Sec. Witch. Cool it with a baboon's blood,
Then the charm is firm and good.

Enter Hecate to the other three Witches.
Hec. O, well done! I commend your pains;
And every one shall share i' the gains:
And now about the cauldron sing,
Like elves and fairies in a ring,

Enchanting all that you put in.

[Music and a song:

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Black spirits,' &c.

[Hecate retires.

Sec. Witch. By the pricking of my thumbs,

Something wicked this way comes:

Open, locks,

Whoever knocks!

Enter Macbeth.

Macb. How now, you secret, black, and midnight hags! What is 't you do?

All.

A deed without a name. Mach. 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;

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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 treasure
Of nature's germins tumble all together,

Even till destruction sicken; answer me
To what I ask you.

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First Witch.

Sec. Witch.

Third Witch.

Speak.

Demand.

We'll answer.

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

Macb.

mouths,

Or from our masters?

Call 'em, let me see 'em.

First Witch. Pour in sow's blood, that hath eaten
Her nine farrow; grease that's sweaten

All.

From the murderer's gibbet throw

Into the flame.

Come, high or low;

Thyself and office deftly show!

Thunder. First Apparition: an armed Head.

Macb. Tell me, thou unknown power,

First Witch.

He knows thy thought:

Hear his speech, but say thou nought.

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First App. 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: but one word

more,

First Witch. He will not be commanded: here's another, More potent than the first.

Thunder. Second Apparition: a bloody Child.

Sec. App. Macbeth! Macbeth! Macbeth!
Macb. Had I three ears, I'ld hear thee.

Sec. App. Be bloody, bold and resolute; laugh to scorn
The power of man,

Shall harm Macbeth.

for none of woman born

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[Descends.

Macb. Then live, Macduff: what need I fear of thee?
But yet I'll make assurance doubly 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. Third Apparition: a Child crowned, with a

tree in his hand.

What is this,

That rises like the issue of a king,

All.

And wears upon his baby-brow the round

And top of sovereignty?

Listen, but speak not to 't.

Third App. Be lion-mettled, proud, and take no care 90 Who chafes, who frets, or where conspirers are: Macbeth shall never vanquish'd be until

Macb.

All.

Great Birnam wood to high Dunsinane hill

Shall come against him.

[Descends.

That will never be:

Who can impress the forest, bid the tree

Unfix his earth-bound root? Sweet bodements!

good!

Rebellion's head, rise never, till the wood

Of Birnam rise, and our high-placed Macbeth
Shall live the lease of nature, pay his breath
To time and mortal custom. Yet my heart
Throbs to know one thing: tell me, if your art
Can tell so much: shall Banquo's issue ever
Reign in this kingdom?

Seek to know no more.
Macb. I will be satisfied: deny me this,

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And an eternal curse fall on you! Let me know :
Why sinks that cauldron ? and what noise is this?

[Hautboys.

First Witch. Show!

Sec. Witch. Show!

Third Witch. Show!

All. Show his eyes, and grieve his heart;

Come like shadows, so depart!

ΓΙΟ

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!

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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
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. 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,