That I would fet my life on any chance,
To mend it, or be rid on't.

Mach.

Both of you

True, my lord.

Know, Banquo was your enemy.

2. Mur.

Macb. So is he mine: and in fuch bloody distance,
That every minute of his being thrusts

Against my near'st of life: And though I could
With bare-fac'd power sweep him from my fight,
And bid my will avouch it; yet I must not,
For certain friends that are both his and mine,
Whose loves I may not drop, but wail his fall
Whom I myself struck down: and thence it is,
That I to your affistance do make love;
Masking the business from the common eye,
For fundry weighty reasons.

2. Mur.

We fhall, my lord,

Though our lives

Perform what you command us.

1. Mur.

Mach. Your fpirits fhine through you. Within this hour, at most,

I will advise you where to plant yourselves.
Acquaint you with the perfect spy o' the time,
The moment on't; for't must be done to-night,
And fomething from the palace; always thought,
That I require a clearness: and with him,
(To leave no rubs, nor botches, in the work,)
Fleance his fon, that keeps him company,

Whofe abfence is no less material to me

Than is his father's, muft embrace the fate
Of that dark hour. Refolve yourselves apart;
I'll come to you anon.

Mur.

We are refolv'd, my lord.

Macb. I'll call upon you straight; abide within.

It is concluded:-Banquo, thy foul's flight,
If it find heaven, must find it out to-night.

SCENE II.

The fame. Another Room.

Enter Lady MACBETH, and a Servant.

Lady M. Is Banquo gone from court?

[Exeunt.

Serv. Ay, madam; but returns again to-night.

Lady M. Say to the king, I would attend his leifure For a few words.

Serv.

Lady M.

Madam, I will.

Nought's had, all's spent,

Where our defire is got without content : "Tis fafer to be that which we destroy,

Than, by destruction, dwell in doubtful joy.

Enter MACBETH.

[Exit.

How now, my lord? why do you keep alone,
Of forrieft fancies your companions making?
Ufing those thoughts, which should indeed have died
With them they think on? Things without remedy,
Should be without regard: what's done, is done.

Macb. We have scotch'd the snake, not kill'd it;
She'll close, and be herself; whilst our poor malice
Remains in danger of her former tooth.

But let

The frame of things disjoint, both the worlds suffer,
Ere we will eat our meal in fear, and sleep

In the affliction of these terrible dreams,

That shake us nightly: Better be with the dead,
Whom we, to gain our place, have sent to peace,

Than on the torture of the mind to lie

In restless ecstasy. Duncan is in his grave;
After life's fitful fever, he fleeps well;

Treafon has done his worst: nor steel, nor poison,
Malice domestick, foreign levy, nothing,
Can touch him further!

Lady M. Come on;

Gentle my lord, fleek o'er your rugged looks ;
Be bright and jovial 'mong your guests to-night.
Macb. So fhall I, love; and fo, I pray, be you :
Let your remembrance apply to Banquo;

Present him eminence, both with eye and tongue:
Unfafe the while, that we

Muft lave our honours in these flattering ftreams;
And make our faces vizards to our hearts,

Difguifing what they are.

Lady M.

You must leave this.

Macb. O, full of fcorpions is my mind, dear wife! Thou know'ft, that Banquo, and his Fleance, lives. Lady M. But in them nature's copy's not eterne. Macb. There's comfort yet, they are affailable; Then be thou jocund: Ere the bat hath flown His cloifter'd flight; ere, to black Hecate's fummons, The fhard-borne beetle, with his drowsy hums,

Hath rung night's yawning peal, there shall be done A deed of dreadful note.

Lady M.

What's to be done?

Mach. Be innocent of the knowledge, dearest chuck, Till thou applaud the deed. Come, feeling night, Skarf up the tender eye of pitiful day;

And, with thy bloody and invisible hand,

Cancel, and tear to pieces, that great bond

Which keeps me pale !-Light thickens; and the crow

Makes wing to the rooky wood:

Good things of day begin to droop and drowze;
Whiles night's black agents to their prey do rouse.
Thou marvell'st at my words: but hold thee still;
Things, bad begun, make strong themselves by ill :
So, pr'ythee, go with me.

SCENE III.

[Exeunt.

The fame. A Park or Lawn, with a Gate leading to the

Palace.

Enter three Murderers.

1. Mur. But who did bid thee join with us?

3. Mur.

Macbeth.

2. Mur. He needs not our mistrust; fince he delivers Our offices, and what we have to do,

To the direction juft.

1. Mur.

Then ftand with us.

The weft yet glimmers with fome streaks of day:
Now fpurs the lated traveller apace,

To gain the timely inn; and near approaches
The fubject of our watch.

3. Mur.

Hark! I hear horses.

Ban. [within.] Give us a light there, ho!

2. Mur.

Then it is he; the reft

That are within the note of expectation,
Already are i' the court.

1. Mur.

His horfes go about.

3. Mur. Almost a mile: but he does usually, So all men do, from hence to the palace gate Make it their walk.

Enter BANQUO, and FLEANCE; a Servant with a torch

Ban. O, treachery! Fly, good Fleance, fly, fly, fly; Thou may'st revenge.-O slave!

[Dies. Fleance and Servant escape.

3. Mur. Who did strike out the light?

I.

Mur.

Was't not the way?

3. Mur. There's but one down; the fon is fled.

2. Mur. We have loft best half of our affair.

1. Mur. Well, let's away, and fay how much is done.

[Exeunt.

SCENE IV.

A Room of State in the Palace.

A banquet prepared. Enter MACBETH, Lady MACBETH, ROSSE, LENOx, Lords, and Attendants.

Macb. You know your own degrees, fit down: at first, And last, the hearty welcome.

Lords.

Thanks to your majesty.

Macb. Ourfelf will mingle with society,

And play the humble host.

Our hostess keeps her state; but, in best time,

We will require her welcome.

Lady M. Pronounce it for me, fir, to all our friends;

For my heart speaks, they are welcome.

7

Enter