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Mur. We shall, my lord, Perform what you command us.

1 Mur. Though our lives

Mac. Your spirits shine through you. Within this hour, at most,

I will advise you where to plant yourselves;

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« *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,

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(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.

Mur. We are resolv'd, my lord.

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Mac. "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.

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SCENE II.

Enter Lady MACBETH, and a Servant.

Lady. Is Banquo gone from court?

Serv. Ay, madam; but returns again to-night. Lady. Say to the king, I would attend his leisure

For a few words.

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Serv.

Serv. Madam, I will.

Lady. Nought's had, all's spent,

Where our desire is got without content:
'Tis safer to be that which we destroy,
Than, by destruction, dwell in doubtful joy.

Enter MACBETH.

[Exit.

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How now, my lord? why do you keep alone,
Of sorriest fancies* your companions making?
Using those thoughts, which should indeed have dy'd
With them they think on? Things without all remedy
Should be without regard: what's done, is done.

Mac. 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 suffer,

Ere we will eat our meal in fear, and sleep

In the affliction of these terrible dreams,

That shake us nightly better be with the dead,

:

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Whom we, to gain our place, 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, 180 Malice domestic, foreign levy, nothing,

Can touch him further!

Lady. Come on; gentle my lord,

Sleek o'er your rugged looks; be bright and jovial Among your guests to-night.

«Mac.

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"Mac. So shall I, love;

"And so, I pray, be you: let your remembrance

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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,

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Mac. O, full of scorpions is my mind, dear wife!
Thou know'st, that Banquo, and his Fleance, lives.

Lady. But in them *nature's copy's not eterne.
Mac. There's comfort yet, they are assailable;
Then be thou jocund: ere the bat hath flown
His cloister'd flight; ere, to black Hecat's summons,
The shard-borne beetle, with his drowsy hums, 200
Hath rung night's yawning peal, there shall be done
A deed of dreadful note.

Lady. What's to be done?

Mac. Be innocent of the knowledge, dearest chuck”,
Till thou applaud the deed. *Come, seeling night,
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 crow
*Makes wing to the rooky wood:

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Good things of day begin to droop and drowze;
While night's black agents to their preys do rouze.
Thou marvell'st at my words: but hold thee still;
Things, bad begun, make strong themselves by ill:
So, pr'ythee, go with me.

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[Exeunt.

SCENE

SCENE III.

Enter three Murderers.

1 Mur. But who did bid thee join with us?

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2 Mur. He needs not our mistrust; since he delivers Our offices, and what we have to do,

To the direction just.

1 Mur. Then stand with us.

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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.

g Mur. Hark! I hear horses.

[Banquo within.] Give us a light there, ho
2 Mur. Then it is he; the rest

That are within the note of expectation,
Already are i'the court.

1 Mur. His horses go about.

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.

2 Mur. A light, a light!"

3. Mur. 'Tis he.

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1 Ma

"1 Mur. Let it come down." [ They assault BANQUo. Ban. Oh, treachery! Fly, good Fleance, fly, fly, fly; Thou may'st revenge.- -Oh slave!

3

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[Dies. FLEANCE escapes.

Mur. Who did strike out the light? "1 Mur. *Was't not the way?

86 3

Mur. There's but one down; the son is fled.

" Mur. We have lost best half of our affair.

“1 Mur. Well, let's away, and say how much is

done."

[Exeunt.

SCENE IV.

A Banquet prepared. Enter MACBETH, Lady, ROSSE, LENOX, Lords, and Attendants.

Mac. *You know your own degrees, sit down: at first,

And last, the hearty welcome.

Lords. Thanks to your majesty.

Mac. Ourself will mingle with society,

And play the humble host.

Our hostess keeps her state*; but, in best time,

We will require her welcome.

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Lady. Pronounce it for me, sir, to all our friends; For my heart speaks, they are welcome.

Enter firft Murderer, to the Door.

Mac. See, they encounter thee with their hearts'

thanks :

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Both

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