SCENE III. Enter three Murderers. 1 Mur. But who bid thee join with us? 3 Mur. Macbeth. 2 Mur. He needs not our mistrust; since he delivers Our offices, and what we have to do, To the direction just. 1 Mur. Then stand with us. The west yet glimmers with some streaks of day: To gain the timely inn; and near approaches 3 Mur. Hark! I hear horses. [Banquo within.] Give us a light there, ho! 2 Mur. Then it is he; the rest That are within the note of expectation, Already are i' the court. 1 Mur. His horses 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 with a torch. 2 Mur. A light, a light! 3 Mur. 'Tis he. 1 Mur. Stand to't. Ban. It will be rain to-night. 1Mur. Let it come down. [They assault Banquo. Bun. Oh,treachery!Fly,goodFleance, fly,fly,fly: 30 Thou may'st revenge.-O slave! [Dies. Fleance escapes. 3 Mur. Who did strike out the light? 3 Mur. There's but one down; the son is fled. SCENE IV. is [Enterthe Ghost of Banquo, and sits in Mac- Mach. Sweet remembrancer!- Len. May it please your highness sit? [roof'd, And play the humble host. Our hostess keeps her state; but, in best time, Lady. Pronounce it for me, sir, to all our friends;| Enter first Murderer to the door. Macb. See, they encounter thee with their Both sides are even: Here I'll sit i' the midst: Macb. 'Tis better thee without, than he within. Rosse. His absence, sir, [ness Lays blame upon his promise. Please it your high- Len. Here is a place reserv'd, sir. [your highness? Len. Here, my good lord. What is't that moves Lords. What, my good lord? Macb. Thou canst not say, I did it: never shake Thy goary locks at me. Rosse. Gentlemen, rise; his highness is not well. Lady. Sit, worthy friends:-my lord is often thus, 50And hath been from his youth: pray you, keep seat; The fit is momentary; upon a thought 1551 Mur. My lord,his throat is cut; that I did for him. 60 He will again be well: if much you note him, Lady. O proper stuff! This is the very painting of your fear: That is, the best means to evade discovery. 2 From trancher, to cut. i, e. prolong his suffering. (Impostors Impostors to true fear,) would well become Lady. What! quite unmann'd in folly? [time, Macb. Blood hath been shed ere now, i' the older Lady. My worthy lord, Mach. I do forget. [all: Do not muse at me, my most worthy friends; And to our dear friend Banquo, whom we miss ; Would he were here! To all, and him, we thirst, And all to all 3. Lords. Our duties, and the pledge. [hide thee! Macb. Avaunt! and quit my sight! Let the earth Thy bones are marrowless, thy blood is cold; Thou hast no speculation in those eyes Which thou dost glare with! Lady. Think of this, good peers, But as a thing of custom: 'tis no other; Macb. What man dare, I dare: Approach thou like the rugged Russian bear, The arm'd rhinoceros, or the Hyrcan tyger, 'Take any shape but that, and my firm nerves Shall never tremble: or, be alive again, And dare me to the desert with thy sword; If trembling I inhabit, then protest me The baby of a girl. Hence, horrible shadow ! Unreal mockery, hence!-Why,so;—being gone, am a man again.-Pray you, sit still. Lady. You have displac'd the mirth, broke the With most admir'd disorder. [good meeting, 15 Len. Good night, and better health, Attend his majesty! have blood: Lady. A kind good-night to all! [Exeunt Lords. Macb. It will have blood, they say; blood will [speak; Stones have been known to move, and trees to Augurs, and understood relations', have [forth 20 By magot-pies, and choughs, and rooks, brought The secret'st man of blood.-What is the night? Lady. Almost at odds with morning, which is which. [person, Mach. How say'st thou, that Macduff denies his 25 At our great bidding? Lady. Did you send to him, sir? Mach. I heard it by the way: but I will send: There's not a one of them, but in his house I keep a servant fee'd. will to-morrow 30(And betimes I will) unto the weird sisters: More shall they speak; for now I am bent to know, By the worst means, the worst: for mine own good, All causes shall give way; I am in blood Stept in so far, that, should I wade no more, Returning were as tedious as go o'er: 35 40 Strange things I have in head, that will to hand; Is the initiate fear, that wants hard use:- SCENE V. [Exeunt. The gentle weal is the peaceable community. 2 i. e. wonder. i. e. all good wishes to all; such as he had named above, love, health, and joy. 4 Pope reads, and we think properly, inhibit; that is, if I refuse, or evade thee. Meaning, pass over us like a summer's cloud. Mr. Steevens elucidates this passage thus: "You prove to me that I am a stranger even to my own disposition, "when I perceive that the very object which steals the colour from my cheek, permits it to remain "in yours. In other words,- You prove to me how false an opinion I have hitherto maintained "of my own courage, when yours on the trial is found to exceed it." By relation is here meant the connection of effects with causes. i. e. magpies. Mugot-pie is the original name of the bird, from magot, Fr. and hence also the modern abbreviation of mag, applied to pies. ? To scan is to examine nicely. 10 i. e. refreshment. Was Was never call'd to bear my part, Or shew the glory of our art? And, which is worse, all you have done Meet me i' the morning; thither he Your vessels, and your spells, provide, Great business must be wrought ere noon: There hangs a vaporous drop profound'; He shall spurn fate, scorn death, and bear Is mortals' chiefest enemy. [Music and a song. How did it grieve Macbeth! did he not straight, In pious rage, the two delinquents tear, That were the slaves of drink, and thralls of sleep? Was not that nobly done? Ay, and wisely too; 5 For 'twould have anger'd any heart alive, To hear the men deny it. So that, I say, He has borne all things well: and I do think, That, had he Duncan's sons under his key, [find (As, an't please heaven, he shall not) they should 10 What 'twere to kill a father; so should Fleance. But, peace!-for from broad words, and 'cause he His presence at the tyrant's feast, I hear, [fail'd Macduff lives in disgrace: Sir, can you tell Where he bestows himself? 15 Lord. The son of Duncan, From whom this tyrant holds the due of birth, Lives in the English court; and is receiv'd Of the most pious Edward with such grace, That the malevolence of fortune nothing [gone 20 Takes from his high respect: Thither Macduff is To pray the holy king, upon his aid To wake Northumberland, and warlike Siward: 25 Give to our tables ineat, sleep to our nights; [Singing within. Come away, come away, &c. SCENE VI. Len. Sent he to Macduff? Lord. He did: and with an absolute, "Sir, not I," The cloudy messenger turns me his back, And hums; as who should say, "You'll rue the time That clogs me with this answer." Enter Lenox, and another Lord. Duncan Was pitied of Macbeth:-marry, he was dead:- Len. And that well might Advise him to a caution, to hold what distance Lord. I'll send my prayers with him. [Exeunt. 'Meaning, a drop that has deep or hidden qualities. 2 i. e. magic arts. 3i. e. deliver or exempt our feasts from bloody knives, &c. 4 Odd numbers are used in all enchantments and magical operations, even numbers being always reckoned inauspicious. : Meaning perhaps some imp, or familiar spirit. Eye Eye of newt, and toe of frog, All Double, double toil and trouble; Fire, burn; and, cauldron, bubble. 3 Witch. Scale of dragon, tooth of wolf; Witches' mummy; maw, and gulf2, 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 tyger's chaudron", For the ingredients of our cauldron, All. Double, double toil and trouble; 2 Witch. Cool it with a baboon's blood, Fire, burn; and, cauldron, bubble. Then the charın is firm and good. Enter Hecate, and other three Witches. Hec. Oh, 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, Inchanting all that you put in. Musick and a song. 2 Witch. By the pricking of my thumbs, Enter Macbeth. Mach. How now, you secret, black, and midWhat is't you do? [night hags? 25 Thou hast harp'd" my fears aright:-But one [another, word more 1 Witch. He will not be commanded: Here's More potent than the first. [Thunder. 2d Apparition, a bloody child. App. Macbeth! Macbeth! Macbeth !— Macb. Had I three ears, I'd hear thee. [scon App. Be bloody, bold, and resolute: laugh to The power of man'; for none of woman born Shall harın Macbeth. [Descends. Mach. Then live, Macduff: What need I fear 30 But yet I'll make assurance double sure, [of thee? 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. 35 3d Apparition, a child crowned, with a tree in his hand. 140 45 4. A deed without a name. To what I ask you. 1 Witch. Speak. 2 Witch. Demand. 3 Witch. We'll answer. That is, the slow-worm. [sure 55 That rises like the issue of a king; And wears upon his baby brow the round All. Listen, but speak not to 't. App. 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 Macb. That will never be: [Descends. Who can impress the forest; bid the tree [good! All. Seek to know no more. Macb. I will be satisfy'd: deny me this, And an eternal curse fall on you! let me know:Why sinks that cauldron? and what noise is this? [Hautboys. 2 i. e. the swallow, the throat. 3 Ravin'd means glutted with prey. i. e. entrails. Sliver'd is a common word in the north, and implies to cut a piece or slice. i. e. foaming, or frothy waves. ' i. e. adroitly, dextrously. 7i. e. tumble. a Germins are seeds which have begun to sprout. 10 To harp, is to touch on a passion as a harper touches a string. Į Witch, "This alludes to the make or figure of the crown, 1 Witch. Shew! 2 Witch. Shew! 3 Witch. Shew! All. Shew his eyes, and grieve his heart; Come like shadows, so depart. [A shew of eight Kings, and Banquo; the last [down! 5 with a glass in his hand. Macb. Thou art too like the spirit of Banquo; Thy crown does sear mine eye-bails --And thy air, Thou other gold-bound brow, is like the first:A third is like the former: Filthy hags! [eyes! Why do you show me this?-A fourth ?-Start, [10] What! will the line stretch out to the crack of doom?? Another yet?-A seventh ?-I'll see no more:- [Musick. [The witches dance and vanish. Macb. Where are they? Gone?Let this pernicious hour Stand aye' accursed in the calendar!— Enter Lenox. Len. What's your grace's will? Len. No, my lord. Macb. Came they not by you? Len. No, indeed, my lord. Mach. Infected be the air whereon they ride; 15 His wife, his babes, and all unfortunate souls, SCENE II. Enter Macduff's wife, her son, and Rosse. Rosse. You must have patience, madam. His flight was madness: When our actions do not, Rosse. You know not, Whether it was his wisdom, or his fear. L. Macd. Wisdom! to leave his wife, to leave His mansion, and his titles, in a place 20 From whence himself does fly? He loves us not; Rosse. My dearest coz, pray you, school yourself: But for your husband, He is noble, wise, judicious, and best knows 30 The fits o' the season1o. I dare not speak much further: But cruel are the times, when we are traitors, 35 From what we fear, yet know not what we fear; And damn'd all those that trust them!—I did hear 40 To what they were before.-My pretty cousin, The galloping of horse: Who was't came by? Macb. Fled to England? Mach. Time,thou anticipat'st' my dread exploits: Blessing upon you! L. Macd. Father'd he is, and yet he's fatherless. Rosse. I am so much a fool, should I stay longer, It would be my disgrace, and your discomfort: [Exit Rosse. 45 I take my leave at once. The firstlings of my hand. And even now [done: 50 Seize upon Fife; give to the edge o' the sword L. Macd. Sirrah, your father's dead; L. Macd. What, with worms and flies? i. e. the dissolution of nature. 1i. e. does blind me: alluding to the ancient practice of destroying the sight, by holding a piece of hot or burning iron before the eye, which dried up its humidity. 3 Warburton says, this was intended as a compliment to King James the first, who united the two islands and the three kingdoms under one head; whose house too was said to be descended from BanBlood-bolter'd means one whose blood hath issued out at many wounds, as flour of corn passes quo. 7i. e. the thing first through the holes of a sieve. Shakspeare used it to insinuate the barbarity of Banquo's murderers, 5 i. e. for ever. i. e. thou prezentest. 10 the convulwho covered him with wounds. thought or done. i. e. following him. Meaning, natural sensibility, or affection. sions or violent disorders of the times. i. e. we think ourselves innocent, the government thinks us traitors; therefore we are ignorant of ourselves. 12 To hold rumour signifies to believe rumour. 6 Son. |