ACT IV.

SCENE 1.-A Cavern. In the middle, a boiling cauldron.

Thunder.

The three Witches.

Ist Witch.

HRICE the brinded cat hath mew'd.

2nd W. Thrice: and once the hedge-pig

whin'd.

3rd W. Harpy cries.-'Tis time, 'tis time.

1st W. Round about the cauldron go;

In the poison'd entrails throw.

Toad, that under the cold stone,
Days and nights has thirty-one
Swelter'd venom sleeping got,
Boil thou first i' the charmèd pot.
All. Double, double toil and trouble;
Fire burn; and cauldron bubble.
2nd W. Fillet of a fenny snake,

In the cauldron boil and bake;
Eye 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.

3rd W. 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
Silver'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 tiger's chaudron,
For the ingredients of our cauldron.
All. Double, double toil and trouble;
Fire burn; and cauldron bubble.

2nd W. Cool it with a báboon's blood, Then the charm is firm and good.

Enter HECATE.

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 song.

Black spirits and white,
Red spirits and grey,
Mingle, mingle, mingle,
You that mingle may.

[HECATE disappears.

2nd W. By the pricking of my thumbs,

Something wicked this way comes.

Open, locks,

Whoever knocks!

Enter MACBETH.

Mach. How now, you secret, black and midnight hags!

What is't you do?

All.

A deed without a name.

Macb. I cónjure 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;

Though palaces and pyramids do slope

Their heads to their foundations ;-answer me
To what I ask you.

Ist W.

2nd W.

3rd W.

Speak.

Demand.

We'll answer.

1st W. Say, if thou'dst rather hear it from our

mouths,

Or from our masters?

Macb.

Call 'em ; let me see 'em.

1st W. Pour in sow's blood, that hath eaten

Her nine farrow; grease, that's sweaten

From the murderer's gibbet, throw

Into the flame

All.

Come, high or low;

Thyself and office deftly show!

Thunder. First Apparition: an armed Head.

Macb. Tell me, thou unknown power,—

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 :

1st W. He will not be commanded: here's another, More potent than the first.

Thunder. Second Apparition: a bloody Child.

2nd A. Macbeth! Macbeth! Macbeth!

Macb. Had I three ears, I'd hear thee.

2nd A. Be bloody, bold, and resolute; laugh to

scorn

The power of man, for none of woman born

Shall harm Macbeth.

[Descends.

Macb. Then live, Macduff: what need I fear of

thee?

But yet I'll make assurance double 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.

That rises like the issue of a king,

What is this,

And wears upon his baby-brow the round

And top of sovereignty?

All

Listen, but speak not to't.

3rd A. Be lion-mettled, proud; and take no care Who chafes, who frets, or where conspirers are: Macbeth shall never vanquish'd be, until

Great Birnam wood to high Dunsinane hill
Shall come against him.

Macb.

[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-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 satisfied: deny me this,

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

1st W. Show!

2nd W. Show!

3rd W. Show!

All. Show his eyes, and grieve his heart;

Come like shadows, so depart!

A show of eight Kings, the last with a mirror in his hand; BANQUO's Ghost following.

Mach. Thou art too like the spirit of Banquo; down!

Thy crown does sear my eye-balls:—and thy hair,
Thou other gold-bound brow, is like the first:-

A third is like the former.-Filthy hags!

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.—

Horrible sight !-Ay, now I see 'tis true;

For the blood-bolter'd Banquo smiles upon me,
And points at them for his.-

[Apparitions vanish. What, is this so?

1st W. 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,
While you perform your antic round,