question them further, they made themselves air, into which they vanished. Whiles I stood rapt in the wonder of it, came missives from the king, who all-hailed me, Thane of Cawdor; by which title, before, these weird sisters saluted me, and referred me to the coming on of time, with, Hail, king that shalt be! This have I thought good to deliver thee, my dearest partner of greatness; that thou mightest not lose the dues of rejoicing, by being ignorant of what greatness is promised thee. Lay it to thy heart, and farewell. Glamis thou art, and Cawdor; and shalt be What thou art promised :—yet do I fear thy nature; It is too full o' the milk of human kindness, To catch the nearest way. Thou wouldst be great; Art not without ambition; but without The illness should attend it. What thou wouldst highly, [false, That wouldst thou holily; wouldst not play And yet wouldst wrongly win: thou'dst have, great Glamis, [thou have it: That which cries, Thus thou must do, if And that which rather thou dost fear to do, Than wishest should be undone. Hie thee hither, That I may pour my spirits in thine ear; And chastise with the valor of my tongue All that impedes thee from the golden round, Which fate and metaphysical aid doth seem To have thee crown'd withal.— Enter an Attendant. What is your tidings? Atten. The king comes here to-night. Lady M. it: Thou'rt mad to say Is not thy master with him? who, were't so, Would have inform'd for preparation. Atten. So please you, it is true; our thane is coming: One of my fellows had the speed of him; Who, almost dead for breath, had scarcely more Than would make up his message. Lady M. He brings great news. Give him tending, [Exit Attendant. The raven himself is hoarse That croaks the fatal ent(e)rance of Duncan Under my battlements. Come, you spirits That tend on mortal thoughts, unsex me here; [full And fill me, from the crown to the toe, top. Of direst cruelty! make thick my blood, Stop up the accèss and passage to remorse; That no compunctious visitings of nature Shake my fell purpose, nor keep peace be [breasts, The effect, and it! Come to my woman's And take my milk for gall, you murdering ministers, tween Wherever in your sightless substances You wait on nature's mischief! Come, thick night, And pall thee in the dunnest smoke of hell! That my keen knife see not the wound it makes; dark, Nor heaven peep through the blanket of the To cry, Hold, hold! Enter MACBeth. Great Glamis, worthy Cawdor! Greater than both, by the all-hail hereafter ! Thy letters have transported me beyond This ignorant present, and I feel now The future in the instant. Macb. Duncan comes here to-night. Lady M. My dearest love, And when goes hence? O, never Macb. To-morrow,-as he purposes. Shall sun that morrow see! Your face, my thane, is as a book, where men May read strange matters:—to beguile_the time, [eye, Look like the time; bear welcome in your Your hand, your tongue : look like the innocent flower, [ing But be the serpent under it. He that's comMust be provided for: and you shall put This night's great business into my dispatch: Which shall to all our nights and days to come Give solely sovereign sway and masterdom. Macb. We will speak further. Lady M. Only look up clear; To alter favor ever is to fear: [Exeunt. SCENE VI.-The same. Before the Castle. Hautboys. Servants of Macbeth attending. Enter DUNCAN, MALCOLM, DONALBAIN, BANQUO, LENOX, MACDuff, Rosse, ANGUS, and Attendants. Dun. This castle hath a pleasant seat; the air Nimbly and sweetly recommends itself Ban. This guest of summer, The temple-haunting martlet, does approve, By his loved mansionry, that the heaven's breath Smells wooingly here: no jutty, frieze, Buttress, nor coigne of vantage, but this bird Hath made his pendent bed, and procreant [observed, Where they most breed and haunt, I have The air is delicate. cradle : Which still we thank as love. Herein I teach How you shall bid God-yield us for your pains, And thank us for your trouble. Lady M. All our service In every point twice done, and then done double, Were poor and single business, to contend Against those honors deep and broad, where with [old, Your majesty loads our house: for those of Dun. Where's the thane of Cawdor? We coursed him at the heels, and had a pur pose To be his purveyor: but he rides well; And his great love, sharp as his spur, hath holp him To his home before us. [tess, Fair and noble hos We are your guest to-night. Lady M. Your servants ever Have theirs, themselves, and what is theirs, in compt, [ure, To make their audit at your highness' pleasStill to return your own. Dun. Give me your hand: Conduct me to mine host: we love him highly, And shall continue our graces towards him. By your leave, hostess. [Exeunt. SCENE VII.-The same. A Room in the Castle. Hautboys and torches. Enter, and pass over the stage, a Sewer, and divers Servants with dishes and service. Then enter MACBETH. Mach. If it were done, when 'tis done, then 'twere well It were done quickly: if the assassination |