2 Witch.
By the pricking of my thumbs^{6 note},
Something wicked this way comes:—
Open, locks, whoever knocks. Enter Macbeth.

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

All.
A deed without a name.

Macb.
I cónjure 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^{7 note}

Confound and swallow navigation up;
Though bladed corn be lodg'd^{8 note}

1 Witch.
Speak.

2 Witch.
Demand.

3 Witch.
We'll answer.

1 Witch.
Say, if thoud'st rather hear it from our mouths,
Or from our masters'?

Macb.
Call them, let me see them.

1 Witch.
Pour in sow's blood, that hath eaten
Her nine farrow^{2 note}
; grease, that's sweaten
From the murderer's gibbet, throw
Into the flame.

All.
Come, high, or low;
Thyself, and office, deftly show^{3 note}

Macb.
Tell me, thou unknown power,—

2 Witch.
He knows thy thought;
Hear his speech, but say thou nought^{5 note}

App.
Macbeth! Macbeth! Macbeth! beware Macduff;
Beware the thane of Fife^{6 note}.—Dismiss me:—Enough^{7 note}. [Descends.

Macb.
What-e'er thou art, for thy good caution, thanks;
Thou hast harp'd my fear aright^{8 note}
:—But one word more:—

1 Witch.
He will not be commanded; Here's another,
More potent than the first. Thunder. An Apparition of a bloody Child rises.

App.
Macbeth! Macbeth! Macbeth!—

Macb.
Had I three ears, I'd hear thee^{9 note}.

App.
Be bloody, bold,
And resolute: laugh to scorn the power of man,

For none of woman born shall harm Macbeth^{1 note}. [Descends.

Macb.
Then live, Macduff; What need I fear of thee?
But yet I'll make assurance double sure,
And take a bond of fate^{2 note}: thou shalt not live;
That I may tell pale-hearted fear, it lies,
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^{3 note}
?

All.
Listen, but speak not to't^{4 note}
.

App.
Be lion-mettled, proud; and take no care
Who chafes, who frets, or where conspirers are:
Macbeth shall never vanquish'd be, until
Great Birnam wood to high Dunsinane hill^{5 note}

Macb.
That will never be;
Who can impress the forest^{6 note}; bid the tree
Unfix his earth-bound root? sweet bodements! good!
Rebellious head, rise never^{7 note}

Of Birnam rise, and our high-plac'd Macbeth
Shall live the lease of nature, pay his breath
To time, and mortal custom.—Yet my heart
Throbs to know one thing; Tell me, (if your art
Can tell so much,) shall Banquo's issue ever
Reign in this kingdom?

All.
Seek to know no more.

Macb.
I will be satisfied: deny me this,
And an eternal curse fall on you! Let me know:—
Why sinks that cauldron? and what noise is this^{8 note}

1 Witch.
Show!

2 Witch.
Show!

3 Witch.
Show!

All.
Show his eyes, and grieve his heart^{9 note};
Come like shadows, so depart. Eight Kings^{1 note} appear, and pass over the Stage in order; the last with a Glass in his Hand; Banquo following.

Macb.
Thou art too like the spirit of Banquo; down!

Thy crown does sear mine eye-balls^{9 note}:—And thy air,
Thou other gold-bound brow, is like the first:—
A third is like the former^{1 note}

Another yet?—A seventh?—I'll see no more:—
And yet the eighth appears, who bears a glass^{3 note}

For the blood-bolter'd Banquo^{6 note}

1 Witch.
Ay, sir, all this is so:—But why
Stands Macbeth thus amazedly?—
Come, sisters, cheer we up his sprights^{7 note}
,
And show the best of our delights;
I'll charm the air to give a sound^{8 note}

,
While you perform your antique round^{9 note}

Macb.
Where are they? Gone?—Let this pernicious hour
Stand aye accursed in the calendar^{1 note}



!—
Come in, without there!

Enter Lenox.

Len.
What's your grace's will?

Macb.
Saw you the weird sisters?

Len.
No, my lord.

Macb.
Came they not by you?

Len.
No, indeed, my lord.

Macb.
Infected be the air whereon they ride^{2 note}


;
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.
Fled to England?

Len.
Ay, my good lord.

Macb.
Time, thou anticipat'st my dread exploits^{3 note}:
The flighty purpose never is o'ertook,
Unless the deed go with it: From this moment,
The very firstlings^{4 note}

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
His wife, his babes, and all unfortunate souls
That trace him in his line^{5 note}

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