But as a thing of custom: 'tis no other; [Ghost disappears. Unreal mockery, hence!-Why so;-being gone, I am a man again. - Pray you, sit still. Lady Macb. You have displaced the mirth, broke the good meeting, With most admired disorder. Macb. Can such things be, And overcome3 us like a summer's cloud, Without our special wonder? You make me strange+ Even to the disposition that I owe, When now I think you can behold such sights, And keep the natural ruby of your cheeks, When mine are blanched with fear. Rosse. What sights, my lord? Lady Macb. I pray you, speak not; he grows worse and worse; Question enrages him: at once, good night: Stand not upon the order of your going, But go at once. Len. Good night, and better health Attend his majesty! Lady Macb. A kind good night to all! [Exeunt Lords and Attendants. Macb. It will have blood; they say, blood will have blood : Stones have been known to move, and trees to speak, Augurs, and understood relations 5, have By magot-pies, and choughs, and rooks brought forth 1 Hyrcania, a district of Asia, to the N. of Parthia, abounding in wild beasts. 2 I skulk within doors, and do not accept your challenge. 3 Pass over our minds. 4 A stranger to the disposition that I owe (own); i. e. I hardly know myself, "When now I think, &c." 5 Causes and effects. Lady Macb. Almost at odds with morning, which is which. Macb. How sayest thou, that Macduff denies his person, At our great bidding? Lady Macb. Did you send to him, sir? Macb. 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, More shall they speak; for now I am bent to know, Strange things I have in head, that will to hand; Lady Macb. You lack the season of all natures, sleep. Macb. Come, we'll to sleep: My strange and self-abuse Is the initiate fear, that wants hard use: We are yet but young indeed. SCENE V.- The Heath. [Exeunt. Thunder. Enter HECATE, meeting the three Witches. 1 Witch. Why, how now, Hecate? you look angerly. Hec. Have I not reason, beldams as you are, Saucy, and over-bold? How did you dare To trade and traffic with Macbeth, In riddles and affairs of death; And, which is worse, all you have done, Spiteful, 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 1 Meet me in the morning; thither he Will come to know his destiny. Your vessels, and your spells, provide, 1 One of the rivers of the infernal regions. (See Milton, oook ii. p. 33.). Your charms, and everything beside Great business must be wrought ere noon : There hangs a vaporous drop profound; Is mortal's chiefest enemy. SONG [within] "Come away, come away," &c. Hark! I am called; my little spirit, see, Sits in a foggy cloud, and stays for me. again. [Exit. [Exeunt. 1 Witch. Come, let's make haste: she'll soon be back SCENE VI.-Forres. A Room in the Palace. Enter LENOX, and another Lord. Len. My former speeches have but hit your thoughts, Things have been strangely borne: The gracious Duncan To kill their gracious father? How it did grieve Macbeth! did he not straight, That were the slaves of drink, and thralls of sleep? To hear the men deny it. So that, I say, He has borne all things well: and I do think, (As, an't please heaven, he shall not,) they should find Macduff lives in disgrace. Sir, can you tell Lord. Give to our tables meat, sleep to our nights; Len. Sent he to Macduff? Lord. He did: and with an absolute, "Sir, not I," And hums; as who should say, "You'll rue the time And that well might Len. Lord. I'll send my prayers with him! [Exeunt. EXAMINATION ON ACT III. 1. Describe the course of the action in this act. 1 With countenance overcast. 4. Explain the terms, "to the utterance," "ecstacy," 66 5. Quote a passage of great poetic beauty from this act. 6. Under what form of beauty may this passage be ranged-picturesque, fanciful, imaginative, characteristic, &c. ?" 7. Describe the character Macbeth here gives of Banquo. 8. Who was Hecate, according to the ancients; and in what character does Shakspere introduce her into this drama? ACT IV. SCENE I.-A dark Cave. In the middle, a Caldron boiling. Thunder. Enter the three Witches. 1 Witch. Thrice the brinded cat hath mewed. 2 Witch. Thrice; and once the hedge-pig whined. In the poisoned entrails throw. In the caldron boil and bake; Eye of newt, and toe of frog, Fire, burn; and, caldron, bubble. 2 Witch. Cool it with a baboon's blood, Then the charm is firm and good. Enter HECATE, and the other three Witches. Hec. O, well done! I commend your pains; And every one shall share in the gains. 1 The name of an imp. |