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Was never call'd to bear my part,

Or shew the glory of our art?

And, which is worse, all you have done
Hath been but for a wayward son,
Spightful and wrathful; who, as others do,
Loves for his own ends, not for
you.
But make amends now: Get you gone,
And at the pit of Acheron

Meet me i' the morning; thither he
Will come to know his destiny.

Your vessels, and your spells, provide,
Your charms, and every thing beside:
I am for the air; this night I'll spend
Unto a dismal and a fatal end.

Great business must be wrought ere noon:
Upon the corner of the moon

There hangs a vaporous drop profound';
I'll catch it ere it come to ground:
And that, distill'd by magic sleights2,
Shall raise such artificial sprights,
As, by the strength of their illusion,
Shall draw him on to his confusion:
He shall spurn fate, scorn death, and bear
His hopes 'bove wisdom, grace, and fear:
And you all know, security

Is mortals' chiefest enemy. [Music and a song.
Hark, I am call'd; my little spirit, see,
Sits in a foggy cloud, and stays for me.

[Singing within. Come away, come away, &c.

How did it grieve Macheth! did he not straight, In pious rage, the two delinquents tear,

That were the slaves of drink, and thralls of sleep? Was not that nobly done? Ay, and wisely too; 5 For 'twould have anger'd any heart alive, To hear the men deny it. So that, I say, He has borne all things well: and I do think, That, had he Duncan's sons under his key, [find (As, an't please heaven, he shall not) they should 10 What 'twere to kill a father; so should Fleance. But, peace!-for from broad words, and 'cause he His presence at the tyrant's feast, I hear, [fail'd Macduff lives in disgrace: Sir, can you tell Where he bestows himself?

15

Lord. The son of Duncan, From whom this tyrant holds the due of birth, Lives in the English court; and is receiv'd Of the most pious Edward with such grace, That the malevolence of fortune nothing

[gone

20 Takes from his high respect : Thither Macduff is To pray the holy king, upon his aid

To wake Northumberland, and warlike Siward:
That, by the help of these, (with Him above
To ratify the work) we may again

25 Give to our tables meat, sleep to our nights;
Free from our feasts and banquets bloody knives;
Do faithful homage, and receive free honours,
All which we pine for now: And this report
Hath so exasperate the king, that he
Prepares for some attempt of war.

A Witch. Come, let's make haste, she'll soon be 30 back again.

SCENE VI.

Enter Lenox, and another Lord.

[Exeunt.)

Len. My former speeches have but hit your

Len. Sent he to Macduff?

Lord. He did: and with an absolute, "Sir, not I,"
The cloudy messenger turns me his back,
And hums; as who should say, "You'll rue the time

Which can interpret further: only, Isay,[thoughts, 35" That clogs me with this answer."
Things have been strangely borne: The gracious

Duncan

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Len. And that well might

Advise him to a caution, to hold what distance His wisdom can provide. Some holy angel Fly to the court of England, and unfold

His message ere he come; that a swift blessing May soon return to this our suffering country," Under a hand accurs'd!

Lord. I'll send my prayers with him.

[Exeunt,

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'Meaning, a drop that has deep or hidden qualities. 2 i. e. magic arts. 'i. e. deliver or exempt our feasts from bloody knives, &c. Odd numbers are used in all enchantments and magical operations, even numbers being always reckoned inauspicious. ! Meaning perhaps some imp, or familiar spirit.

Eye

Eve of newt, and toe of frog,
Wool of bat, and tongue of dog,
Adder's fork, and blind-worm's' sting,
Lizard's leg, and howlet's wing,
For a charm of powerful trouble,
Like a hell-broth boil and bubble.

All Double, double toil and trouble;
Fire, burn; and, cauldron, bubble.

3 Witch. Scale of dragon, tooth of wolf; Witches' mummy; maw, and gulf, Of the ravin'd' salt-sea shark; Root of hemlock, digg'd i' the dark; Liver of blaspheming Jew; Gall of goat, and slips of yew, Sliver'd in the moon's eclipse; Nose of Turk, and Tartar's lips; Finger of birth-strangled babe, Ditch-deliver'd by a drab, Make the gruel thick and slab: Add thereto a tyger's chaudron", For the ingredients of our cauldron.

All. Double, double toil and trouble;

Fire, burn; and, cauldron, bubble.

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

Enter Hecate, and other three Witches. Her. Oh, 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,

Inchanting all that you put in.

Musick and a song,
Black spirits and white;
Blue spirits and grey;
Mingle, mingle, mingle,
You that mingle may.

3 Witch. By the pricking of my thumbs, Something wicked this way comes:Open, locks, whoever knocks.

Enter Macbeth.

Mach. How now, you secret, black, and mid-| What is't you do? [night hags?

6

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[Descends. Macb. What-e'er thou art, for thy good cau

tion, thanks;

10

Thou hast harp'd my fears aright:-But one

word more

[another, [Thunder.

1 Witch. He will not be commanded: Here's More potent than the first.

2d Apparition, a bloody child. App. Macbeth! Macbeth! Macbeth!Macb. Had I three ears, I'd hear thee. [scor App. Be bloody, bold, and resolute: laugh to The power of man; for none of woman born Shall harm Macbeth.

[Descends. Macb. Then live, Macduff: What need I fear 30 But yet I'll make assurance double sure, [of thee? 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.-What is this, [Thunder. 35 3d Apparition, a child crowned, with a tree in

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Ab. 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; [down: 50
Though bladed corn be lodg'd, and trees blown
Though castles topple on their warders' heads;
Though palaces, and pyramids, do slope
Their heads to their foundations; though the trea-
Of nature's germins tumble all together,
Even 'till destruction sicken, answer me
To what I ask you.

1 Witch. Speak.

2 Witch. Demand.

3 Witch. We'll answer.

iThat is, the slow-worm.

[sure 55

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Who can impress the forest; bid the tree [good!
Untix his earth-bound root? sweet bodements!
Rebellious head, rise never, till the wood
Of Birnam rise, and our high-plac'd 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?

All. Seek to know no more.

Mach. I will be satisfy'd: deny me this, And an eternal curse fall on you! let me know:Why sinks that cauldron? and what noise is this? 601

[Hautboys.

2 i. e. the swallow, the throat. 3 Ravin'd means glutted with prey.

4 Sliver'd is a common word in the north, and implies to cut a piece or slice. i. e. foaming, or frothy waves.

'i. e. adroitly, dextrously.

* i. e. entrails.

7i. e. tumble. Germins are seeds which have begun to sprout 10 To harp, is to touch on a passion as a harper touches a string.

"This alludes to the make or figure

of the crown,

1

1 Witch. Shew! 2 Witch. Shew! 3 Witch. Shew! All. Shew his eyes, and grieve his heart; Come like shadows, so depart.

[A shew of eight Kings, and Banquo; the last with a glass in his hand. [down! 5 Macb. Thou art too like the spirit of Banquo; Thy crown does sear mine eye-balls:--And thy air, Thou other gold-bound brow, is like the first:A third is like the former: Filthy hags! [eyes! Why do you show me this?-A fourth-Start, 10 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 shews me many more; and some I see,
That twofold 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?
1 Witch. Ay, sir, all this is so :-But why
Stands Macbeth thus amazedly?—
Come, sisters, cheer we up his sprights,
And shew the best of our delights;
I'll charm the air to give a sound,
While we perform our antique round:
That this great king may kindly say,
Our duties did his welcome pay.

[Musick. [The witches dance and vanish. Macb. Where are they? Gone?Let this pernicious hour

Stand aye' accursed in the calendar !—
Come in, without there!

Enter Lenox.

Len. What's your grace's will?
Mach. Saw you the weird sisters?
Len. No, my lord.

Mach. Came they not by you?
Len. No, indeed, my lord."

15

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His flight was madness: When our actions do not,
Our fears do make us traitors.

Rosse. You know not,

Whether it was his wisdom, or his fear.

L. Macd. Wisdom! to leave his wife, to leave his babes,

His mansion, and his titles, in a place

20 From whence himself does fly? Ile loves us not;
He wants the natural touch': For the poor wren,
The most diminutive of birds, will fight,
Her young ones in her nest, against the owl.
All is the fear, and nothing is the love;
25 As little is the wisdom, where the flight
So runs against all reason.

Rosse. My dearest coz,

I pray you, school yourself: But for your husband, He is noble, wise, judicious, and best knows 30 The fits o' the season". I dare not speak anuch further:

But cruel are the times, when we are traitors, And do not know ourselves"; when we hold ru mour12

35 From what we fear, yet know not what we fear; But float upon a wild and violent sea,

Mach. Infected be the air whereon they ride; And damn'd all those that trust them!-I did hear 40 The galloping of horse: Who was't came by?

Len. Is two or three, my lord, that bring
Macduff is fled to England.
[you word,

Mach. Fled to England?
Len. Ay, my good lord,
Macb.Time,thou anticipat'st' my dread exploits:
The flighty purpose never is o'er-took,
Unless the deed go with it: From this moment,
The very firstlings' of my heart shall be

Each way, and move. I take my leave of you:
shall not be long but I'll be here again:
Things at the worst will cease, or else climb upward
To what they were before.-My pretty cousin,
Blessing upon you!

L. Macd. Father'd he is, and yet he's fatherless.
Rosse. I am so much a fool, should I stay longer,
It would be my disgrace, and your discomfort:
45I take my leave at once.
[Exit Rosse.

The firstlings of my hand. And even now [done: 50
To crown my thoughts with acts, be it thought and
The castle of Macduff I will surprise;

Seize upon Fife; give to the edge o' the sword

4

L. Macd. Sirrah, your father's dead;
And what will you do now? How will you live?
Son. As birds do, mother.

L. Macd. What, with worms and flies?
Son. With what I get, I mean; and so do they.
L. Macd. Poor bird! thou'dst never fear the net
nor lime,
The pit-fall, nor the gin.

i. e. does blind me: alluding to the ancient practice of destroying the sight, by holding a piece of hot or burning iron before the eye, which dried up its humidity. i. e. the dissolution of nature. 3 Warburton says, this was intended as a compliment to King James the first, who united the two islands and the three kingdoms under one head; whose house too was said to be descended from Banquo. Blood-bolter'd means one whose blood hath issued out at many wounds, as flour of corn passes through the holes of a sieve. Shakspeare used it to insinuate the barbarity of Banquo's murderers, who covered him with wounds. 'i. e. for ever. * i. e. thou preventest. 'i. e. the thing first thought or done. i. e. following him. Meaning, natural sensibility, or affection. 10 the convulsions or violent disorders of the times. i. e. we think ourselves innocent, the government thinks us traitors; therefore we are ignorant of ourselves. To hold rumour signifies to believe rumour. Son.

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12

Son. Why should I, mother? Poor birds they
are not set for.

My father is not dead, for all your saying. [father?
L. Macd. Yes, he is dead: how wilt thou do for a
Son. Nay, how will you do for a husband?
L. Macd. Why, I can buy me twenty at any
market.

Son. Then you'll buy 'em to sell again.
L. Macd. Thou speak'st with all thy wit; and
yet, i' faith,

With wit enough for thee.

Son. Was my father a traitor, mother?
L. Macd. Ay, that he was.

Son. What is a traitor?

L. Macd. Why, one that swears and lies.
Son. And be all traitors, that do so?

L. Macd. Every one that does so, is a traitor, and must be hang'd.

Son. And must they all be hang'd, that swear

and lie?

L. Macd. Every one.

Son. Who must hang them?

L. Macd. Why, the honest men.

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Hold fast the mortal sword; and, like good men, Bestride our down-faln birthdom': Each new [rows New widows howl; new orphans cry; new sor15 Strike heaven on the face, that it resounds As if it felt with Scotland, and yell'd out Like syllable of dolour.

Mal. What I believe I'll wail: What know, believe; and, what I can redress, 20 As I shall find the time to friend', I will.

Son. Then the liars and swearers are fools: for there are liars and swearers enough to beat the 25 honest men, and hang them up.

L. Macd. Now God help thee, poor monkey !| But how wilt thou do for a father?

Son. If he were dead, you'd weep for him: if you would not, it were a good sign that I should 30 quickly have a new father.

L. Macd. Poor prattler! how thou talk'st!
Enter a Messenger.

Mes. Bless you, fair dame! I am not to you
known,

Though in your state of honour I am perfect'.
I doubt some danger doth approach you nearly:
If you will take a homely man's advice,
Be not found here: hence with your little ones.
To fright you thus, methinks, I am too savage;
To do worse to you' were fell cruelty, [you!
Which is too nigh your person. Heaven preserve
I dare abide no longer. [Exit Messenger

L. Macd. Whither should I ily?
I have done no harm. But I remember now
I am in this earthly world; where, to do harm,
Is often laudable: to do good, sometime,
Accounted dangerous folly: Why then, alas!
Do I put up that womanly defence,

[laces?

35

What you have spoke, it may be so, perchance.
This tyrant, whose sole name blisters our tongues,
Was once thought honest; you have lov'd him well;
He hath not touch'd you yet. I am young; but
something
[dom
You may deserve of him through me: and wis-
To offer up a weak, poor innocent lamb,
To appease an angry god.

Macd. I am not treacherous.
Mal. But Macbeth is.

[don;

A good and virtuous nature may recoil,
In an imperial charge. But I shall crave your par-
That which you are, my thoughts cannot transpose:
Angels are bright still, though the brightest fell:
Though all things foul would wear the brows of
Yet grace must still look so.
[grace,

Macd. I have lost my hopes.

Mal. Perchance, even there, where I did find
my doubts.

40 Why in that rawness' left you wife, and child,
(Those precious motives,those strong knots of love)
Without leave-taking ?-I pray you,

Let not my jealousies be your dishononrs,
But mine own safeties:-You may be rightly just,
45 Whatever I shall think.

To say, I have done no harm?--What are these 50
Enter Murderers.

Mur. Where is your husband?

L. Macd. I hope, in no place so unsanctified, Where such as thou may'st find him.

Mur. He's a traitor.

Son. Thou ly'st, thou shag-ear'd villain.
Mur. What, you egg?

Young fry of treachery?

Macd. Bleed, bleed, poor country!
Great tyranny, lay thou thy basis sure,
For goodness dares not check thee !-wear thou
thy wrongs,

His title is affear'd-Fare thee well, lord:
I would not be the villain that thou think'st,
For the whole space that's within the tyrant's grasp,
And the rich East to boot.

Mal. Be not offended:

55I speak not as in absolute fear of you.

I think, our country sinks beneath the yoke:
It weeps, it bleeds; and each new day a gash
Is added to their wounds: I think, withal,

6

1 That is, though I am perfectly acquainted with your rank. 2 i. e. not to acquaint you with, or give you warning of, your danger. 3i. e. protect from utter destruction the privileges of our birth-right. i. e. to befriend. 5 Without previous provision, without due preparation. Mr. Pope says affear'd is a law term for confirm'd. Mr. Tollet proposes to read, "The title is affeer'd,” and explains the passage thus: "Poor country, wear thou thy wrongs, the title to them is legally settled by those who had the final judication of it. Afeerers had the power of confirming or mode.

rating fines and amercements."

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There would be hands uplifted in my right;
And here, from gracious England, have I offer
Of goodly thousands: But, for all this,
When I shall tread upon the tyrant's head,
Or wear it on my sword, yet my poor country
Shall have more vices than it had before;
More suffer, and more sundry ways than ever,
By him that shall succeed.

Macb. What should he be?

Mal. It is myself I mean; In whom I know All the particulars of vice so grafted, That, when they shall be open'd, black Macbeth Will seem as pure as snow; and the poor state Esteem him as a lamb, being compar'd With my confineless harms.

Macd. Not in the legions

Of horrid hell, can come a devil more damn'd, In evils, to top Macbeth.

Mal. I grant him bloody, Luxurious, avaricious, false, deceitful, Sudden', malicious, smacking of every sin That has a name: But there's no bottom, none, In my voluptuousness: your wives, your daughters, Your matrons, and your maids, could not fill up The cistern of my lust; and my desire All continent impediments would o'er-bear, That did oppose my will: Better Macbeth, Than such a one to reign.

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Macd. Fit to govern!

No, not to live.-O nation miserable, 10 With an untitled tyrant bloody-scepter'd, When shalt thou see thy wholesome days again; Since that the truest issue of thy throne

By his own interdiction stands accurs'd, And does blaspheme his breed?-Thy royal father 15 Was a most sainted king; the queen that bore thee, Oftner upon her knees than on her feet, Dy'd every day she liv'd. Fare thee well! These evils thou repeat'st upon thyself, Have banish'd me from Scotland.-O, my breast, 20 Thy hope ends here!

Mal. Macduff, this noble passion,

Child of integrity, hath from my soul

Wip'd the black scruples, reconcil'd my thoughts To thy good truth and honour. Devilish Macbeth, 25 By many of these trains, hath sought to win me Into his power; and modest wisdom plucks me From over-credulous haste: But God above Deal between thee and me! for even now put myself to thy direction, and 30 Unspeak mine own detraction; here abjure The taints and blames I laid upon myself, For strangers to my nature. I am yet Unknown to woman; never was forsworn; Scarcely have coveted what was mine own; At no time broke my faith; would not betray The devil to his fellow; and delight

Maed. Boundless intemperance
In nature is a tyranny: it hath been
The untimely emptying of the happy throne,
And fall of many kings. But fear not yet
To take upon you what is yours: you may
Convey your pleasures in a spacious plenty,
And yet seem cold, the time you may so hood-wink. 35
We have willing dames enough; there cannot be
That vulture in you to devour so many
As will to greatness dedicate themselves,
Finding it so inclin'd.

Mal. With this, there grows,
In my most ill-compos'd affection, such
A stanchless avarice, that were I king,
I should cut off the nobles for their lands;
Desire his jewels, and this other's house:
And my more-having would be as a sauce
To make me hunger more; that I should forge
Quarrels unjust against the good, and loyal,
Destroying them for wealth.

Macd. This avarice

Sticks deeper; grows with more pernicious root
Than summer-seeming lust; and it hath been
The sword of our slain kings: Yet do not fear;
Scotland hath foysons to fill up your will,
Of your mere own: All these are portable,
With other graces weigh'd.

Mal. But I have none: the king-becoming graces,
As justice, verity, temperance, stableness,
Bounty, perseverance, mercy, lowliness,
Devotion, patience, courage, fortitude,
I have no relish of them; but abound

In the division of each several crime,

No less in truth, than life: my first false speaking Was this upon myself: What I am truly, Is thine, and my poor country's, to command: 40 Whither, indeed, before thy here-approach, Old Siward, with ten thousand warlike men, All ready at a point', was setting forth: Now we'll together: And the chance, of goodness, Be like our warranted quarrel! Why are you 145 silent? [once,

50

Macd. Such welcome and unwelcome things at "Tis hard to reconcile.

Enter a Doctor.

Mal. Well; more anon.--Comes the king forth,

pray you?

Doct. Ay, sir: there are a crew of wretched souls,
That stay his cure: their malady convinces
The great essay of art; but, at his touch,
Such sanctity hath heaven given his hand,
55 They presently amend.

Mal. I thank you, doctor.

Macd. What's the disease he means?
Mal. 'Tis call'd the evil :

[Exit.

A most miraculous work in this good king; 60 Which often, since my here-reniain in England, 'I have seen him do. How he solicits heaven,

That is, passionate, violent, hasty. 2 i. e. plenty.. 'i. e. ready at a time. 4 The author of The Revisal conceives the sense of the passage to be this: And may the success of that goodness, which is about to exert itself in my behalf, be such as may be equal to the justice of my quarrel. i. e. over-powers, subdues.

Himself

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