SCENE V. MACBETH'S Castle, at Inverness. Enter LADY MACBETH, reading a Letter. Lady. -They met me in the day of success ; and I have learn'd by the perfectest report, they have more in them than mortal knowledge. When I burn'd in desire to question them further, they made themselves—air, into which they vanish'd. Whiles I stood rapt in the wonder of it, came missives from the king, who all hail'd me, "Thane of Cawdor;" by which title, before, these weird sisters saluted me, and referr'd 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 mightest not lose the dues of rejoicing, by being ignorant of what greatness is promis'd thee. Lay it to thy heart, and farewell. Glamis thou art, and Cawdor; and shalt be What thou art promis'd:-Yet do I fear thy nature; It is too full o'the milk of human kindness, To catch the nearest way: Thou would'st be great; Art not without ambition; but without The illness should attend it. What thou would'st highly, That would'st thou holily; would'st not play false, And yet would'st wrongly win: thou'd'st 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, And chastise with the valour of my tongue Enter SEYTON. What is your tidings? Sey. The king comes here to-night. Is not thy master with him? who, were't so, Sey. So please you, it is true: our thane is coming: One of my fellows had the speed of him; Who, almost dead for breath, had scarcely more Lady. Give him tending, He brings great news. The raven himself is hoarse, [Exit SEYTON. That croaks the fatal entrance of Duncan Under my battlements. Come, all you spirits You wait on nature's mischief! Come, thick night, Enter МАСВЕТН. Great Glamis! worthy Cawdor! Greater than both, by the all-hail hereafter! Thy letters have transported me beyond Macb. My dearest love, Duncan comes here to-night. Shall sun that morrow see! Your face, my thane, is as a book, where men But be the serpent under it. He that's coming [Exeunt. SCENE VI. The Gates of Inverness Castle. Flourish of Trumpets and Drums. Enter KING DUNCAN, BANQUO, MALCOLM, DoNALBAIN, MACDUFF, LENOX, Rosse, and AT TENDANTS. King. This castle hath a pleasant seat; the air Nimbly and sweetly recommends itself Unto our gentle senses. Ban. This guest of summer, The temple-haunting martlet, does approve, Buttress, nor coigne of vantage, but this bird Hath made his pendent bed, and procreant cradle: Where they most breed and haunt, I have observ'd, The air is delicate. Enter LADY MACBETH, SEYTON, and Two LADIES. King. See, see! our honour'd hostess ! The love, that follows us, sometime is our trouble, Which still we thank as love. Herein I teach you, How you shall bid Heaven yield us for your pains, And thank us for your trouble. Lady. All our service In every point twice done, and then done double, Against those honours deep and broad, wherewith King. Where's the Thane of Cawdor? We cours'd him at the heels, and had a purpose And his great love, sharp as his spur, hath holp him Lady. Your servants ever Have theirs, themselves, and what is theirs, in compt, To make their audit at your highness' pleasure, Still to return your own. King. Give me your hand; Conduct me to mine host; we love him highly, [Flourish of Trumpets and Drums.-Exeunt. SCENE VII. MACBETH'S Castle at Inverness. Enter MACBETH.. Macb. If it were done, when 'tis done, then 'twere well: It were done quickly, if the assassination Could trammel up the consequence, and catch, With his success, surcease. 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 judgment here, that we but teach Bloody instructions, which, being taught, return To plague the inventor: This even-handed justice Commends the ingredients of our poison'd 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-tongu❜d, against The deep damnation of his taking-off: I have no spur To prick the sides of my intent, but only Enter LADY MACBETH. Lady. He has almost supp'd; Why have you left the chamber? Macb. Hath he ask'd for me? |