The expedition of my violent love Out-run the paufer, Reason. Here, lay Duncan; And his gafh'd Stabs look'd like a breach in Nature, Lady. Help me hence, ho! [Seeming to faint. Mal. Why do we hold our tongues, Mal. Nor our ftrong forrow on The foot of motion. Ban. Look to the lady; [Lady Macbeth is carried out. And when we have our naked frailties hid, And question this moft bloody piece of work, Of treas'nous malice. Macb. So do I. All. So, all. Macb. Let's briefly put on manly readiness, And meet i'th' hall together. All. Well contented. [Exeunt. Mal. What will you do? let's not confort with them: To fhew an unfelt forrow, is an office Which the falfe man does eafie. I'll to England. Mal. Mal. This murtherous fhaft, that's shot, Hath not yet lighted; and our safest way Is to avoid the aim. Therefore, to horse; And let us not be dainty of leave-taking, But fhift away; there's warrant in that theft, SCENE, the Outfide of Macbeth's Castle. Old Man. Enter Roffe, with an old Man. T Hreefcore and ten I can remember well, Within the volume of which time, I've feen Hours dreadful, and things ftrange; but this fore night Hath trifled former knowings. Roffe. Ah, good father, Thou feeft, the heav'ns, as troubled with man's act, Old M. 'Tis unnatural, On Tuesday laft,' A faulcon, towring in her pride of place, Was by a moufing owl hawkt at, and kill'd. Roffe. And Duncan's horfes, (a thing moft ftrange and certain!) (12) Beauteous and fwift, the minions of the Race, (12) And Duncan's Hörfes, (a Thing most strange and certain ! ) Beauteous and fwift, the Minions of their Race,] I am pretty certain, all the Copies have err'd, one after another, in this Reading: and that I have reftor'd the true One. The Poet does not mean, that they were the best of their Breed; but that they were excellent Racers: in which Senfe he very poetically calls them, the Minions of the Race. This is a Mode of Expreffion, which he seems very fond of. Turn'd wild in nature, broke their ftalls, flung out, Old M. 'Tis faid, they eat each other. Roffe. They did fo; to the amazement of mine eyes, That look'd upon't. Enter Macduff. Here comes the good Macduff. How goes the world, Sir, now? Roffe. Is't known, who did this more than bloody Macd. Thofe, that Macbeth hath flain. Roffe. Alas, the day ! What good could they pretend? Macd. They were fuborn'd; Malcolm, and Donalbain, the King's two Sons, Are ftol'n away and fled; which puts upon Sufpicion of the Deed. Roffe. 'Gainft nature still; Thriftless ambition! that wilt ravin up them Thine own life's means. -Then 'tis moft like, Macd. He is already nam'd, and gone to Scone Roffe. Where is Duncan's body? Macd. Carried to Colmes-hill, The facred ftorehouse of his Predeceffors, Roffe. Will you to Scone? Macd. No, Coufin, I'll to Fife. Roffe. Well, I will thither. Macd. Well, may you fee things well done there, (adien ;) Left our old robes fit eafier than our new! Roffe. Farewel, Father. Old M. God's benifon go with you, and with those That would make good of bad, and friends of foes. [Exeunt. ACT A CT III. SCENE, an Apartment in the Palace. T Enter Banquo. HOU haft it now; King, Cawdor, Glamis, all 'Thou plaid'ft moft foully for't: yet it was faid, It fhould not stand in thy Pofterity; But that my felf fhould be the root, and father And fet me up in hope? but, hush, no more. Trumpets found. Enter Macbeth as King, Lady Macbeth, Lenox, Roffe, Lords and Attendants. Macb. Here's our chief guest. Lady. If he had been forgotten, It had been as a gap in our great Feast, And all things unbecoming. Macb. To night we hold a folemn fupper, Sir, And I'll request your prefence. Ban. Lay your Highness' Command upon me; to the which, my Duties For ever knit. Macb. kide you this afternoon? Ban. Ay, my good lord. Macb. We fhould have elfe defir'd Your good advice (which ftill hath been both grave Twixt this and fupper. Go not my horfe the better, For a dark hour or twain. Macb. Fail not our feaft. Ban. My lord, I will not. Macb. We hear, our bloody Coufins are beftow'd With strange invention; but of That to morrow; Till you return at night. Goes Fleance with you ? Farewel. [Exit Banquo. Let ev'ry man be master of his time (13) "Till feven at night; to make fociety The sweeter welcome, we will keep our felf 'Till fupper-time alone: till then, God be with you. [Exeunt Lady Macbeth, and Lords: Manent Macbeth, and a Servant. Sirrah, a word with you: attend those men Our pleasure? Ser. They are, my lord, without the Palace-gate. (13) Let ev'ry Man be. Mafter of his Time Till fev'n at night, to make Society The Sweeter welcome: We will keep our felf Till Supper Time alone.] I am furpriz'd, none of the Editors fhould quarrel with the Pointing. How could ev'ry Man's being Mafter of his own Time till Night, make Society then the sweeter for, fó, every Man might have gone into Company in the mean while, and pall'd himself for the Night's Entertainment: My Regulation, I dare warrant, retrieves the Poet's Meaning. "Let every Man (fays the King,) be Mafter of his own time till Seven o' Clock: "and that I may have the ftronger Enjoyment of your Companies then, I'll abstain from all Company till Supper« time." Macb. |