1 Witch.
Thrice the brinded cat hath mew'd.* ^note

2 Witch.
Twice and once the hedge-pig whin'd.

3 Witch.
Harper cries, 'tis time, 'tis time.

1 Witch.
Round about the cauldron go,
In the poison'd entrails throw. [They march round the Cauldron, and throw in the several Ingredients, as for the Preparation of their Charm.
Toad, that under the cold stone.
Days and nights has thirty-one,
Swelter'd venom sleeping got;
Boil thou first i' th' charmed pot.

All.
Double, double, toil and trouble;
Fire burn, and cauldron bubble.

1 Witch.
Fillet of a fenny snake,
In the cauldron boil and bake;
Eye of newt, and toe of frog,
Wool of bat, and tongue of dog,
Adder's fork, and blind worm's sting,
Lizard's leg, and owlet's wing,
For a charm of pow'rful trouble,
Like a hell-broth, boil and bubble.

All.
Double, double, toil and trouble;
Fire burn, and cauldron bubble.

3 Witch.
Scale of dragon, tooth of wolf,
Witches mummy; maw and gulf

Of the ravening salt sea shark;
Root of hemlock, digg'd i' th' dark;
Liver of blaspheming Jew;
Gall of goat, and slips of yew,
Sliver'd in the moon's eclipse;
Nose of Turk, and Tartar's lips;
Finger of birth strangled babe,
Ditch-deliver'd by a drab;
Make the gruel thick and slab.
Add thereto a tyger's chawdron,
For the ingredients of our cauldron.

All.
Double, double, toil and trouble;
Fire burn, and cauldron bubble.

2 Witch.
Cool it with a baboon's blood,
Then the charm is firm and good. Enter Hecate, and other three Witches.

Hec.
O! well done! I commend your pains,
And every one shall share i' th' gains.

2 Witch.
Hold, by the pricking of my thumbs,
Something wicked this way comes. [A knocking.
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 conjure 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
Confound and swallow navigation up;
Though bladed corn be lodg'd, and trees blown down,
Though castles topple on their warders heads;
Though palaces and pyramids do slope
Their heads to their foundations; though the treasure
Of nature's germins, tumble all together,
Even 'till destruction sicken; answer me,
To what I ask you.* ^note

1 Witch.
Speak.

2 Witch.
Pronounce.

3 Witch.
Demand.

Hec.
We'll answer.

1 Witch.
Say if th' hadst rather hear it from our mouths,
Or from our masters!

Macb.
Call 'em: let me see 'em.

1 Witch.
Pour in sow's blood, that hath eaten
Her nine farrow; grease that's sweaten
From the murd'rer's gibbet, throw
Into the flame.

All.
Come high or low:
Thyself and office deftly shew. [Thunder. Apparition of an armed head, rises.* ^note

Macb.
Tell me, thou unknown power—

1 Witch.
He knows thy thought:
Hear his speech, but say thou nought.

App.
Macbeth! Macbeth! Macbeth! beware Macduff.
Beware the Thane of Fife—dismiss me—enough. [Descends.

Macb.
Whate'er thou art, for thy good caution, thanks,
Thou'st harp'd my fear aright. But one word more.—

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

App.
Macbeth! Macbeth! Macbeth!

Macb.
Had I three ears, I'd hear thee.

App.
Be bloody, bold, and resolute; laugh to scorn
The pow'r of man; for none, of woman born,
Shall harm Macbeth. [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; thou shalt not live,
That I may tell pale-hearted fear it lies;
And sleep in spight of thunder.* ^note [Thunder. Apparition of a Child crowned, with a tree in his hand, rises.
What is this,
That rises like the issue of a king,
And wears upon his baby-brow the round
And top of sovereignty?

All.
Listen, but speak not.

App.
Be lion-mettled, proud, and take no care,
Who chafes, who frets, or who conspirers are:
Macbeth shall never vanquish'd be, until
Great Birnam wood to Dunsinane's high hill
Shall come against him. [Descends.

Macb.
That will never be.
Who can impress the forest, bid the tree
Unfix his earth-bound root? Sweet boadments!
—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. [The Cauldron sinks into the ground.

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?

1 Witch.
Appear!

2 Witch.
Appear!

3 Witch.
Appear!

All.
Shew his eyes, and grieve his heart;
Come like shadows, so depart. [Eight Kings appear, and pass over in order; the last with a glass in his hand; then Banquo.

Macb.
Thou art too like the spirit of Banquo—down!
Thy crown doth sear mine eye-balls— [To the first.

A second like the first—
A third is like the former—filthy hags!
Why do you shew me this?—A fourth—start eye!
A fifth!
Another yet!—A seventh! I'll see no more—
And yet the eighth appears, who bears a glass,
Which shews me many more.
Horrible sight! nay, now I see, 'tis true;
For the blood-bolter'd Banquo smiles upon me,
And points at them for his. What! is this so?* ^note

1 Witch.
Ay, sir, all this is so: but why
Stands Macbeth thus amazedly?
Come, sisters, chear we up his sprights,
And shew the best of our delights;
I'll charm the air to give a sound,
While you perform your antick round;
That this great king may kindly say,
Our duties did his welcome pay. [Musick. [A dance of Furies, and then all vanish.

Macb.
Where are they? Gone?—Let this pernicious hour
Stand ay accursed in the calendar!
Come in, there— Enter Lenox.

Len.
What's your grace's will?

Macb.
Saw you the weyward sisters?

Len.
No, my lord.

Macb.
Came they not by you?

Len.
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.
'Twas two or three, my lord, that bring you word,
Macduff is fled to England.

Macb.
Fled to England?

Len.
Ay, my good lord.

Macb. [Aside.]
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.
The castle of Macduff I will surprise,
Seize upon Fife, give to the edge o' th'sword
His wife, his babes, and all unfortunate souls
That trace him in his line. No boasting like a fool,
This deed I'll do before this purpose cool. [Exeunt.

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