K Lords. What, my good lord? Macb. Thou can'st not say, I did it: never shake Thy gory locks at me. Rosse. Gentlemen, rise; his highness is not well. And hath been from his youth: 'pray you keep seat; He will again be well: If much you note him, Macb. Ay, and a bold one, that dare look on that Which might appal the devil. Lady M. This is the air-drawn dagger, which, you said, Authoriz'd by her grandam. Shame itself! Macb. Pr'ythee, see there! behold! look! lo! how Why, what care I? If thou canst nod, speak too. [Ghost disappears What! quite unmann'd in folly? Mach. If I stand here, I saw him. Fie, for shame! Macb. Blood hath been shed ere now, i' the olden time, Ere human statute purg'd the gentle weal; Ay, and since too, murders have been perform'd That when the brains were out, the man would die, And push us from our stools: This is more strange Than such a murder is. Lady M. Your noble friends do lack you. Macb. My worthy lord, I do forget:Do not muse* at me, my most worthy friends; I have a strange infirmity, which is nothing To those that know me. all; Come, love and health to Then I'll sit down:-Give me some wine, fill full:I drink to the general joy of the whole table, Ghost rises. And to our dear friend Banquo, whom we miss; Would he were here! to all, and him, we thirst, And all to all.† Lords. Our duties, and the pledge. Macb. Avaunt! and quit my sight! Let the earth hide thee! Thy bones are marrowless, thy blood is cold; Lady M. Think of this, good peers, But as a thing of custom: 'tis no other; Approach thou like the rugged Russian bear, Lady M. You have displac'd the mirth, broke With most admir'd disorder. Macb. * Wonder. Can such things be, † i. e. All good wishes to all + Forbid. And overcome* us like a summer's cloud, When now I think you can behold such sights, And keep the natural ruby of your cheeks, When mine are blanch'd with fear. Rosse. What sights, my lord? Lady M. I pray you, speak not; he grows worse and worse; Question enrages him: at once, good night: Stand not upon the order of your going, But go at once. Len. Attend his majesty! Lady M. Good night and better health A kind good night to all! [Exeunt Lords and Attendants. Macb. It will have blood; they say, blood will have blood: Stones have been known to move, and trees to speak: Augurs, and understood relations, have By magot-piest and choughs, and rooks, brought forth The secret'st man of blood. ACT IV. THE POWER OF WITCHES. I conjure you, by that which you profess, Though bladed corn be lodg'd|| and trees blown down; Though castles topple on their warders' heads; Their heads to their foundations; though the treasure * Pass over. † Possess. + Magpies. Laid flat by wind or rain. ** Seeds which have begun to sprout. § Frothy. ¶ Tumble. Even till destruction sicken, answer me MALCOLM'S CHARACTER OF HIMSELF. Mal. But I have none: The king-becoming graces As justice, verity, temperance, stableness, Bounty, perseverance, mercy, lowliness, Devotion, patience, courage, fortitude, I have no relish of them; but abound In the division of each several crime, Acting it many ways. Nay, had I power, I should Pour the sweet milk of concord into hell, Uproar the universal peace, confound All unity on earth. Macb. O Scotland! Scotland! Mal. If such a one be fit to govern, speak: I am as I have spoken. Macb. Fit to govern! No, not to live.-O nation miserable, With an untitled tyrant, bloody-sceptred, When shalt thou see thy wholesome days again? By his own interdiction stands accurs'd, And does blaspheme his breed?-Thy royal father Have banish'd me from Scotland.—O, my breast, Mal. Wip'd the black scruples, reconcil'd my thoughts * Over-hasty credulity For strangers to my nature. I am yet No less in truth, than life: my first false speaking Is thine, and my poor country's, to command. AN OPPRESSED COUNTRY. Alas, poor country; Almost afraid to know itself! It cannot Be call'd our mother, but our grave: where nothing, But who knows nothing, is once seen to smile; Where sighs, and groans, and shrieks that rent the air, Are made, not mark'd: were violent sorrow seems Is there scarce ask'd, for who; and good men's lives MACDUFF'S BEHAVIOUR ON THE MURDER OF HIS Rosse. 'Would I could answer This comfort with the like! But I have words Macd. Rosse. Macd. If it be mine, Keep it not from me, quickly let me have it. Rosse. Let not your ears espise my tongue for ever, Which shall possess them with the heavest sound, * Common distress of mind. † Catch |