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Len.

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 accurs'd!

Lord.

My prayers with him!

[Exeunt.

ACT IV.

SCENE I-A dark cave.

In the middle, a cauldron

boiling.

Thunder. Enter the Three Witches.

1 Witch. Thrice the brinded cat hath mew'd. 2 Witch. Thrice; and once the hedge-pig whin'd. 3 Witch. Harper cries :-'Tis time, 'tis time. 1 Witch. Round about the cauldron go; In the poison'd entrails throw.—— Toad, that under coldest stone, Days and nights hast 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. 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.

*This word is employed to signify that the animal was hot and sweating with venom although sleeping under a cold stone.

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,
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 chauldron ‡,
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, and 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,
Like elves and fairies in a ring,
Enchanting all that you put in.

SONG.

Black spirits and white,
Red spirits and grey;

Mingle, mingle, mingle,

You that mingle may.

2 Witch. By the pricking of my thumbs, Something wicked this way comes: Open, locks, whoever knocks.

* The throat.

+ Ravenous.

‡ Entrails.

Enter Macbeth.

Macb. 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 bladed corn be lodg'dt, and trees blown down;

Though castles topple on their warders' heads; Though palaces, and pyramids, do slope

Their heads to their foundations; though the trea

sure

Of nature's germins§ tumble all together,
Even till destruction sicken, answer me
To what I ask you.

1 Witch.

2 Witch.

3 Witch.

Speak.

Demand.

We'll answer.

1 Witch. Say, if thoud'st rather hear it from our

mouths,

Or from our masters'?

Macb.

Call them, let me see them. 1 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. An Apparition of an armed Head rises.

Macb. Tell me, thou unknown power,

1 Witch.

Hear his speech, but say thou nought.

* Frothy.

He knows thy thought;

[blocks in formation]

§ Seeds which have begun to sprout.

App. Macbeth! Macbeth! Macbeth! beware Macduff;

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:

1 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.

App. Be bloody, bold, And resolute laugh to scorn the power of man, For none of woman born shall harm Macbeth.

[Descends.

Mach. 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.-What is this,

Thunder. An Apparition of a Child crowned, with a Tree in his Hand, rises.

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.

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

* Touched on a passion as a harper touches a string.

The round is that part of a crown which encircles the head; the top is the ornament which rises above it.

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