Re-enter Attendant, with two Murderers

Now go to the door, and stay there till we call.
[Exit Attendant.

Was it not yesterday we spoke together?
First Murderer. It was, so please your highness.
Macbeth.

Know

Well then, now
Have you consider'd of my speeches ?
That it was he in the times past which held you
So under fortune, which you thought had been
Our innocent self: this I made good to you
In our last conference, pass'd in probation with

you,

How you were borne in hand, how cross'd, the
instruments,

Who wrought with them, and all things else that
might

To half a soul and to a notion crazed

SayThus did Banquo.'

First Murderer.

You made it known to us.

Macbeth. I did so; and went further, which is now

Our point of second meeting. Do you find
Your patience so predominant in your nature,
That you can let this go? Are you so gospell'd,
To pray for this good man and for his issue,

80

79. made good, showed clearly. 80. probation, proving. 81. borne in hand, deceived by false promises. 81. cross'd, thwarted.

83. notion, mind. 88. gospell'd, full of the spirit of the gospel.

Whose heavy hand hath bow'd you to the grave 90
And beggar'd yours for ever?

First Murderer.

We are men, my liege.

Macbeth. Ay, in the catalogue ye go for men;
As hounds and greyhounds, mongrels, spaniels,

curs,

Shoughs, water-rugs and demi-wolves, are clept
All by the name of dogs: the valued file
Distinguishes the swift, the slow, the subtle,
The housekeeper, the hunter, every one
According to the gift which bounteous nature
Hath in him closed, whereby he does receive
Particular addition, from the bill

That writes them all alike: and so of men.
Now if you have a station in the file,
Not i' the worst rank of manhood, say't,
And I will put that business in your bosoms
Whose execution takes your enemy off,
Grapples you to the heart and love of us,
Who wear our health but sickly in his life,
Which in his death were perfect.

Second Murderer.

I am one, my liege,

Whom the vile blows and buffets of the world

Hath so incensed that I am reckless what

I do to spite the world.

First Murderer.

And I another

94. Shoughs, shock dogs. 94. water-rugs, poodles.

100

110

94. demi

wolves, crosses between a dog and a wolf. 94. clept, called. 7 housekeeper, watch-dog. 105. execution, performance.

So weary with disasters, tugg'd with fortune,
That I would set my life on any chance,

To mend it or be rid on't.

Macbeth.

Both of you

Know Banquo was your enemy.

Both Murderers.

True, my lord. Macbeth. So is he mine, and in such bloody distance

That every minute of his being thrusts

Against my near'st of life: and though I could
With barefaced power sweep him from my sight
And bid my will avouch it, yet I must not,
For certain friends that are both his and mine,
Whose loves I may not drop, but wail his fall
Who I myself struck down: and thence it is
That I to your assistance do make love,
Masking the business from the common eye
For sundry weighty reasons.
Second Murderer.

We shall, my lord,

120

I will advise you where to plant yourselves,
Acquaint you with the perfect spy o' the time,
The moment on't; for't must be done to-night,
And something from the palace; always thought

young

130

112. tugg'd with, hauled about by. 116. distance, enmity. 119. barefaced, open. 121. For, on account of. 132. something from, some distance away from. 132. thought, borne in mind.

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 Murderers.

We are resolved, my lord.

[Exeunt Murderers.

Macbeth. I'll call upon you straight: abide within.

It is concluded: Banquo, thy soul's flight,
If it find heaven, must find it out to-night.

SCENE II. The palace

[Exit.

Enter LADY MACBETH and a Servant

Lady Macbeth. Is Banquo gone from court?
Servant. Ay, madam, but returns again to-night.
Lady Macbeth. Say to the king, I would attend his

leisure

For a few words.

140

Servant.

Lady Macbeth.

Madam, I will.

[Exit.

Nought's had, all's spent,

Where our desire is got without content:

'Tis safer to be that which we destroy

Than by destruction dwell in doubtful joy.

134. rubs, rough places. 136. material, important. [140. straight, straightway.

Enter MACBETH

How now, my lord! why do you keep alone,
Of sorriest fancies your companions making;
Using those thoughts which should indeed have
died

With them they think on? Things without all
remedy

Should be without regard: what's done is done.
Macbeth. We have scorch'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

ΙΟ

That shake us nightly: better be with the dead,
Whom we, to gain our peace, have sent to peace, 20

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;

Treason has done his worst: nor steel, nor
poison,

Malice domestic, foreign levy, nothing,

Can touch him further.