MACBETH by WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE PERSONS REPRESENTED DUNCAN, King of Scotland. Seyton, an officer attending on MACBETH. MALCOM, Son of DUNCAN. Boy, Son to MACDUFF. DONALBAIN, Son of DUNCAN. An English Doctor. A Scotch Doctor. MACBETH, General of DUNCAN'S Army. A Soldier. A Porter. An Old Man. BANQUO, General of DUNCAN'S Army. MACDUFF, Nobleman of Scotland. LADY MACBETH. LENOX, Nobleman of Scotland. LADY MACDUFF. ROSS, Nobleman of Scotland. Gentlewomen attending on LADY MACBETH. MENTETH, Nobleman of Scotland. HECATE, and the three Witches. ANGUS, Nobleman of Scotland. CATHNESS, Nobleman of Scotland. Lords, Gentlemen, Officers, Soldiers, FLEANCE, Son to BANQUO. Murderers, Attendants, and Messengers. SIWARD, Earl of Northumberland, and General of the English Forces. The GHOST of BANQUO, and several other YOUNG SIWARD, his Son. APPARITIONS. Scene, - In the end of the Fourth Act, in ENGLAND; through the rest of the Play, in SCOTLAND; and chiefly at MACBETH'S Castle. ACT I. SCENE i. An open Place. Thunder and Lightning. Enter three Witches. 111 I Witch When shall we three meet again, In thunder, lightning, or in rain? 2 Witch When the hurlyburly's done, When the battle's lost and won. 3 Witch That will be ere the set of sun. I Witch Where the place? 2 Witch Upon the heath. 3 Witch There to meet with Macbeth I Witch I come, Graymalkin! All Paddock calls: -Anon!- 1110 Fair is foul, and foul is fair: Hover through the fog and filthy air. Witches vanish. Scene ii. A Camp near Forres Alarum within. Enter King Duncan, Malcolm, Donalbain, Lenox, with Attendants, meeting a bloody Soldier. 121 Duncan What bloody man is that? He can report, As seemeth by his plight, of the revolt The newest state. Malcolm This is the sergeant, Who, like a good and hardy soldier, fought 'Gainst my captivity. - Hail, brave friend! Say to the king the knowledge of the broil, As thou didst leave it. Soldier Doubtfully it stood; As two spent swimmers that do cling together And choke their art. The merciless Macdonwald,- 1210 Worthy to be a rebel - for to that The multiplying villanies of nature Do swarm upon him, - from the Western isles Of kerns and gallowglasses is supplied; And fortune, on his damned quarrel smiling, Showed like a rebel's whore. But all's too weak For brave Macbeth, - well he deserves that name, - Disdaining fortune, with his brandished steel, Which smoked with bloody execution, Like valour's minion, Carved out his passage 1220 Till he faced the slave; And ne'er shook hands, nor bade farewell to him, Till he unseamed him from the nave to the chaps, And fixed his head upon our battlements. Duncan O valiant cousin! worthy gentleman! Soldier As whence the sun 'gins his reflection Shipwrecking storms and direful thunders break; So from that spring, whence comfort seemed to come, Discomfort swells. Mark, King of Scotland, mark: No sooner justice had, with valour armed, 1230 Compelled these skipping kerns to trust their heels, But the Norweyan lord, surveying vantage, With furbished arms and new supplies of men, Began a fresh assault. Duncan Dismayed not this Our captains, Macbeth and Banquo? Soldier Yes; As sparrows eagles, or the hare the lion. If I say sooth, I must report they were As cannons overcharged with double cracks; So they doubly redoubled strokes upon the foe: 1240 Except they meant to bathe in reeking wounds, Or memorize another Golgotha, I cannot tell:-- But I am faint; my gashes cry for help. Duncan So well thy words become thee as thy wounds; They smack of honour both.--Go, get him surgeons. Exit Soldier, attended. Who comes here? Malcolm The worthy Thane of Ross. Lenox What a haste looks through his eyes! So should he look that seems to speak things strange. Enter Ross. Ross God save the king! Duncan Whence cam'st thou, worthy thane? 1250 Ross From Fife, great king; Where the Norweyan banners flout the sky And fan our people cold. Norway himself, with terrible numbers, Assisted by that most disloyal traitor The Thane of Cawdor, began a dismal conflict; Till that Belladona's bridegroom, lapped in proof, Confronted him with self-comparisons, Point against point rebellious, arm 'gainst arm, Curbing his lavish spirit; and, to conclude, The victory fell on us. 1260 Duncan Great happiness! Ross That now Sweno, the Norway's king, craves composition; Nor would we deign him burial of his men Till he disbursed, at Saint Colmes-inch, Ten thousand dollars to our general use. Duncan No more that Thane of Cawdor shall deceive Our bosom interest:--go pronounce his present death, And with his former title greet Macbeth Ross I'll see it done. 1270 Duncan What he hath lost, noble Macbeth hath won. Exeunt. Scene iii. A Heath. Thunder. Enter the three Witches. 131 I Witch Where hath thou been, sister? 2 Witch Killing swine. 3 Witch Sister, where thou? 1 Witch A sailor's wife had chestnuts in her lap, And munched, and munched, and munched: --Give me, quoth I: Aroint thee, witch! the rump-fed ronyon cries. Her husband's to Aleppo gone, master o' the Tiger: But in a sieve I'll thither sail, And, like a rat without a tail, 1310 I'll do, I'll do, I'll do. 2 Witch I'll give thee a wind. I Witch Thou art kind. 3 Witch And I another. I Witch I myself have all the other; And the very ports they blow, All the quarters that they know I' the shipman's card. I will drain him dry as hay: Sleep shall neither night nor day 1320 Hang upon his pent-house lid; He shall live a man forbid: Weary seven-nights nine times nine Shall he dwindle, peak, and pine: Though his bark cannot be lost, Yet it shall be tempest-tost.-- Look what I have. 2 Witch Show me, show me. I Witch Here I have a pilot's thumb, Wrecked as homeword he did come. Drum within. 1330 3 Witch A drum, A drum! Macbeth doth come. All The weird sisters, hand in hand, Posters of sea and land, Thus do go about, about: Thrice to thine, and thrice to mine, Peace!--the charm's wound up. Enter Macbeth and Banquo Macbeth So foul and fair a day I have not seen. Banquo How far is't call's Forres?--What are these, 1340 So withered, and so wild in their attire, That look not like the inhabitants o' the earth, And yet are on't?--Live you? or are you aught That man may question? You seem to understand me, By each at once her chappy finger laying Upon her skinny lips:--you should be women, And yet your beards forbid me to interpret That you are so. Macbeth Speak if you can;--what are you? 1 Witch All hail, Macbeth! hail to thee, Thane of Glamis! 2 Witch All hail, Macbeth! hail to thee, Thane of Cawdor! 1350 3 Witch All hail, Macbeth! that thou shalt be king hereafter! Banquo Good sir, why do you start; and seem to fear Things that do sound so fair?--I' the name of truth, Are ye fantastical, or that indeed Which outwardly ye show? My noble partner You greet with present grace and great prediction Of noble having and of royal hope. That he seems rapt withal:--to me you speak not: If you can look into the seeds of time, And say which grain will grow, and which will not, 1360 Speak then to me, who neither beg nor fear Your favours nor your hate. I Witch Hail! 2 Witch Hail! 3 Witch Hail! I Witch Lesser than Macbeth, and greater. 2 Witch Not so happy, yet much happier. 3 Witch Thou shalt get kings, though thou be none; So, all hail, Macbeth and Banquo! I Witch Banquo and Macbeth, all hail! 1370 Macbeth Stay, you imperfect speakers, tell me more: By Sinel's death I know I am Thane of Clamis; But how of Cawdor? the Thane of Cawdor lives, A prosperous gentleman; and to be king Stands not within the prospect of belief, No more than to be Cawdor. Say from whence You owe this strange intelligence? or why Upon this blasted heath you stop our way With such prophetic greeting?--Speak, I charge you! Witches vanish. Banquo The earth hath bubbles, as the waters has, 1380 And these are of them:--wither are they vanished? Macbeth Into the air; and what seemed corporeal melted As breath into the wind.--Would they had stayed Banquo Where such things here as we do speak about? Or have we eaten on the insane root That takes the reason prisoner? Macbeth Your children shall be kings. Banquo You shall be king. Macbeth And Thane of Cawdor too; went it not so? Banquo To the self-same tune and words. Who's here? Enter Ross and Angus Ross The king hath happily received, Macbeth, 1390 The news of thy success: and, when he reads Thy personal venture in the rebels' fight, His wonders and his praises do contend Which should be thine or his: silenced with that, In viewing o'er the rest o' the self-same day, He finds thee in the stout Norweyan ranks, Nothing afeard of what thyself didst make, Strange images of death. As thick as hail Came post with post; and every one did bear Thy praises in his kingdom's great defense, And pored them down before him. 13100 Angus We are sent To give thee, from our royal master, thanks; Only to herald thee into his sight, Not pay thee. Ross And, for an earnest of a greater honour, He bade me, from him, call thee Thane of Cawdor: In which addition, hail, most worthy thane! For it is thine. Banquo What, can the devil speak true? Macbeth The Thane of Cawdor lives: why do you dress me In borrowed robes? Angus Who was the thane lives yet; 13110 But under heavy judgment bears that life Which he deserves to lose. Whether he was combined With those of Norway, or did line the rebel With hidden help and vantage, or with both He laboured in his country's wreck, I know not; But treasons capital, confessed, and proved, Have overthrown him. Macbeth Glamis, and Thane of Cawdor; The greatest is behind [aside]. -Thanks for your pains.- Do you not hope your children shall be kings, When those that gave the Thane of Cawdor to me Promised no less to them? 13120 Banquo That, trusted home, Might yet enkindle you unto the crown, Besides the Thane of Cawdor. But 'tis strange: And oftentimes to win us to our harm, The instruments of darkness tell us truths; Win us with honest trifles, to betray's In deepest consequence.-- Cousins, a word I pray you. Macbeth Two truths are told, As happy prologues to the swelling act Of the imerial theme [aside].--I thank you, gentlemen.- 13130 [aside] This supernatural soliciting Cannot be ill; cannot be good:--if ill, Why hath it given me earnest of suggest, Commencing in a truth? I am Thane of Cawdor: If good, why do I yield to that suggestion whose horrid image doth unfix my hair, And make my seated heart knock at my ribs, Against the use of nature? Present fears Are less than horrible imaginings: My thought, whose murder yet is but fantastical, 13140 Shakes so my single state of man, that function Is smothered in surmise; and nothing is But what is not. Banquo Look, how our partner's rapt. Macbeth [Aside.] If chance will have me king, why, chance may crown me, Without my stir. Banquo New honours come upon him, Like our strange garments, cleave not to their mould But with the aid of use. Macbeth [Aside.] Come what come may, Time and the hour runs through the roughest day. Banquo Worthy Macbeth, we stay upon your leisure. Macbeth Give me your favour:--my dull brain was wrought 13150 With things forgotten. Kind gentlemen, your pains are registered where everyday I turn The leaf to read them.--Let us toward the king.-- Think upon what hath chanced; and, at more time, The interim having weighed it, let us speak Our free hearts to each other. Banquo Very gladly. Macbeth Till then, enough.--Come, friends. Exeunt. Scene iv Forres. A room in the Palace. Flourish. Enter Duncan, Malcolm, Donalbain, Lenox and Attendants. 141 Duncan Is execution done on Cawdor? Are not Those in commission yet returned? Malcolm My liege, They are not yet come back. But I have spoke With one that saw him die: who did report, That very frankly he confessed his treasons; Implored your highness' pardon; and set forth A deep repentance: nothing in his life Became him like the leaving it; he died As one that had been studied in his death, 1410 To throw away the dearest thing he owed, As 'twere a careless trifle. Duncan There's no art To find the mind's construction in the face: He was a gentleman on whom I built An absolute trust.- Enter Macbeth, Banquo, Ross, and Angus. O worthiest cousin! The sin of my ingratitude even now Was heavy on me: thou art so far before, That swiftest wing of recompense is slow To overtake thee. Would thou hadst less deserved; That the proportion both of thanks and payment 1420 Might have been mine! only I have left to say, More is thy due than more than all can pay. Macbeth The service and the royalty I owe, In doing it, pays itself. Your Highness? part Is to receive our duties: and our duties Are to your throne and state children and servants; Which do but what they should, by doing everything Safe toward your love and honour. Duncan Welcome hither: I have begun to plant thee, and will labour To make thee full of growing.--Noble Banquo, 1430 That hast no less deserved, nor must be known No less to have done so, let me infold thee, And hold thee to my heart. Banquo There if I grow, The harvest is your own. Duncan My plenteous joys, Wanton in fulness, seek to hide themselves In drops of sorow.--Sons, kinsmen, thanes, And you whose places are the nearest, know, We will establish our estate upon Our dearest, Malcolm; whom we name hereafter The Prince of Cumberland: which honour must 1440 Not unaccompanied invest him only, But signs of nobleness, like stars, shall shine On all deservers.--From hence to Inverness, And bind us further to you. Macbeth The rest is labour, which is not used for you: I'll be myself the harbinger, and make joyful The hearing of my wife with your approach; So, humbly take my leave. Duncan My worthy Cawdor! Macbeth [Aside] The Prince of Cumberland!--That is a step, In which I must fall down, or else o'er leap 1450 For in my way it lies. Stars, hide your fires! Let not light see my black and deep desires: The wink at the hand! yet let that be, Which the eye fears, when it is done, to see. Exit. Duncan True. worthy Banquo,--he is full so valiant; And in his commendations I am fed,-- It is a banquet to me. Let us after him, Whose care is gone before to bid us welcome: It is a peerless kinsman. Flourish. Exeunt. Scene v Inverness. A room in Macbeth's Castle. Enter Lady Macbeth, reading a letter. 151 L. Macbeth "They met me in the day of success; and I have learned by the perfectest report, they have more in them than mortal knowledge. When I burned in desire to question them further, they made themselves air, into which they vanished. While I stood rapt in the wonder of it, came missives from the king, who all-hailed me 'Thane of Cawdor'; by which title, before, these weird sisters saluted me, and referred me to the coming-on of time, with 'Hail, king that shalt be!' This have I thought good to deliver thee, my dearest partner of greatness, that thou might'st not lose the dues of rejoicing, by 1510 being ignorant of what greatness is promised thee. Lay it to thy heart, and farewell." Glamis thou art, and Cawdor; and shalt be What thou art promised.--Yet do I fear thy nature: It is too full o' the milk of human kindness To catch the nearest way. Thou wouldst be great; Art not without ambition, but without The illness that should attend it: what thou wouldst highly, That wouldst thou holily; wouldst not play false, 1520 And yet wouldst wrongly win; thou'dst have, great Glamis, That which cries, "Thus thou must do, if thou have it"; And that which rather thou dost fear to do, Than wishest should be undone. Hie thee hither, That I may pour my spirits in thine ear, And chatise with the valour of my tongue All that impedes thee from the golden round, Which fate and metaphysical aid doth seem To have thee crowned withal.-- Enter a Messenger What is your tidings? Messenger The king comes here tonight. Lady Macbeth Thou'rt mad to say it. 1530 Is not thy master with him? who, were't so, Would have informed for preparation. Messenger So please you, it is true; our thane is coming; One of the fellows had the speed of him, Who, almost dead for breath, had scarcely more Than would make up his message. Lady Macbeth Give him tending: Exit Messenger He brings great news. The raven himself is hoarse That croaks the fatal entrance of Duncan Under my battlements. Come you spirits That tend on mortal thoughts, unsex me here, 1540 And fill me, from the crown to the toe, top-full Of direst cruelty! make thick my blood, Stop up th' access and passage of remorse; That no compunctious visitings of nature Shake my fell purpose, nor keep peace between Th' effect and it! Come to my woman's breasts, And take my milk for gall, you murdering ministers, Wherever in your sightless substances You wait on nature's mischief! Come, thick night, And pall thee in the dunnest smoke of hell, 1550 That my keen knife see not the wound it makes, Nor heaven peep through the blanket of the dark To cry, "Hold, hold!" Enter Macbeth Great Glamis! worthy Cawdor! Greater than both, by the all-hail, hereafter! Thy letters have transported me beyond This ignorant present, and I feel now The future in an instant. Macbeth My dearest love, Duncan comes here tonight. Lady Macbeth And when goes hence? Macbeth Tomorrow, as he purposes. Lady Macbeth O! never Shall sun that morrow see! 1560 Your face, my thane, is as a book, where men May read strange matters. To beguile the time, Look like the time, bear welcome in your eye Your hand, your tongue: look like the innocent flower But be the serpent under 't. He that's coming Must be provided for; and you shall put This night's great business into my despatch; Which shall to all our nights and days to come Give solely sovereign sway and masterdom. Macbeth We will speak further. Lady Macbeth Only look up clear; 1570 To alter favour ever is to fear. Leave all the rest to me. Scene vi The same. Before the castle. Hautboys and torches. Enter Duncan, Malcolm, Donalbain, Banquo, Lenox, Macduff, Ross, Angus, and Attendants. 161 Duncan This castle hath a pleasant seat; the air Nimbly and sweetly recommends itself Unto our gentle senses. Banquo This guest of summer, The temple-haunting martlet, doth approve, By his loved mansionry, that the heaven's breath Smells wooingly here: no jutty, frieze, Buttress, nor coign of vantage, but this bird Hath made his pendent bed, and procreat cradle: Where they most breed and haunt, I have observed The air is delicate. Enter Lady Macbeth 1610 See, see! our honoured hostess.-- The love that follows us sometime is our trouble, Which still we thank as love. Herein I teach you, How you shall bid God yield us for your pains, And thank us for your trouble. Lady Macbeth All our service, In every point twice done, and done double, Were poor and single business to contend Against those honours deep and broad, wherewith Your majesty loads our house: for those of old, And the late dignities heaped up to them, We rest your hermits. 1620 Duncan Where's the Thane of Cawdor? We coursed him at the heels, and had a purpose To be his purveyor: but he rides well; And his great love, sharp as his spur, hath holp him To his home before us. Fair and noble hostess, We are your guest tonight. Lady Macbeth Your servants ever Have theirs, themselves, and what is theirs, in compt, To make their audit at your highness' pleasure, Shall to return your own. Duncan Give me your hand; Conduct me to mine host: we love him highly, 1630 And shall continue our graces towards him. By your leave, hostess. Scene vii The same. A room in the castle. Hautboys and torches Enter, and pass over the stage, a Sewer, and divers Servants with dishes and service. Then enter Macbeth. [Aside] 171 Macbeth If it were done when 't is done, then 't were well It were done quickly: if the assassination Could trammel up the consequence, and catch With his surcease success; that but this blow Might be the be-all and the end-all here, But here upon this bank and shoal of time, We 'd jump the life to come. --But in these cases, We still have judgement here, that we but teach Bloody instructions, which, being taught, return 1710 To plague th' inventor: this even-handed justice Commends th' ingredients of our poisoned chalice To our own lips. He 's here in double trust: First, as I am his kinsman and his subject, Strong both against the deed; then, as his host, Who should against his murderer shut the door, Not bear the knife myself. Besides, this Duncan Hath borne his faculties so meek, hath been So clear in his great office, that his virtues Will plead like angels, trumpet-tongued, against 1720 The deep damnation of his taking-off; And pity, like a naked new-born babe, Striding the blast, or heaven's cherubin, horsed Upon the sightless couriers of the air, Shall blow the horrid deed in every eye, That tears shall drown the wind. --I have no spur To prick the sides of my intent, but only Vaulting ambition, which o'erleaps itself And falls on the other -- Enter Lady Macbeth How now! what news? Lady Macbeth He has almost supped. Why have you left the chamber? Macbeth Hath he asked for me? Lady Macbeth Know you not he has? 1730 Macbeth We will proceed no further in this business: He hath honoured me of late; and I have bought Golden opinions from all sorts of people, Which would be worn now in their newest gloss, Not cast aside so soon. Lady Macbeth Was the hope drunk, Wherein you dressed yourself? hath it slept since, And wakes it now, to look so green and pale At what it did so freely? From this time Such I account thy love. Art thou afeard 1740 To be the same in thine own act and valour, As thou art in desire? Wouldst thou have that Which thou esteem'st the ornament of life, And live a coward in thine own esteem, Letting "I dare not" wait upon "I would," Like the poor cat i' the adage? Macbeth Pr'ythee, peace. I dare do all that may become a man; Who dares do more is none. Lady Macbeth What beast was 't then That made you break this enterprise to me? When you durst do it, then you were a man; 1750 And, to be more that what you were, you would Be so much more the man. Nor time nor place Did then adhere, and yet you would make both: They have made themselves, and that their fitness now Does unmake you. I have given suck, and know How tender 't is to love the babe that milks me: I would, while it was smiling in my face, Have plucked my nipple from his boneless gums, And dashed the brains out, had I so sworn as you Have done to this. Macbeth If we should fail, -- Lady Macbeth We fail! 1760 But screw your courage to the sticking-place And we 'll not fail. When Duncan is asleep (Whereto the rather shall his day's hard journey Soundly invite him), his two chamberlains Will I with wine and wassail so convince, That memory, the warder of the brain, Shall be a fume, and the receipt of reason, A limbeck only: when in swinish sleep Their drenched natures lie, as in death, What cannot you and I perform upon 1770 Th' unguarded Duncan? What not put upon His spongy officers, who shall bear the guilt Of our great quell? Macbeth Bring forth men-children only! For thy undaunted mettle should compose Nothing but males. Will it not be received, When we have marked with blood those sleepy two Of his own chamber, and used their very daggers, That they have done 't? Lady Macbeth Who dares receive it other, As we shall make our griefs and clamour roar Upon his death? 1780 Macbeth I am settled, and bend up Each corporal agent to this terrible feat. Away, and mock the time with fairest show: False face must hide what the false heart doth know. Exeunt. ACT II Scene I The same. A court within the castle Enter Banquo, and Fleance with a torch before him. 211 Banquo How goes the night, boy? Fleance The moon is down; I have not heard the clock. Banquo And she goes down at twelve. Fleance I take 't, 't is later, Sir. Banquo Hold, take my sword.--There 's husbandry in heaven; Their candles are all out.--Take thee that, too. A heavy summons lies like lead upon me, And yet I would not sleep: merciful powers! Restrain in me the cursed thoughts that nature Gives way to in repose!--Give me my sword. Enter Macbeth, and a Servant with a torch. 2110 Who 's there? Macbeth A friend. Banquo What, Sir! not yet at rest? The king 's a-bed: He hath been in unusual pleasure, and Sent forth great largess to your offices. This diamond he greets your wife withal, By the name of most kind hostess, and shut up In measureless content. Macbeth Being unprepared, Our will became the servant to defect, Which else should free have wrought. Banquo All 's well. 2120 I dreamt last night of the three weird sisters: To you they have showed some truth. Macbeth I think not of them: Yet, when we can entreat an hour to serve, We would spend it in some words upon that business, If you would grant the time. Banquo At your kind'st leisure. Macbeth If you shall cleave to my consent, when 't is, It shall make honour for you. Banquo So I lose none In seeking to augment it, but still keep My bosom franchised, and allegiance clear, I shall be counselled. Macbeth Good repose the while! 2130 Banquo Thanks, Sir: the like to you. Exeunt Banquo and Fleance [To the servant] Macbeth Go, bid thy mistress, when my drink is ready, She strike upon the bell. Get thee to bed.-- Exit Servant Is this a dagger which I see before me, The handle toward my hand? Come let me clutch thee:-- I have thee not, and yet I see thee still. Art thou not, fatal vision, sensible To feeling as to sight? or art thou but A dagger of the mind, a false creation, Proceeding from the heat-oppressed brain? 2140 I see thee yet, in form as palpable As this which now I draw. Thou marshall'st me the way that I was going; And such an instrument I was to use.-- Mine eyes are made the fools o' the senses, Or else worth all the rest; I see thee still; And on thy blade and dudgeon gouts of blood, Which was not so before.--There 's no such thing. It is the bloody business which informs Thus to mine eyes.--Now o'er the half world 2150 Nature seems dead, and wicked dreams abuse The curtained sleep: witchcraft celebrates Pale Hecate's offerings; and withered Murder, Alarumed by his sentinel, the wolf, Whose howl 's his watch, thus with his stealthy pace, With Tarquin's ravishing strides, towards his design Moves like a ghost.--Thou sure and firm-set earth, Hear not my steps, which way they walk, for fear Thy very stones prate of my where-about, And take the present horror from the time, 2160 Which now suits with it. Whiles I threat, he lives: Words to the heat of deeds too cold breath gives. A bell rings I go, and it is done: the bell invites me. Hear it not, Duncan; for it is a knell That summons thee to heaven to to hell. Exit Scene ii The same. Enter Lady Macbeth. 221Lady Macbeth That which hath made them drunk hath made me bold. What hath quenched them hath given me fire.--Hark!--Peace! It was the owl that shrieked, the fatal bellman, Which gives the stern'st good-night. He is about it. The doors are open, and the surfeited grooms Do mock their charge with snores. I have drugged their That death and nature do contend about them, [possets, Whether they live or die. [Within] Macbeth Who's there?--what, ho! Lady Macbeth Alack! I am afraid they have awaked, 2210 And 't is not done:--th' attempt, and not the deed, Confounds us.--Hark!--I laid their daggers ready; He could not miss them.--Had he not resembled My father as he slept, I had done 't.--My husband! Enter Macbeth Macbeth I have done the deed.--Didst thou not hear a noise? Lady Macbeth I heard the owl scream, and the crickets cry. Did you not speak? Macbeth When? Lady Macbeth Now. Macbeth As I descended? Lady Macbeth Ay. Macbeth Hark!-- Who lies i' the second chamber? Lady Macbeth Donalbain. 2220 Macbeth This is a sorry sight. [Looking at his hands] Lady Macbeth A foolish thought, to say a sorry sight. Macbeth There 's one did laugh in 's sleep, and one cried, "Murder!" That they did wake each other: I stood and heard them; But they did say their prayers, and addressed them Again to sleep. Lady Macbeth There are two lodged together. Macbeth One cried, "God bless us!" and, "Amen," the other, As they had seen me with these hangman's hands. Listening their fear, I could not say, "Amen," When they did say, "God bless us!" Lady Macbeth Consider it not so deeply. 2230 Macbeth But wherefore could not I pronounce "Amen"? I had most need of blessing, and "Amen" Stuck in my throat. Lady Macbeth These deeds must not be thought After these ways: so, it will make us mad. Macbeth Methought I heard a voice cry, "Sleep no more! Macbeth does murder sleep,"--the innocent sleep; Sleep, that knits up the ravelled sleave of care, The death of each day's life, sore labour's bath, Balm of hurt minds, great nature's second course, Chief nourisher in life's feast;-- Lady Macbeth What do you mean? 2240 Macbeth Still it cried, "Sleep not more!" to all the house: "Glamis hath murdered sleep, and therefore Cawdor Shall sleep no more, Macbeth shall sleep no more!" Lady Macbeth Who was it that thus cried? Why, worthy thane, You do unbend your nobel strength, to think So brainsickly of things. Go, get some water, And wash this filthy witness from your hand.-- Why did you bring these daggers from the place? They must lie there; go, carry them, and smear The sleepy grooms with blood. Macbeth I'll go no more: 2250 I am afraid to think what I have done; Look on 't again I dare not. Lady Macbeth Infirm of purpose! Give me the daggers. The sleeping and the dead Are but as pictures; 't is the eye of childhood That fears a painted devil. If he do bleed, I 'll gild the faces of the grooms withal, For it must seem their guilt. Exit. Knocking within. Macbeth Whence is that knocking?-- How is 't with me, when every noise appals me? What hands are here? Ha! they pluck out mine eyes. Will all great Neptune's ocean wash this blood 2260 Clean from my hand? No, this my hand will rather The multitudinous seas incarnadine, Making the green one red. Re-enter Lady Macbeth Lady Macbeth My hands are of your colour; But I shame To wear a heart so white. [Knock] I hear a knocking At the south entry: retire we to our chamber. A little water clears us of this deed: How easy is it then! Your constancy Hath left you unattended.--[Knock] Hark! more knocking. Get on your night-gown, lest occasion call us, 2270 And show us to be watchers.--Be not lost So poorly in your thoughts. Macbeth To know my deed, 't were best not know myself. [Knock] Wake Duncan with thy knocking: I would thou couldst! Exeunt Scene iii The same. Enter a Porter. 231 Porter Here 's a knocking indeed! If a man were porter of hell-gate, he should have old turning the key. [Knocking] Knock, knock, knock. Who 's there, i' the name of Belzebub?--Here 's a farmer that hanged himself on the expectation of plenty: come in time; have napkins enough about you; here you 'll sweat for 't. [Knocking] Knock, knock. Who 's there, i' the other devil's name?--'Faith, here's an equivocator that could swear in both the scales against either scale; who committed treason enough for God's sake, yet could not equivocate to heaven: 2310 O! come in, equivocator. [Knocking] Knock, knock, knock. Who 's there?--'Faith, here 's an English tailor come hither for stealing out of a French hose: come in, tailor; here you may rest your goose. [Knocking] Knock, knock. Never at quiet? What are you?--But this place is too cold for hell. I 'll devil-porter it no further: I had thought to have let in some of all professions that go the primrose way to the ever-lasting bonfire. [Knocking] Anon, anon: I pray you, remember the porter. Opens the gate. Macduff Was it so late, friend, ere you went to bed, 2320 That you do lie so late? Porter 'Faith, Sir, we were carousing till the second cock; And drink, Sir, is a geat provoker of three things. Macduff What three things does drink especially provoke? Porter Marry, Sir, nose-painting, sleep and urine. Lechery, Sir, it provokes and unprovokes: it provokes the desire, but it takes away the performance. Therefore, much drink may be said to be an equivocator with lechery: it makes him and it mars him; it sets him on, and it takes him off; it persuades him, and disheartens him; makes him stand to, and not stand to: in conclusion, equivocates him in a 2330 sleep, and, giving him the lie leaves him. Macduff I believe drink gave thee the lie last night. Porter That it did, Sir, i' the very throat o' me: but I requited him for his lie; and, I think, being too strong for him, though he took up my legs sometime, yet I made a shift to cast him. Macduff Is thy master stirring? Porter Our knocking has awaked him; here he comes. Enter Macbeth Lenox Good morrow, noble Sir! Macbeth Good morrow, both! Macduff Is the king stirring, worthy thane? 2340 Macbeth Not yet. Macduff He did command me to call timely on him: I have almost slipped the hour. Macbeth I 'll bring you to him. Macduff I know this is a joyful trouble to you; But yet 't is one. Macbeth The labour we delight in physics pain. This is the door. Macduff I 'll make so bold to call. For 't is my limited service. Exit Macduff Lenox Goes the king hence today? Macduff He does:--he did appoint so. Lenox The night has been unruly: where we lay, 2350 Our chimneys were blown down; and, as they say, Lamentings heard i' the air; strange creams of death, And prophesying with accents terrible Of dire combustion, and confused events, New hatched to the woeful time. The obscure bird clamoured the livelong night: Some say the earth was feverous, and did shake. Macbeth 'T was a rough night. Lenox My young remembrance cannot parallel A fellow to it. Re-enter Macduff 2360 Macduff O horror! horror! horror! Tongue, nor heart, Cannot conceive, nor name thee! Macbeth and Lenox What's the matter? Macduff Confusion now hath made his masterpiece! Most sacrilegious murder hath broke open The Lord's anointed temple, and stole thence The life o' the building! Macbeth What is 't you say? the life? Lenox Mean you his majesty? Macduff Approach the chamber, and destroy your sight With a new Gorgon.--Do not bed me speak: See, and then speak yourselves.-- Exeunt Macbeth and Lenox Awake! Awake!-- 2370 Ring the alarum-bell.--Murder and treason! Banquo and Donalbain! Malcolm! awake! Shake off this downy sleep, death's counterfeit, And look on death itself!--up, up, and see The great doom's image!--Malcolm! Banquo! As from your graves rise up, and walk like sprites To countenance this horror! Ring the bell. Bell rings Enter Lady Macbeth Lady Macbeth What's the business, That such a hideous trumpet calls to parley 2380 The sleepers of the house? speak, speak! Macduff O gentle lady, 'T is not for you to hear what I can speak: The repetition, in a woman's ear, Would murder as it fell. Enter Banquo O Banquo! Banquo! Our royal master 's murdered! Lady Macbeth Woe, alas! What! in our house? Banquo Too cruel anywhere. Dear Duff, I pr'ythee, contradict thyself, And say it is not so. Re-enter Macbeth and Lenox Macbeth Had I but died an hour before this chance, I had lived a blessed time; for, from this instant, There 's nothing serious inmortality; 2390 All is but toys: renown, and grace, is dead; The wine of life is drawn, and the mere lees Is left this vault to brag of. Enter Malcolm and Donalbain Donalbain What is amiss? Macbeth You are, and do not know 't: The spring, the head, the fountain of your blood Is stopped; the very source of it is stopped. Macduff Your royal father 's murdered. Malcolm O! by whom? Lenox Those of his chamber, as it seemed, had done 't: Their hands and faces were all badged with blood; So were their daggers, which, unwiped, we found 23100 Upon their pillows: They stared, and were distracted; no man's life Was to be trusted with them. Macbeth O! yet I do repent me of my fury That I did kill them. Macduff Wherefore did you so? Macbeth Who can be wise, amazed, temperate and furious, Loyal and neutral, in a moment? No man: The expedition of my violent love Outran the pauser reason.--Here lay Duncan, His silver skin laced with his golden blood; 23110 And his gashed stabs looked like a breach in nature For ruin's wasteful entrance: there, the murderers, Steeped in the colours of their trade, their daggers Unmannerly breached with gore. Who could refrain, That had a heart to love, and in that heart Courage, to make 's love known? Lady Macbeth [Fainting] Help me hence, ho! Macduff Look to the lady. Malcolm [aside to Donalbain] Why do we hold our tongues, That most may claim this argument for ours? Donalbain What should be spoken here, where our fate, 23120 Hid in an auger-hole, may rush, and seize us? Let's away; Our tears are not yet brewed. Malcolm Nor our strong sorrow Upon the foot of motions. Banquo Look to the lady:-- Lady Macbeth is carried out. And when we have our naked frailties hid, That suffer in exposure, let us meet, And question this most bloody piece of work, To know it further. Fears and scruples shake us: In the great hand of God I stand; and thence Against the undivulged pretence I fight Of treasonous malice. Macduff And so do I. 23130 All So all. Macbeth Let 's briefly put on manly readiness, And meet i' the hall together. All Well contented. Exeunt all but Malcolm and Donalbain Malcolm What will you do? Let 's not consort with them: To show an unfelt sorrow is an office Which the false man does easy. I 'll to England. Donalbain To Ireland, I: our separated fortune Shall keep us both the safer; where we are There 's daggers in men's smiles the near in blood, The nearer bloody. Malcolm This murderous shaft that 's shot 23140 Hath not yet lighted, and our safest way Is to avoid the aim: therfore, to horse, And let us not be dainty of leave-taking, But shift away. There 's warrant in that theft Which steals itself, when there 's no mercy left. Exeunt. Scene iv Outside the Castle. Enter Ross and an Old Man. 241 Old Man Threescore and ten I can remember well; Within the volume of which time I have seen Hours dreadful and things strange, but this sore night Hath trifled former knowings. Ross Ha, good father, Thou seest, the heavens, as troubled with man's act, Threatens his bloody stage: by the clock 't is day, And yet dark night strangles the traveling lamp. Is 't night's predominance, not the day's shame, That darkness does the face of earth entomb, When living light should kiss it? 2410 Old Man 'T is unnatural, Even like the deed that 's done. On Tuesday last, A falcon, towering in her pride of place, Was by a mousing owl hawked at, and killed. Ross And Duncan's horses (a thing most strange and certain) Beauteous and swift, the minions of their race, Turned wild in nature, broke their stalls, flung out, Contending 'gainst obedience, as they would make War with mankind. Old Man 'T is said, they ate each other. Ross They did so, to th' amazement of mine eyes, That looked upon 't-- Enter Macduff 2420 Here comes the good Macduff.-- How goes the world, Sir, now? Macduff Why, see you not? Ross Is 't known, who did this more than bloody deed? Macduff Those that Macbeth hath slain. Ross Alas, the day! What good could they pretend? Macduff They were suborned. Malcolm and Donalbain, the king's two sons, Are stol'n away and fled; which puts upon them Suspicion of the deed. Ross 'Gainst nature still: Thriftless Ambition, that wilt ravin up Thine own life's means!--Then 't is most like 2430 The sovereignty will fall upon Macbeth. Macduff He is already named, and gone to Scone To be invested. Ross Where is Duncan's body? Macduff Carried to Colme-kill, The sacred storehouse of his predecessors, And guardian of their bones. Ross Will you to Scone? Macduff No, cousin; I 'll to Fife. Ross Well, I will thither. Macduff Well, may you see things well done there:--adieu!-- Lest our old robes sit easier than our new! Ross Farewell, father. Old Man God's benison go with you; and with those 2440 That would make good of bad, and friends of foes! Exeunt ACT THREE Scene i Forres. A room in the palace. Enter Banquo. 311 Banquo Thou hast it now, King Cawdor, Glamis, all, As the weird women promised; and, I fear, Thou playst 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, 3110 And set me up in hope? But, hush; no more. Sennet sounded. Enter Macbeth as King; Lady Macbeth as Queen; Lenox, Ross, Lords, and Attendants. Macbeth Here 's our chief guest. Lady Macbeth If he had been forgotten, It had been as a gap in our great feast, And all-thing unbecoming. Macbeth Tonight we hold a solemn supper, Sir, And I 'll request your presence. Banquo Let your highness Command upon me, to the which my duties Are with a most indissoluble tie For ever knit. Macbeth Ride you this afternoon? Banquo Ay, my good lord. 3120 Macbeth 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 tomorrow. Is 't far you ride? Banquo As far, my lord, as will fill up the time 'Twixt this and supper: go not my horse the better, I must become a borrower of the night For a dark hour or twain. Macbeth Fail not our feast. Banquo My lord, I will not. Macbeth We hear our bloody cousins are bestowed 3130 In England and in Ireland; not confessing Their cruel patricide, filling their hearers With strange invention. But of that tomorrow, When, therewithal, we shall have cause of state Craving us jointly. Hie you to horse; adieu, Till you return at night. Goes Fleance with you? Banquo Ay, my good lord: our time does call upon 's. Macbeth I wish your horse swift, and sure of foot; And so I do commend you to their backs. Farewell-- Exit Banquo. 3140 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, God be with you. Exeunt Lady Macbeth, Lords, etc. [To an Attendant] Sirrah, a word with you. Attend those men Our pleasure? Attendant They are, my lord, without the palace gate. Macbeth Bring them before us. Exit Attendant. --To be thus is nothing, But to be safely thus.--Our fears in banquo Stick deep, and in his royalty of nature 3150 Reigns that which would be feared; 't is much he dares; And, to that dauntless temper of his mind, He hath a wisdom that doth guide his valour To act in safety. There is none but he Whose being I do fear: and under him My genius is rebuked, as, it is said, Mark Antony's was by Caesar. He chid the sisters When first they put the name of king upon me, And bade them speak to him; then, prophet-like, They hailed him father to a line of kings. 3160 Upon my head they placed a fruitless crown, And put a barren sceptre in my gripe, Thence to be wrenched with an unlineal hand, No son of mine succeeding. If 't be so, For Banquo's issue have I filed my mind; For them the gracious Duncan have i murdered; Put rancours in the vessel of my peace Only for them; and mine eternal jewel Given to the common enemy of man, To make them kings, the seed of Banquo kings! 3170 Rather than so, come, fate, into the list, And champion me to the utterance!--Who 's there?-- Re-enter Attendant, with two Murderers. [To the Attendant] Now, go to the door, and stay there till we call. Exit Attendant. [To the Murderers] Was it not yesterday we spoke together? I Murderer It was, so please your highness. Macbeth Well then, now Have you considered of my speeches? Know That it was he, in the times past, which held you So under fortune, which, you thought, had been Our innocent self. This I made good to you In our last conference; passed in probation with you 3180 How you were borne in hand; how crossed; the instruments; Who wrought with them; and all things else, that might To half a soul, and to a notion crazed, Say, "Thus did Banquo". I Murderer You made it known to us. Macbeth I did so; and went further, which is now Our point of second meeting. Do you find Your patience so predominate in your nature That you can let this go? Are you so gospelled To pray for this good man, and for his issue, Whose heavy hand hath bowed you to the grave And beggared yours for ever? 3190 I Murderer We are men, my liege. Macbeth Ay, in the catalogue ye go for men; As hounds and greyhounds, mongrels, spaniels, curs, Shoughs, water-rugs, and demi-wolves are clept All by the name of dogs: the valued file Distinguishes the swift, the slow, the subtle, The housekeeper, the hunter, every one According to the gift which bounteous nature Hath in him closed; whereby he does receive Particular addition, from the bill 31100 That writes them all alike; and so of men. Now, if you have a station in the file, Not i' the worst rank of manhood, say it; And I will put that business in your bosoms, Whose executions takes your enemy off, Grapples you to the heart and love of us, Who wear our health but sickly in his life, Which in his death were perfect. 2 Murderer I am one, my liege. Whom the vile blows and buffets of the world Have so incensed, that I am reckless what I do to spite the world. I Murderer And I another, 31110 So weary with disasters, tugged with fortune, That I would set my life on any chance To mend it or be rid on 't. Macbeth Both of you Know Banquo was your enemy. Both Murderers True, my lord. Macbeth 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-faced power sweep him from my sight, And bid my will avouch it, yet I must not, 31120 For certain friends, that are both his and mine, Whose loves I may not drop, but wail his fall Who 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 Murderer We shall, my lord, Perform what you command us. I Murderer Though our lives-- Macbeth 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, 31130 The moment on 't, for 't must be done tonight 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. 2 Murderer We are resolved, my lord. Macbeth I 'll call upon you straight: abide within.-- Exeunt Murderers. 31140 It is concluded: Banquo, thy soul's flight, If it find heaven, must find it out tonight. Scene ii The same. Another room. Enter Lady Macbeth and a Servant. 321Lady Macbeth Is Banquo gone from court? Servant Ay, Madam, but returns again tonight. Lady Macbeth Say to the king, I would attend his leisure For a few words. Servant Madam, I will. Exit. Lady Macbeth Nought 's had, all 's spent, Where our desire is got without content: 'T is 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, 3210 Using those thoughts which should indeed have died With them they think on? Things without all remedy Should be without regard: what 's done is done. Macbeth We have scotched the snake, not killed 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 3220 Whom we, to gain our place, have sent to peace, Than on the torture of the mind to lie In restless ecstasy. Duncan is in his grave; 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 Macbeth Come on; Gentle my lord, sleek o'er your rugged looks; Be bright and jovial among your guests tonight. Macbeth So shall I, love; and so, I pray, be you. 3230 Let your remembrance apply to Banquo: Present him eminence, both with eye and tongue: Unsafe the while, that we Must lave our honors in these flattering streams, And make our faces vizards to our hearts, Disguising what they are. Lady Macbeth You must leave this. Macbeth O! full of scorpions is my mind, dear wife! Thou know'st that Banquo and his Fleance lives. Lady Macbeth But in them nature's copy 's not eterne. Macbeth There 's comfort yet; they are assailable: 3240 Then be thou jocund. Ere the bat hath flown His cloistered flight; ere to black Hecate's summons The shard-born beetle, with his drowsy hums, Hath run night's yawning peal, There shall be done a deed of dreadful not. Lady Macbeth What 's to be done? Macbeth Be innocent of the knowledge, dearest chuck, Till thou applaud the deed. Come, seeling Night, Scarf up the tender eye of pitiful day, And, with thy bloody and invisible hand, 3250 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 preys do rouse, Thou marvellest at my words: but hold thee still; Things bad begun make strong themselves by ill. So, pr'ythe, go with me. Exeunt. Scene iii The same. A park, with a road leading to the palace. Enter three Murderers. 331 I Murderer But who did bid thee join with us? 3 Murderer Macbeth. 2 Murderer He needs not our mistrust, since he delivers Our offices, and what we have to do, To the direction just. I Murderer Then stand with us. 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. 3 Murderer Hark, I hear horses. [Within] Banquo Give us a light there, ho! 2 Murderer Then 't is he; the rest 3310 That are within the note of expectation Already are i' the court. I Murderer His horses go about. 3 Murderer Almost a mile, but he does usually, So all men do, from hence to the palace gate Make it their walk. Enter Banquo, and Fleance, with a torch. 2 Murderer A light, a light! 3 Murderer 'T is he. I Murderer Stand to 't. [To Fleance] Banquo It will be rain tonight. I Murderer Let it come down. The First Murderer strikes out the light while the others assault Banquo Banquo O, treachery! Fly, good Fleance, fly, fly, fly! Thou mayest revenge--[To the Murderer] O slave! Dies. Fleance escapes. 3 Murderer Who did strike out the light? I Murderer Was 't not the way? 3 Murderer There 's but one down: the son is fled. 3320 2 Murderer We have lost the Best half of our affair. I Murderer 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, Ross, Lenox, Lords, and Attendants. 341 Macbeth You know your own degrees, sit down: at first and last, The hearty welcome. Lords Thanks to your majesty. Macbeth Ourself will mingle with society, And play the humble host. Our hostess keeps her state, but in best time We will require her welcome. Lady Macbeth Pronounce it for me, Sir, to allour friends; For my heart speaks, they are welcome. Enter First Murderer to the door. [To Lady Macbeth] Macbeth See, they encounter thee with their hearts' thanks. [To the Company] 3410 Both sides are even: here I 'll sit i' the midst. Be large in mirth; anon, we 'll drink a measure The table round. [To the Murderer] There 's blood upon thy face. Murderer 'T is Banquo's then. Macbeth 'T is better thee without, than he within. Is he dispatched? Murderer My lord, his throat is cut; that I did for him. Macbeth Thou art the best o' the cut-throats; ywt he 's good That did the like for Fleance: if thou didst it, Thou art the nonpareil. Murderer Most royal Sir, 3420 Fleance is 'scaped. [Aside] Macbeth 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: But now I am cabined, cribbed, confined, bound in To saucy doubts and fears.--[To the Murderer] But Banquo's safe? Murderer Ay, my good lord, safe in a ditch he bides, With twenty trenched gashes on his head, The least a death to nature. Macbeth Thanks for that.-- [Aside] There the grown serpent lies: the worm, that 's fled, 3430 Hath nature that in time will venom breed, No teeth for the present.--[To the Murderer] Get thee gone; tomorrow We 'll hear ourselves again. Exit Murderer. Lady Macbeth My royal lord, You do not give the cheer: the feast is sold That is not often vouched, while 't is a-making, 'T is given with welcome. To feed were best at home. From thence, the sauce to meat is ceremony; Meeting were bare without it. Macbeth Sweet remembrancer! Now, good digestion wait on appetite, And health on both! Lenox May it please your sit? 3440 Macbeth Here had we now our country's honour roofed, Were the graced person of our Banquo present; [The Ghost of Banquo enters, and sits in Macbeth's place.] Who may I rather challange for unkindness, Than pity for mischance! Ross His abscence, Sir, Lays blame upon his promise. Please 't your highnes To grace us with your royal company? Macbeth The table 's full. Lenox Here is a place reserved, Sir. Macbeth Where? Lenox Here, my good lord. [Macbeth notices the Ghost] What is 't that moves your [highness? Macbeth Which of you have done this? Lords What, my good lord? Macbeth [To the Ghost] 3450 Thou canst not say I did it. Never shake Thy gory locks at me. Ross Gentlemen, rise; his highness is not well. Lady Macbeth Sit, worthy friends. My lord is often thus, And hath been from his youth: pray you, keep seat; The fit is momentary; upon a thought He will again be well. If much you note him You shall offend him, and extend his passion; Feed, and regard him not.--[To Macbeth] Are you a man? Macbeth Ay, and a bold one, that dare look on that which might appal the devil. Lady Macbeth O proper stuff! 3460 This is the very painting of your fear: This is the air-drawn dagger which, you said, Led you to Duncan. O! these flaws and starts (Imposters to true fear) would well become A woman's story at a winter's fire, Authorised by her grandam. Shame itself! Why do you make such faces? When all 's done, You look but on a stool. Macbeth [To the Lords] Pr'ythee, see there! behold! lo! how say you? Why, what care I? [to the Ghost] 3470 If thou canst nod, speak too.-- [To the Lords] If charnel-houses and our graves must send Those that we bury back, our monuments Shall be the maws of kites. Ghost disappears. Lady Macbeth What! quite unmanned in folly? Macbeth If I stand here, I saw him. Lady Macbeth Fie! for shame! Macbeth Blood hath been shed ere now, i' th' olden time, Ere humane statute purged the gentle weal; Ay, and since too, murders have been performed Too terrible for the ear: the time has been That, when the brains were out, the man would die, 3480 And there an end; but now they rise again, With twenty mortal murders on their crowns, And push us from our stools. This is more strange Than such a murder is. Lady Macbeth My worthy lord, Your noble friends do lack you. Macbeth 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; Then, I 'll sit down.--Give me some wine: fill full:-- I drink to the general joy of the whole table, 3490 And to our dearest friend Banquo, whom we miss; Would he were here. Re-enter Ghost To all, and him, we thirst, And all to all. Lords Our duties, and the pledge. Macbeth [To the Ghost] 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 Macbeth [To the Lords] Think of this, good peers, But as a thing of custom: 't is no other; Only it spoils the pleasure of the time. Macbeth What man dare, I dare: 34100 Approach thou like the rugged Russian bear, The armed rhinoceros, or the Hyrcan tiger; Take any shape but that, and my firm nerves Shall never tremble: or, be alive again, And dare me to the desert with thy sword; If trembling I inhabit then, protest me The baby of a girl. Hence, horrible shadow! Unreal mockery, hence!-- Ghost disappears. Why, so;--being gone, I am a man again.--Pray you, sit still. Lady Macbeth You have displaced the mirth, broke the good meeting, With most admired disorder. 34110 Macbeth 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 is blanched with fear. Ross What sights, my lord? Lady Macbeth [To the Lords] 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. 34120 Lenox Good night, and better health Attend his majesty! Lady Macbeth A kind good night to all. Exeunt Lords and Attendants. Macbeth It will have blood, they say, blood will have blood: Stones have been known to move, and trees to speak; Augurs, and understood relations, have By magot-pies and choughs, and rooks, brought forth The secret'st man of blood. What is the night? Lady Macbeth Almost at odds with morning, which is which. Macbeth How say'st thou, that Macduff denies his person At our great bidding? Lady Macbeth Did you send to him, Sir? 34130 Macbeth 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 tomorrow (And betimes I will) to the weird sisters: More shall they speak; for now I am bent to know, Byt the worst means, the worst. For mine own good All causes shall give way: I am in blood Stepped 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, 34140 Which must be acted, ere they may be scanned. Lady Macbeth You lack the season fo all natures, sleep. Macbeth 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. 351 I Witch Why, how now, Hecate? you look angrily. Hecate Have I not reason, beldams as you are, 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, The close contriver of all harms, Was never called to bear my part, Or show the glory of our art? 3510 And, which is worse, all you have done Hath been for for a wayward son, Spiteful and wrathful; who, as others do, Loves for his own ends, not for you. But make ammends now: get you gone, And at the pit of Acheron Meet me i' the morning: thither he Will come to know his destiny. Your vessels and your spells provide, Your charms, and everything beside. 3520 I am for the air; this night I 'll spend Unto a dismal and a fatal end: Great business must be wrought ere noon. Upon the corner of the moon There hangs a vaporous drop profound; I 'll catch it ere it come to ground: And that, distilled by the magic sleights, Shall raise such artificial sprites, As, by the strength of their illusion, Shall draw him on to his confusion. 3530 He shall spurn fate, scorn death, and bear His hopes 'bove wisdom, grace and fear; And you all know, security Is mortals' chiefest enemy. Song, within: "Come away, come away," etc. Hark! I am called: my little spirit, see, Sits in a foggy cloud, and stays for me. Exit. I Witch Come, let 's make haste: she 'll soon be back again. Exeunt. Scene vi Somewhere in Scotland. Enter Lenox and another Lord. 361 Lenox My former speeches have hit your thoughts, Which can interpret farther: only, I say, Things have been strangely borne. The gracious Duncan Was pitied of Macbeth:--marry, he was dead;-- And the right-valiant Banquo walked too late; Whom, you may say, if 't please you, Fleance killed, For Fleance fled. Men must not walk too late. Who cannot want the thought how monstrous It was for Malcolm and for Donalbain 3610 To kill their gracious father? damned fact! How it did grieve Macbeth! did he not straight, In pious rage, the two delinquents tear, That were the slaves of drink, and thralls of sleep? Was not that nobly done? Ay, and wisely, too; For 't would have angered any heart alive To hear the men deny 't. So that, I say, He has borne all things well; and I do think That, had he Duncan's sons under his key (As, an 't please Heaven, he shall not), they should find 3620 What 't were to kill a father; so should Fleance. But, peace!--for from broad words, and 'cause he failed His presence at the tyrant's feast, I hear Macduff lives in disgrace. Sir, can you tell Where he bestows himself? Lord The son of Duncan From whom this tyrant holds the due of birth, Lives in the English court; and is received Of the most pious Edward with such grace, That the malevolence of fortune nothing Takes from his high respect. Thither Macduff 3630 Is gone to pray the holy king, upon his aid, To wake Northumberland, and warlike Seward; That, by the help of these (with Him above To ratify the work), we may again Give to our tables meat, sleep to our nights, Do faithful homage, and receive free honours, All which we pine for now. And this report Hath so exasperate the king that he Prepares for some attempt of war. Lenox Send he to Macduff? 3640 Lord He did: and with an absolute "Sir, not I," The cloudy messenger turns me his back, And hums, as who should day, "You 'll rue the time That clogs me with this answer." Lenox And that well might Advise him to a caution, to hold what distance His wisdom can provide. Some holy angel Fly to the court of England, and unfold His message ere he come, that a swift blessing May soon return to this our suffering country Under a hand accursed! Lord I 'll send my prayers with him. Exeunt. ACT IV Scene I A dark cave. In the middle, a boiling cauldron. Thunder. Enter the Three Witches. 411 I Witch Thrice the brinded cat hath mewed. 2 Witch Thrice, and once the hedge-pig whined. 3 Witch Harpier cries, 't is time, 't is time. I Witch Round about the cauldron go; In the poisoned entrails throw.-- Toad, that under cold stone Days and nights has thirty-one Sweltered venom, sleeping got, Boil thou first i' th' charmed pot. 4110 All Double, double, toil and trouble: Fire, burn; and cauldron, bubble. 2 Witch Fillet of fenny snake, In the cauldron boil and bake; Eye of newt, and toe of frog, Wool of bat, and tongue of dog, Adder's fork, and blind-worm's sting, Lizard's leg, and howlet's wing, For a charm of powerful trouble, Like a hell-broth boil and bubble. 4120 All Double, double, toil and trouble: Fire, burn; and cauldron, trouble. 3 Witch Scale of dragon, tooth of wolf; Witches' mummy: maw, and gulf, Of the ravined salt-sea shark; Toot of hemlock, digged i' th' dark; Liver of blaspheming Jew; Gall of goat, and slips of yew Slivered in the moon's eclipse; Nose of Trk, and Tartar's lips; 4130 Finger of birth-strangled babe, Ditch-delivered by a drab, Make the gruel thick and slab: Add thereto a tiger's chaudron For th' ingredients of our cauldron. All Double, double, toil and trouble: Fire, burn; and, cauldron bubble. 2 Witch Cool it with a baboon's blood: Then the charm is firm and good. Enter Hecate Hecate O, well done! I commend your pains, 4140 And every one shall share i' th' gains. And now about the cauldron sing, Like elves and fairies in a ring, Enchanting all that you put in. [Song.] Black spirits and white, red spirits and gray; Mingle, mingle, mingle, you that mingle may. Exit Hecate. 2 Witch By the pricking of my thumbs, Something wicked this way comes.--[Knocking.] Open, locks, Whoever knocks. Enter Macbeth Macbeth How now, you secret, black and midnight hags! What is 't you do? All A deed without a name. 4150 Macbeth I conjure you, by that which you profess, Howe'er you come to know it, answer me: Though you untie the winds, and let them fight Against the churches, though the yesty waves Confound and swallow navigation up; Though bladed corn be lodged, and trees blown down; Though castles topple on their wardens' heads; Though palaces and pyramids do slope Their heads to their foundations; though the treasure Of nature's germen tumble all together, 4160 Even till destruction sicken, answer me To what I ask you. I Witch Speak. 2 Witch Demand. 3 Witch We 'll answer. I Witch Say, if thou 'dst rather hear it from our mouths, Or from our masters. Macbeth Call 'em; let me see 'em. I Witch Pour in sow's blood, that hath eaten Her nine farrow, grease, that 's sweaten From the murderer's gibbet, throw Into the flame. Come, high or low, Thyself, and office, deftly show. [Thunder. First Apparition, and armed head.] Macbeth Tell me, thou unknown power,-- 4170 I Witch He knows thy thought: Hear his speech, but say thou nought. I Apparition Macbeth! Macbeth! Macbeth! beware Macduff; Beware the Thane of Fife.--Dismiss me.--Enough. Descends. Macbeth Whate'er thou art, for thy good caution, thanks: Thou hast harped my fear aright. But one word more:-- I Witch He will not be commanded. Here 's another, More potent than the first. [Thunder. Second Apparition, a bloody child.] 2 Apparition Macbeth! Macbeth! Macbeth!-- Macbeth Had I three ears, I 'd hear thee. 2 Apparition Be bloody, bold and resolute: laugh to scorn 4180 The power of man, for none of woman born Shall harm Macbeth. Descends. Macbeth Then live, Macduff: what need I fear of thee? But yet I 'll make assurance double sure, And take a bond of fate: thou shalt not live; That I may tell pale-hearted Fear it lies. And sleep in spite of thunder.-- [Thunder. Third Apparition, a child crowned, with a tree in his hand.] 3 Apparition Be lion-mettles, proud, and take no care 4190 Who chafes, who frets, or where conspirers are: Macbeth shall never vanquished be, until Great Birnan wood to high Dunsinane hill Shall come against him. Macbeth That will never be; Who can impress the forest; bid the tree Unfix his earth-bound root? Sweet bodements! good! Rebellious dead, rise never, till the wood Of Birnan rise; and our high-placed Macbeth Shall live the lease of nature, pay his breath 41100 To time and mortal custom.--Yet my heart throbs to know one thing: tell me (if your art Can tell so much), shall Banquo's issue ever Reign in this kingdom? All Seek to know no more. Macbeth I will be satisfied: deny me this, And an eternal curse fall on you! let me know.-- Why sinks that cauldron? and what noise is this? [Hautboys.] I Witch Show! 2 Witch Show! 3 Witch Show! 41110 All Show his eyes, and grieve his heart; Come like shadows, so depart. [A show of eight Kings, the last with a glass in his hand: Banquo's Ghost following.] Macbeth [To the first King in the show.] Thou art too like the spirit of Banquo: down! Thy crown does sear mine eye-balls: [To the second King.] and thy hair, Thou other gold-bound brow, is like the first:-- [To the witches.] A third is like the former:--filthy hags! Why do you show me this?--a fourth?--Start, eyes! What! will the line stretch out to th' crack of doom. Another yet?--A seventh?--I 'll see no more:-- And yet the eighth appears, who bears a glass 41120 Which shows me many more; and some I see That two-fold balls and treble sceptres carry. Horrible sight!--Now, I see 't is true; For the blood-boltered Banquo smiles upon me, And points at them for his.--What! is this so? I Witch Ay, Sir, all this is so:--but why Stands Macbeth thus amazedly? Come, sisters, cheer we up our sprites, And show the best of our delights. I 'll charm the air to give a sound, 41130 While you perform your antic round; That this great king may kindly say, Our duties did his welcome pay. [Music. The Witches dance, and vanish with Hecate.] Macbeth Where are they? Gone?--Let this pernicious hour Stand aye accursed in the calendar!-- Come in, without there! Enter Lenox Lenox What 's your grace's will? Macbeth Saw you the weird sisters? Lenox No, my lord. Macbeth Came they not by you? Lenox No, indeed, my lord. Macbeth Infected be the air whereon they ride; And damned all those that trust them!--I did hear 41140 The galloping of horse: who was 't came by? Lenox 'T is two or three, my lord, that bring you word, Macduff is fled to England. Macbeth Fled to England? Lenox Ay, my good lord. Macbeth [Aside.] Time, thou anticipat'st my dread exploits: The flighty purpose never is o'ertook, Unless the deed go with it. From this moment The very firstlings of my heart shall be The firstlings of my hand. And even now, To crown my thoughts with acts, be it thought and done: The castle of Macduff I will surprise, 41150 Seize upon Fife; give to th' edge o' th' sword His wife, his babes, and all unfortunate souls That trace him in his line. No boasting, like a fool; This deed I 'll do, before this purpose cool: But no more sights!--[To Lenox] Where are these gentlemen? Come, bring me where they are. Exeunt. Scene II Fife. A room in Macduff's castle. Enter Lady Macduf, her son, and Ross. 421 Lady Macduff What had he done, to make him fly the land? Ross You must have patience, madam. Lady Macduff He had none: His flight was madness: when our actions do not, Our fears do make us traitors. Ross You know not Whether it was his wisdom or his fear. Lady Macduff Wisdom? to leave his wife, to leave his babes, His mansion, and his titles, in a place From whence himself does fly? He loves us not: He wants the natural touch; for the poor wren, 4210 The most diminutive of birds, will fight, Her young ones in her nest, against the owl. All is the fear, and nothing is the love; All little is the wisdom, where the flight So runs against all reason. Ross My dearest coz, I pray you, school yourself: but, for your husband, He is noble, wise, judicious, and best knows The fits o' th' season. I dare not speak much further: But cruel are the times, when we are traitors, And do not know ourselves; when we hold rumour 4220 From what we fear, yet know not what we fear, But float upon a wild and violent sea Each way, and move--I take my leave of you: Shall not be long but I 'll be here again. Things at the worst will cease, or else climb upward To what they were before.--[To her Son.] My, pretty, cousin, Blessing upon you. Lady Macduff Fathered he is, and yet he 's fatherless. Ross I am so much a fool, should I stay longer, It would be my disgrace and your discomfort: 4230 I take my leave at once Exit. Lady Macduff [To her Son] Sirrah, your father 's dead, And what will you do now? How will you live? Son As birds do, mother. Lady Macduff What, with worms and flies? Son With what I get, I mean; and so do they. Lady Macduff Poor bird! thou 'dst never fear the net, nor lime, The pit-fall, nor the gin? Son Why should I, mother? Poor birds they are not set for. My father is not dead, for all your saying. Lady Macduff Yes, he is dead: how wilt thou do for a father? 4240 Son Nay, how will you do for a husband? Lady Macduff Why, I can buy me twenty at any market. Son Then you 'll buy 'em to sell again. Lady Macduff Thou speakest with all thy wit; And yet, i' faith, with wit enough for thee. Son Was my father a traitor, mother? Lady Macduff Ay, that he was. Son What is a traitor? Lady Macduff Why, one that swears and lies. Son And be all traitors that do so? 4250 Lady Macduff Every one that does so is a traitor, and must be hanged. Son And must they all be hanged that swear and lie? Lady Macduff Every one. Son Who must hang them? Lady Macbeth Why, the honest men. Son Then the liars and swearers are fools; for there are liars and swearers enow to beat the honest men, and hang up them. Lady Macduff Now God help thee, poor monkey! But how wilt thou do for a father? Son If he were dead, you 'ld weep for him: if you would not, it 4260 were a good sign that I should quickly have a new father. Lady Macduff Poor prattler, how thou talk'st! Enter a Messenger. Messenger Bless you, fair dame! I am not to you known, Though in you state of honour I am perfect. I doubt, some danger does approach you nearly: If you will take a homely man's advice, Be not found here; hence, with you little ones. To fright you thus, methinks, I am too savage; To do worse to you were fell cruelty, Which is noo nigh your person. Heaven preserve you! I dare abide no longer. 4270 Lady Macduff Whither should I fly? I have done no harm, But I remember now I am in this earthly world, where to do harm Is often laudable, to so good sometime Accounted dangerous folly: why then, alas, Do I put up that womanly defence, To say, I have done no harm? What are these faces? Enter Murderers. I Murderer Where is your husband? Lady Macduff I hope, in no place so unsanctified, Where such as thou may'st find him. I Murderer He 's a traitor. Son Thou liest, thou shag-eared villain! 4280 I Murderer What, you egg! [Stabbing him.] Young fry of treachery! Son He has killed me, mother: Run away, I pray you! [Dies.] Exit Lady Macduff, crying "Murder!" and pursued by the Murderers. Scene III England A room in the King's palace. Enter Malcolm and Macduff. 431 Malcolm Let us seek out some desolate shade, and there Weep our sad bosoms empty. Macduff Let us rather Hold fast the mortal sword, and like good men Bestride our down-fall birthdom. Each new morn, New widows howl, new orphans cry; new sorrows Strike heaven on the face, that it resounds As if it felt with Scotland, and yelled out Like syllable of dolour. Malcolm What I believe, I 'll wail; What know, believe; and what I can redress, 4310 As I shall find the time to friend, I will What you have spoke, it may be so, perchance. This tyrant, whose sole name blisters our tongues, Was once thought honest: you have loved him well; He hath not touched you yet. I am young; but something You may derserve of him through me, and wisdom To offer up a weak, poor, innocent lamb, T' appease an angry god. Macduff I am not treacherous. Malcolm But Macbeth is. A good and virtuous nature may recoil 4320 In an imperial charge. But I shall crave your pardon: That which you are, my thoughts cannot transpose: Angels are bright still, though the brightest fell: Though all things foul would wear the brows of grace, Yet grace must still look so. Macduff I have lost my hopes. Malcolm Perchance ever there, where I did find my doubts. Why in that rawness left your wife and child (Those precious motives, those strong knots of love) Without leave-taking?--I pray you, Let not my jealousies be your dishonours, 4330 But mine own safeties: you may be rightly just, Whatever I shall think. Macduff Bleed, bleed, poor country! Great tyranny, lay thou thy basis sure, For goodness dare not check thee! wear thou thy wrongs; The title is affeered!-- Fare thee well, lord: I would not be the villain that thou thinkest For the whole space that 's in the tyrant's grasp, And the rich East to boot. Malcolm Be not offended: I speak not as in absolute fear of you. I think our country sinks beneath the yoke; 4340 It weeps, it bleeds; and each new day a gash Is added to her wounds: I think, withal, There would be hands uplifted in my right; And here, from gracious England, have I offer Of goodly thousands: but, for all this, When I shall tread upon the tyrant's head, Or wear it on my sword, yet my poor country Shall have more vices that it had before, More suffer, and more sundry ways than ever, By him that shall succeed. Macduff What should he be? 4350 Malcolm It is myself, I mean; in whom I know All the particulars of vice so grafted, That, when they shall be opened, Black Macbeth Will seem as pure as a lamb, being compared With my confineless harms. Macduff Not in the legions Of horrid hell can come a devil more damned In evils, to top Macbeth. Malcolm I grant him bloody, Luxurious, avaricious, false, deceitful, Sudden, malicious, smacking of every sin 4360 That has a name; but there 's no bottom, none, In my voluptuousness: your wives, your daughters, Your matrons and your maids, could not fill up The cister of my lust; and my desire All continent impediments would o'erbear, That did oppose my will: better Macbeth Than such an one to reign. Macduff Boundless intemperance In nature is a tyranny; it hath been Th' untimely emptying of the happy throne, And fall of many kings. But fear not yet 4370 To take upon you what is yours; you may Convey your pleasures in a spacious plenty, And yet seem cold--the time you may so hoodwink: We have willing dames enough; there cannot be That vulture in you, to devour so many As will to greatness dedicate themselves. Finding it so inclined. Malcolm With this, there grows In my most ill-composed affection such A staunchless avarice, that, were I king, I should cut off the nobles for their land; 4380 Desire his jewels, and this other's house; And my more-having would be as a sauce To make me hunger more, that I should forge Quarrels unjust against the good and loyal, Destroying them for wealth. Macduff This avarice Sticks deeper, grows with more pernicious root Than summer-seeming lust; and it hath been The sword of our slain kings: yet do not fear; Scotland hath foisons to fill up your will, Of your mere own. All these are portable, 4390 With other graces weighed. Malcolm But I have none: the king-becoming graces, As justice, verity, temperance, stableness, Bounty,perseverance, mercy, lowliness, Devotion, patience, courage, fortitude, I have no relish of them; but abound In the division of each of several crime, Acting it many ways. Nay, had I power, I should Uproar the universal peace, confound All unity on earth. 43100 Macduff O Scotland! Scotland! Malcolm If such a one be fit to govern, speak: I am as I have spoken. Macduff Fit to govern? No, not to live.--O nation miserable! With an untitled tyrant, bloody-sceptered, When shalt thou see thy wholesome days again, Since that the truest issue of thy throne By his own interdiction stands accused, And does blaspheme his breed? Thy royal father Was a most sainted king: the queen that bore thee, 43110 Oft'ner upon her knees than on her feet, Died every day she lived. Fare thee well! These evils thou repeat'st upon thyself Hath banished me from Scotland.--O my breast, Thy hope ends here! Malcolm Macduff, this noble passion, Child of integrity, hath from my soul Wiped the black scruples, reconciled my thoughts To thy good truth and honour. Devilish Macbeth By many of these trains hath sought to win me Into his power, and modest wisdom plucks me 43120 From over-crdedulous haste: but God above Deal between thee and me! for even now I put myself to thy direction, and Unspeak mine own detraction; here abjure The taints and blames I laid upon myself For strangers to my nature. I am yet Unknown to woman; never was forsworn; Scarcely have coveted what was mine own; At no time broke my faith: would not betray The devil to his fellow; and delight 43130 No less in truth than life: my first false speaking Was this upon myself. What I am truly Is thine, and my poor country's to command: Whither, indeed, before thy here-approach, Old Siward, with ten thousand warlike men, Already at a point, was setting forth. Now we'll together, and the chance of goodness Be like our warranted quarrel! Why are you silent? Macduff Such welcome and unwelcome things at once, 'T is hard to reconcile. Enter a Doctor. Malcolm Well, more anon. [To the Doctor] 43140 Comes the king forth, I pray you? Doctor Ay, sir; there are a crew of wretched souls That stay his cure: their malady convinces The great assay of art; but, at his touch Such sanctity hath heaven given his hand, They presently amend. Malcolm I thank you, doctor. Exit Doctor. Macduff What 's the disease he means? Malcolm 'T is called the evil: A most miraculous work in this good king, Which often, since my here-remain in England, I have seen him do. How he solicits heaven, 43150 Himself best knows; but strangely-visited people, All swoln and ulcerous, pitiful to the eye, The mere despair of surgery, he cures; Hanging a golden stamp about their necks, Put on with holy prayers: and 't is spoken, To the succeeding royalty he leaves The healing benediction. With this strange virtue He hath a heavenly gift of prophecy; And sundry blessings hang about his throne That speak him full of grace. Enter Ross Macduff See, who comes here. 43160 Malcolm My countryman; but yet I know him not. Macduff My ever-gentle cousin, welcome hither. Malcolm I know him now. Good God betimes remove The means that makes us stranges! Ross Sir, amen. Macduff Stands Scotland where it did? Ross Alas, poor country! Almost afraid to know itself. It cannot Be called our mother, but our grave; where nothing, But who knows nothing, is once seen to smile; Where sighs, and groans, and shrieks that rend the air Are made, not marked; where violent sorrow seems 43170 A modern ecstasy: the dead man's knell Is there scarce asked for who; and good men's lives Expire before the flowers in their caps, Dying or ere they sicken. Macduff O relation Too nice and yet too true! Malcolm What 's the newest grief? Ross That of an hour's age doth hiss the speaker; Each minute teems a new one. Macduff How does my wife? Ross Why, well. Macduff And all my children? Ross Well, too. Macduff The tyrant has not battered at their peace? Ross No: they were well at peace when I did leave 'em. 43180 Macduff Be not a niggard of your speech: how goes 't? Ross When I came hither to transport the tidings, Which I have heavily borne, there ran a rumour Of many worthy fellows that were out; Which was, to my belief, witnessed the rather, For that I saw the tyrant's power afoot. Now is the time of help. Your eye in Scotland Would create soldiers, make our women fight To doff their dire distresses. Malcolm Be 't their comfort, We are coming thither. Gracious England hath 43190 Lent us good Siward, and ten thousand me; An older and a better soldier none That christendom gives out. Ross Would I could answer This comfort with the like! But I have words That would be howled out in the desert air, Where hearing should not latch them. Macduff What concern they? The general cause? or is it a fee-grief Due to some some single breast? Ross No mind that 's honest But in it share some woe, though the main part Pertains to you alone. Macduff If it be mine, 43200 Keep it not from me; quickly let me have it. Ross Let not your ears despise my tongue for ever, Which shall possess them with the heaviest sound That ever yet they heard. Macduff Humph! I guess at it. Ross Your castle is surprised; your wife and babes Savagely slaughtered: to relate the manner Were, on the quarry of these murdered deer, To add the death of you. Malcolm Merciful heaven!-- What, man! ne'er pull your hat upon your brows: Give sorrow words; the grief that does not speak 43210 Whispers the o'er-fraught heart, and bids it break. Macduff My children too? Ross Wife, children, servants, all That could be found. Macduff And I must be from thence! My wife killed too? Ross I have said. Malcolm Be comforted: Let 's make us medicines of our great revenge, To cure this deadly grief. Macduff He has no children.--all my pretty ones? Did you say all?--O hell-kite!--All? What, all my pretty chickens, and their dam, At one fell swoop? Malcolm Dispute it like a man. 43220 Macduff I shall do so; But I must also feel it as a man: I cannot but remember such things were, That were most precious to me.--Did heaven look on, And would not take their part? Sinful Macduff! They were all struck for thee. Naught that I am, Not for their own demerits, but for mine Fell slaughter on their souls: heaven rest them now! Malcolm Be this the whetstone of your sword: let grief Convert to anger; blunt not the heart, enrage it. 43230 Macduff O! I could play the woman with mine eyes, And braggart with my tongue.--But, gentle heavens, Cut short all intermission; front to front Being thou this fiend of Scotland and myself; Within my sword's length set him; if he 'scape, Heaven forgive him too! Malcolm This time goes manly, Come, go we to the King: our power is ready; Our lack is nothing but our leave. Macbeth Is ripe for shaking, and the powers above Put on their instruments. Receive what cheer you may; 43240 The night is long that never finds the day. Exeunt. ACT V Scene i Dunsinane A room in the castle. Enter a Doctor of Physic and a Waiting-Gentlewoman. 511 Doctor I have two nights watched with you, but can perceive no truth in your report. When was it she last walked? Gentlewoman Since his majesty went into the field, I have seen her rise from her bed, throw her night-gown upon her, unlock her closet, take forth paper, fold it, write upon 't, read it, afterwards seal it, and again return to bed; yet all the while in a most fast sleep. Doctor A great perturbation in nature, to receive at once the benefit of sleep, and do the effects of watching! In this slumbery agitation, besides her walking and other actual performances, what, at any time, have you heard 5110 you say? Gentlewoman That, sir, which I will not report after her. Doctor You may to me; and 't is most meet you should. Gentlewoman Neither to you, nor any one, having no witness to confirm my speech. Enter Lady Macbeth, with a taper. Lo you! here she comes. This is her very guise, and upon my life, fast asleep. Observe her: stand close. Doctor How came she by that light? Gentlewoman Why, it stood by her: she has light by her continually: 't is her command. 5120 Doctor You see, her eyes are open. Gentlewoman Ay, but their sense are shut. Doctor What is it she does now? Look, how she rubs her hands. Gentlewoman It is an accustomed action with her, to seem thus washing her hands. I have known her continue in this a quarter of an hour. Lady Macbeth Yet here 's a spot. Doctor Hark! she speaks. I will set down what comes from her, to satisfy my remembrance the more strongly. Lady Macbeth Out, damned spot! out, I say!--One; two; why, then 't is time to do 't--Hell is murky.--Fie, my Lord, fie! a soldier, and afeard?--What need we fear who knows it, 5130 when none can call our power to account?--Yet who would have thought the old man to have so much blood in him? Doctor Do you mark that? Lady Macbeth The Thane of Fife had a wife: where is she now?--What, will these hands ne'er be clean?--No more o' that, my lord, no more o' that: you mar all with this starting. Doctor Go to, go to: you have known what you should not. Gentlewoman She has spoke what she should not, I am sure of that: heaven knows what she has known. Lady Macbeth Here 's the smell of the blood still: all the perfumes 5140 of Arabia will not sweeten this little hand. Oh! oh! oh! Doctor What a sigh is there! The heart is sorely charged. Gentlewoman I would not have such a heart in my bosom for the dignity of the whole body. Doctor Well, well, well-- Gentlewoman Pray God it be, sir. Doctor This disease is beyond my practice: yet I have known those which have walked in their sleep, who have died holily in their beds. Lady Macbeth Wash your hands, put on your night-gown; look not so pale. 5150 --I tell you yet again, Banquo's buried: he cannot come out on 's grave. Doctor Even so? Lady Macbeth To bed, to bed: there 's knocking at the gate. Come, come, come, come, give me your hand. What 's done cannot be undone. To bed, to bed, to bed. Exit. Doctor Will she go to bed now? Gentlewoman Directly. Doctor Foul whisp'rings are abroad. Unnatural deeds 5160 Do breed unnatural troubles: infected minds To their deaf pillows will discharge their secrets. More needs she the divine than the physician.-- God, God forgive us all! Look after her; Remove from her the means of all annoyance. And still keep eyes upon her.--So, good-night: My mind she has mated, and amazed my sight. I think, but dare not speak. Gentlewoman Good-night, good doctor. Exeunt. Scene ii The country near Dunsinane. Enter, with drums and colours, Menteth, Cathness, Angus, Lenox, and Soldiers. 521 Menteth The English power is near, led on by Malcolm, His uncle Siward, and the good Macduff. Revenges burn in them; for their dear causes Would, to the bleeding and the grim alarm, Excite the mortified man. Angus Near Birnam wood Shall we well meet them: that way they are coming. Cathness Who knows if Donalbain be with his brother? Lenox For certain, Sir, he is not. I have a file Of all the gentry: there is Siward's son, 5210 And many unrough youths, that even now Protest their first of manhood. Menteth What does the tyrant? Cathness Great Dunsinane he strongly fortifies. Some say he 's mad; others, the lesser hate him, Do call it valiant fury; but, for certain, He cannot buckle his distempered cause Within the belt of rule. Angus Now does he feel His secret murders sticking on his hands; Now minutely revolts upbraid his faith-breach: Those he commands move only in command, 5220 Nothing in love: now does feel his title Hang loose about him, like a giant's robe Upon a dwarfish thief. Menteth Who then shall blame His pestered senses to recoil and start, When all that is within him does condemn Itself for being there? Cathness Well; march we on, To give obedience where 't is truly owed: Meet we the medicine of the sickly weal; And with him pour we, in our country's purge, Each drop of us. Lenox Or so much as it needs 5230 To dew the sovereign flower and drown the weeds. Make we our march towards Birnam. Exeunt, marching. Scene iii Dunsinane A room in the castle. Enter Macbeth, Doctor and Attendants. 531 Macbeth Bring me no more reports; let them fly all: Till Birnam wood remove to Dunsinane I cannot taint with fear. What 's the boy Malcolm? Was he not born of woman? The spirits that know All mortal consequence have pronounced me thus: "Fear not, Macbeth; no man that 's born of woman Shall e'er have power upon thee."--Then fly, false thanes, And mingle with the English epicures: The mind I sway by, and the heart I bear, 5310 Shall never sag with doubt, nor shake with fear. Enter a Servant. The devil damn thee black, thou cream-faced loon! Where gott'st thou that goose look? Servant There is ten thousand - Macbeth Geese, villain? Servant Soldiers, sir. Macbeth Go, prick thy face, and over-red thy fear, Thou lily-livered boy. What soldiers, patch? Death of thy soul! those linen cheeks of thine Are counsellors to fear. What soldiers, whey-face? Servant The English force, so please you. Macbeth Take thy face hence. Exit Servant. --Seyton!--I am sick at heart, 5320 When I behold--Seyton, I say!--This push Will cheer me ever, or disseat me now. I have lived long enough: my way of life Is fall'n into the sere, the yellow leaf; And that which should accompany old age, As honour, love, obedience, troops of friends, I must not look to have; but, in their stead, Curses, not loud but deep, mouth-honour, breath, Which the poor heart would fein deny, and dare not. Seyton!-- Enter Seyton. Seyton What's your gracious pleasure? 5330 Macbeth What news more? Seyton All is confirmed, my lord, which was reported. Macbeth I 'll fight, till my bones my flesh be hacked. Give me my armour. Seyton 'T is not needed yet. Macbeth I 'll put it on. Send out more horses, skirr the country round; Hang those that talk of fear. Give me mine armour.-- [To the doctor.] How does your patient, doctor? Doctor Not so sick, my lord. As she is troubled with thick-coming fancies, That keep her from her rest. 5340 Macbeth Cure her of that: Canst thou not minister to a mind diseased, Pluck from the memory a rooted sorrow, Raze out the written troubles of the brain, And with some sweet, oblivious antidote Cleanse the stuffed bosom of that perilous stuff Which weighs upon the heart? Doctor Therein the patient Must minister to himself. Macbeth Throw physic to the dogs; I 'll none of it.-- [To Seyton.] Come, put mine armour on; give me my staff.-- Seyton, send out.--Doctor, the thanes fly from me.-- [To Seyton.] 5350 Come, Sir, despatch.--if thou couldst, doctor, cast The water of my land, find her disease, And purge it to a sound and pristine health, I would applaud thee to the very echo, That should applaud again. [To Seyton] Pull 't off, I say.-- [To the Doctor.] What rhubarb, senna, or what purgative drug, Would scour these English hence?--Hear'st thou of them? Doctor Ay, my good lord: your royal preparation Makes us hear something. Macbeth [To Seyton.] Bring it after me.-- I will not be afraid of death and bane 5360 Till Birnam forest come to Dunsinane. Exit. Doctor [Aside.] Were I from Dunsinane away and clear, Profit again should hardly draw me here. Exeunt. Scene iv Country near Dunsinane Enter, with drum and colours, Malcolm, old Siward and his Son, Macduff, Menteth, Cathness, Angus, Lenox, Rosse, and Soldiers, marching. 541 Malcolm Cousins, I hope the days are near at hand, That chambers will be safe. Menteth We doubt it nothing. Siward What wood is this before us? Menteth The wood of Birnam. Malcolm Let every soldier hew him down a bough, And bear 't before him: thereby shall we shadow The numbers of our host, and make discovery Err in report of us. Soldiers It is done. Siward We learn no other but the confident tyrant Keeps still in Dunsinane, and will endure Our setting down before 't. 5410 Malcolm 'T is his main hope, For where there is advantage to be gone, Both more and less have given him the revolt, And none serve with him but constrained things, Whose hearts are absent too. Macduff Let our just censures Attend the true event, and put we on Industrious soldiership. Siward The time approaches That will, with due decision, make us know What we shall say we have, and what we owe. Thoughts speculative their unsure hopes relate, But certain issue strokes must arbitrate; Towards which advances the war. Exeunt, marching. Scene v Dunsinane Within the castle. Enter, with drum and colours, Macbeth, Seyton, and Soldiers. 551 Macbeth Hang out our banners on the outward walls; The cry is still, "They come!" Our castle's strength Will laugh a siege to scorn; here let them lie, Till famine and the ague eat them up. Were they not forced with those that should be ours, We might have met them dareful, beard to beard, And bear them backward home. [A cry within, of women.] What is that noise? Seyton It is the cry of women, my good lord. Exit. Macbeth I have almost forgot the taste of fears. 5510 The time has been, my senses would have cooled To hear a night-shriek; and my fell of hair Would, at a dismal treatise, rouse and stir, As life were in 't. I have supped full with horrors: Direness, familiar to my slaughterous thoughts, Cannot once start me. Re-enter Seyton. Wherefore was that cry? Seyton The queen, my lord, is dead. Macbeth She should have died hereafter: There would have been a time for such a word.-- Tomorrow, and tomorrow, and tomorrow, 5520 Creeps in this petty pace from day to day, To the last syllable of recorded time; And all our yesterdays have lighted fools The way to dusty death. Out, out, brief candle! Life 's but a walking shadow, a poor player That struts and frets his hour upon the stage, And then is heard no more: it is a tale Told by an idiot, full of sound and fury, Signifying nothing. Enter a Messenger. Thou com'st to use thy tongue; thy story quickly. 5530 Messenger Gracious my lord, I should report that which I say I saw, But know not how to do 't. Macbeth Well, say, sir. Messenger As I did stand my watch upon the hill, I looked toward Birnam, and anon, methought, The wood began to move. Macbeth Liar and slave! Messenger Let me endure your wrath, if 't be not so. Within this three mile may you see it coming; I say, a moving grove. Macbeth If thou speak'st false, Upon the next tree shalt thou hang alive, 5540 Till famine cling thee: if thy speech be sooth, I care not if thou dost for me as much.-- I pull in resolution, and begin To doubt th' equivocation of the fiend, That lies like truth: "Fear not, till Birnam wood Do come to Dunsinane";--and now a wood Comes toward Dunsinane.--Arm, arm, and out! If this which he avouches does appear, There is nor flying hence, nor tarrying here. I 'gin to be aweary of the sun, 5550 And wish th' estate o' th' world were now undone.-- Ring the alarum bell!--Blow, wind! come, wrack! At least we 'll die with harness on our back. Exeunt. Scene vi The same. A plain before the castle. Enter, with drum and colours, Malcolm, old Siward, Macduff, etc., and their army, with boughs. 561 Malcolm Now, near enough: your leafy screens throw down, And show like those you are.-- [To old Siward.] You, worthy uncle, Shall, with my cousin, your right noble son, Lead our first battle: worthy Macduff and we Shall take upon 's what else remains to do According to our order. Siward Fare you well.-- Do we but find the tyrant's power tonight, Let us be beaten, if we cannot fight. Macduff Make all our trumpets speak; give them all breath, 5610 Those clamorous harbingers of blood and death. Exeunt. Alarms continued. Scene vii The same. Another part of the plain. Enter Macbeth. 571 Macbeth They have tied me to a stake: I cannot fly, But, bear-like, I must fight the course.--What's he That was not born of woman? Such a one Am I to fear, or none. Enter young Siward. Young Siward What is thy name? Macbeth Thou 'lt be afraid to hear it. Young Siward No; though thou call'st thyself a hotter name Than any is in hell. Macbeth My name 's Macbeth. Young Siward The devil himself could not pronounce a title More hateful to mine ear. Macbeth No, nor more fearful. 5710 Young Siward Thou liest, abhorred tyrant: with my sword I 'll prove the lie thou speak'st. [They fight, and young Siward is slain.] Macbeth Thou wast born of woman:-- But swords I smile at, weapons laugh to scorn, Brandished by man that 's of a woman born. Exit. Alarms. Enter Macduff. Macduff The way the noise is.--[Calling to Macbeth.] Tyrant, show thy face: If thou be'st slain, and with no stroke of mine, My wife and children's ghosts will haunt me still. I cannot strike at wretched Kernes, whose arms Are hired to bear their staves: either thou, Macbeth, Or else my sword, with an unbattered edge, 5720 I sheathe again undeeded. There thou shouldst be; By this great clatter, one of greatest note Seems bruited. [Aside.] Let me find him, Fortune! And more I beg not. Enter Malcolm and old Siward. Siward This way, my lord;--the castle 's gently rendered: The tyrant's people on both sides do fight; The noble thanes do bravely in the war. The day almost itself professes yours, And little is to do. Malcolm We have met with foes That strike beside us. Siward Enter, Sir, the castle. Exeunt. Alarm. Scene viii Another part of the field. Enter Macbeth. 581 Macbeth Why should I play the Roman fool, and die On mine own sword? Whiles I see lives, the gashes Do better upon them. Macduff Turn, hell-hound, turn! Macbeth Of all men else I have avoided thee: But get thee back, my soul is too much charged With blood of thine already. Macduff I have no words; My voice is in my sword: thou bloodier villain Than terms can give thee out! [They fight.] Macbeth Thou losest labour: As easy may'st thou the intrenchant air 5810 With thy keen sword impress, as make me bleed: Let fall thy blade on vunerable crests: I bear a charmed life, which must not yield To one of woman born. Macduff Despair thy charm; And let the angel whom thou still hast served Tell thee, Macduff was from his mother's womb Untimely ripped. Macbeth Accursed be that tongue that tells me so, For it hath cowed my better part of man: And be these juggling fiends no more believed, 5820 That palter with us in a double sense, That keep the word of promise to our ear, And break it to our hope.--I 'll not fight with thee. Macduff Then yield thee, coward, And live to be the show and gaze o' th' time: We 'll have thee, as our rarer monsters are, Painted upon a pole, and underwrit, "Here may you see the tyrant". Macbeth I will not yield, To kiss the ground before young Malcolm,s feet, And to be baited with the rabble's curse. 5830 Though Birnam wood be come to Dunsinane, And thou opposed, being of no woman born, Yet I will try the last: before my body I throw my warlike shield: lay on, Macduff; And damned be him that first cries, "Hold, enough!" [Exeunt, fighting. Alarms.] Re-enter fighting, and Macbeth is slain.] Scene ix Within the castle. Retreat. Flourish. Enter, with drum and colours, Malcolm, old Siward, Rosse, Thanes and Soldiers. 591 Malcolm I would the friends we miss were safe arrived. Siward Some must go off; and yet, by these I see, So great a day as this is cheaply bought. Malcolm Macduff is missing, and your noble son. Rosse Your son, my lord, has paid a soldier's debt: He only lived but till he was a man; The which no sooner had his prowess confirmed, In the unshrinking station where he fought, But like a man he died. Siward Then he is dead? Rosse Ay, and brought off the field. Your cause of sorrow Must not be measured by his worth, for then 5910 It hath no end. Siward Had he his hurts before? Rosse Ay, on the front. Siward Why, then, God's soldier be he! Had I as many sons as I have hairs, I would not wish them to a fairer death: And so, his knell is knolled Malcolm He 's worth more sorrow, And that I 'll spend for him. Siward He's worth no more; They say he parted well, and paid his score: And so, God be with him!--Here comes newer comfort. Enter Macduff with Macbeth's head. 5920 Macduff Hail, King! for so thou art. Behold, where stands Th' usurper's cursed: the time is free. I see thee compassed with thy kingdom's pearl, That speak my salutation in their minds; Whose voices I desire aloud with mine,-- Hail, King of Scotland! All Hail, King of Scotland! [Flourish] Malcolm We shall not spend a large expense of time Before we reckon with your several loves, And make us even with you. My thanes and kinsmen, Henceforth be earls, the first that ever Scotland 5930 In such an honour named. What 's more to do, Which would be planted newly with the time,-- As calling home our exiled friends abroad, That fled the snares of watchful tyranny; Producing forth the cruel ministers Of this dead butcher, and his fiend-like queen, Who, as 't is thought, by self and violent hands Took off her life;--this, and what needful else That calls upon us, by the grace of Grace, We will perform in measure, time and place. 5940 So thanks to all at once, and to each one, Whom we invite to see us crownded at Scone. Flourish. Exeunt.