1 Witch. Round about the cauldron go, In the poifon'd entrails throw. [They march round the cauldron, and throw in the feveral ingredients as for the preparation of their Charm. of those witches was Grimalkin; and when any mifchief was to be done she used to bid Rutterkin go and fly, but once when she would have sent Rutterkin to torment a daughter of the countess of Rutland, inftead of going or flying, he only cried mew, from whence the difcovered that the lady was out of his power, the power of witches being not univerfal, but limited, as ShakeSpeare has taken care to inculcate. Though his bark cannot be loft, Yet it fall be tempest-roft. The common afflictions which the malice of witches produced were melancholy, fits, and lofs of flesh, which are threatned by one of Shakespeare's witches. Weary few'n-nights, nine times nine, Shall be dwindle, peak and pine. It was likewife their practice to deftroy the cattle of their neighbours, and the farmers have to this day many ceremonies to fecure their cows and other cattle from witchcraft; but they feem to have been moft fufpected of malice against fwine. Shake Speare has accordingly made one of his witches declare that the has been killing fwine, and Dr. Harfenet obferves, that about that time, a fow could not be ill of the measles, nor a girl of the ful Toad, lens, but fome old woman was charged with witchcraft. Toad, that under the cold ftone, Days and nights has, thirty-one, Swelter'd venom fleeping got; Boil thou firft i'th charmed pot. Toads have likewife long lain under the reproach of being by fome means acceffary to witchcraft, for which reafon Shakepeare, in the firft fcene of this play, calls one of the fpirits Padocke or Toad, and now takes care to put a toad firft into the pot. When Vaninus was feized at Tholoufe, there was found at his lodgings ingens Bufo Vitro incluJus, a great Toad shut in a Vial, upon which thofe that profecuted him Veneficium exprobrabant, charged him, I fuppofe, with witchcraft. Fillet of a fenny Snake, In the cauldron boil and bake; The propriety of these ingredients may be known by confulting the books de Viribus Animalium and de Mirabilibus Mundi, afcribed to Albertus Magnus, in which the reader, who has time and credulity, may difcover very wonderful fecrets. Finger of birth-ftrangled babe, Ditch-deliver'd by a drab ;It has been already mentioned in the law against witches, that they Toad, that under the cold ftone, they are fuppofed to take up You that mingle maz. And in a former part, a hole in the earth; for they "imagine that there is a spirit "in the ground, and if he falls "fick in two or three days, "they fend one of their wo66 men that is fkilled in that way "to the place, where the fays, "I call thee from the eaft, weft, "north and fouth, from the 66 groves, the woods, the rivers, " and the fens, from the fairies “ red, black, white." There was likewife a book written before the time of Shakespeare, deferibing, amongst other proper weyward fifters, band in ties, the colours of fpirits. band, Many other circumstances might be particularifed, in which Shakespeare has fhown his judgment and his knowledge. Eye Eye of newt, and toe of frog, All. Double, double, toil and trouble, 3 Witch. Scale of dragon, tooth of wolf, Make the gruel thick, and flab. All Double, double, toil and trouble, 2 Witch. Cool it with a baboon's blood, Then the Charm is firm and good. Enter Hecate, and other three Witches. Hec. Oh! well done! I commend your pains, And now about the cauldron fing, Mufick and a Song. Black fpirits and white, 2 Witch. By the pricking of my Something wicked this way comes: Open locks, whoever knocks. thumbs SCENE II. Enter Macbeth. Mach. How now, you fecret, black, and midnight hags ? What is't you do? All. A deed without a name. Mach. I conjure you, by that which you profess, Howe'er you come to know it, anfwer me. Though you untie the winds, and let them fight Against the churches; though the yefty waves Confound and fwallow navigation up; 8 Though bladed corn be lodg'd, and trees blown down; Though caftles topple on their warders' heads; Though palaces and pyramids do flope Their heads to their foundations; though the treasure "Of Nature's Germins tumble all together, Even till deftruction ficken, answer me To what I afk you. 1 Witch. Speak. 2 Witch. Demand. 8 yrfly waves] That is, -} This was fubflituted by Theobald for Nature's German, I Witch. 1 Witch. Say, if th' had'ft rather hear it from our mouths, Or from our masters ? Mach. Call 'em. Let me fee 'em. I Witch. Pour in fow's blood, that hath eaten All. Come high or low: Thyfelf and office deftly fhow. } [Thunder. Apparition of an armed head rifes. Mach. Tell me, thou unknown Power1 Witch. He knows thy thought. Hear his fpeech, but fay thou nought. App. Macbeth! Macbeth! Macbeth! beware Macduff! Beware the Thane of Fife-difmifs me—enough. [Defcends. Mach. What-e'er thou art, for thy good caution, thanks. Thou'ft harp'd my fear aright. Bnt one word more1 Witch. He will not be commanded. Here's another More potent than the first. Apparition of a bloody child rifes. App. Macbeth Macbeth! Macbeth! [Thunder. App. Be bloody, bold, and refolute; laugh to fcorn The pow'r of man; for none of woman born Shall harm Macbeth. [Defends. Mach. Then live, Macduff; what need I fear of thee? But yet I'll make affurance double fure, And take a bond of Fate; thou shalt not live, That I may tell pale-hearted fear, it lies; And fleep in fpight of thunder. VOL. VI. Gg [Thunders.. Ap |