Cannot be ili; cannot be good:-If ill, My thought, whose murder yet is but fantastical, But what is not. Ban. Look, how our partner's rapt. Macb. If chance will have me king, why, chance may crown mɛ Without my stir. Ban. New honors come upon him Like our strange garments; cleave not to their mould, Macb. Come what come may; Time and the hour runs through the roughest day.) Ban. Worthy Macbeth, we stay upon your leisure. Are register'd where every day I turn The leaf to read them.-Let us toward the king. Our free hearts each to other. Very gladly. Ban. [Exeunt. Macbeth goes to Fores to pay his duty to King Duncan, who confirms him in his title of Thane of Cawdor, and as a farther proof of the royal favor, the King announces his intention of visiting Macbeth at his Castle in Inverness. Macbeth leaves the King to be tne "harbinger" of the monarch's proposed visit. The Scene changes to the Castle of Macbeth, and Lady Macbeth enters, reading a Letter she has just received from her husband. SCENE V. Inverness. A Room in Macbeth's Castle. Enter Lady Macbeth, reading a letter. Lady M. They met me in the day of success; and I have learned by the perfectest report, they have more in them than mortal knowledge. When I burned in desire to question them further, they made themselves-air, into which they vanished. Whiles I stood rapt in the wonder of it, came missives from the king, who all-hailed me, Thane of Cawdor; by which title, before, these weird sisters saluted me, and referred me to the coming on of time, with, Hail, king that shalt be! This have I thought good to deliver thee, my dearest partner of my greatness; that thou mightest not lose the dues of rejoicing, by being ignorant of what greatness is promised thee. Lay it to thy heart, and farewell. Glamis thou art, and Cawdor; and shalt be What thou art promis'd :-Yet do I fear thy nature; It is too full o' the milk of human kindness, To catch the nearest way. Thou would'st be great; The illness should attend it. What thou would'st highly, And yet would'st wrongly win: thou'dst have, great Glamis, And that which rather thou dost fear to do, Than wishest should be undone. Hie thee hither, To have thee crown'd withal.- What is your tidings? Enter an Attendant. Atten. The king comes here to-night. Is not thy master with him? who, wer't so, Would have inform'd for preparation. Thou'rt mad to say it: Atten. So please you, it is true; our thane is coming: One of my fellows had the speed of him : Who, almost dead for breath, had scarcely more Than would take up his message. Lady M. Give him tending. [Exit Attendant He brings good news. The raven himself is hoarse, That croaks the fatal entrance of Duncan You wait on nature's mischief! Come, thick night, That my keen knife see not the wound it makes; To cry, Hold, hold!- -Great Glamis' worthy Cawdor! Your face, my thane, is as a book, where men To alter favor ever is to fear Leave all the rest to me. Only look up clear. SCENE VI.—The same. Before the Casile. Hautboys. Servants of Macbeth attending. [Exeunt Enter DUNCAN, MALCOLM, DONALBAIN, BANQUO, Lenox, MacDUFF ROSSE, ANGUs, and Attendants. Dun. The castle hath a pleasant seat; the air Nimbly and sweetly recommends itself Unto our gentle senses. Ban. This guest of summer, The temple-haunting martlet, does approve, Dun. Enter Lady Macbeth. See, see! our honor'd hostess! Lady M. All our service Dun. Where's the thane of Cawdor ? We cours'd him at the heels, and had a purpose And his great love, sharp as his spur, hath holp him Lady M. Your servants ever Have theirs, themselves, and what is theirs, in compt, Still to return your own. Dun. Give me your hand: Conduct me to mine host; we love him highly, And shall continue our graces towards him. By your leave, hostess. SCENE VII.-The same. A Room in the Castle. [Exeunt, Hautboys and torches. Enter, and pass over the stage, a Sewer, and divers Servants with dishes and service. Then enter MACBETH. Macb. If it were done, when 'tis done, then 'twere well It were done quickly: If the assassination Could trammel up the consequence, and catch, Shall Low the horrid deed in every eye, And falls on the other.-How now, what news? Enter Lady MACBETH. Lady M. He has almost supp'd; Why have you left the chamber Macb. Hath he ask'd for me? Lady M. Know you not, he has ? Macb. We will proceed no further in this business: He hath honor'd me of late; and I have bought Golden opinions from all sorts of people, Which would be worn now in their newest gloss, Not cast aside so soon. Lady M. Was the hope drunk, Macb. Pr'ythee, peace: I dare do all that may become a man; Macb. Lady M. If we should fail, We fail! |