Inverness.
Enter Lady Macbeth alone, with a letter.
Lady.
They met me in the day of success; and
I have learn'd 1 noteby the perfectest report, they
have more in them than mortal knowledge. When I
burnt in desire to question them further, they made themselves
air, into which they vanish'd. While I stood rapt
in the wonder of it, came Missives from the King, who
all-hail'd me, Thane of Cawdor; by which title, before,
these weyward sisters saluted me, and referr'd 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 might'st not lose the dues of rejoicing,
by being ignorant of what Greatness is promis'd
thee. Lay it to thy heart, and farewel.
-- 392 --
Glamis thou art, and Cawdor—and shalt be
What thou art promis'd. Yet do I fear thy nature;
It is too full o' th' 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; 2 note
thou'dst have, great Glamis,
That which cries, thus thou must do, if thou have it;
And That which rather thou dost fear to do,
Than wishest should be undone. Hie thee hither,
That I may pour my spirits in thine ear,
And chastise with the valour of my tongue
All that impedes thee from the golden Round,
3 note
Which fate, and metaphysical aid, doth seem
To have thee crown'd withal.
-- 393 --
Enter Messenger.
What is your tidings?
Mes.
The King comes here to night.
Lady.
Thou'rt mad to say it.
Is not thy master with him? who, wer't so,
Would have inform'd for preparation.
Mes.
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.
Lady.
Give him tending;
He brings great news. 4 note
The raven himself is hoarse,
[Exit Mes.
-- 394 --
That croaks the fatal entrance of Duncan
Under my battlements. Come, all you Spirits
That tend on 5 note
mortal thoughts, unsex me here;
And fill me, from the crown to th' toe, top-full
Of direct cruelty; make thick my blood,
Stop up th' access and passage to Remorse,
That no compunctious visitings of nature
Shake my fell purpose, 6 note
nor keep peace between
Th' effect, and it. Come to my woman's breasts,
And * notetake my milk for gall, you murth'ring ministers
Where-ever in your sightless substances
7 note
You wait on nature's mischief.—Come, thick night!
-- 395 --
8 noteAnd pall thee in the dunnest smoak of hell,
That my keen knife see not the wound it makes;
Nor heav'n peep through the blanket of the dark,
9 noteTo cry, hold, hold!
Enter Macbeth.
Great Glamis! worthy Cawdor!
[Embracing him.
Greater than both, by the all-hail hereafter!
Thy letters have transported me beyond
1 note
This ignorant present time, and I feel now
The future in the instant.
Macb.
Dearest love,
Duncan comes here to night.
Lady.
And when goes hence?
Macb.
To morrow, as he purposes.
Lady.
Oh, never
Shall Sun that morrow see!—
Your face, my Thane, is as a book, where men
May read strange matters. To beguile the time,
Look like the time; bear welcome in your eye,
Your hand, your tongue; look like the innocent flower,
But be the serpent under't. He, that's coming,
Must be provided for; and you shall put
This night's great business into my dispatch,
Which shall to all our nights and days to come
Give solely sovereign sway and masterdom.
Macb.
We will speak further.
Lady.
Only look up clear:
To alter favour, ever, is to fear.
Leave all the rest to me.
[Exeunt.
-- 396 --
Samuel Johnson [1765], The plays of William Shakespeare, in eight volumes, with the corrections and illustrations of Various Commentators; To which are added notes by Sam. Johnson (Printed for J. and R. Tonson [and] C. Corbet [etc.], London) [word count] [S11001].
