Gentle my lord, sleek o'er your rugged looks; Macbeth. So shall I, love; and so, I pray, be you: Must lave our honours in these flattering streams, Disguising what they are. Lady Macbeth. You must leave this. Macbeth. O, full of scorpions is my mind, dear wife! Thou know'st that Banquo, and his Fleance, lives. Lady Macbeth. But in them nature's copy's not eterne. Macbeth. 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 Lady Macbeth. What's to be done? 30 40 Macbeth. Be innocent of the knowledge, dearest chuck, Till thou applaud the deed. Come, seeling night, Scarf 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 crow 50 Makes wing to the rooky wood: Good things of day begin to droop and drowse; Whiles night's black agents to their preys do rouse. Thou marvell'st at my words: but hold thee still: [Exeunt. SCENE III. A park near the palace. Enter three Murderers. First Murd. But who did bid thee join with us? Third Murderer. Macbeth. Sec. Murd. He needs not our mistrust, since he delivers Our offices and what we have to do To the direction just. First Murderer. Then stand with us. 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. Third Murderer. Hark! I hear horses. Banquo. [Within.] Give us a light there, ho! Second Murderer. Then 'tis he: the rest ΙΟ That are within the note of expectation Already are i' the court. First Murderer. His horses go about. Third Murderer. Almost a mile: but he does usually, So all men do, from hence to the palace gate Third Murderer. Who did strike out the light? First Murderer. Was't not the way? Third Murd. There's but one down; the son is fled. Second Murderer. Best half of our affair. We have lost 21 First Murd. Well, let's away, and say how much is done. [Exeunt. SCENE IV. Hall in the palace. A banquet prepared. Enter MACBETH, LADY MACBETH, Ross, Lennox, Lords, and Attendants. Macbeth. You know your own degrees; sit down at first And last the hearty welcome. Lords. Thanks to your majesty. Macbeth. 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 Macbeth. Pronounce it for me, sir, to all our friends; For my heart speaks they are welcome. First Murderer appears at the door. Macbeth. See, they encounter thee with their hearts' thanks. Both sides are even: here I'll sit i' the midst: Be large in mirth; anon we'll drink a measure The table round. [Approaching the door.] There's blood upon thy face. Murderer. 'Tis Banquo's then. Macbeth. "Tis better thee without than he within. Is he dispatch'd? Murderer. 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. Murderer. Fleance is 'scaped. Most royal sir, 20 Macbeth. [Aside.] Then comes my fit again: I had else been Whole as the marble, founded as the rock, As broad and general as the casing air: But now I am cabin'd, cribb'd, confined, bound in To saucy doubts and fears.—But Banquo's safe? [perfect, Murderer. Ay, my good lord: safe in a ditch he bides, With twenty trenched gashes on his head. The least a death to nature. Macbeth. Thanks for that. [Aside.] 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-morrow Lady Macbeth. 30 [Exit Murderer. My royal lord, You do not give the cheer; the feast is sold That is not often vouch'd, while 'tis a-making, 'Tis given with welcome: to feed were best at home; Macbeth. Sweet remembrancer! Now good digestion wait on appetite, Lennox. May't please your highness sit. [The Ghost of Banquo enters, and sits in Macbeth's place. Macbeth. Here had we now our country's honour roof'd, Were the graced person of our Banquo present; Who may I rather challenge for unkindness 4 I Than pity for mischance! Ross. His absence, sir, Lays blame upon his promise. Please 't your highness Macbeth. The table 's full. Lennox. Macbeth. Where? Here is a place reserved, sir. Lennox. Here, my good lord. What is't that moves your highness? Macbeth. Which of you have done this? Lords. What, my good lord? Macbeth. Thou canst not say I did it: never shake 50 Thy gory locks at me. Ross. Gentlemen, rise: his highness is not well. Lady Macbeth. Sit, worthy friends: my lord is often thus, He will again be well: if much you note him, Macbeth. Ay, and a bold one, that dare look on that Which might appal the devil. Lady Macbeth. 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, A woman's story at a winter's fire, Authorized by her grandam. Shame itself! Why do you make such faces? When all's done, You look but on a stool. 60 Mach. Prithee, 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. Lady Macbeth. 71 [Ghost vanishes. What, quite unmann'd in folly? Macbeth. If I stand here, I saw him. Lady Macbeth. Fie, for shame! Macbeth. Blood hath been shed ere now, i' the olden time, Ere humane statute purged the gentle weal; Ay, and since too, murders have been perform'd Too terrible for the ear: the time has been, That, when the brains were out, the man would die, |