Macb.
You know your own degrees, sit down: at first
And last, the hearty welcome^{4 note}

Lords.
Thanks to your majesty.

Macb.
Ourself will mingle with society,
And play the humble host.

Our hostess keeps her state^{5 note}

Lady M.
Pronounce it for me, sir, to all our friends;
For my heart speaks, they are welcome. Enter first Murderer, to the door.

Macb.
See, they encounter thee with their hearts' thanks:—
Both sides are even: Here I'll sit i' the midst:
Be large in mirth; anon, we'll drink a measure
The table round.—There's blood upon thy face.

Mur.
'Tis Banquo's then.

Macb.
'Tis better thee without, than he within^{6 note}

Mur.
My lord, his throat is cut; that I did for him.

Macb.
Thou art the best o' the cut-throats: Yet he's good,
That did the like for Fleance: if thou didst it,
Thou art the nonpareil.

Mur.
Most royal sir,
Fleance is 'scap'd.

Macb.
Then comes my fit again: I had else been perfect;
Whole as the marble, founded as the rock;
As broad, and general, as the casing air:
But now, I am cabin'd, cribb'd, confin'd, bound in
To saucy doubts and fears. But Banquo's safe?

Mur.
Ay, my good lord: safe in a ditch he bides,
With twenty trenched gashes^{7 note}

Macb.
Thanks for that:—
There the grown serpent lies; the worm^{8 note}, that's fled,
Hath nature that in time will venom breed,
No teeth for the present.—Get thee gone; tomorrow
We'll hear, ourselves again. [Exit Murderer.

Lady M.
My royal lord,

You do not give the cheer: the feast is sold^{9 note}

Macb.
Sweet remembrancer!—
Now, good digestion wait on appetite^{1 note}
,
And health on both!

Len.
May it please your highness sit? [The Ghost of Banquo rises^{2 note}, and sits in Macbeth's place.

Macb.
Here had we now our country's honour roof'd,
Were the grac'd person of our Banquo present;
Who may I rather challenge for unkindness,
Than pity for mischance^{3 note}

Rosse.
His absence, sir,
Lays blame upon his promise. Please it your highness
To grace us with your royal company?

Macb.
The table's full.

Len.
Here's a place reserv'd, sir.

Macb.
Where?

Len.
Here, my good lord^{4 note}

Macb.
Which of you have done this?

Lords.
What, my good lord?

Macb.
Thou canst not say, I did it: never shake
Thy gory locks at me.

Rosse.
Gentlemen, rise; his highness is not well.

Lady M.
Sit, worthy friends:—my lord is often thus,
And hath been from his youth: 'pray you, keep seat;
The fit is momentary; upon a thought^{5 note}

He will again be well: If much you note him,
You shall offend him, and extend his passion^{6 note};
Feed and regard him not.—Are you a man?

Macb.
Ay, and a bold one, that dare look on that
Which might appal the devil.

Lady M.
O proper stuff^{7 note}

Macb.
Pr'ythee, see there! behold! look! lo! how say you?—
Why, what care I? If thou canst nod, speak too.—
If charnel-houses, and our graves, must send
Those that we bury, back, our monuments
Shall be the maws of kites^{9 note}

Lady M.
What! quite unmann'd in folly^{1 note}?

Macb.
If I stand here, I saw him.

Lady M.
Fye, for shame!

Macb.
Blood hath been shed ere now, i' the olden time^{2 note}

Ere human statute purg'd the gentle weal^{3 note}

Lady M.
My worthy lord,
Your noble friends do lack you.

Macb.
I do forget:—
Do not muse at me^{4 note}

Lords.
Our duties, and the pledge.

Macb.
Avaunt! and quit my sight! Let the earth hide thee!
Thy bones are marrowless, thy blood is cold;
Thou hast no speculation in those eyes^{7 note}
Which thou dost glare with!

Lady M.
Think of this, good peers,
But as a thing of custom: 'tis no other;
Only it spoils the pleasure of the time.

Macb.
What man dare, I dare:
Approach thou like the rugged Russian bear,
The arm'd rhinoceros, or the Hyrcan tiger^{8 note}

If trembling I inhibit^{9 note}

Unreal mockery^{1 note}, hence!—Why, so;—being gone,
I am a man again.—Pray you, sit still.

Lady M.
You have displac'd the mirth, broke the good meeting,
With most admir'd disorder.

Macb.
Can such things be,
And overcome us like a summer's cloud,
Without our special wonder^{2 note}

Even to the disposition that I owe^{3 note}

And keep the natural ruby of your cheeks,
When mine are blanch'd with fear^{4 note}

Rosse.
What sights, my lord?

Lady M.
I pray you, speak not; he grows worse and worse;
Question enrages him: at once, good night:—
Stand not upon the order of your going,
But go at once.

Len.
Good night, and better health
Attend his majesty!

Lady M.
A kind good night to all^{5 note}! [Exeunt Lords and Attendants.

Macb.
It will have blood; they say, blood will have blood^{6 note}

Stones have been known to move, and trees to speak^{7 note};
Augurs, and understood relations^{8 note}

By magot-pies, and choughs, and rooks, brought forth
The secret'st man of blood^{9 note}
.—What is the night?

Lady M.
Almost at odds with morning, which is which.

Macb.
How say'st thou, that Macduff denies his person,
At our great bidding^{1 note}

Lady M.
Did you send to him, sir?

Macb.
I hear it by the way; but I will send:
There's not a one of them^{2 note}

Lady M.
You lack the season of all natures, sleep^{6 note}

Macb.
Come, we'll to sleep: My strange and self-abuse
Is the initiate fear, that wants hard use:—
We are yet but young in deed^{7 note}

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