?

When, therewithal, we shall have cause of state,
Craving us jointly. Hie you to horse: Adieu,
Till you return at night. Goes Flcance 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.

[Exeunt BANQUO and FLEANCE.

Let every man be master of his time

Till seven at night; to make society

The sweeter welcome, we will keep ourself

Till supper-time alone: while then, Heaven be with

you!

[Exeunt. Sirrah, a word: Attend those men our pleasure? Sey. They are, my lord, without the palace gate. Macb. Bring them before us.

To be thus, is nothing :

[Exit SEYTON.

But to be safely thus,-Our fears in Banquo

Stick deep:

He chid the sisters,

When first they put the name of King upon me,
And bade them speak to him; then, prophet-like,
They hail'd him father to a line of kings:
Upon my head they plac'd a fruitless crown,
And put a barren scepter in my gripe,
Thence to be wrench'd with an unlineal hand,
No son of mine succeeding. If it be so,
For Banquo's issue have I 'fil'd my mind;

For them the gracious Duncan have I murder'd;
And mine eternal jewel

Given to the common enemy of man,

To make them kings.The seed of Banquo kings!

Rather than so, come, fate, into the list,

And champion me to the utterance!-Who's there?

Enter SEYTON, with Two OFFICERS.

[Exit SEYTON.

Was it not yesterday we spoke together?

E

1 Off. It was, so please your highness.
Macb. Well then, now

Have you consider'd of my speeches?
Do you find

Your patience so predominant in your nature,
That you can let this go? Are you so gospel'd,
To pray for this good man, and for his issue,
Whose heavy hand hath bow'd
And beggar'd yours for ever?

2 Off. I am one, my liege,

you to the

grave,

Whom the vile blows and buffets of the world
Have so incens'd, that I am reckless what

I do to spite the world.

1 Off. 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.

Macb. Both of you

Know, Banquo was your enemy.

1 Off. True, my lord.

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 sundry weighty reasons.

2 Off. We shall, my lord, Perform what you command us,

1 Off. Though our lives

Macb. Your spirits shine through you. Within this hour, at most,

I will advise you where to plant yourselves;
Acquaint you with the perfect spy o'the time,
The moment on't; for't must be done to-night,
And something from the palace; always thought,
That I require a clearness: And with him,
(To leave no rubs, nor botches, in the work,),
Fleance his son, that keeps him company,

Whose absence is no less material to me
Than is his father's, must embrace the fate
Of that dark hour: Resolve yourselves apart;
I'll come to you anon.

1 Of. We are resolv'd, my lord.

Macb. I'll call upon you strait; abide within.

[Exeunt OFFICers.

It is concluded:-
If it find Heaven, must find it out to-night.

-Banquo, thy soul's flight,

[Exit.

Enter LADY MACBETH, as QUEEN; and SEYTON.

Lady. Is Banquo gone from court?

Sey. Ay, madam; but returns again to-night. Lady. Say to the King, I would attend his leisure

For a few words.

Sey. Madam, I will.

Lady. Nought's had, all's spent,

[Exit SEYTON.

Where our desire is got without content: 'Tis safer to be that which we destroy,

Than, by destruction, dwell in doubtful joy.

Enter MACBETH.

How now, my lord? why do you keep alone,
Of sorriest fancies your companions making,-
Using those thoughts, which should indeed have dy'd
With them they think on? Things without all remedy
Should be without regard: what's done, is done.

Macb. We have scotch'd the snake, not kill'd it, She'll close, and be herself; whilst our poor malice Remains in danger of her former tooth.

But let the frame of things disjoint, both the worlds suffer,

Ere we will eat our meal in fear, and sleep

In the affliction of these terrible dreams,

That shake us nightly: Better be with the dead,
Whom we, to gain our place, have sent to peace,

Than on the torture of the mind to lie

grave;

In restless ecstacy.- Duncan is in his
After life's fitful fever, he sleeps well:
Treason has done his worst; nor steel, nor poison,
Malice domestic, foreign levy, nothing,
Can touch him further!

Lady. Come on; Gentle my lord,

Sleek o'er your rugged looks; be bright and jovial Among your guests to-night.

Macb. O, full of scorpions is my mind, dear wife! Thou know'st, that Banquo, and his Fleance, live. Lady. But in them nature's copy's not eterne. 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. What's to be done?

Macb. Be innocent 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;
While night's black agents to their preys do rouse.
Thou marvel'st at my words: but hold thee still;
Things, bad begun, make strong themselves by ill.
[Excunt.

SCENE III.

A Park, near the Palace, at Fores.

Enter the Two OFFICERS.

1 Off. The west yet glimmers with some streaks of day:

Now spurs the lated traveller apace,

To gain the timely inn; and near approaches
The subject of our watch.

2 Off. Hark! I hear horses.

Ban. [Within.] Give us a light there, ho!
1 Off. Then it is he; the rest

That are within the note of expectation,
Already are i'the court.

2 Off. His horses

go about.

1 Of. Almost a mile: but he does usually, So all men do, from hence to the palace gate, Make it their walk.

2 Off. A light, a light!

1 Off. "Tis he.

Enter FLEANCE, with a Torch, and BANQUO.

Ban. It will rain to-night.

[Exeunt FLEANCE and BANQUO.

1 Off. Let it come down.

[Exeunt OFFICers. Ban. [Within.] O, treachery! Fly, good Fleance, fly, fly, fly!

Fle. [Within.] Murder! murder! murder!

Ban. [Within.] Thou may'st revenge.-O, slave!— 0, 0, 0!

Enter OFFICERS.

1 Off. Who did strike out the light?

2 Off. Was't not the way?

[Dies.