Musick and a Song.
Black spirits and white,
Blue spirits and gray,
Mingle, mingle, mingle,
You that mingle may.
2 Witch.
By the pricking of my thumbs
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 conjure you, by that which you profess,
(How e'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,(32) note
Even till destruction sicken: answer me
To what I ask you.
1 Witch.
Speak.
2 Witch.
Demand.
3 Witch.
We'll answer.
1 Witch.
Say, if th' hadst rather hear it from our mouths,
-- 441 --
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 murth'rer's gibbet, throw
Into the flame:
All.
Come high or low:
Thy self and office deftly show.
[Thunder.
Apparition of an armed head rises.(33) 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.
What-e'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.
-- 442 --
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 lyes;
And sleep in spight of thunder.
[Thunders.
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 where 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! good!
Rebellious Head rise never, till the wood(34) note
Of Birnam rise, and our high-plac'd Macbeth
-- 443 --
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.
[The cauldron sinks into the ground.
Macb.
I will be satisfy'd. Deny me this,
And an eternal Curse fall on you! let me know,
Why sinks that cauldron? and what noise is this?
[Hautboys.
1 Witch.
Shew!
2 Witch.
Shew!
3 Witch.
Shew!
All.
Shew his eyes, and grieve his heart;
Come like shadows, so depart.
[Eight Kings appear and pass over in order, and(35) note
Banquo; the last, with a glass in his hand.
Macbeth.
Thou art too like the spirit of Banquo; down!
-- 444 --
Thy Crown do's sear mine eye-balls.—And thy hair
(Thou other gold-bound brow) is like the first—
A third is like the former—filthy hags!
Why do you shew me this?—A fourth?—Start eye!
What! will the line stretch out to th' crack of Doom?—
Another yet?—A seventh! I'll see no more—
And yet the eighth appears, who bears a glass,
Which shews me many more; and some I see,
That twofold balls and treble scepters carry.
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?
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.
[The witches dance and vanish.
Macb.
Where are they? gone?—Let this pernicious hour
Stand ay accursed in the kalendar!
Come in, without there!
Enter Lenox.
Len.
What's your Grace's will?
Macb.
Saw you the weïrd 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.
'Tis two or three, my lord, that bring you word,
-- 445 --
Macduff is fled to England.
Macb.
Fled to England?
Len.
Ay, my good lord.
Macb.
Time, thou anticipat'st my dread exploits:
The flighty purpose never is o'er-took,
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't thought and done!
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.
But no more sights. Where are these gentlemen?
Come, bring me where they are.
[Exeunt.
Lewis Theobald [1733], The works of Shakespeare: in seven volumes. Collated with the Oldest Copies, and Corrected; With notes, Explanatory and Critical; By Mr. Theobald (Printed for A. Bettesworth and C. Hitch [and] J. Tonson [etc.], London) [word count] [S11201].
