The least a death to nature. Mac. Thanks for that: There the grown serpent lies; the worm, that's fled, Hath nature that in time will venom breed, No teeth for the present.- Get thee gone; to-mor row We'll hear, ourselves again. Lady M. [Exit Murderer. My royal lord, You do not give the cheer: the feast is sold, 'Tis given with welcome: To feed, were best at home; From thence, the sauce to meat is ceremony; Mac. Sweet remembrancer! Now, good digestion wait on appetite, And health on both! Len. May it please your highness sit? [The ghost of Banquo rises, and sits in Macbeth's place. Mac. Here had we now our country's honour roof'd, Were the grac'd person of our Banquo present; Than pity for mischance! Rosse. His absence, sir, Lays blame upon his promise. Please it your high ness To grace us with your royal company? Mac. The table's full. Len. Mac. Where? Here is a place reserv'd, sir. E Len. Here, my lord. What is't that moves your highness? Mac. Which of you have done this? Lords. What, my good lord? Mac. Thou canst not say, I did it: never shake Thy gory locks at me. Rosse. Gentlemen, rise; his highness is not well. Lady M. Sit, worthy friends:-my lord is often thus, And hath been from his youth: 'pray you, keep seat; He will again be well: If much you note him, Lady M. O proper stuff! 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, Authoriz'd by her grandam. Why do you make such faces? You look but on a stool. Shame itself! When all's done, Mac. Pr'ythee, see there! behold! look! lo! how say you? Why, what care I? If thou canst nod, speak too.- Lady M. What! quite unmann'd in folly? Mac. If I stand here, I saw him. Lady M. Fie, for shame! Mac. Blood hath been shed ere now, i'the olden time, Ere human statute purg'd the gentle weal; Ay, and since too, murders have been perform'd Too terrible for the ear: the times have been, That, when the brains were out, the man would die, And there an end: but now, they rise again, With twenty mortal murders on their crowns, 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: full: Give me some wine, fill I drink to the general joy of the whole table, Ghost rises. And to our dear friend Banquo, whom we miss ; •Lords. Our duties, and the pledge. Mac. 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 Lady M. Think of this, good peers, But as a thing of custom: 'tis no other; Approach thou like the rugged Russian bear, Lady M. You have displac'd the mirth, broke the good meeting, With most admir'd disorder. Mac. Can such things be, 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 cheeks, When mine are blanch'd with fear. Rosse. What sights, my lord? Lady M. I pray you, speak not; he grows worse and worse; Question enrages him: at once, good night:- But go at once. Len. Good night, and better health Attend his majesty! A kind good night to all! [Exeunt Lords, and Attendants. Mac. 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 The secret'st man of blood.—What is the night? Lady M. Almost at odds with morning, which is which. Mac. How say'st thou, that Macduff denies his person, At our great bidding? Lady M. Did you send to him, sir? Mac. I hear it by the way; but I will send: More shall they speak; for now I am bent to know, Strange things I have in head, that will to hand; Lady M. You lack the season of all natures, sleep. |