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Mal. What will you do? Let's not consort with

them :

To show an unfelt sorrow, is an office

Which the false man does easy.

I'll to England.

Don. To Ireland I: our separated fortune

Shall keep us both the safer: where we are,

There's daggers in men's smiles; the near in blood,
The nearer bloody.

Mal.
Hath not yet lighted; and our safest way
Is, to avoid the aim. Therefore, to horse;
And let us not be dainty of leave-taking,
But shift away.

This murderous shaft that's shot,

There's warrant in that theft

Which steals itself, when there's no mercy left.

SCENE IV.

[Exeunt.

Without the castle.

Enter ROSSE and an OLD MAN.

O. Man. Threescore and ten I can remember

well;

Within the volume of which time, I have seen Hours dreadful, and things strange; but this sore

night

Hath trifled former knowings.

Rosse.

Ah, good father,

Thou seest, 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?

O. Man.

'Tis unnatural,

Even like the deed that's done. On Tuesday last, A falcon, towering 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.

O. Man.

'Tis said, they eat each other. Rosse. They did so, to the amazement of mine

eyes,

That look'd upon 't. Here comes the good Mac

duff.

Enter MACDuff.

How goes the world, sir, now?

Macd.

Why, see you not?

Rosse. Is 't known, who did this more than bloody

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Are stolen away and fled; which puts upon them Suspicion of the deed.

Rosse.

'Gainst nature still :

Thriftless ambition, that will ravin up 1

Thine own life's means !-Then, 'tis most like,
The sovereignty will fall upon Macbeth.

Macd. He is already named, and gone to Scone, To be invested.

Rosse.

Where is Duncan's body?

Macd. Carried to Colme-kill;

The sacred storehouse of his predecessors,

And guardian of their bones.

Rosse.

Will you to Scone?

Well, I will thither.

Macd. No, cousin, I'll to Fife.

Rosse.

Macd. Well, may you see things well done there ;

-adieu!

Lest our old robes sit easier than our new!

Rosse. Farewell, father.

O. Man. God's benison go with you; and with

those

That would make good of bad, and friends of foes!

[Exeunt.

1 Devour.

ACT II I.

SCENE I.

Fores. A room in the palace.

Enter BANQUO.

Ban. Thou hast it now, king, Cawdor, Glamis, all,

As the weird women promised; and, I fear

Thou play'dst most foully for 't: yet it was said,
It should not stand in thy posterity;

But that myself should be the root and father
Of many kings. If there come truth from them
(As upon thee, Macbeth, their speeches shine)
Why, by the verities on thee made good,
May they not be my oracles as well,

And set me up in hope? But, hush! no more.

Senet1 sounded. Enter MACBETH as king, LADY MACBETH as queen, LENOX, ROSSE, Lords, Ladies, and Attendants.

Macb. Here's our chief guest.

L. Macb.

If he had been forgotten,

It had been as a gap in our great feast,

And all-thing unbecoming.

Florish of trumpets.

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

Are with a most indissoluble tie

For ever knit.

Macb. Ride you this afternoon?

Ban. Ay, my good lord.

Macb. We should have else desired your good advice

(Which still hath been both grave and prosperous) In this day's council; but we'll talk 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.

Fail not our feast.

Ban. My lord, I will not.

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.

SHAK.

VI.

[Exit Banquo.

D

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