Lady. Almost at odds with morning, which is which.

Mac. How say'st thou, that Macduff denics his

person,

At our great bidding?

Lady. Did you send to him, sir?

Mac. I hear it by the way; but I will send : *There's not a one of them, but in his house I keep a servant fee'd. I will to-morrow, (And betimes I will) unto 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

Stept in so far, that, should I wade no more,
Returning were as tedious as go‘o'er terla

400

Strange things I have in head, that will to hand; "Which must be acted, ere they may be scann'd*.” Lady. *You lack the season of all natures, sleep. Mac. Come, we'll to sleep my strange and self

abrse

Is the initiate fear, that wants hard use:

*We are yet but young in deed.

410

[Exeunt.

Thunder. Enter the three WITCHES, meeting HECATE",

Witch. Why, how now, Hecat'? you look angerly, Hec. Have I not reason, beldams, as you are,

Saucy,' and overbold? How did you dare

Το

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,

Was never call'd to bear my part,

Or shew the glory of our art?

And, which is worse, all you have done

Hath been but for a wayward son,

420

Spightful, and wrathful; who, as others do,

Loves for his own ends, not for you.

But make amends now: get you gone,
And at the pit of Acheron*

Meet me i'the morning; thither he
Will come to know his destiny.
Your vessels, and your spells, provide,
Your charms, and every thing beside :
I am for the air; this night I'll spend
Unto a dismal and a fatal end.

Great business must be wrought ere noon:
Upon the corner of the moon

There hangs a *váporous drop profound;
I'll catch it ere it come to ground:
And that, distill'd by magic "slights,
Shall raise such artificial sprights,
As, by the strength of their illusion,
Shall draw him on to his confusion :
He shall spurn fate, scorn death, and bear
His hopes 'bove wisdom, grace, and fear:
And you all know, security

Is mortals' chiefest enemy.

430

440

[Music and a song. "Hark,

"Hark, I am call'd; my little spirit, see, "Sits in a foggy cloud, and stays for me."

[Sing within. Come away, come away, &c.

1 Witch. Come, let's make haste, she'll soon be

back again.

[Exeunt,

" SCENE VI.

"Enter LENOX, 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 gracious

Duncan

459

Was pitied of Macbeth :--marry, he was dead :-
And the right-valiant Banquo walk'd too late;
Whom, you may say, if it please you, Fleance kill'd,
For Fleance fled. Men must not walk too late.
Who cannot want the thought, how monsterous
It was for Malcolm, and for Donalbain,
To kill their gracious father? damned fact !
How it did grieve Macbeth! did he not straight,
In pious rage, the two delinquents tear,

That were the slaves of drink, and thralls of sleep?
Was not that nobly done? ay, and wisely too; 461
For 'twould have anger'd any heart alive,
To hear the men deny it. So that, I say,
He has borne all things well: and I do think,
That, had he Duncan's sons under his key,'

"(As, an't please heaven, he shall not) they should find "What 'twere to kill a father; so should Fleance. "But, peace!-for from broad words, and 'cause he

fail'd

"His presence at the tyrant's feast, I hear,

Macduff lives in disgrace: Sir, can you tell "Where he bestows himself?

"Lord. *The son of Duncan,

470

"From whom this tyrant holds the due of birth, "Lives in the English court; and is receiv'd "Of the most pious Edward with such grace, "That the malevolence of fortune nothing "Takes from his high respect: thither Macduff is gone "To pray the holy king, upon his aid "To wake Northumberland, and warlike Siward: "That, by the help of these (with Him above "To ratify the work) we may again

480

"Give to our tables meat, sleep to our nights; Free from our feasts and banquets bloody knives*; "Do faithful homage, and receive free honours, "All which we pine for now: and this report "Hath so exasperate the king, that he

"Prepares for some attempt of war,

"Len. Sent he to Macduff?

66

Lord. He did, and with an absolute, Sir, not l; "The cloudy messenger turns me his back,

490

"And hums, as who should say, You'll rue the 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 accurs'd!

499

"Lord. I'll sand my prayers with him. [Exeunt.”

THRICE

ACT W. *SCENE I.

Thunder. Enter the three WITCHES.

1 Witch.

HRICE the brinded cat hath mew'd".

2 Witch. Thrice; and once the hedge-pig whin`d*.

3 Witch. Harper cries* tis time, 'tis time".

1 Witch. Round about the cauldron go;

In the poison'd entrails throw.

Toad, that under the cold stone,
Days and nights hast thirty-one,
Swelter'd venom *sleeping got,
Boil thou first i'the charmed pot↓
All. "Double, double toil and trouble;
Fire, burn; and, cauldron, bubble.
1 Witch. Fillet of a fenny snake,
In the cauldron boil and bake:
Eye of newt, and toe of frog,

Wool of bat, and tongue of dog, ...
Adder's fork, and blind-worm's sting*,
Lizard's leg, and howlet's wing,
For a charm of powerful trouble,
Like a hell-broth boil and bubble.

Fij