Mach. Who can be wise, amazed, temperate and furious,

Loyal and neutral, in a moment? No man:

The expedition of my violent love Outrun the pauser reason. Here lay Duncan,

His silver skin laced with his golden blood,

And his gash'd stabs look'd like a breach in nature

For ruin's wasteful entrance: there, the murderers,

Steep'd in the colours of their trade, their daggers

Unmannerly breech'd with gore:

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 entomb,

When living light should kiss it?
Old M.
'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.

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.

Sennet sounded. Enter MACBETH as king; LADY MACBETH as queen; LENNOX, Ross, Lords, Ladies, and Attendants

Macb. Here's our chief guest.

Lady M. If he had been forgotten. It had been as a gap in our great feast,

And all-thing unbecoming.

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.

Mach. 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 take

to-morrow.

Is't far you ride?

Ban. As far, my lord, as will fill up the time