And take a bond of fate: thou shalt not live; [Thunder. ad Apparition, a Child crowned, with a Tree in his Hand. That rises like the issue of a king; And wears upon his baby brow the round And top of sovereignty ? All. Listen, but speak not to't. App. Be lion-mettled, proud; and take no care Who chafes, who frets, or where conspirers are: Macbeth shall never vanquish'd be, until Great Birnam wood to high Dunsinane hill Shall come against him. Mac. That will never be; Who can impress the forest; bid the tree 100 [Descends. Unfix his earth-bound root? sweet bodements! good! Of Birnam rise, and our high-plac'd Macbeth All. Seek to know no more. Mac. I will be satisfy'd: deny me this, And an eternal curse fall on you! let me know: 110 [Hautboys. 1 Witch, 1 Witch. Shew! 2 Witch. Shew! 120 3 Witch. Shew! All. Shew his eyes, and grieve his heart; Come like shadows, so depart. [A shew of eight Kings, and BANQUO; the last with a Glass in his Hand. Mac. Thou art too like the spirit of Banquo; down! Thy crown does sear mine eye-balls:-And thy air, Thou other gold-bound brow, is like the first :A third is like the former :-Filthy hags: Why do you shew me this?-A fourth?-Start, eyes! What! will the line stretch out to the crack of doom? Another yet?—A seventh ?—I'll see no more :- I'll charm the air to give a sound, 120 140 [Musick. Mac. Where are they? Gone?-Let this pernicious hour Stand aye accursed in the calendar! Come in, without there! Enter LENOX. Len. What's your grace's will? Mac. Saw you the weird sisters? 150 Mac. Came they not by you? Len. No, indeed, my lord. Mac. Infected be the air whereon they ride; And damn'd all those that trust them!-I did hear The galloping of horse: who was’t came by ? Len. 'Tis two or three, my lord, that bring you word, Macduff is fled to England. Mac. Fled to England? Len. Ay, my good lord. 160 Mac. Time, thou anticipat'st my dread exploits : The flighty purpose never is o'er-took, Unless the deed go with it: from this moment, The very firstlings of my heart shall be The firstlings of my hand. And even now To crown my thoughts with acts, be it thought and done: The castle of Macduff I will surprise; Seize upon Fife; give to the edge o' the sword This deed I'll do, before this purpose cool: 171 [Exeunt. But no more sights!—Where are these gentlemen? Come, bring me where they are. SCENE II. Enter MACDUFF's Wife, her Son, and Rosse. L. Macd. What had he done, to make him fly the land? Rosse. You must have patience, madam. L. Macd. He had none: His flight was madness: when our actions do not, Rosse. You know not, Whether it was his wisdom, or his fear. 180 L. Macd. Wisdom! to leave his wife, to leave his babes, His mansion, and his titles, in a place From whence himself does fly? He loves us not; Rosse. My dearest coz', I pray you, school yourself: but, for He is noble, wise, judicious, and best know But cruel are the times, when we are traitors, And do not know ourselves; when we hold rumour Each way, and move. -I take my leave of you : 201 Things at the worst will cease, or else climb upward To what they were before.-My pretty cousin, Blessing upon you ! L. Macd. Father'd he is, and yet he's fatherless. Rosse. I.am so much a fool, should I stay longer, It would be my disgrace, and your discomfort : I take my leave at once. [Exit Rosse. L. Macd. Sirrah, your father's dead; L. Macd. What, with worms and flies? Son. With what I get I mean; and so do they. 210 L. Macd. Poor bird! thou'dst never fear the net nor lime, The pit-fall, nor the gin. Son. Why should I, mother? Poor birds they are not set for. My father is not dead, for all your saying. L. Macd. Yes, he is dead; how wilt thou do for a father? Son: Nay, how will you do for a husband? L. Macd. Why, I can buy me twenty at any market. Son. Then you'll buy 'em to sell again. L, Macd. |