Whom, you may say, if't please you, Fleance kill'd, To kill their gracious father? damned fact ! That were the slaves of drink and thralls of sleep? He has borne all things well: and I do think As, an't please Heaven, he shall not-they should find But, peace! for from broad words,1 and 'cause he fail'd His presence at the tyrant's feast, I hear Macduff lives in disgrace. Where he bestows himself? Sir, can you tell The son of Duncan, Lord. Give to our tables meat, sleep to our nights, 1 From broad words," i.e., in consequence of free speech. 2 Edward the Confessor (see Note 3, p. 82). 3 " Upon his aid," i.e., to his aid. And this report All which we pine for now. Prepares for some attempt of war. Lennox. Sent he to Macduff? Lord. He did; and with an absolute "Sir, not I," And hums, as who should say, "You'll rue the time Lennox. And that well might Advise him to a caution, to hold what distance His message ere he come, that a swift blessing Lord. I'll send my prayers with him. ACT IV. [Exeunt. SCENE I. A Cavern. In the Middle a Boiling Caldron. First Witch. Thrice the brinded3 cat hath mew'd. In the poison'd entrails throw. Toad, that under the cold stone Days and nights has thirty-one 1 Exasperated. 2 The "me" is redundant, introduced to enliven the speech. There are many instances of this use of the word in Shakespeare. 3 Brindled. Swelter'd venom sleeping got, Boil thou first i' the charmed pot. All. Double, double toil and trouble; Second Witch. Fillet of a fenny snake, All. Double, double toil and trouble; Third Witch. Scale of dragon, tooth of wolf, Witches' mummy, maw and gulf 5 Of the ravin'd salt-sea shark, Make the gruel thick and slab:, 1 A kind of lizard. 2 Forked tongue. 3 Owlet's. 4 Nares (as quoted by Furness) notes that Egyptian mummy, or what passed for it, was formerly used as a medicine; and Sir Thomas Browne, as noted by Dyce, remarks "that the Egyptian mummies which Cambyses or time had spared, avarice now consumeth; Mummie has become merchandise, Mizraim cures wounds, and Pharaoh is sold for balsams." the same writer adds, that a large business was done in the manufacturing of mummies from dead carcasses, and giving them the names of kings. But All. Double, double toil and trouble; Fire burn, and caldron bubble. Second Witch. Cool it with a bab'oon'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 caldron sing, Enchanting all that you put in. [Music and a song: "Black spirits," etc. "Black spirits," etc. Hecate retires. Second Witch. By the pricking of my thumbs, Something wicked this way comes.1 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 con'jure 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 navigation2 up; Though bladed corn be lodg'd3 and trees blown down; Though palaces and pyramids do slope Their heads to their foundations; though the treasure 1 Steevens remarks, "It is a very ancient superstition, that all sudden pains of the body which could not naturally be accounted for were presages of somewhat that was shortly to happen." 2 The vessels of navigation; ships. 3 Laid. 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 :2 grease that's sweaten From the murderer's gibbet throw First Apparition. Macbeth! Macbeth! Macbeth! beware 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: 3 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! 1 Fruitful, germinating seeds. 2 Litter. 3" Harp'd my fear aright," i.e., struck the chord or keynote of my fear. |