The Dramatic Works of William Shakspeare

To half a soul, and a notion craz'd, Say, Thus did Banquo.

Í Mur.

You made it known to us. Macb. I did so; and went further, which is now Our point of second meeting. Do you find Your patience so predominant in your nature, That you can let this go? Are you so gospell'd,' To pray for that good man, and for his issue, Whose heavy hand hath bow'd you to the grave, And beggar'd yours for ever?

1 Mur. We are men, my liege. Macb. Ay, in the catalogue ye go for men ; As hounds, and greyhounds, mongrels, spaniels, curs,

Shoughs, water-rugs, and demi-wolves, are cleped3
All by the name of dogs: the valued file
Distinguishes the swift, the slow, the subtle,
The house-keeper, the hunter, every one
According to the gift which bounteous nature
Hath in him clos'd; whereby he does receive
Particular addition, from the bill

That writes them all alike: and so of men.
Now, if you have a station in the file,
And not in the worst rank of manhood, say it;
And I will put that business in your bosoms,
Whose execution takes your enemy off;
Grapples you to the heart and love of us,
Who wear our health but sickly in his life,
Which in his death were perfect.

2 Mur.
I am one, my liege,
Whom the vile blows and buffets of the world
Have so incens'd, that I am reckless' what
I do, to spite the world.

1 Mur.

And I another,

So weary with disasters, tugg'de with fortune,
That I would set my life on any chance,

To mend it, or be rid on't.
Macb.

Both of you
Know, Banquo was your enemy.
2 Mur.

True, my lord. Macb. So is he mine: and in such bloody distance,

That every minute of his being thrusts
Against my near'st of life: And though I could
With bare-fac'd power sweep him from my sight,
And bid my will avouch it; yet I must not,
For certain friends that are both his and mine,
Whose loves I may not drop, but wail his fall
Whom I myself struck down: and thence it is,
That I to your assistance do make love;
Masking the business from the common eye,
For sundry weighty reasons.

2 Mur.

We shall, my lord,

Perform what you command us. 1 Mur. Though our livesMacb. Your spirits shine through you. Within this hour, at most,

I will advise you where to plant yourselves.
Acquaint you with the perfect spy o'the time,
The moment on't; for't must be done to-night,
And something from the palace; always thought
That I require a clearness: And with him,

(To leave no rubs, nor botches, in the work,)
Fleance his son, that keeps him company,
Whose absence is no less material to me
Than is his father's, must embrace the fate
Of that dark hour. Resolve yourselves apart;

(1) Are you so obedient to the precept of the Gospel.

(2) Wolf-dogs.

(3) Called.

(4) Title, description. (5) Careless. (7) Mortal enmity.

(6) Worried,

(8) Because of.

(9) Most melancholy.

Lady M. Is Banquo gone from court?
Serv. Ay, madain, but returns again to-night.
Lady M. Say to the king, I would attend his

Madam, I will.

leisure
For a few words.
Serv.
[Exit.
Lady M.
Nought's had, all's spent,
Where our desire is got without content:
Tis safer to be that which we destroy,
Than, by destruction, dwell in doubtful joy.
Enter Macbeth.

How now, my lord? why do you keep alone,
Of sorriest fancies your companions making?
Using those thoughts, which should indeed have died!
With them they think on? Things without remedy,
Should be without regard: what's done, is done.

Macb. We have scotch'd the snake, not kill'd it;
She'll close, and be herself; whilst our poor malice
Remains in danger of her former tooth.
But let

The frame of things disjoint, both the worlds suffer,
Ere we will eat our meal in fear, and sleep
In the affliction of these terrible dreams,
That shake us nightly: Better be with the dead,
Whom we, to gain our place, have sent to peace,
Than on the torture of the mind to lie

In restless ecstasy, 10 Duncan is in his grave;
After life's fitful fever, he sleeps well;

Treason has done his worst: nor steel, nor poison,
Malice domestic, foreign levy, nothing,
Can touch him further!

Lady M. Come on;

Gentle my lord, sleek o'er your rugged looks;
Be bright and jovial 'mong your guests to-night.
Macb. So shall I, love; and so, I pray, be you:
Let your remembrance apply to Banquo;
Present him eminence, both with eye and tongue;
Unsafe the while, that we

Must lave our honours in these flattering streams; And make our faces vizards to our hearts, Disguising what they are.

Lady M. You must leave this. Macb. O, full of scorpions is my mind, dear wife! Thou know'st, that Banquo, and his Fleance, lives. Lady M. But in them nature's copy's not eterne.12 Macb. There's comfort yet; they are assailable; Then be thou jocund: Ere the bat hath flown His cloister'd flight; ere, to black Hecate's sum

mons,

The shard-borne beetle, 13 with his drowsy hums,
Hath rung night's yawning peal, there shall be done
A deed of dreadful note.
Lady M.

What's to be done? Macb. Be innocent of the knowledge, dearest chuck,'4

Till thou applaud the deed. Come, seeling's night,
Skarf up the tender eye of pitiful day;
And, with thy bloody and invisible hand,

(10) Agony. (11) Do him the highest honours. (12) i. e. The copy, the lease, by which they hold their lives from nature, has its time of termination. (13) The beetle borne in the air by its shards o scaly wings.

(14) A term of endearment.

(15) Blinding.

Cancel, and tear to picces, that great bond

Both sides are even: Here I'll sit i'the midst:

Which keeps me pale!-Light thickens; and the Be large in mirth; anon, we'll drink a measure

Ban. [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.

The table round.-There's blood upon thy face.
Mur. 'Tis Banquo's then.

Macb. "Tis better thee without, than he within.
Is he despatch'd?

Mur. My lord, his throat is cut; that I did for

him.

Macb. Thou art the best o'the cut-throats: Yet
he's good,
That did the like for Fleance: if thou didst it,
Thou art the nonpareil.
Most royal sir,

Mur.
Fleance is 'scap'd.

Macb. Then comes my fit again: I had else
been perfect;

Whole as the marble, founded as the rock;
As broad, and general, as the casing air:
But now, I am cabin'd, cribb'd, confin'd, bound in
To saucy doubts and fears. But Banquo's safe?
With twenty trenched gashes on his head;
Mur. Ay, my good lord: safe in a ditch he bides,

The least a death to nature.
Macb.
Thanks for that:-
There the grown serpent lies; the worm, that's fled,
Hath nature that in time will venom breed,
No teeth for the present.-Get thee gone; to-mor

row

We'll hear, ourselves again.

[Exit Murderer. My royal lord, Lady M. You do not give the cheer: the least is sold, That not often vouch'd, while 'tis a making, Tis given with welcome: To feed, were best at home;

Enter Banquo and Fleance, a servant with a torch From thence, the sauce to meat is ceremony:

2 Mur.

3 Mur.

preceding them.

1 Mur. Stand to't.

Ban. It will be rain to-night. 1 Mur.

Ban. O, treachery! Fly, good Fleance, fly, fly,

fly; Thou may'st revenge. -O slave! [Dies. Fleance and servant escape. Was't not the way? 3 Mur. There's but one down; the son is fled. 2 Mur. We have lost best half of our affair. 1 Mur. Well, let's away, and say how much is [Exeunt. SCENE IV.—A room of state in the palace. A banquet prepared. Enter Macbeth, Lady Macbeth, Rosse, Lenox, Lords, and attendants. Macb. You know your own degrees, sit down: at first

3 Mur. Who did strike out the light? 1 Mur.

done.

And last, the hearty welcome.

Lords.

Thanks to your majesty.
Macb. Ourself will mingle with society,
And play the humble host.

Our hostess keeps her state; but, in best time,
We will require her welcome.

Lady M. Pronounce it for me, sir, to all our
friends;

For my heart speaks, they are welcome.

Enter first Murderer, to the door.

Macb. Sec, they encounter thee with their hearts' thanks:

The fit is momentary; upon a thought

He will again be well: If much you note him,
You shall offend him, and extend his passion;
Feed, and regard him not.-Are you a man?
Macb. Ay, and a bold one, that dare look on that
Which might appal the devil.

(1) i. e. They who are set down in the list of (2) Continues in her chair of state. guests, and expected to supper.

(3) As quick as thought. (4) Prolong his suffering.

Lady M.

O proper stuff! This is the very painting of your fear: This is the air-drawn dagger, which, you said, Led you to Duncan. O, these flaws, and starts, (Impostors to true fear,) would well become A woman's story, at a winter's fire, Authoriz'd by her grandam. Shame itself! Why do you make such faces? When all's done, You look but on a stool.

Macb. Pr'ythee, see there! behold! look! lo! how say you?

Why, what care I? If thou canst nod, speak too.-
If charnel-houses, and our graves, must send
Those that we bury, back, our monuments
Shall be the maws of kites. [Ghost disappears.
Lady M.
What! quite unmann'd in folly?
Macb. If I stand here, I saw him.
Lady M.

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
Too terrible for the ear: the times have been,
That, when the brains were out the man would die,
And there an end; but now, they rise again,
With twenty mortal murders on their crowns,
And push us from our stools: This is more strange
Than such a murder is.

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. Mach. Avaunt! and quit my sight! Let the earth hide thee!

Thy bones are marrowless, thy blood is cold;
Thou hast no speculation in those eyes
Which thou dost glare with!

Lady M.

Stones have been known to move, and trees to speak;

Augurs, and understood relations, have By magot-pies," and choughs, and rooks, brought forth

The secret'st man of blood.-What is the night? Lady M. Almost at odds with morning, which is which.

Macb. How say'st thou, that Macduff denies his person, At our great bidding? Lady M. Did you send to him, sir? Macb. I hear it by the way; but I will send : There's not a one of them, but in his house keep a servant feed. I will to-morrow (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:
Strange things I have in head, that will to hand;
Which must be acted, ere they may be scann'd.

Lady M. You lack the season of all natures, sleep. Macb. Come, we'll to sleep: My strange and self-abuse

Is the initiate fear, that wants hard use :-
We are yet but young in deed.

[Exeunt.

SCENE V.-The heath. Thunder. Enter He cale, meeting the three Witches.

1 Witch. Why, how now, IIecate? you look angerly.

Hec. Have I not reason, bedlams, as you are

Think of this, good peers, Saucy, and overbold? How did you dare

But as a thing of custom: 'tis no other;
Only it spoils the pleasure of the time.

Macb. What man dare, I dare:

Approach thou like the rugged Russian bear,
The arm'd rhinoceros, or the Hyrcan tiger,
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 inhibit thee, protest me
The baby of a girl. Hence, horrible shadow!
[Ghost disappears.
Unreal mockery, hence !-Why, so;--being gone,
I am a man again.-Pray you, sit still.
Lady M. You have displac'd the mirth, broke
the good meeting,
With most admir'd disorder.

Macb.

Can such things be, And overcomes us like a summer's cloud, Without our special wonder? You make me strange Even to the disposition that I owe, When now I think you can behold such sights,

(1) Sudden gusts. (2) Wonder. (3) i. e. All good wishes to all. (4) Forbid. (5) Pass over. (6) Possess. (7) Magpies.

To trade and traffic with Macbeth,
In riddles and affairs of death;
And I, the mistress of your charms,
The close contriver of all harms,
Was never call'd to bear my part,
Or show the glory of our art?
And, which is worse, all you have done
Hath been but for a wayward son,
Spiteful, and wrathful, who, as others do,
Loves for his own ends, not for you.
But make amends now: Get you gone,
And at the pit of Acheron,

Meet me i'the morning; thither he
Will come to know his destiny.
Your vessels, and your spells, provide,
Your charms, and every thing beside:
I am for the air; this night I'll spend
Unto a dismal-fatal end.

Great business must be wrought ere noon.
Upon the corner of the moon

There hangs a vaporous drop profound;10

(8) An individual. (9) Examined nicely. (10) i. e. A drop that has deep or hidden quali

[tics.

I'll catch it ere it come to ground:
And that, distill'd by magic slights,
Shall raise such artificial sprites,
As, by the strength of their illusion,
Shall draw him on to his confusion:
He shall spurn fate, scorn death, and bear
His hopes 'bove wisdom, grace, and fear:
And you all know, security

Is mortals' chicfest enemy.

Song. [Within.] Come away, come away, &c. Hark, I am call'd; my little spirit, see, Sits in a foggy cloud, and stays for me. [Exit. 1 Witch. Come, let's make haste; she'll soon be back again. [Exeunt.

SCENE I-A dark cave. In the middle a caul dron boiling. Thunder. Enter three Witches. 1 Witch. Thrice the brinded cat hath mew'd. 2 Witch. Thrice; and once the hedge-pig whin'd. 3 Witch. Harper cries:-'Tis time, 'tis time. 1 Witch. Round about the cauldron go; SCENE VI.-Fores. A room in the palace. En-In the poison'd entrails throw.Toad, that under coldest stone, Days and nights hast thirty-one Swelter'd' venom sleeping got, Boil thou first i'the charmed pot!

ter Lenox and another Lord.

Len. My former speeches have but hit your

thoughts,

Which can interpret further: only, I say,
Things have been strangely borne: The gracious
Duncan

Was pitied of Macbeth:-marry, he was dead:-
And the right-valiant Banquo walk'd too late;
Whom, you may say, if it please you, Fleance kill'd,
For Fleance fled. Men must not walk too late.
Who cannot want the thought, how monstrous
It was for Malcolm, and for Donalbain,
To kill their gracious father? damned fact!
How it did 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;
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
(As, an't please heaven, he shall not,) they should
find

What 'twere to kill a father; so should Fleance.
But, peace!-for from broad words, and 'cause he
fail'd

His presence at the tyrant's feast, I hear
Macduff lives in disgrace: Sir, can you tell
Where he bestows himself?

Lord.
The son of Duncan,
From whom this tyrant holds the due of birth,
Lives in the English court; and is received
Of the most pious Edward with such grace,
That the malevolence of fortune nothing
Takes from his high respect: Thither Macduff
Is gone to pray the holy king, on his aid

To wake Northumberland, and warlike Siward:
That by the help of these (with Him above
To ratify the work,) we may again

Give to our table meat, sleep to our nights;
Free from our feasts and banquets bloody knives;
Do faithful homage, and receive free honours,'
All which we pine for now: And this report
Hath so exasperate the king, that he
Prepares for some attempt of war.
Len.

Sent he to Macduff?
Lord. He did: and with an absolute, Sir, not
The cloudy messenger turns me his back,
And hums; as who should say, You'll rue the time
That clogs me with this answer.
Len.
And that well might|
Advise him to a caution, to hold what distance
His wisdom can provide. Some holy angel
Fly to the court of England, and unfold

His message ere he come; that a swift blessing

(1) Honours freely bestowed.
(2) For exasperated.

All. Double, double toil and trouble;
Fire, burn; and, cauldron, bubble.

2 Witch. Fillet of a fenny snake,
In the cauldron boil and bake:
Eye of newt, and toe of frog,
Wool of bat, and tongue of dog,
Adder's fork, and blind-worm's sting,
Lizard's leg, and owlet's wing,
For a charm of powerful trouble,
Like a hell-broth boil and bubble.

All. Double, double toil and trouble,
Fire, burn; and, cauldron, bubble.

3 Witch. Scale of dragon, tooth of wolf;
Witches' mummy; maw, and gulf,*
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 tiger's chaudron,
For the ingredients of our cauldron.

All. Double, double toil and trouble;
Fire, burn; and, cauldron, bubble.

2 Witch. Cool it with a baboon's blood,
Then the charm is firm and good.

Enter Hecate, and the other three Witches.
Hec. O, 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,
Enchanting all that you put in.

SONG.
Black spirits and white,
Red spirits and grey;
Mingle, mingle, mingle,
You that mingle may.

2 Witch. By the pricking of my thumbs,
Something wicked this way comes :-
Open, locks, whoever knocks.

Or from our masters'?

Mach.

Call them, let me see them.
1 Witch. Pour in sow's blood, that hath eaten
Her nine farrow; grease, that's sweaten
From the murderer's gibbet, throw
Into the flame.

All.

Come, high, or low;
Thyself, and office, deftly show.

Thunder. An Apparition of an armed Head rises.
Macb. Tell me, thou unknown power,—
1 Witch.
He knows thy thought;
Hear his speech, but say thou nought.

App. Macbeth! Macbeth! Macbeth! beware
Macduff;

Macb. Whate'er thou art, for thy good caution, thanks;

Thou hast harp'd my fear aright :-But one word

Macb.

[Descends.

Great Birnam wood to high Dunsinane hill
Shall come against him.
That will never be;
Who can impress the forest; bid the tree
Unfix his earth-bound root? sweet bodements! good!
Rebellious head, rise never, till the wood
Of Birnam rise, and our high-plac'd Macbeth
Shall live the lease of nature, pay his breath
To time, and mortal custom.-Yet my heart
Throbs to know one thing; Tell me, (if your art
Can tell so much,) shall Banquo's issue ever
Reign in this kingdom?

All.

Seek to know no more.
Macb. I will be satisfied: deny me this,
And an eternal curse fall on you! Let me know:-
Why sinks that cauldron? and what noise is this?
[Hautboys.

1 Witch. Show!

2 Witch. Show!

3 Witch. Show!

All. Show his eyes, and grieve his heart;
Come like shadows, so depart.

Eight Kings appear, and pass over the stage in
order; the last with a glass in his hand; Ban-
quo following.

Macb. Thou art too like the spirit of Banquo;
down!

Thy crown does sear mine eye-balls:-And thy hair,
Thou other gold-bound brow, is like the first:-
A third is like the former :-Filthy hags!
Why do you show me this?-A fourth?-Start, eyes!
What! will the line stretch out to the crack of
doom ?10

Beware the thane of Fife.-Dismiss me:-Enough. Another yet?-A seventh ?-I'll see no more:-
[Descends. And yet the eighth appears, who bears a glass,
Which shows me many more; and some I see,
That two-fold balls and treble sceptres carry:
Horrible sight!-Ay, now, I see, 'tis true;
For the blood-bolter'd" Banquo smiles upon me,
And points at them for his.-What, is this so?
1 Witch. Ay, sir, all this is so :-But why
Stands Macbeth thus amazedly ?-
Come, sisters, cheer we up his sprights, 12

1 Witch. He will not be commanded: Here's another,

More potent than the first.

Thunder. An Apparition of a bloody Child rises. And show the best of our delights;

App.
Macb. Had I three ears, I'd hear thee.
App.
Be bloody, bold,
And resolute: laugh to scorn the power of man,
For none of woman born shall harin Macbeth.

Macbeth! Macbeth! Macbeth!-I'll charm the air to give a sound,

[Descends.

Macb. Then live, Macduff; What need I fear of
thee?

But yet I'll make assurance doubly sure,
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. An Apparition of a Child crowned, with a tree in his hand, rises.

That rises like the issue of a king;

And wears upon his baby brow the round
And top of sovereignty ?"

Listen, but speak not.

.All.
App. Be lion-mettled, proud; and take no care
Who chafes, who frets, or where conspirers are:
Macbeth shall never vanquish'd be, until

While you perform your antique round:
That this great king may kindly say,
Our duties did his welcome pay.

[Music. The Witches dance, and vanish. Macb. Where are they? Gone?-Let this pernicious hour

Stand aye accursed in the calendar!
Come in, without there!

(e) Touch'd on a passion as a harper touches a (9) Music. string.

(10) The dissolution of nature. (11) Besmeared with blood. (12) i, e. Spirits,

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