Macd. He is already named; and gone to Scone
To be invested.
Rosse. Where is Duncan's body?

Macd. Carried to Colm-kill;
The sacred store-house of his predecessors,
And guardian of their bones.

Rosse. Will you to Scone?
Macd. No, cousin, I'll to Fife.
Rosse. Well, I will thither.

Macd. Well, may you see things well done

there ; — adieu ! -
Lest our old robes sit easier than our new!

Rosse. Farewell, father.
Old M. God's benison go with you; and with

those
That would make good of bad, and friends of

foes.

[Exeunt.

A CT III.

SCENE I:— Fores. A Room in the Palace. In this day's council; but we'll take to-morrow.

Is 't far you ride ?
Enter BANQUO.

Ban. As far, my lord, as will fill up the time Ban. Thou hast it now, King, Cawdor, Glamis, | 'Twixt this and supper: go not my horse the better, all,

I must become a borrower of the night,
As the weird women promised; and I fear For a dark hour, or twain.
Thou play’dst most foully for 't: yet it was said, | Macb. Fail not our feast.
It should not stand in thy posterity;

Ban. My lord, I will not.
But that myself should be the root and father Macb. We hear, our bloody cousins are bestowed
Of many kings. If there come truth from them In England and in Ireland ; not confessing
(As upon thee, Macbeth, their speeches shine), Their cruel parricide, filling their hearers
Why, by the verities on thee made good, With strange invention : but of that tomorrow;
May they not be my oracles as well,

When, therewithal, we shall have cause of state, And set me up in hope? But, hush; no more. Craving us jointly. Hie you to horse : Adieu,

Till you return at night. Goes Fleance with you? Senet sounded. Enter MACBETH as King ; LADY

Ban. Ay, my good lord: our time does call MACBETII, as Queen ; LENOX, Rosse, Lords,

upon us. Ladies, and Attendants.

Macb. I wish your horses swift and sure of Macb. Here's our chief guest.

foot; Lady M. If he had been forgotten, And so I do commend you to their backs. It had been as a gap in our great feast,

Farewell. —

[Exit BANQUO. And all things unbecoming.

Let every man be master of his time Macb. To-night we hold a solemn supper, sir, | Till seven at night: to make society And I'll request your presence.

The sweeter welcome, we will keep ourself Ban. Lay your highness'

Till supper-time alone : while then, God be with Command upon me; to the which, my duties

you. Are with a most indissoluble tie

[Exeunt LADY MACBETH, Lords, Ladies, &c. For ever knit.

Sirrah, a word with you: attend those men our Macb. Ride you, this afternoon ?

pleasure ? Ban. Ay, my good lord.

Attend. They are, my lord, without the palace Macb. We should have else desired your good

gate. advice

Macb. Bring them before us.—Exit Attendant. (Which still hath been both grave and prosperous) | To be thus, is nothing;

But to be safely thus. — Our fears in Banquo That you can let this go? Are you so gospelled, Stick deep; and in his royalty of nature To pray for this good man, and for his issue, Reigns that which would be feared : 't is much he Whose heavy hand hath bowed you to the grave, dares;

And beggared yours for ever? And to that dauntless temper of his mind,

1st Mur. We are men, my liege. He hath a wisdom thath doth guide his valor Macb. Ay, in the catalogue ye go for men; To act in safety. There is none but he | As hounds, and greyhounds, mongrels, spaniels, Whose being I do fear: and under him

curs, My genius is rebuked; as, it is said,

Shoughs, water-rugs, and demi-wolves, are cleped Mark Antony's was by Cæsar. He chid the sisters, All by the name of dogs: the valued file When first they put the name of King upon me, Distinguishes the swift, the slow, the subtle, And bade them speak to him; then, prophet-like, The housekeeper, the hunter, every one They hailed him father to a line of kings : According to the gift which bounteous Nature Upon my head they placed a fruitless crown, Hath in him closed; whereby he does receive And put a barren sceptre in my gripe,

Particular addition, from the bill Thence to be wrenched with an unlineal hand, That writes them all alike: and so of men. No son of mine succeeding. If it be so, Now, if you have a station in the file, For Banquo's issue have I filed my mind; And not in the worst rank of manhood, say it; For them the gracious Duncan have I murdered; And I will put that business in your bosoms, Put rancors in the vessel of my peace

Whose execution takes your enemy off; Only for them; and mine eternal jewel

Grapples you to the heart and love of us,
Given to the common enemy of man,

Who wear our health but sickly in his life,
To make them kings; the seed of Banquo kings! Which in his death were perfect.
Rather than so, come fate into the list,

2nd Mur. I am one, my liege, And champion me to the utterance ! Who's there? Whom the vile blows and buffets of the world

Have so incensed, that I am reckless what
Re-enter Attendant, with two Murderers.

I do, to spite the world.
Now to the door, and stay there till we call. 1st Mur. And I another,

[Exit Attendant. So weary with disasters, tugged with fortune, Was it not yesterday we spoke together? That I would set my life on any chance,

1st Mur. It was, so please your highness. To mend it, or be rid on 't. Macb. Well then, now

Macb. Both of you Have you considered of my speeches ? Know Know Banquo was your enemy. That it was he, in the times past, which held you And Mur. True, my lord. So under fortune ; which you thought had been | Macb. So is he mine : and in such bloody disOur innocent self. This I made good to you

tance, In our last conference : passed in probation with That every minute of his being thrusts you,

Against my near’st of life: and though I could How you were borne in hand; how crossed; the With barefaced power sweep him from my sight, instruments;

And bid my will avouch it, yet I must not, Who wrought with them; and all things else, that For certain friends that are both his and mine, might,

Whose loves I may not drop, but wail his fall To half a soul, and to a notion crazed,

Whom I myself struck down : and thence it is Say, “ Thus did Banquo."

That I to your assistance do make love; 1st Mur. You made it known to us. Masking the business from the common eye,

Macb. I did so; and went further, which is now For sundry weighty reasons. Our point of second meeting. Do you find

2nd Mur. We shall, my lord, Your patience so predominant in your nature, Perform what you command us.

1st Mur. Though our lives —

But let the frame of things disjoint, Macb. Your spirits shine through you. With Both the worlds suffer, in this hour, at most,

Ere we will eat our meal in fear, and sleep
I will advise you where to plant yourselves; In the affliction of these terrible dreams
Acquaint you with the perfect spy o' the time, | That shake us nightly: better be with the dead,
The moment on 't; for 't must be done to-night, Whom we, to gain our place, have sent to peace,
And something from the palace; always thought, Than on the torture of the mind to lie
That I require a clearness : and with him In restless ecstasy. Duncan is in his grave;
(To leave no rubs nor botches in the work), After life's fitful fever, he sleeps well;
Fleance his son, that keeps him company, Treason has done his worst : nor steel, nor poison,
Whose absence is no less material to me

Malice domestic, foreign levy, nothing,
Than is his father's, must embrace the fate Can touch him further.
Of that dark hour. Resolve yourselves apart; Lady M. Come on:
I'll come to you anon.

Gentle, my lord, sleek o'er your rugged looks ; 2nd Mur. We are resolved, my lord. Be bright and jovial ʼmong your guests to-night.

Macb. I'll call upon you straight; abide within. | Macb. So shall I, love; and so, I pray, be you: It is concluded :— Banquo, thy soul's flight, Let your remembrance apply to Banquo; If it find heaven, must find it out to-night. Present him eminence, both with eye and tongue :

[Exeunt. Unsafe the while, that we

Must lave our honors in these flattering streams;

And make our faces vizards to our hearts, SCENE II. — The same. Another Room. Disguising what they are.

Lady M. You must leave this. Enter LADY MACBETH, and a Servant.

Macb. O, full of scorpions is my mind, dear Lady M. Is Banquo gone from court ?

wife! Serv. Ay, madam, but returns again to-night. Thou know'st that Banquo and his Fleance live. Lady M. Say to the King, I would attend his Lady M. But in them Nature's copy 's not leisure

eterne. For a few words.

Macb. There's comfort yet ! they are assailable; Serv. Madam, I will.

[Exit. Then be thou jocund: ere the bat hath flown Lady M. Nought's had, all's spent, His cloistered light; ere, to black Hecate's sumWhere our desire is got without content:

mons, 'T is safer to be that which we destroy,

The shard-borne beetle, with his drowsy hums, Than by destruction dwell in doubtful joy. Hath rung night's yawning peal, there shall be

done Enter MACBETH.

A deed of dreadful note. How now, my lord ? why do you keep alone, Lady M. What's to be done ? Of sorriest fancies your companions making! Macb. Be innocent of the knowledge, dearest Using those thoughts, which should indeed have

chuck, died

Till thou applaud the deed. Come, seeling night, With them they think on? Things without all Skarf up the tender eye of pitiful day; remedy,

And, with thy bloody and invisible hand, Should be without regard: what's done, is done. Cancel and tear to pieces that great bond Macb. We have scotched the snake, not killed Which keeps me pale !-Light thickens; and the

it: She 'll close, and be herself; whilst our poor Makes wing to the rooky wood: malice

Good things of day begin to droop and drowse, Remains in danger of her former tooth. Whiles night's black agents to their prey do rouse.

crow

Thou marvel'st at my words : but hold thee still;
Things bad begun, make strong themselves by ill;
So, pr'y thee, go with me.

[Exeunt.

1st Mur. Well, let's away, and say how much , is done.

[Exeunt.

SCENE IV.-A Room of State in the Palace. A

Banquet prepared. SCENE III.- The same. A Park or Lawn, with a Gate leading to the Palace. Enter MACBETH, LADY MACBETH, Rosse, LENOX,

Lords and Attendants.
Enter three Murderers.

Macb. You know your own degrees; sit down; 1st Mur. But who did bid thee join with us?

at first 3rd Mur. Macbeth.

And last, the hearty welcome. 2nd Mur. He needs not our mistrust; since he Lords. Thanks to your Majesty. delivers

Macb. Ourself will mingle with society, Our offices, and what we have to do,

And play the humble host. To the direction just.

Our hostess keeps her state; but, in best time, 1st Mur. Then stand with us.

We will require her welcome. The west yet glimmers with some streaks of day: Lady M. Pronounce it for me, sir, to all our Now spurs the lated traveler apace,

friends; To gain the timely inn; and near approaches For my heart speaks, they are welcome. The subject of our watch. 3rd Mur. Hark! I hear horses.

Enter First Murderer, to the door. Ban. [within.] Give us a light there, ho! Macb. See, they encounter thee with their 2nd Mur. Then it is he; the rest

hearts' thanks :That are within the note of expectation, Both sides are even : here I'll sit i' the midst : Already are i’ the court.

Be large in mirth; anon, we'll drink a measure 1st Mur. His horses go about.

The table round. - There's blood upon thy face. 3rd Mur. Almost a mile: but he does usually, Mur. 'Tis Banquo's, then. So all men do, from hence to the palace gate Macb. 'Tis better thee without, than be within. Make it their walk.

Is he despatched ?

Mur. My lord, his throat is cut; that I did Enter BANQUO and FLEANCE, a Servant with a

for him. torch preceding them.

Macb. Thou art the best o' the cut-throats: yet 2nd Mur. A light, a light?

he's good 3rd Mur. 'Tis he.

That did the like for Fleance: if thou didst it, 1st Mur. Stand to 't.

Thou art the nonpareil. Ban. It will be rain to-night.

Mur. Most royal sir, 1st Mur. Let it come down.

Fleance is 'scaped.

[Assaults BANQUO. | Macb. Then comes my fit again : I had else Ban. O, treachery! Fly, good Fleance, fly, been perfect; fly, fly;

Whole as the marble, founded as the rock; Thou mayst revenge. — O slave !

As broad and general as the casing air; [Dies. FLEANCE and Servant escape. But now I am cabined, cribbed, confined, bound in 3rd Mur. Who did strike out the light? To saucy doubts and fears. But Banquo's safe? 1st Mur. Was 't not the way?

Mur. Ay, my good lord; safe in a ditch he 3rd Mur. There's but one down; the son is bides, fled.

With twenty trenched gashes on his head; 2nd Mur. We have lost best half of our affair. The least a death to nature.

Macb. Thanks for that:

Macb. Ay, and a bold one, that dare look on that There the grown serpent lies; the worm that's Which might appal the devil. fied

Lady M. O proper stuff! Hath nature that in time will venom breed; This is the very painting of your fear : No teeth for the present. — Get thee gone; to. This is the air-drawn dagger which, you said, morrow

Led you to Duncan. O, these flaws and starts We'll hear ourselves again. [Exit Murderer. (Impostors to true fear) would well become Lady M. My royal lord,

A woman's story, at a winter's fire, You do not give the cheer: the feast is sold Authorized by her grandam. Shame itself ! That is not often vouched, while 'tis a making Why do you make such faces? When all 's done, 'Tis given with welcome. To feed were best at You look but on a stool. home:

Macb. Pr'y thee, see there ! behold ! look I lo! From thence, the sauce to meat is ceremony;

how say you ? — Meeting were bare without it.

Why, what care I? If thou canst nod, speak too.Macb. Sweet remembrancer ! - If charnel-houses and our graves must send Now, good digestion wait on appetite,

Those that we bury back, our monuments And health on both !

Shall be the maws of kites. [Ghost disappears. Len. May it please your highness sit ? Lady M. What! quite unmanned in folly? [The Ghost of BANQUO rises, and sits in Macb. If I stand here, I saw him. MACBETH's place.

Lady M. Fy, for shame! Macb. Here had we now our country's honor Macb. Blood hath been shed ere now, i' the roofed,

olden time, Were the graced person of our Banquo present; Ere human statute purged the gentle weal; Who may I rather challenge for unkindness Ay, and since too, murders have been performed Than pity for mischance !

Too terrible for the ear: the times have been, Rosse. His absence, sir,

That, when the brains were out, the man would Lays blame upon his promise. Please it your

die, highness

And there an end: but now, they rise again, To grace us with your royal company ?

With twenty mortal murders on their crowns, Macb. The table 's full.

And push us from our stools: this is more Len. Here's a place reserved, sir.

strange Macb. Where?

Than such a murder is. Len. Here, my good lord. What is 't that Lady M. My worthy lord, moves your highness ?

Your noble friends do lack you. Macb. Which of you have done this?

Macb. I do forget :Lords. . What, my good lord ?

Do not muse at me, my most worthy friends ; Macb. Thou canst not say, I did it: never shake I have a strange infirmity, which is nothing Thy gory locks at me.

To those that know mc. Come, love and health Rosse. Gentlemen, rise; his highness is not to all; well.

Then I'll sit down :- Give me some wine; fill Lady M. Sit, worthy friends :— my lord is

full:often thus,

I drink to the general joy of the whole table, And hath been from his youth: pray you, keep

Ghost rises. seat; The fit is momentary; upon a thought

And to our dear friend, Banquo, whom we miss ; He will again be well : if much you note him, | Would he were here ! to all, and him, we thirst, You shall offend him, and extend his passion : And all to all. Feed, and regard him not. — Are you a man? Lords. Our duties, and the pledge.