Why do you show me this?-A fourth?-Start, eyes! What! will the line stretch out to the crack of doom ?9 Another yet?-A seventh?-I'll see no more:- Our duties did his welcome pay. Musick. The Witches dance, and vanish. Macb. Where are they? Gone?-Let this pernicious hour Stand aye accursed in the calendar!— Come in, without there! Len. Enter LENOX. What's your grace's will? Macb. Saw you the weird sisters? 9 to the crack of doom?] i. e. the dissolution of nature. Crack has now a mean signification. It was anciently employed in a more exalted sense. That two-fold balls and treble scepters carry:] This was intended as a compliment to King James the First, who first united the two islands and the three kingdoms under one head; whose house too was said to be descended from Banquo. 2 -the blood-bolter'd Banquo-] To bolter, in Warwickshire, signifies to daub, dirty, or begrime. cheer we up his sprights,] i. e. spirits. Len. Macb. Came they not by you? Len. No, my lord. No, indeed, my lord. Macb. Infected be the air whereon they ride; And damn'd, all those that trust them!-I did hear The galloping of horse: Who was't came by? Len. 'Tis two or three, my lord, that bring you word, Macduff is fled to England. Macb. Len. Ay, my good lord. Fled to England? Macb. 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; Seize upon Fife; give to the edge o'the sword SCENE II. Fife. A Room in Macduff's Castle. Enter Lady MACDUFF, her Son, and Rosse. L. Macd. What had he done, to make him fly the land? Rosse. You must have patience, madam. • That trace his line.] i. e. follow, succeed in it. L. Macd. He had none: His flight was madness: When our actions do not, Our fears do make us traitors. Rosse. You know not, Whether it was his wisdom, or his fear. L. Macd. 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; Rosse. My dearest coz', I pray you, school yourself: But, for your husband, But cruel are the times, when we are traitors, Each way, and move.-I take my leave of you: Things at the worst will cease, or else climb upward 5 natural touch:] Natural sensibility. He is not touched with natural affection. JOHNSON. 6 The fits o'the season.] What is most fitting to be done in every conjuncture. 7 when we are traitors, And do not know ourselves;] When we are considered by the state as traitors, while at the same time we are unconscious of guilt; when we appear to others so different from what we really are, that we seem not to know ourselves. 8 ·when we hold rumour-] i. e. believe rumour. L. Macd. Father'd he is, and yet he's fatherless. Rosse. I am so much a fool, should I stay longer, It would be my disgrace, and your discomfort: I take my leave at once. [Exit Rosse. you L. Macd. Sirrah, your father's dead; live? What, with worms and flies? Son. With what I get, I mean; and so do they. L. Macd. 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. L. Macd. Yes, he is dead; how wilt thou do for a father? Son. Nay, how will you do for a husband? L. Macd. Why, I can buy me twenty at any market. Son. Then you'll buy 'em to sell again. L. Macd. Thou speak'st with all thy wit; and yet i'faith, With wit enough for thee. Son. Was my father a traitor, mother? Son. What is a traitor? L. Macd. Why, one that swears and lies. Son. And be all traitors, that do so? L. Macd. Every one that does so, is a traitor, and must be hanged. lie? Son. And must they all be hanged, that swear and L. Macd. Every one. Son. Who must hang them? L. Macd. Why, the honest men. Son. Then the liars and swearers are fools: for VOL. IV. FF there are liars and swearers enough to beat the honest men, and hang up them. L. Macd. Now God help thee, poor monkey! But how wilt thou do for a father? Son. If he were dead, you'd weep for him: if you would not, it were a good sign that I should quickly have a new father. L. Macd. Poor prattler! how thou talk'st. Enter a Messenger. Mess. Bless you, fair dame! I am not to you known, Though in your state of honour I am perfect." If Be not found here; hence, with your little ones. Which is too nigh your person. I dare abide no longer. L. Macd. I have done no harm. [Exit Messenger. Whither should I fly? But I remember now I am in this earthly world; where, to do harm, To say, I have done no harm? faces? Enter Murderers. Mur. Where is your husband? -What are these L. Macd. I hope, in no place so unsanctified, Where such as thou may'st find him. in your state of honour I am perfect.] i, e. I am perfectly acquainted with your rank of honour. |