A banquet prepared. Enter MACBETH, LADY MACBETH, ROSS, LENNOX, Lords, and Attendants. Macb. You know your own degrees; sit down at first 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. First Murderer appears at the door. Macb. 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 drmk a measure The table round. [Approaching the door.] There's blood upon thy face. Mur. 'Tis Banquo's then. And hath been from his youth: pray you, keep seat; The fit is momentary; upon a thought Which might appal the devil. O proper stuff! 60 You look but on a stool. Macb. Prithee, see there! behold! look! lo! how say you? Why, what care I? If thou canst nod, speak too. 70 Approach thou like the rugged Russian bear, I am a man again. Pray you, sit still. With most admired disorder. Can such things be, 110 And overcome 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, Ross. Question enrages him. At once, good night : Len. Good night; and better health 120 A kind good night to all! [Exeunt all but Macbeth and Lady M. Macb. It will have blood; they say, blood will have blood: Macb. How say'st thou, that Macduff denies his person At our great bidding? 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 131 I keep a servant fee'd. I will to-morrow, And betimes I will, to 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 Which must be acted ere tney may be scanu'd. sleep. Think of this, good peers, But as a thing of custom: 'tis no other; Only it spoils the pleasure of the time. and self-abuse Mach. What man dare, I dare; 99 Is the initiate fear that wants hard use: We are yet but young in deed, [Exeunt. SCENE V. A Death. Thunder. Enter the three Witches meeting HECATE. First Witch. Why, how now, look angerly. Hecate you Hec. Have I not reason, beldams as you are, Saucy and overbold? How did you dare 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, Meet ine i' the morning: thither he Your vessels and your spells provide, There hangs a vaporous drop profound; As by the strength of their illusion 10 20 He shallspurn fate, scorn death, and bear 30 Is mortals' chiefest enemy. [Music and a song within: 'Come away, come away,' &c. Hark! I am call'd; my little spirit, sce, Sits in a foggy cloud, and stays for me. [Exit. First Witch. Come, let's make haste; she'll soon be back again. [Exeunt. SCENE VI. Forres. The palace. Enter LENNOX 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 gra cious Duncan But, peace! for from broad words and 'cause he fail'd His presence at the tyrant's feast, I hear Lord. Give to our tables meat, sleep to our nights, Free from our feasts and banquets bloody knives, Do faithful homage and receive free honors: Len. 40 The cloudy messenger turns me his back, 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 May soon return to this our suffering country Under a hand accursed ! Lord. I'll send my prayers with him. [Excunt. ACT IV. SCENE I. A cavern. In the middle, a boiling cauldron. First Witch. Round about the cauldron go; In the poison'd entrails throw. †Toad, that under cold stone Days and nights has thirty-one Swelter'd venom sleeping got, Boil thou first i' the charmed pot. ; All. Double, double toil and trouble; 10 Fire burn, and cauldron bubble. Sec. Witch. Fillet of a fenny snake, Eye of newt and toe of frog, All. Double, double toil and trouble; 20 Fire burn and cauldron bubble. Third Witch. [wolf, Scale of dragon, tooth of 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 Silver'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. 30 Hear his speech, but say thou nought. First App. Macbeth! Macbeth! Macbeth! beware Macduff; Beware the thane of Fife. Dismiss me. [Descends. Enough. Macb. Whate'er thou art, for thy good caution, thanks; Thou hast harp'd my fear aright: but one word more, First Witch. He will not be commanded : here's another, More potent than the first. Thunder. Second Apparition: A bloody Sec. App. Macbeth! Macbeth! Macbeth! The power of man, for none of woman born Macb. Then live, Macduff: with need fear of thee? But yet I'll make assurance double sure, Thunder. Third Apparition: a Child crowned, with a tree in his hand. What is this That rises like the issue of a king, All. Listen, but speak not to't. Third App. Be lion-mettled, proud; and take no care Who chafes, who frets, or where conspirers are: 90 Macbeth shall never vanquish'd be until ments! good! Rebellion's head, rise never till the wood |