Macb. Good morrow, both. Not yet. Macd. Is the king stirring, worthy thane? Macb. Macd. He did command me to call timely on him; I have almost slipp'd the hour. Macb. I'll bring you to him Macd. I know this is a joyful trouble to you; But yet 'tis one. Macb. The labour we delight in, physics pain. This is the door. Len. The night has been unruly: where we lay, Our chimneys were blown down, and, as they say, Lamentings heard i' th' air; strange screams of death, And prophesying with accents terrible, Of dire combustion and confus'd events, New hatch'd to th' woeful time: the obscure bird Macb. 'Twas a rough night. Len. My young remembrance cannot parallel A fellow to it. Macd. (without). O horror, horror, horror! Tongue Macd. Confusion now hath made his masterpiece! Most sacrilegious murder hath broke ope The Lord's anointed temple, and stole thence The life o' th' building. Macb. What is't you say? the life? Len. Mean you his majesty? Macd. Approach the chamber, and destroy your sight With a new Gorgon: do not bid me speak; See, and then speak yourselves. [Exeunt MACBETH and LENNOX. Awake, awake! Ring the alarum-bell.-Murder and treason! The great doom's image!-Malcolm! Banquo! And from your graves rise up, and walk like sprites, To countenance this horror. Enter Lady MACBETH. Lady M. What's the business, That such a hideous trumpet calls to parley [Bell rings. Enter BANQUO, Ross, Nobles, Officers, and Attendants. Macd. O Banquo, Banquo! Our royal master's murder'd. Macb. Had I but died an hour before this chance, I had lived a blessèd time; for from this instant All is but toys: renown and grace is dead; The wine of life is drawn, and the mere lees Is left this vault to brag of. Enter MALCOLM and DONALBAIN. Don. What is amiss? Macb. You are, and do not know't: The spring, the head, the fountain of your blood Is stopp'd-the very source of it is stopp'd. Macd. Your royal father's murder'd. Mal. O! by whom? Len. Those of his chamber, as it seem'd, had done't: [Exeunt MALCOLM and DONALBAIN into Their hands and faces were all badg'd with blood; They star'd, and were distracted; no man's life Was to be trusted with them. Macb. O, yet I do repent me of my fury, That I did kill them. Macd. Wherefore did you so? Macb. Who can be wise, amaz'd, temperate and furious, Loyal and neutral, in a moment? The expedition of my violent love No man: Outran the pauser, reason.-Here lay Duncan;— And his gash'd stabs, look'd like a breach in nature, Macd. Look to the lady. Help me hence, ho! [Lady MACBETH is carried out. Mal. [Aside to DONALBAIN.] Why do we hold our tongues, That most may claim this argument for ours? Don. [Aside.] Let's away; Our tears are not yet brew'd. Mal. [Aside.] that's shot This murd'rous shaft Hath not yet lighted; and our safest way, Is to avoid the aim. [Exeunt MALCOLM and DONALBAIN Ban. Fears and scruples shake us : In the great hand of God I stand, and thence Of treasonous malice. Macd. All. And so do I. So all, Macb. Let's briefly put on manly readiness, And meet i' th' hall together. Ban. And question this most bloody piece of work, To know it further. All. Well contented. [Exeunt. 围 ACT III. SCENE 1.-Forres. Hall in the Palace. Ross and Lords discovered. Enter BANQUO. Banquo. HOU hast it now-king, Cawdor, Glamis, all, It should not stand in thy posterity, But that myself should be the root and father May they not be my oracles as well And set me up in hope? But hush, no more. Enter MACBETH, as king; Lady MACBETH, as queen; Macb. Here's our chief guest. Lady M. If he had been forgotten, It had been as a gap in our great feast, And all-thing unbecoming. Macb. To-night we hold a solemn supper, sir, And I'll request your presence. Ban. Lay your highness Command upon me; to the which my duties |