Enter Lady Macbeth.
Lady M. What 's the business,
That such a hideous trumpet calls to parley
The sleepers of the house? speak, speak!
Macd.
O, gentle lady,
T is not for you to hear what I can speak :
The repetition, in a woman's ear,
Would murther as it fell.-
'Faith, here's an equivocator, that could swear in As from your graves rise up, and walk like sprites, both the scales against either scale; who committed To countenance this horror! Ring the bell. treason enough for God's sake, yet could not equivocate to heaven: O, come in, equivocator. [Knocking.] Knock, knock, knock: Who's there? 'Faith, here's an English tailor come hither, for stealing out of a French hose: Come in, tailor; here you may roast your goose. [Knocking.] Knock, knock: Never at quiet! What are you?-But this place is too cold for hell. I'll devil-porter it no further: I had thought to have let in some of all professions, that go the primrose way to the everlasting bonfire. [Knocking.] Anon, anon; I pray you, remember the porter. [Opens the gate. Enter Macduff and Lenox. Macd. Was it so late, friend, ere you went to bed, That you do lie so late?
O Banquo! Banquo! our royal master's murther'd!
Lady M. Woe, alas! what, in our house?
Ban.
Too cruel, anywhere.
Dear Duff, I prithee contradict thyself,
And say, it is not so.
Re-enter Macbeth and Lenox.
Enter Malcolm and Donalbain.
Don. What is amiss?
Port. 'Faith, sir, we were carousing till the second cock and drink, sir, is a great provoker of threeMacb. Had I but died an hour before this chance, things. [provoke? Macd. What three things does drink especially There's nothing serious in mortality: I had liv'd a blessed time; for, from this instant, Port. Marry, sir, nose-painting, sleep, and urine. All is but toys: renown, and grace, is dead; Lechery, sir, it provokes and unprovokes: it provokes the desire, but it takes away the perform. The wine of life is drawn, and the mere lee. ance: Therefore, much drink may be said to be an Is left this vault to brag of. equivocator with lechery: it makes him, and it mars him; it sets him on, and it takes him off; it persuades him, and disheartens him; makes him stand to, and not stand to: in conclusion, equivocates him in a sleep, and, giving him the lie, leaves him. Macd. I believe, drink gave thee the lie last night. Port. That it did, sir, ' the very throat o' me: But I requited him for his lie; and, I think, being too strong for him, though he took up my legs sometime, yet I made a shift to cast him. Macd. Is thy master stirring ?
Our knocking has awak'd him; here he comes.
Enter Macbeth.
Len. Good-morrow, noble sir!
Mach.
Good morrow, both.
Macd. Is the king stirring, worthy thane?
Macb.
Not yet.
Macd. He did command me to call timely on him;
I have almost slipp'd the hour.
Macb.
I'll bring you to him.
Macd. I know this is a joyful trouble to you;
But yet 't is one.
Macb. The labour we delight in physics pain.
This is the door.
Macd.
I'll make so bold to call,
For 't is my limited service.
Len. Goes the king hence to-day?
Macb. He does :-he did appoint so.
Len. The night has been unruly: Where we lay,
Our chimneys were blown down: and, as they say,
Lamentings heard i' the air; strange screams of
And, prophesying with accents terrible, [death:
Of dire combustion and confus'd events,
New hatch'd to the woeful time,
The obscure bird clamour'd the live-long night:
Some say the earth was feverous and did shake.
Macb. T was a rough night.
Len. My young remembrance cannot parallel
A fellow to it.
Macd. O horror! horror! horror!
Tongue, nor heart, cannot conceive, nor name thee!
Macb. Len. What 's the matter?
Macd. Confusion now hath made his masterpiece!
Most sacrilegious murther hath broke ope
The Lord's anointed temple, and stole thence
The life o' the building.
What is 't you say? the life?
Len. Mean you his majesty?
[sight
Macd. Approach the chamber, and destroy your
With a new Gorgon :-Do not bid me speak;
See, and then speak yourselves.-Awake! awake!-
[Exeunt Macbeth and Lenox.
Ring the alarum-bell:-Murther! and treason!
Banquo, and Donalbain! Malcolm! awake!
Shake off this downy sleep, death's counterfeit,
And look on death itself-up, up, and see
The great doom's image-Malcolm Banquo!
Macb.
You are, and do not know 't,
The spring, the head: the fountain of your blood
Is stopp'd; the very source of it is stopp'd.
Macd. Your royal father's murther'd.
Mat.
O, by whom?
Len. Those of his chamber, as it seem'd, had done't:
Their hands and faces were all badg'd with blood,
So were their daggers, which, unwip'd, we found
Upon their pillows: they star'd, and were distracted;
No man's life was to be trusted with them.
Macb. O, yet I do repent me of my fury,
That I did kill them.
Macd.
Wherefore did you so?
Mach. Who can be wise, amaz'd, temperate, and
furious,
Loyal, and neutral, in a moment? No man:
The expedition of my violent love
Outran the pauser reason. Here lay Duncan,
His silver skin lac'd with his golden blood;
And his gash'd stabs look'd like a breach in nature
For ruin's wasteful entrance: there, the murtherers,
Steep'd in the colours of their trade, their daggers
Unmannerly breech'd with gore: Who could refrain
That had a heart to love, and in that heart
Courage, to make his love known?
Lady M.
Macd. Look to the lady.
Mal.
Why do we hold our tongues,
That most may claim this argument for ours?
Don. What should be spoken here,
Where our fate, hid in an auger-hole,
May rush, and seize us? Let 's away; our tears
Are not yet brew'd. Mal. Nor our strong sorrow
Upon the foot of motion.
Look to the lady :-
[Lady Macbeth is carried out.
And when we have our naked frailties hid,
That suffer in exposure, let us meet,
And question this most bloody piece of work,
To know it further. Fears and scruples shake us:
In the great hand of God I stand; and, thence,
Against the undivulg'd pretence I fight
Of treasonous malice.
Macd.
And so do I. All. So all.
Mach. Let's briefly put on manly readiness,
And meet i' the hall together.
Well contented.
[Exeunt all but Mal. and Don.
Mal. What will you do? Let 's not consort with
To show an unfelt sorrow is an office [them:
Which the false man does easy: I'll to England.
Don. To Ireland, I; our separated fortune
Shall keep us both the safer: where we are,
There 's daggers in men's smiles: the near in blood,
The nearer bloody.
This murtherous shaft 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 shift away: There 's warrant in that theft
Which steals itself, when there 's no mercy left.
SCENE IV.-Without the Castle.
Enter Rosse and an old Man.
Old M. Threescore and ten I can remember well:
Within the volume of which time, I have seen
Hours dreadful, and things strange; but this sore
Hath trifled former knowings.
[night
Rosse.
Ah, good father,
Thou seest, the heavens, as troubled with man's act,
Threaten his bloody stage: by the clock, 't is day,
And yet dark night strangles the travelling lamp:
Is 't night's predominance, or the day's shame,
That darkness does the face of earth intomb,
When living light should kiss it?
Old M.
Macb. Ride you this afternoon?
Ban.
Ay, my good lord.
Mach. We should have else desir'd your good advice
(Which still hath been both grave and prosperous,)
In this day's council; but we 'll take to-morrow.
Is 't far you ride?
Ban. As far, my lord, as will fill up the time
'Twixt this and supper: go not my horse the better,
I must become a borrower of the night,
For a dark hour, or twain.
Mach. We hear, our bloody cousins are bestow'd
In England, and in Ireland; not confessing
Their cruel parricide, filling their hearers
Even like the deed that 's done. On Tuesday last, With strange invention: But of that to-morrow;
A falcon, tow'ring in her pride of place,
Was by a mousing owl hawk'd at and kill'd.
Rosse. And Duncan's horses, (a thing most strange
and certain,)
Beauteous and swift, the minions of their race,
Turn'd wild in nature, broke their stalls, flung out,
Contending 'gainst obedience, as they would
Make war with mankind.
Old M.
T is said, they eat each other.
Rosse. They did so; to the amazement of mine
[duff:
That look'd upon 't. Here comes the good Mac-
Enter Macduff.
Ban. Thou hast it now, king, Cawdor, Glamis, all,
As the weird women promis'd; and I fear
Thou play'dst most foully for 't: yet it was said,
It should not stand in thy posterity;.
But that myself should be the root, and father
Of many kings. If there come truth from them,
(As upon thee, Macbeth, their speeches shine,)
Why, by the verities on thee made good,
May they not be my oracles as well,"
And set me up in hope? But, hush; no more.
Senet sounded. Enter Macbeth, as King; Lady
Macbeth, as Queen; Lenox, Rosse, Lords, Ladies,
and Attendants.
When, therewithal, we shall have cause of state,
Craving us jointly. Hie you to horse: Adieu,
Till you return at night. Goes Fleance with you!
Ban. Ay, my good lord: our time does call upon us.
Macb. I wish your horses swift and sure of foot;
And so I do commend you to their backs.
Farewell.
[Exit Banquo.
Let every man be master of his time
Till seven at night; to make society
The sweeter welcome, we will keep ourself [you.
Till supper-time alone: while then, God be with
[Exeunt Lady Macbeth, Lords, Ladies, &c.
Sirrah, a word with you: Attend those men our plea-
sure?
Attend. They are, my lord, without the palace
Macb. Bring them before us.-[Exit Attend.] To
be thus, is nothing;
But to be safely thus:-Our fears in Banquo
Stick deep; and in his royalty of nature
Reigns that which would be fear'd: 't is much he
And, to that dauntless temper of his mind, [dares;
He hath a wisdom that doth guide his valour
To act in safety. There is none but he
Whose being I do fear: and under him
My genius is rebuk'd; as, it is said,
Mark Antony's was by Cæsar. He chid the sisters,
When first they put the name of king upon me,
And bade them speak to him; then, prophet-like,
They hail'd him father to a line of kings:
Upon my head they plac'd a fruitless crown,
And put a barren sceptre in my gripe,
Thence to be wrench'd with an unlineal hand,
No son of mine succeeding. If it be so,
For Banquo's issue have I fil'd my mind;
For them the gracious Duncan have I murther'd:
Put rancours in the vessel of my peace,
Only for them; and mine eternal jewel
Given to the common enemy of man,
To make them kings, the seed of Banquo kings!
Rather than so, come, fate, into the list, [there?-
And champion me to the utterance-Who 's
Re-enter Attendant, with two Murderers.
Now go to the door, and stay there till we call.
[Exit Attendant.
Was it not yesterday we spoke together?
1 Mur. It was, so please your highness.
Macb.
Well then, now
Have you consider'd of my speeches? Know,
That it was he, in the times past, which held you
So under fortune; which, you thought, had been
Our innocent self: this I made good to you
In our last conference; pass'd in probation with
[struments;
How you were borne in hand; how cross'd; the in
Who wrought with them; and all things else, that
To half a soul, and to a notion craz'd, [might,
Say, Thus did Banquo.
1 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
If he had been forgotten Your patience so predominant in your nature,
Mach. Here's our chief guest.
Lady M.
It had been as a gap in our great feast,
And all-thing unbecoming.
Macb. To-night we hold a solemn supper, sir,
And I'll request your presence.
That you can let this go? Are you so gospell'd,
To pray for this 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.
Maco. Ay, in the catalogue ye go for men; [curs,
As hounds, and greyhounds, mongrels, spaniels,
Shoughs, water-rugs, and demi-wolves, are cleped
All by the name of dogs: the valued file
Distinguishes the swift, the slow, the subtle,
The housekeeper, 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,
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'd with fortune,
That I would set my life on any chance,
To mend it, or be rid on 't.
Mach.
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.
Mach. 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;
I'll come to you anon.
2 Mur.
We are resolv'd, my lord.
Macb. I'll call upon you straight; abide within.
It is concluded:-Banquo, thy soul's flight,
If it find heaven, must find it out to-night. [Exeunt.
SCENE II.-The same. Another Room.
Enter Lady Macbeth and a Servant.
Lady M. Is Banquo gone from court?
Serv. Ay, madam, but returns again to-night.
Lady M. Say to the king, I would attend his
For a few words.
[leisure Madam, I will. [Exit. Nought 's had, all's spent, Where our desire is got without content: 'T is 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 all 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
Ere we will eat our meal in fear, and sleep [suffer,
In the affliction of these terrible dreams,
That shake us nightly: Better be with the dead,
Whom we, to gain our peace, have sent to peace,
Than on the torture of the mind to lie
In restless ecstacy. 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 among your guests to-night.
Mach. So shall 1, 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.
Mach. 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 summons,
The shard-borne beetle, 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?
[chuck,
Till thou applaud the deed. Come, seeling night,
Mach. Be innocent of the knowledge, dearest
Skarf up the tender eye of pitiful day;
And, with thy bloody and invisible hand,
Cancel, and tear to pieces, that great bond
Which keeps me pale !-Light thickens; and the
Makes wing to the rooky wood;
Good things of day begin to droop and drowse;
Whiles night's black agents to their prey do rouse.
Thou marvell'st at my words: but hold thee still;
Things bad begun make strong themselves by ill:
So, prithee, go with me.
[Exeunt.
SCENE III.-The same. A Park or Lawn, with a Gate leading to the Palace.
Enter three Murderers.
1 Mur. But who did bid thee join with us! 3 Mur.
2 Mur. He needs not our mistrust; since he deOur offices, and what we have to do, [livers To the direction just.
The west yet glimmers with some streaks of day:
Now spurs the lated traveller apace,
To gain the timely inn; and near approaches
The subject of our watch.
Ban. [Within.] Give us 2 Mur.
Hark! I hear horses.
a light there, hoa!
Then 't is he; the rest
That are within the note of expectation,
Already are i' the court.
I Mur.
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.
A light, a light!
2 Mur. 3 Mur. I Mur. Stand to 't. Ban. It will be rain to-night.
Let it come down. [Assaults Banquo.
Ban. O, treachery ! Fly, good Fleance, fly, fly, fly;
Thou may'st revenge.-O slave!
[Dies. Fleance escapes.
3 Mur. Who did strike out the light? 1 Mur.
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 nuch is done. [Exeunt.
SCENE IV.-A Room of State in the Palace.
Enter Macbeth, Lady Macbeth, Rosse, Lenox,
Lords, and Attendants.
And last, the hearty welcome.
Mach. You know your own degrees, sit down: at
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