SCENE V.
Inverness. A Room in Macbeth's Castle.
Enter Lady Macbeth, reading a letter.
Lady M.
They met me in the day of success;
and I have learned by the perfectest report7 note, 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.
Whiles I stood rapt in the wonder of it, came
missives from the king8 note
, 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 mightest not lose
the dues of rejoicing, by 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 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 Glamis9 note
,
-- 60 --
That which cries, Thus thou must do, if thou have it;
And that which rather thou dost fear to do1 note
,
Than wishest should be undone. Hie thee hither,
That I may pour my spirits in thine ear2 note
;
And chastise with the valour of my tongue
All that impedes thee from the golden round,
Which fate and metaphysical aid doth seem
To have thee crown'd withal3 note
.—What is your tidings?
-- 61 --
Enter an Attendant.
Atten.
The king comes here to-night.
Lady M.
Thou'rt mad to say it:
Is not thy master with him? who, wer't so,
Would have inform'd for preparation.
Atten.
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
Than would make up his message.
-- 62 --
Lady M.
Give him tending,
He brings great news. The raven himself is hoarse3 note
,
[Exit Attendant.
That croaks the fatal entrance of Duncan
Under my battlements. Come, come, you spirits4 note
That tend on mortal thoughts5 note
, unsex me here;
-- 63 --
And fill me, from the crown to the toe, top-full
Of direst cruelty! make thick my blood,
Stop up the access and passage to remorse6 note
;
That no compunctious visitings of nature
Shake my fell purpose, nor keep peace between
The effect, and it7 note
! Come to my woman's breasts,
-- 64 --
And take my milk for gall8 note, you murd'ring ministers,
Wherever in your sightless substances
You wait on nature's mischief9 note! Come, thick night1 note
,
-- 65 --
And pall thee2 note
in the dunnest smoke of hell!
That my keen knife3 note
see not the wound it makes;
Nor heaven peep through the blanket of the dark4 note
,
-- 66 --
To cry, Hold, hold5 note
!—Great Glamis! worthy Cawdor6 note!
-- 67 --
Enter Macbeth.
Greater than both, by the all-hail hereafter!
Thy letters have transported me beyond
This ignorant present7 note
, and I feel now
The future in the instant.
Macb.
My dearest love,
Duncan comes here to-night.
-- 68 --
Lady M.
And when goes hence?
Macb.
To-morrow,—as he purposes.
Lady M.
O, never
Shall sun that morrow see!
Your face, my thane, is as a book, where men
May read strange matters8 note
:—To beguile the time,
Look like the time9 note
; bear welcome in your eye,
Your hand, your tongue: look like the innocent flower,
But be the serpent under it1 note
. 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.
-- 69 --
Macb.
We will speak further.
Lady M.
Only look up clear;
To alter favour ever is to fear2 note
!
Leave all the rest to me.
[Exeunt.
James Boswell [1821], The plays and poems of William Shakspeare, with the corrections and illustrations of various commentators: comprehending A Life of the Poet, and an enlarged history of the stage, by the late Edmond Malone. With a new glossarial index (J. Deighton and Sons, Cambridge) [word count] [S10201].
