:

Was pitied of Macbeth:―marry, he was dead:-
And the right-valiant Banquo walk'd too late;
Whom, you may say, if it please you, Fleance kill'd,
For Fleance fled. Men must not walk too late.
Who cannot want the thought, how monstrous
It was for Malcolm, and for Donalbain,
To kill their gracious father? damned fact!
How it did grieve Macbeth! did he not straight,
In pious rage, the two delinquents tear,

say,

That were the slaves of drink, and thralls of sleep?
Was not that nobly done? Ay, and wisely too;
For 'twould have anger'd any heart alive,
To hear the men deny it. So that, I
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
What 'twere to kill a father; so should Fleance.
But, peace!—for from broad words, and 'cause he fail'd
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 receiv'd
Of the most pious Edward with such grace,
That the malevolence of fortune nothing
Takes from his high respect: Thither Macduff
gone to pray the holy king, on his aid
To wake Northumberland, and warlike Siward:
That, by the help of these, (with Him above
To ratify the work,) we may again

Is

Give to our tables meat, sleep to our nights;
Free from our feasts and banquets bloody knives;
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.

The sense requires-Who can want the thought, &c.

Len.

Sent he to Macduff?

Lord. He did: and with an absolute, Sir, not I, The cloudy messenger turns me his back, And hums; as who should say, You'll rue the time, That clogs me with this answer.

Len. 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 accurs'd!

Lord.

My prayers with him! [Exeunt.

ACT IV.

SCENE I.A dark cave. In the middle, a cauldron

boiling.

Thunder. Enter the three Witches.

1 Witch. Thrice the brinded' cat hath mew'd.
2 Witch. Thrice; and once the hedge-pig whin'd.
3 Witch. Harper' cries :-'Tis time, 'tis time.
1 Witch. Round about the cauldron go:

In the poison'd entrails throw. -
Toad, that under coldest stone,
Days and nights hast thirty-one
Swelter'd venom sleeping got,
Boil thou first i' th' charmed pot!
All. Double, double toil and trouble;
Fire, burn; and, cauldron, bubble.
2 Witch. Fillet of a fenny snake,
In the cauldron boil and bake:

streaked.

2

Harper, some imp.

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 owlet's wing,
For a charm of powerful trouble,
Like a hell-broth boil and bubble.

All. Double, double toil and trouble ;
Fire, burn; and, cauldron, bubble.

3 Witch. Scale of dragon, tooth of wolf;
Witches' mummy; maw, and gulf,'
Of the ravin'd2 salt-sea shark;
Root of hemlock, digg'd i' th' dark;
Liver of blaspheming Jew;
Gall of goat, and slips of yew,
Sliver'd3 in the moon's eclipse;
Nose of Turk, and Tartar's lips;
Finger of birth-strangled babe,
Ditch-deliver'd by a drab,*
Make the gruel thick and slab:
Add thereto a tiger's chaudron,5
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 and the other three Witches.
Hec. O, well done! I commend your pains;
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 grey;
Mingle, mingle, mingle,
You that mingle may.

gulf, the swallow, the throat. 3 To sliver is to cut, or slice. 5 chaudron, entrails.

2 ravin'd, glutted with prey. 4 drab, a common woman.

2 Witch. By the pricking of my thumbs, Something wicked this way comes: Open, locks, whoever knocks.

Enter MACBeth.

Macb. How now, you secret, black, and midnight What is't you do?

All.

A deed without a name.

[hags?

Macb. 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 lodg'd, and trees blown down; Though castles topple on their warders' heads; Though palaces, and pyramids, do slope

Their heads to their foundations; though the treasure Of nature's germins' tumble all together,

Even till destruction sicken, answer me

To what I ask you.

1 Witch.

2 Witch.

3 Witch.

Speak.

Demand.

We'll answer.

[mouths,

1 Witch. Say, if thou'dst rather hear it from our Or from our masters'.

Mach.

Call them, let me see them. 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.

Thyself, and office, deftly3 show.

Thunder. An Apparition of an armed Head rises.

Macb. Tell me, thou unknown power,

frothy or foaming.

2 i. e. seeds which have begun to germinate or sprout.
dextrously, adroitly.

He knows thy thought:

1 Witch. Hear his speech, but say thou nought. App. Macbeth! Macbeth! Macbeth! beware Macduff;

Beware the thane of Fife.-Dismiss me:-Enough.

[Descends. Macb. What-e'er thou art, for thy good caution,

thanks;

Thou hast harp'd' my fear aright:-But one word

more:

1 Witch. He will not be commanded: Here's anMore potent than the first.

[other, Thunder. An Apparition of a bloody Child rises. App. Macbeth! Macbeth! Macbeth!Macb. Had I three ears, I'd hear thee. App. Be bloody, bold, And resolute: laugh to scorn the power of man, For none of woman born shall harm Macbeth.

[Descends.

Macb. Then live, Macduff; What need I fear of

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,

[thee?

And sleep in spite of thunder.-What is this,

Thunder. An Apparition of a Child crowned, with a tree in his hand, rises.

That rises like the issue of a king;

And wears upon his baby brow the round'

And top of sovereignty?

Listen, but speak not.

All.
App. Be lion-mettled, proud; and take no care
Who chafes, who frets, or where conspirers are:
Macbeth shall never vanquish'd be, until

To harp, is to touch on a passion as a harper touches a string. 2 The round is that part of the crown that encircles the head.

The top is the ornament that rises above it.-JOHNSON.