Rosse. Ah, good father, Thou see'st, the heavens, as troubled with man's act, Threaten his bloody stage: by the clock, 'tis 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. 'Tis unnatural, Even like the deed that's done. On Tuesday last, 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. 'Tis said, they eat each other. Rosse. They did so; to the amazement of mine Rosse. Is't known who did this more than bloody. Malcolm, and Donalbain, the king's two sons, Are stol'n away and fled; which puts upon them Suspicion of the deed. Rosse. 'Gainst nature still : Thriftless ambition, that wilt ravin up Thine own life's means!-Then 'tis most like, (1) Intend to themselves. The sovereignty will fall upon Macbeth. Macd. He is already nam'd; and gone to Scone, To be invested. Rosse. Where is Duncan's body? Macd. Carried to Colmes-kill; The sacred storehouse of his predecessors, And guardian of their bones. Rosse. Macd. No, cousin, I'll to Rosse. Will you to Scone? Macd. Well, may you see things well done there;-adieu! Lest our old robes sit easier than our new! Rosse. Father, farewell. Old M. God's benison go with you; and with those That would make good of bad, and friends of foes! [Exeunt ACT III. SCENE I.-Fores. A room in the palace. Enter Banquo. Ban. Thou hast it now, King, Cawdor, Glamis, all, As the weird women promis'd; and, I fear, But that myself should be the root, and father 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. Macb. Here's our chief guest. Ludy M. If he had been forgotten, It had been as a gap in our great feast, And all-things unbecoming. Macb. To-night we hold a solemn supper, sir, And I'll request your presence. Ban. Let your highness Command upon me; to the which, my duties For ever knit. Macb. Ride you this afternoon? Ban. Ay, my good lord. Macb. 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. Macb. Ban. My lord, I will not. Fail not our feast. Macb. We hear, our bloody cousins are bestow'd In England, and in Ireland; not confessing Their cruel parricide, filling their hearers With strange invention: But of that to-morrow; 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 Till supper-time alone: while then, God be with you. [Exeunt Lady Macbeth, Lords, Ladies, &c. (1) Commit. Sirrah, a word: Attend those men our pleasure? Atten. They are, my lord, without the palace gate. Macb. Bring them before us. To be thus, is nothing; -[Exit Atten.] But to be safely thus:-Our fears in Banquo And, to that dauntless temper of his mind, Mark Antony's was by Cæsar. He chid the sisters, To make them kings, the seed of Banquo kings! And champion me to the utterance !3- -Who's there? Re-enter Attendant, with two Murderers. Now 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. (1) Nobleness. (2) For defiled. (3) Challenge me to extremities. Mact 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 probation1 with you, How you were borne in hand;2 how cross'd; the instruments; Who wrought with them; and all things else, that might, To half a soul, and a notion craz'd, i 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,3 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? Το 1 Mur. We are men, my liege. Macb. Ay, in the catalogue ye go for men; As hounds, and greyhounds, mongrels, spaniels, curs, Shoughs,4 water-rugs, and demi-wolves, are cleped That writes them all alike: and so of men. (1) Proved. (2) Deluded. (3) Are you so obedient to the precept of the Gospel. (4) Wolf-dogs. (6) Title, description. (5) Called. |