Macb. Bring them before us.To be thus, is

nothing;

But to be fafely thus.

[Exit Servant.

-Our fears in Banquo

Stick deep; and in his royalty of nature

Reigns that which would be fear'd. 'Tis much he dares;

And to that dauntless temper of his mind,

He hath a wisdom that doth guide his valour
To act in fafety. There is none but he
Whofe being I do fear: and, under him,
My genius is rebuk'd; as, it is faid,
Antony's was by Cæfar. He chid the fifters,
When first they put the name of King upon me,
And bade them fpeak to him; then, prophet-like,
They hail'd him father to a line of Kings.
Upon my head they plac'd a fruitless crown,
And put a barren fceptre in my gripe.

Thence to be wrench'd with an unlineal hand,
No fon of mine fucceeding. If 'tis fo,

For Banquo's iffue have I 'filed *

my mind:

For them the gracious Duncan have I murther'd;
Put rancours in the veffel of my peace

Only for them; and mine eternal jewel
Giv'n to the common enemy of man,

To make them Kings. The feed of Banquo Kings! "Rather than so, come fate into the list,

"And champion me to th' utterance †!-Who's there? Enter Servant, and two murtherers.

Go to the door, and stay there, till we call.
Was it not yesterday we spoke together?
Mur. It was, fo please your Highnefs.
Mach. Well then, now

[Exit Ser.

You have confider'd of my speeches? Know,
That it was he, in the times paft, which held you
So under fortune, which you thought had been
Our innocent felf. This I made good to you
In our laft conf'rence, paft in probation with you;
How
you were borne in hand, how crofs'd, the inftru-

ments

Who wrought with them; and all things elfe that might

* i. e. defiled.

i.e. extremity.

To

To half a foul, and to a notion * craz'd,
Say, Thus did Banquo.

1 Mur. True, you made it known.

Macb. I did fo; and went further, which is now
Our point of fecond meeting. Do you find
Your patience fo predominant in your nature,
That you can let this go? are you fo gospell'd,
Το pray for this good man and for his iffue,
Whofe heavy hand hath bound you to the
And beggar'd yours for ever?

1 Niur. We are men, my Liege.
Macb. "Ay, in the catalogue ye go

grave,

for men,

"As hounds, and greyhounds, mongrels, fpaniels, curs, "Showghes, water-rugs, and demy wolves are clep'd "All by the name of dogs; the valued file "Diftinguishes the fwift, the flow, the subtle, "The house-keeper, the hunter; every one

According to the gift which bounteous nature "Hath in him clos'd; whereby he does receive "Particular addition, from the bill

"That writes them all alike; and fo of men.
"Now, if you have a station in the file,
"And not in the worst rank of manhood, fay it;
And I will put that bufinefs in your bofoms,
Whofe execution takes your enemy off;
Grapples you to the heart in love of us,
Who wear our health but fickly in his life,
Which in his death were perfect.

2 Mur. I am one

Whom the vile blows and buffets of the world
Have fo incens'd, that I am reckless what

I do, to fpite the world.

I Mur. And I another,

So weary with difaftrous tuggs with fortune,
That I would fet my life on any chance,

To mend it, or be rid on't.

Macb. Both of you

Know, Banquo was your enemy.

Mur. True, my Lord.

Mach. So is he mine: and in fuch bloody distance †,

That

notion, for the understanding.

diftance, for enmity.

That every minute of his being thrusts
Against my near❜ft of life: and though I could
With bare-fac'd power fweep him from my fight,
And bid my will avouch it; yet I must not,
For certain friends that are both his and mine,
Whofe loves I may not drop; but' wail his fall,
Whom I myself ftruck down: and thence it is
That I to your affistance do make love,
Masking the business from the common eye-
For fundry weighty reafons.

. We thall, my Lord,

Perform what you command us.

1 Mur. Though our lives

Mach. Your fpirits fhine through you. In this hour, I will advise you where to plant yourfelves; [at most, Acquaint you with the perfect fpy o' th' time t, The moment on't; (for't must be done to-night, And fomething from the palace; always thought, That I require a clearness) and with him (To leave no rubs nor botches in the work), Fleance his fon, that keeps him company, (Whofe abfence is no less material to me, Than is his father's), must embrace the fate Of that dark hour. Refolve yourselves apart, I'll come to you anon.

Mur. We are refolv'd, my Lord.

Mach. I'll call upon you straight; abide within.

[Exeunt Murtherers.

It is concluded:-Banquo, thy foul's flight,

If it find heav'n, muft find it out to-night.

[Exit.

SCENE III. Another apartment in the palace.

Enter Lady Macbeth and a Servant.

Lady. Is Banquo gone from court?

Ser. Ay, Madam, but returns again to-night.

Lady. Say to the King, I would attend his leifure

For a few words.

Ser. Madam, I will.

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

Where our defire is got without content.

i. e. the critical juncture.

[Exit.

'Tis

'Tis fafer to be that which we destroy,

Than by deftruction dwell in doubtful joy.
Enter Macbeth.

How now, my Lord, why do you keep alone?
Of forrieft fancies your companions making,
Ufing thofe thoughts, which fhould indeed have dy'd
With them they think on? Things without all remedy
Should be without regard. What's done, is done.

Macb "We have fcotch'd the fnake, not kill'd it"She'll clofe, and be herself; whilft our poor malice "Remains in danger of her former tooth. "But let both worlds disjoint, and all things fuffer, "Ere we will eat our meal in fear, and fleep "In the affliction of thefe terrible dreams,

"That shake us nightly.

Better be with the dead, "(Whom we, to gain our place, have fent to peace), "Than on the torture of the mind to lie

·*.- Duncan is in his grave:

"In restless ecstasy *.

"After life's fitful fever, he fleeps well.

"Treafon has done his worft; nor fteel nor poison,
"Malice + domeftic, foreign levy, nothing
"Can touch him further!

Lady. Come on.

Gentle my Lord, fleek o'er your rugged looks;
Be bright and jovial 'mong your guests to-night.
Macb. So fhall I, love; and fo I pray be you.
Let your remembrance ftill apply to Banquo.
Present him eminence ‡, both with eye and tongue.
Unfafe the while, that we muft lave our honours
In these fo flatt'ring ftreams, and make our faces
Vizards t' our hearts, disguising what they are !.
Lady. You must leave this.

Macb. O, full of fcorpions is my mind, dear wife!
Thou know'st that Banquo and his Fleance lives.
Lady. But in them nature's § copy's not eternal.
Macb. There's comfort yet, they are affailable;
Then be thou jocund. "Ere the bat hath flown

"His

"His cloyster'd flight; ere to black Hecat's fummons "The fhard-born beetle + with his drowsy hums

"Hath wrung night's yawning peal, there should be done "A deed of dreadful note.

Lady. What's to be done?

Macb. Be innocent of the knowledge, dearest chuck, Till thou applaud the deed. "Come, fealing night, "Scarf up the tender eye of pitiful day,

"And with thy bloody and invifible hand "Cancel and tear to pieces that great bond

"Which keeps me pale. Night thickens, and the crow "Makes wing to th' rooky wood.

"Good things of day begin to droop and drowze. "Whiles night's black agents to their prey do rouse. "Thou marvell'ft at my words; but hold thee ftill. Things bad begun, make strong themselves by ill : So pr'ythee go with me.

SCENE IV.

[Exeunt.

Changes to a park; the caftle at a distance.
Enter three Murtherers.

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

3 Mur. Macbeth.

2 Mur. He needs not our mistruft, fince he delivers

Our offices, and what we have to do,

To the direction just.

I Mur. Then stand with us.

[Speaking to the firft.

The weft yet glimmers with fome ftreaks of day.
Now fpurs the lated traveller apace,

To gain the timely inn; and near approaches
The fubject of our watch.

3 Mur. Hark, I hear horfes.

[Banquo within.] Give us light there, ho!
2 Mur. Then it is he: the reft

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

I Mur. His horfes go about.

3 Mur. Almoft a mile: but he does usually, (So all men do), from hence to th' palace-gate Make it their walk.

ti. c. the beetle hatched in clefts of wood.

Enter.