LENNOX.

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 accursed!

FIRST WITCH. Thrice the brinded cat hath mew'd.

SECOND WITCH. Thrice, and once the hedge-pig whined.
THIRD WITCH. Harpier cries; 'tis time, 'tis time.
FIRST WITCH. Round about the cauldron go:

In the poison'd entrails throw.
Toad, that under cold stone
Days and nights has thirty-one
Swelter'd venom sleeping got,

Boil thou first i' the charmed pot.

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

SECOND 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 howlet's wing,
For a charm of powerful trouble,

10

Like a hell-broth boil and bubble.

ALL. Double, double, toil and trouble;

20

Fire burn and cauldron bubble.

THIRD 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.

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

Enter HECATE to the other three WITCHES.

HECATE. 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 a song: "Black spirits," etc.

30

· 40

[HECATE retires.

SECOND WITCH. By the pricking of my thumbs,

Something wicked this way comes:

Open, locks,

Whoever knocks!

Enter MACBETH,

MACBETH. HOW now, you secret, black, and midnight

hags!

What is't you do?

ALL.

A deed without a name.

MACBETH. I conjure you, by that which you profess, 50

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,
Even till destruction sicken; answer me
To what I ask you.

60

FIRST WITCH. Say, if thou'dst rather hear it from our

mouths,

Or from our masters ?

MACBETH.

Call 'em, let me see 'em.

FIRST WITCH. 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.

MACBETH. Tell me, thou unknown power,

FIRST WITCH.

He knows thy thought:

70

Hear his speech, but say thou nought.

FIRST APPARITION. Macbeth! Macbeth! Macbeth! be

ware Macduff;

Beware the thane of Fife. Dismiss me enough.

[Descends.

MACBETH. Whate'er thou art, for thy good caution

thanks;

Thou hast harp'd my fear aright but one word

more,

:

FIRST WITCH. He will not be commanded: here's another, More potent than the first.

Thunder.

SECOND APPARITION a bloody Child.

SECOND APPARITION.

Macbeth! Macbeth! Macbeth!

MACBETH. Had I three ears, I'ld hear thee.

SECOND APPARITION. Be bloody, bold and resolute;

laugh to scorn

The power of man, for none of woman born

Shall harm Macbeth.

MACBETH.

thee?

80

[Descends.

Then live, Macduff: what need I fear of

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.

What is this,

That rises like the issue of a king,

And wears upon his baby-brow the round
And top of sovereignty?

ALL.

Listen, but speak not to't.

THIRD APPARITION. 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.

90

[Descends.

MACBETH.

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-placed 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
Can tell so much shall Banquo's issue ever
Reign in this kingdom?

ALL.

your

art

Seek to know no more.

MACBETH. 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?

FIRST WITCH. Show!

100

[Hautboys.

SECOND WITCH. Show!

THIRD WITCH. Show!

ALL. Show his eyes, and grieve his heart;

Come like shadows, so depart!

110

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

MACBETH. Thou art too like the spirit of Banquo: down! Thy crown does sear mine 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; and some I see
That two-fold balls and treble sceptres carry :
Horrible sight! Now I see 'tis true;

For the blood-bolter'd Banquo smiles upon me,

120