But, peace!-for from broad words, and 'cause he fail'd His presence at the tyrant's feast, I hear, Macduff lives in disgrace: sir, can you tell Where he bestows himself? The son of Duncan, Lord. From whom this tyrant holds the due of birth, Lives in the English court; and is received Of the most pious Edward with such grace, That the malevolence of fortune nothing Takes from his high respect: thither Mac duff Is gone to pray the holy king, upon his aid To wake Northumberland, and warlike Si ward : That, by the help of these, (with Him above Give to our tables meat, sleep to our nights Len. not I, The cloudy messenger turns me his back, And hums; as who should say, You'll rue the time That clogs me with this answer. Len. And that well might Advise him to a caution, to hold what dis tance His wisdom can provide. Some holy angel May soon return to this our suffering country Lord. I'll send my prayers with him! [Exeuut. ACT IV. SCENE I.-A dark Cave. In the middle, a Cauldron boiling. Thunder. Enter the three Witches. I Witch. HRICE the brindled cat hath mew'd. 2 Witch. Thrice; and once the hedge-pig whined. 3 Witch. Harpier cries:- 'tis time, 'tis time. I Witch. Round about the cauldron go; Boil thou first i' the charmed pot! All. Double, double toil and trouble; Fire, burn; and, cauldron, bubble. 2 Witch. 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 owlet'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 tiger'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, to the other three-Witches. Hec. O, well done! I commend your pains; And every one shall share i' the gains, And now about the cauldron sing, SONG. Black spirits and white, You that mingle may. 2 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 midnight hags, What is't you do? All. A deed without a name. Macb. 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; Though bladed corn be lodged, and trees blown down; Though castles topple on their warders' heads; Though palaces, and pyramids, do slope Their heads to their foundations; though the treasure Of nature's germins tumble all together, I Witch. Say, if thou'dst rather hear it from our mouths, Or from our masters'? Macb. Call them, let me see them. I Witch. Pour in sow's blood, that hath Her nine farrow; grease, that's sweaten Into the flame. All. Come, high, or low; Thyself, and office, deftly show. Thunder. An Apparition of an armed Head rises. Macb. Tell me, thou unknown power,I Witch. He knows thy thought; Hear his speech, but say thou nought. App. Macbeth! Macbeth! Macbeth! beware Macduff; Beware the thane of Fife.-Dismiss me : enough. [Descends. Mach. Whate'er thou art, for thy good cau tion, thanks; Thou hast harp'd my fear aright. But one word more : I Witch. He will not be commanded: here's another, More potent than the first. Thunder. An Apparition of a bloody Child rises. App. Macbeth! Macbeth! Macbeth!Macb. Had I three ears, I'd hear thee. |