And bade them speak to him; then, prophet-like, To make them kings, the seed of Banquo kings! there? Who's Re-enter Attendant, with Two Murderers. Now to the door, and stay there till we call. [Erit Attendant. Was it not yesterday we spoke together? Who wrought with them; and all things else, that might, To half a soul, and a notion craz'd, 1 Mur. 1 Mur. We are men, my liege. That writes them all alike: And so of men. And not in the worst rank of manhood, say it; 2 Mur. 1 Mur. And I another, So weary with disasters, tugg'd with fortune, That I would set my life on any chance, To mend it, or be rid on't. True, my lord, Know, Banquo was your enemy. 2 Mur. Macb. So is he mine: and in such bloody distance, That every minute of his being thrusts Against my near'st of life: And though I could With bare-fac'd power sweep him from my sight, And bid my will avouch it; yet I must not, For certain friends that are both his and mine, Whose loves I may not drop, but wail his fall Whom I myself struck down: and thence it is, That I to your assistance do make love; Masking the business from the common eye, For sundry weighty reasons. 2 Mur. We shall, my lord, Perform what you command us. 1 Mur. Though our lives Macb. Your spirits shine through you. this hour, at most, Within I will advise you where to plant yourselves, 2 Mur. 2 Called. 4 Careless. 5 Because of. 6 Most melancholy. Macb. O, full of scorpions is my mind, dear wife! Thou know'st, that Banquo, and his Fleance, lives. Lady M. But in them nature's copy's not eterne. 9 Macb. There's comfort yet; they are assailable; Then be thou jocund: Ere the bat hath flown His cloister'd flight; ere, to black Hecate's summons, The shard-borne beetle ', with his drowsy hums, Hath rung night's yawning peal, there shall be done A deed of dreadful note. Lady M. What's to be done? 2 Macb. Beinnocent of the knowledge, dearest chuck, Till thou applaud the deed. Come, seeling night, Skarf up the tender eye of pitiful day; And, with thy bloody and invisible hand, Cancel, and tear to pieces, that great bond Which keeps me pale! - Light thickens; and the crow Makes wing to the rooky wood: Good things of day begin to droop and drowse; Whiles night's black agents to their prey do rouse. Thou marvell'st at my words; but hold thee still; Things, bad begun, make strong themselves by ill: So, pr'ythee, go with me. [Exeunt. 3 Mur. Almost a mile: but he does usually, So all men do, from hence to the palace gate Make it their walk. Ban. O, treachery! Fly, good Fleance, fly, fly, fly; Thou mayst revenge. O slave! [Dies. FLEANCE and Servant escape. 3 Mur. Who did strike out the light? 1 Mur. 3 Mur. There's but one down; the son has fled. 2 Mur. We have lost best half of our affair. Was't not the way? 1 Mur. Well, let's away, and say how much is done. [Exeunt. SCENE IV. A Room of State in the Palace. A Banquet prepared. Enter MACBETH, Lady MACBETH, ROSSE, LENOX, Lords, and Attendants. Macb. You know your own degrees, sit down: at first And last, the hearty welcome. Lords. Our hostess keeps her state 3; but, in best time, Lady M. Pronounce it for me, sir, to all our friends; For my heart speaks, they are welcome. Enter First Murderer, to the door. Macb. See, they encounter thee with their hearts' thanks : Both sides are even: Here I'll sit i'the midst : Be large in mirth; anon, we'll drink a measure The table round. There's blood upon thy face. Mur. 'Tis Banquo's then. Macb. 'Tis better thee without, than he within. Is he despatch'd? Mur. My lord, his throat is cut; that I did for him. Macb. Thou art the best o'the cut-throats: Yet he's good, That did the like for Fleance: if thou didst it, Thou art the nonpareil. Mur. Fleance is 'scap'd. Most royal sir, Macb. Then comes my fit again: I had else been perfect; Whole as the marble, founded as the rock; As broad, and general, as the casing air: I am cabin'd, cribb'd, confin'd, bound in Macb. Thanks for that: There the grown serpent lies; the worm, that's fled, Hath nature that in time will venom breed, No teeth for the present. Get thee gone; to morrow We'll hear ourselves again. [Exit Murderer. Lady M. My royal lord, You do not give the cheer: the feast is sold, Enter BANQUO and FLEANCE, a Servant with a torch That is not often vouch'd, while 'tis a making, Len. May it please your highness sit? [The Ghost of BANQUO rises, and sits in MACBETH'S place. Macb. Here had we now our country's honour Were the grac'd person of our Banquo present; Rosse. His absence, sir, Lays blame upon his promise. Please it your high ness To grace us with your royal company? Macb. The table's full. Macb. Where? Len. Here's a place reserv'd, sir. Ghost rises. And to our dear friend Banquo, whom we miss : Thy bones are marrowless, thy blood is cold; Think of this, good peers, Here my lord. What is't that The arm'd rhinoceros, or the Hyrcan tiger, Macb. Which of you have done this? Rosse. Gentlemen, rise; his highness is not well. - how say you? Why, what care I? If thou canst nod, speak too. Fye, for shame! Macb. Blood hath been shed ere now, i'the olden time, Ere human statute purg'd the gentle weal; Lady M. My worthy lord, Your noble friends do lack you. Macb. I do forget: Then I'll sit down: Take any shape but that, and my firm nerves Unreal mockery, hence!-Why so ;- With most admired disorder. Macb. Can such things be, And overcome 8 us like a summer's cloud, Without our special wonder? You make me strange When now I think you can behold such sights, Rosse. What sights, my lord? Lady M. I pray you, speak not; he grows worse and worse: : Question enrages him at once, good night: Lady M. 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, (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; Strange things I have in head, that will to hand; Which must be acted, ere they may be scann'd.2 6 ie All good wishes to all. 7 Forbid. 8 Pass over. 9 Possess. 1 Magpies. 2 Examined nicely. Lady M. You lack the season of all natures, sleep. | Which can interpret further: only, I say, 1 Witch. Why, how now, Hecate? you look angerly. Hec. Have I not reason, beldams, as you are, Saucy, and overbold? How did you dare To trade and traffick with Macbeth, In riddles and affairs of death; And I, the mistress of your charms, Great business must be wrought ere noon; There hangs a vaporous drop profound 3; His hopes 'bove wisdom, grace, and fear : Is mortal's chiefest enemy. Duncan Was pitied of Macbeth :- marry, he was dead :— He has borne all things well: and I do think, That, had he Duncan's sons under his key, fail'd His presence at the tyrant's feast, I hear, Lord. To wake Northumberland, and warlike Siward: Give to our tables meat, sleep to our nights; Len. Sent he to Macduff? Lord. He did and with an absolute, Sir, not I, The cloudy messenger turns me his back, : SONG. [Within.] Come away, come away, &c. And hums; as who should say, You'll rue the time |