And his gash'd stabs look'd like a breach in

nature

119

For ruin's wasteful entrance: there, the murderers,
Steep'd in the colours of their trade, their daggers
Unmannerly breech'd with gore : who could
refrain,

That had a heart to love, and in that heart

Courage to make's love known?

Lady M.

Macd. Look to the lady.

Help me hence, ho!

Mal. [Aside to Don.] Why do we hold our tongues, That most may claim this argument for ours?

Don. [Aside to Mal.] What should be spoken here, where our fate,

Hid in an auger-hole, may rush, and seize us?
Let's away;

Our tears are not yet brew'd.

Mal. [Aside to Don.] Nor our strong sorrow 130

Ban.

Upon the foot of motion.

Look to the lady:

[Lady Macbeth is carried out.

And when we have our naked frailties hid,
That suffer in exposure, let us meet,

And question this most bloody piece of work,
To know it further.

Fears and scruples shake us:

In the great hand of God I stand, and thence
Against the undivulged pretence I fight

Macd.

All.

Of treasonous malice.

And so do I.

So all.

Macb. Let's briefly put on manly readiness,
And meet i' the hall together.

All.

Well contented. 140

[Exeunt all but Malcolm and Donalbain.

Mal. What will you do? Let's not consort with

them :

To show an unfelt sorrow is an office

Which the false man does easy. I'll to England. Don. To Ireland, I; our separated fortune

Mal.

Shall keep us both the safer: where we are

There's daggers in men's smiles: the near in blood,

The nearer bloody.

This murderous shaft that's shot
Hath not yet lighted, and our safest way
Is to avoid the aim. Therefore to horse;
And let us not be dainty of leave-taking,
But shift away: there's warrant in that theft
Which steals itself when there's no mercy left.

150

[Exeunt.

Scene IV.

Outside Macbeth's castle.

Enter Ross with an old Man.

Old M. Threescore and ten I can remember well:
Within the volume of which time I have seen
Hours dreadful and things strange, but this sore

Ross.

night

Hath trifled former knowings.

Ah, good father,

Thou seest, the heavens, as troubled with man's act,
Threaten his bloody stage: by the clock 'tis day,
And yet dark night strangles the travelling lamp:
Is 't night's predominance, or the day's shame,
That darkness does the face of earth entomb,
When living light should kiss it?

Old M.

'Tis unnatural, 10

Even like the deed that's done. On Tuesday last
A falcon towering in her pride of place

Was by a mousing owl hawk'd at and kill'd.

Ross. And Duncan's horses-a thing most strange and

certain

Beauteous and swift, the minions of their race,

Turn'd wild in nature, broke their stalls, flung out,

Contending 'gainst obedience, as they would make

War with mankind.

Old M.

'Tis said they eat each other.

Ross. They did so, to the amazement of mine eyes,

Ross. Is 't known who did this more than bloody deed? Macd. Those that Macbeth hath slain.

Ross.

What good could they pretend?

Macd.

Ross.

Alas, the day!

They were suborn'd :

Malcolm and Donalbain, the king's two sons,
Are stol'n away and fled, which puts upon them
Suspicion of the deed.

'Gainst nature still:

Thriftless ambition, that wilt ravin up
Thine own life's means! Then 'tis most like
The sovereignty will fall upon Macbeth.
Macd. He is already named, and gone to Scone
To be invested.

Ross.

Where is Duncan's body?

30

Macd. Carried to Colme-kill,

Ross.

The sacred storehouse of his predecessors

And guardian of their bones.

Macd. No, cousin, I'll to Fife.

Ross.

Will you to Scone ?

Well, I will thither.

Macd. Well, may you see things well done there: adieu ! Lest our old robes sit easier than our new!

Ross. Farewell, father.

40

Old M. God's benison go with you, and with those That would make good of bad and friends of foes!

[Exeunt.

Act Third.

Scene I.

Forres. The palace.

Enter Banquo.

Ban. Thou hast it now: king, Cawdor, Glamis, all,
As the weird women promised, and I fear
Thou play'dst most foully for 't: yet it was said
It should not stand in thy posterity,

But that myself should be the root and father
Of
many kings. If there come truth from them-