There the grown serpent lies; the worm, that's fled, No teeth for the present.-Get thee gone: to-morrow Lady M. My royal lord, You do not give the cheer: the feast is sold [Exit Murderer. That is not often vouch'd, while 'tis a-making, 'Tis given with welcome: to feed were best at home; From thence the sauce to meat is ceremony; Meeting were bare without it. Macb. Sweet remembrancer! Now, good digestion wait on appetite, Len. May't please your highness sit. [The Ghost of Banquo rises, and sits in Macbeth's place. Macb. Here had we now our country's honour roof'd, Were the grac'd person of our Banquo present; Who may I rather challenge for unkindness Than pity for mischance! Lays blame upon his promise. Please 't your highness Macb. The table 's full. Len. Macb. Where? Here is a place reserv'd, sir. Len. Here, my good lord. What is 't that moves your highness? Macb. Which of you have done this? Lords. What, my good lord? Macb. Thou canst not say I did it: never shake Thy gory locks at me. Ross. Gentlemen, rise; his highness is not well. He will again be well: if much you note him, Macb. Ay, and a bold one, that dare look on that Which might appal the devil. Lady M. O proper stuff! This is the air-drawn dagger which, you said, Authoriz'd by her grandam. Shame itself! You look but on a stool. Macb. Prithee, see there! behold! look! lo! how say you? Why, what care I? If thou canst nod, speak too.— Those that we bury back, our monuments Lady M. Macb. If I stand here, I saw him. Lady M. [Ghost disappears. What, quite unmann'd in folly? Fie, for shame! Macb. Blood hath been shed ere now, i' the olden time, Ere human statute purg'd the gentle weal; Ay, and since too, murders have been perform'd Too terrible for the ear: the times have been, That, when the brains were out, the man would die, And there an end; but now they rise again, Lady M. My worthy lord, Your noble friends do lack you. Macb. I do forget: Do not muse at me, my most worthy friends; I have a strange infirmity, which is nothing To those that know me. Come, love and health to all; I drink to the general joy o' the whole table, And all to all. Lords. Our duties, and the pledge. Ghost rises again. Macb. Avaunt! and quit my sight! let the earth hide thee! Thy bones are marrowless, thy blood is cold; Thou hast no speculation in those eyes Which thou dost glare with! Lady M. Think of this, good peers, But as a thing of custom: 'tis no other; Macb. What man dare, I dare: Approach thou like the rugged Russian bear, [Ghost disappears. Why, so;-being gone, I am a man again.-Pray you, sit still. Lady M. You have displac'd the mirth, broke the good meeting, With most admir'd disorder. Macb. Can such things be, And overcome 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 (43) blanch'd with fear. Ross. What sights, my lord? Lady M. 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 M. A kind good night to all! [Exeunt all except Macbeth and Lady M. Macb. It will have blood; they say, blood will have blood: By magot-pies, and choughs, and rooks, brought forth Lady M. Almost at odds with morning, which is which. Macb. How say'st thou, that Macduff denies his person At our great bidding? Lady M. Did you send to him, sir? More shall they speak; for now I am bent to know, Strange things I have in head, that will to hand; Lady M. 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 in deed. [Exeunt. SCENE V. The heath. Thunder. Enter the three Witches, meeting HECATE. First Witch. Why, how now, Hecate! you look angerly. Saucy and overbold? How did you dare To trade and traffic with Macbeth In riddles and affairs of death; And I, the mistress of your charms, And, which is worse, all you have done Meet me i' the morning: thither he Great business must be wrought ere noon: There hangs a vaporous drop profound; His hopes 'bove wisdom, grace, and fear: Is mortals' chiefest enemy. [Music and song within, "Come away, come away," &c.(4) Hark! I am call'd; my little spirit, see, [Exit. First Witch. Come, let's make haste; she'll soon be back Sits in a foggy cloud, and stays for me. again. [Exeunt. SCENE VI. Forres. A room in the palace. Enter LENNOX and another Lord.(45) Len. My former speeches have but hit your thoughts, |