girl. Hence, horrible shadow!
Unreal mockery, hence! [Ghost vanishes.
Why, so being gone,
I am a man again. Pray you, sit still.
Lady M. You have displaced the mirth, broke
the good meeting,

With most admired disorder.
Macb.

Can such things be, 110
And overcome 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 checks,

When mine is blanch'd with fear.

Ross.
What sights, my lord?
Lady M. I pray you, speak not; he grows
worse and worse;

Question enrages him. At once, good night:
Stand not upon the order of your going,
But go at once.

Len.
Good night; and better health 120
Attend his majesty!
Lady M.
A kind good night to all!
[Exeunt all but Macbeth and Lady M.
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

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At our great bidding?

131

Lady M.
Did you send to him, sir?
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,
And betimes I will, to the weird sisters:
More shall they speak; for now I am bent to know,
By the worst means, the worst. For mine own
good,

All causes shall give way: I am in blood
Stepp'd in so far that, should I wade no more,

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Thunder. Enter the three Witches,
meeting HECATE.

First 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

Meet me i' the morning: thither he
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 and a 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 sleights
Shall raise such artificial sprites
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 mortals' chiefest enemy.

ΤΟ

20

30

[Music and a 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. First Witch. Come, let's make haste; she'll soon be back again. [Exeunt. SCENE VI. Forres. The palace.

Enter LENNOX and another Lord.

Len. My former speeches have but hit your
thoughts,

Which can interpret further: only, I say,
Things have been strangely borne. The gracious
Duncan

Was pitied of Macbeth: marry, he was dead: | And the right-valiant Banquo walk'd too late; Whom, you may say, if't please you, Fleance kill'd,

For Fleance fled: men must not walk too late. Who cannot want the thought how monstrous

ΤΟ

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. 20 But, peace! for from broad words and 'cause he fail'd

His presence at the tyrant's feast, I hear
Macduff lives in disgrace: sir, can you tell
Where he bestows himself?

Lord.

30

The son of Duncan, From whom this tyrant holds the due of birth, Lives in the English court, and is received 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 'Sir, not I,'

The cloudy messenger turns me his back,

40

And hums, as who should say 'You'll rue the time

That clogs me with this answer.'

Len.

And that well might Advise him to a caution, to 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 accursed!

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Third Witch. Scale of dragon, tooth of wolf,

Witches' mummy, maw and gulf

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
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 the ingredients of our cauldron.
All. Double, double toil and trouble;

Fire burn and cauldron bubble.

30

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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

SCENE I. A cavern. In the middle, a boiling Against the churches; though the yesty waves

cauldron.

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Confound and swallow navigation up;

50

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

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First Witch. Show!

Sec. Witch. Show! Third Witch. Show!

All. Show his eyes, and grieve his heart; 110 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 120
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.

130

[Music. The Witches dance, and then vanish, with Hecate. Macb. Where are they? Gone? Let this per

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Macb. Saw you the weird sisters? Len.

No, my

lord.

Macb. Came they not by you?
Len.
No, indeed, my lord.
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? 140
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

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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,

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? [Hautboys.

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

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