SCENE I.
Enter Banquo.
Thou hast it now, King, Cawdor, Glamis, all,
As the weïrd women promis'd; and, I fear,
Thou playd'st most foully for't: yet it was said,
It should not stand in thy posterity;
-- 521 --
But that myself should be the root, and father
Of many kings: If there come truth from them,
(1 note
As upon thee, Macbeth, their speeches shine)
Why, by the verities on thee made good,
May they not be my oracles as well,
And set me up in hope? But, hush; no more.
Senet sounded. Enter Macbeth as King; Lady Macbeth, Lenox, Rosse, Lords, and Attendants.
Macb.
Here's our chief guest.
Lady.
If he had been forgotten,
It had been as a gap in our great feast,
And all things unbecoming.
Macb.
To-night we hold a solemn supper, sir,
And I'll request your presence 9Q0537.
Ban.
2 noteLay your highness'
Command upon me; to the which, my duties
Are with a most indissoluble tye
For ever knit.
Macb.
Ride you this afternoon?
Ban.
Ay, my good lord.
Macb.
We should have else desir'd your good advice
(Which still hath been both grave and prosperous)
In this day's council; but we'll take to-morrow.
Is't far you ride?
Ban.
As far, my lord, as will fill up the time
'Twixt this and supper: go not my horse the better3 note
,
-- 522 --
I must become a borrower of the night,
For a dark hour, or twain.
Macb.
Fail not our feast.
Ban.
My lord, I will not.
Macb.
We hear, our bloody cousins are bestow'd
In England, and in Ireland; not confessing
Their cruel parricide, filling their hearers
With strange invention: But of that to-morrow;
When, therewithal, we shall have cause of state,
Craving us jointly. Hie you to horse: Adieu,
Till you return at night. Goes Fleance with you?
Ban.
Ay, my good lord: our time does call upon us.
Macb.
I wish your horses swift, and sure of foot;
And so I do commend you to their backs.
Farewel.—
[Exit Banquo.
Let every man be master of his time
'Till seven at night; to make society
The sweeter welcome, we will keep ourself
'Till supper-time alone: while then, God be with you.
[Exeunt Lady Macbeth, and Lords.
Sirrah, a word with you: Attend those men our pleasure?
Ser.
They are, my lord, without the palace gate.
Macb.
Bring them before us.—To be thus, is nothing;
[Exit Servant.
But to be safely thus:—Our fears in Banquo
Stick deep; and in his royalty of nature
-- 523 --
Reigns that, which would be fear'd: 'Tis much he dares;
And, to that dauntless temper of his mind,
He hath a wisdom that doth guide his valour
To act in safety. There is none, but he,
Whose being I do fear: and, under him,
My genius is rebuk'd; 4 note
as, it is said,
Mark Antony's was by Cæsar. He chid the sisters,
When first they put the name of King upon me,
And bade them speak to him; then, prophet-like,
They hail'd him father to a line of kings:
Upon my head they plac'd a fruitless crown,
And put a barren scepter in my gripe,
Thence to be wrench'd with an unlineal hand,
-- 524 --
No son of mine succeeding. If it be so,
5 note
For Banquo's issue have I fil'd my mind;
For them the gracious Duncan have I murder'd;
Put rancours in the vessel of my peace
Only for them; and mine eternal jewel
Given to 6 notethe common enemy of man,
To make them kings, the seed of Banquo kings!
Rather than so, 7 note
come, fate, into the list,
And champion me to the utterance!—Who's there?—
-- 525 --
Re-enter Servant, with two Murderers.
Now go to the door, and stay there till we call.
[Exit Servant.
Was it not yesterday we spoke together?
Mur.
It was, so please your highness.
Macb.
Well then, now
Have you consider'd of my speeches? Know,
That it was he, in the times past, which held you
So under fortune; which, you thought, had been
Our innocent self: this I made good to you
In our last conference, past in probation with you;
8 note
How you were borne in hand; how crost; the instruments;
-- 526 --
Who wrought with them; and all things else, that might,
To half a soul, and to a notion craz'd,
Say, Thus did Banquo.
1 Mur.
You made it known to us.
Macb.
I did so; and went further, which is now
Our point of second meeting. Do you find
Your patience so predominant in your nature,
That you can let this go? 9 note
Are you so gospell'd,
To pray for this good man, and for his issue,
Whose heavy hand hath bow'd you to the grave,
And beggar'd yours for ever?
1 Mur.
We are men, my liege 9Q0541.
Macb.
Ay, in the catalogue you go for men;
As hounds, and greyhounds, mungrels, spaniels, curs,
1 note
Shoughs, water-rugs, and demi-wolves, are cleped
All by the name of dogs: the valued file2 note
-- 527 --
Distinguishes the swift, the slow, the subtle,
The house-keeper, the hunter, every one
According to the gift which bounteous nature
Hath in him clos'd; whereby he does receive
Particular addition, from the bill
That writes them all alike: and so of men.
Now, if you have a station in the file,
Not in the worst rank of manhood, say it;
And I will put that business in your bosoms,
Whose execution takes your enemy off;
Grapples you to the heart and love of us,
Who wear our health but sickly in his life,
Which in his death were perfect.
2 Mur.
I am one, my liege,
Whom the vile blows and buffets of the world
-- 528 --
Have so incens'd, that I am reckless what
I do, to spite the world.
1 Mur.
And I another,
3 note
So weary with disasters, tugg'd with fortune,
That I would set my life on any chance,
To mend it, or be rid on't.
Macb.
Both of you
Know, Banquo was your enemy.
Mur.
True, my lord.
Macb.
So is he mine: and 4 note
in such bloody distance,
That every minute of his being thrusts
Against my near'st of life: And though I could
With bare-fac'd power sweep him from my sight,
And bid my will avouch it; yet I must not,
For certain friends that are both his and mine,
Whose loves I may not drop, but wail his fall
Whom I myself struck down: and thence it is,
That I to your assistance do make love;
-- 529 --
Masking the business from the common eye,
For sundry weighty reasons.
Mur.
We shall, my lord,
Perform what you command us.
1 Mur.
Though our lives—
Macb.
Your spirits shine through you. Within this hour, at most,
I will advise you where to plant yourselves;
5 note
Acquaint you with the perfect spy o'the time,
The moment on't; for't must be done to-night,
And something from the palace; always thought6 note
,
That I require a clearness: And with him,
(To leave no rubs, nor botches, in the work)
-- 530 --
Fleance his son, that keeps him company,
Whose absence is no less material to me
Than is his father's, must embrace the fate
Of that dark hour: Resolve yourselves apart;
I'll come to you anon.
Mur.
We are resolv'd, my lord.
Macb.
I'll call upon you straight; abide within.
It is concluded:—Banquo, thy soul's flight,
If it find heaven, must find it out to-night.
[Exeunt.
SCENE II.
Enter Lady Macbeth, and a Servant.
Lady.
Is Banquo gone from court?
Serv.
Ay, madam; but returns again to-night.
Lady.
Say to the king, I would attend his leisure
For a few words.
Serv.
Madam, I will.
[Exit.
Lady.
Nought's had, all's spent,
Where our desire is got without content:
'Tis safer to be that which we destroy,
Than, by destruction, dwell in doubtful joy.
Enter Macbeth.
How now, my lord? why do you keep alone,
Of sorriest fancies7 note
your companions making?
Using those thoughts, which should indeed have dy'd
With them they think on? Things without all remedy
Should be without regard: what's done, is done.
Macb.
We have 8 note
scotch'd the snake, not kill'd it,
-- 531 --
She'll close, and be herself; whilst our poor malice
Remains in danger of her former tooth.
9 note
But let the frame of things disjoint, both the worlds suffer,
Ere we will eat our meal in fear, and sleep
In the affliction of these terrible dreams,
That shake us nightly: Better be with the dead,
Whom we, to gain our place, have sent to peace1 note
,
Than on the torture of the mind to lie
2 note
In restless ecstacy.—Duncan is in his grave;
After life's fitful fever, he sleeps well;
Treason has done his worst: nor steel, nor poison,
Malice domestic, foreign levy, nothing,
Can touch him further!
Lady.
Come on; Gentle my lord,
Sleek o'er your rugged looks; be bright and jovial
Among your guests to-night.
Macb.
So shall I, love;
And so, I pray, be you: let your remembrance
-- 532 --
Apply to Banquo; 3 notepresent him eminence, both
With eye and tongue: Unsafe the while, that we
Must lave our honours in these flattering streams;
And make our faces vizards to our hearts,
Disguising what they are.
Lady.
You must leave this.
Macb.
O, full of scorpions is my mind, dear wife!
Thou know'st, that Banquo, and his Fleance, lives.
Lady.
But in them 4 note
nature's copy's not eterne.
Macb.
There's comfort yet, they are assailable;
Then be thou jocund: Ere the bat hath flown
His cloister'd flight 9Q0543; ere, to black Hecat's summons,
5 note
The shard-borne beetle 9Q0544, with his drowsy hums,
-- 533 --
Hath rung night's yawning peal, there shall be done
A deed of dreadful note.
-- 534 --
Lady.
What's to be done?
Macb.
Be innocent of the knowledge, dearest chuck6 note
,
'Till thou applaud the deed. 7 note
Come, seeling night,
Skarf up the tender eye of pitiful day;
And, with thy bloody and invisible hand,
Cancel, and tear to pieces, that great bond
Which keeps me pale!—8 note
Light thickens; and the crow
-- 535 --
9 note
Makes wing to the rooky wood:
Good things of day begin to droop and drowze;
While night's black agents to their preys do rouze.
Thou marvell'st at my words: but hold thee still;
Things, bad begun, make strong themselves by ill:
So, pr'ythee, go with me.
[Exeunt.
SCENE III.
Enter three Murderers.
1 Mur.
1 noteBut who did bid thee join with us?
3 Mur.
Macbeth.
2 Mur.
He needs not our mistrust; since he delivers
Our offices, and what we have to do,
To the direction just.
1 Mur.
Then stand with us.
The west yet glimmers with some streaks of day:
Now spurs the lated traveller apace,
-- 536 --
To gain the timely inn; and near approaches
The subject of our watch.
3 Mur.
Hark! I hear horses.
[Banquo within.]
Give us a light there, ho!
2 Mur.
Then it is he; the rest
That are within 2 notethe note of expectation,
Already are i'the court.
1 Mur.
His horses go about.
3 Mur.
Almost a mile: but he does usually,
So all men do, from hence to the palace gate
Make it their walk.
Enter Banquo, and Fleance with a torch.
2 Mur.
A light, a light!
3 Mur.
'Tis he.
1 Mur.
Stand to't.
Ban.
It will be rain to-night.
1 Mur.
Let it come down.
[They assault Banquo.
Ban.
Oh, treachery! Fly, good Fleance, fly, fly, fly;
Thou may'st revenge.—Oh slave!
[Dies. Fleance escapes.
3 Mur.
Who did strike out the light?
1 Mur.
3 noteWas't not the way?
3 Mur.
There's but one down; the son is fled.
2 Mur.
We have lost best half of our affair.
1 Mur.
Well, let's away, and say how much is done.
[Exeunt.
-- 537 --
SCENE IV.
A banquet prepared. Enter Macbeth, Lady, Rosse, Lenox, Lords, and Attendants.
Macb.
4 note
You know your own degrees, sit down: at first,
And last, the hearty welcome.
Lords.
Thanks to your majesty.
Macb.
Ourself will mingle with society,
And play the humble host.
Our hostess keeps her state5 note; but, in best time,
We will require her welcome.
Lady.
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
-- 538 --
The table round.—There's blood upon thy face.
Mur.
'Tis Banquo's then.
Macb.
6 note
'Tis better thee without, than he within.
Is he dispatch'd?
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 did'st it,
Thou art the non-pareil.
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 gashes7 note
on his head;
The least a death to nature.
Macb.
Thanks for that:—
There the grown serpent lies; the worm, that's fled,
Hath nature that in time will venom breed,
No teeth for the present.—Get thee gone; to-morrow
We'll hear, ourselves again.
[Exit Murderer.
-- 539 --
Lady.
My royal lord,
You do not give the cheer: the feast is sold8 note
,
That is not often vouch'd while 'tis a making,
'Tis given with welcome: To feed, were best at home;
From thence, the sauce to meat is ceremony;
Meeting were bare without it.
[Enter the ghost of Banquo9 note
, and sits in Macbeth's place.
Macb.
Sweet remembrancer!—
Now, good digestion wait on appetite,
And health on both!
Len.
May it please your highness sit?
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!
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.
-- 540 --
Len.
Here is a place reserv'd, sir.
Macb.
Where?
Len.
Here, my good lord. What is't that moves your highness?9Q0546
Macb.
Which of you have done this?
Lords.
What, my good lord?
Macb.
Thou can'st not say, I did it: never shake
Thy goary locks at me.
Rosse.
Gentlemen, rise; his highness is not well.
Lady.
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
He will again be well: If much you note him,
You shall offend him, and 1 noteextend his passion;
Feed, and regard him not.—Are you a man?
Macb.
Ay, and a bold one, that dare look on that
Which might appall the devil.
Lady.
2 noteO proper stuff!
This is the very painting of your fear:
This is the air-drawn-dagger, which, you said,
Led you to Duncan. 3 note
Oh, these flaws, and starts,
-- 541 --
(Impostors to true fear,) would well become
A woman's story, at a winter's fire,
Authoriz'd by her grandam. Shame itself!
Why do you make such faces? When all's done,
You look but on a stool.
Macb.
Pr'ythee, see there! behold! look! lo! how say you?—
Why, what care I? If thou can'st nod, speak too.—
If charnel-houses, and our graves, must send
Those that we bury, back; our monuments
Shall be the maws of kites4 note
.
Lady.
What! quite unmann'd in folly?
Macb.
If I stand here, I saw him.
Lady.
Fie, for shame!
Macb.
Blood hath been shed ere now, i'the olden time,
5 note
Ere human statute purg'd the gentle weal;
Ay, and since too, murders have been perform'd
Too terrible for the ear: the times have been,
That, when the brains were out, the man would die,
And there an end: but now, they rise again,
With twenty mortal murders on their crowns,
And push us from our stools: This is more strange
Than such a murder is.
Lady.
My worthy lord,
Your noble friends do lack you.
Macb.
I do forget:—
-- 542 --
Do not muse at me6 note
, my most worthy friends;
I have a strange infirmity, which is nothing
To those that know me. Come, love and health to all;
Then I'll sit down:—Give me some wine, fill full:—
I drink to the general joy of the whole table,
Re-enter Ghost.
And to our dear friend Banquo, whom we miss;
Would he were here! to all, and him, we thirst,
7 note
And all to all.
Lords.
Our duties, and the pledge.
Macb.
Avant! and quit my sight! Let the earth hide thee!
Thy bones are marrowless, thy blood is cold;
Thou hast no speculation in those eyes
Which thou dost glare with!
Lady.
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,
-- 543 --
The arm'd rhinoceros, or the Hyrcan tyger8 note,
Take any shape but that, and my firm nerves
Shall never tremble: Or, be alive again,
And dare me to the desert with thy sword;
9 note
If trembling I inhabit, then protest me
The baby of a girl.9Q0548 Hence, horrible shadow!
Unreal mockery, hence!—Why, so;—being gone,
I am a man again.—Pray you, sit still.
Lady.
You have displac'd the mirth, broke the good meeting,
With most admir'd disorder.
Macb.
1 note
Can such things be,
-- 544 --
And overcome us like a summer's cloud,
Without our special wonder? 2 note
You make me strange
Even to the disposition that I owe,
When now I think you can behold such sights,
And keep the natural ruby of your cheek,
When mine is blanch'd with fear3 note
.
-- 545 --
Rosse.
What sights, my lord?
Lady.
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.
A kind good night to all!
[Exeunt Lords.
Macb.
It will have blood, they say; blood will have blood:
Stones have been known to move, and trees to speak;
4 note
Augurs, and understood relations, have
-- 546 --
By magot-pies,9Q0551 and choughs, and rooks, brought forth
The secret'st man of blood.—What is the night?
Lady.
Almost at odds with morning, which is which.
Macb.
5 note
How say'st thou, that Macduff denies his person,
At our great bidding?
Lady.
Did you send to him, sir?
Macb.
I hear it by the way; but I will send:
6 noteThere's not a one of them, but in his house
I keep a servant fee'd. I will to-morrow,
(And betimes I will) unto the weïrd sisters:
More shall they speak; for now I am bent to know,
By the worst means, the worst: for mine own good,
All causes shall give way; I am in blood
-- 547 --
Stept in so far, that, should I wade no more,
Returning were as tedious as go o'er:
Strange things I have in head, that will to hand;
Which must be acted, ere they may be scann'd7 note
.
Lady.
8 note
You lack the season of all natures, sleep.
Macb.
Come, we'll to sleep: My strange and self-abuse
Is the initiate fear, that wants hard use:—
9 note
We are yet but young in deed.
[Exeunt.
SCENE V.
Thunder. Enter the three Witches, meeting Hecate1 note
.
1 Witch.
Why, how now, Hecat'? you look angerly.
-- 548 --
Hec.
Have I not reason, beldams, as you are,
Saucy, and overbold? How did you dare
To trade and traffic with Macbeth,
In riddles, and affairs of death;
And I, the mistress of your charms,
The close contriver of all harms,
Was never call'd to bear my part,
Or shew the glory of our art?
And, which is worse, all you have done
Hath been but for a wayward son,
Spightful, and wrathful; who, as others do,
Loves for his own ends, not for you.
But make amends now: Get you gone,
And at the pit of Acheron2 note
Meet me i'the morning; thither he
Will come to know his destiny.
Your vessels, and your spells, provide,
Your charms, and every thing beside:
-- 549 --
I am for the air; this night I'll spend
Unto a dismal and a fatal end.
Great business must be wrought ere noon:
Upon the corner of the moon
There hangs a 3 note
vaporous drop profound;
I'll catch it ere it come to ground:
And that, distill'd by magic 4 noteslights,
Shall raise such artificial sprights,
As, by the strength of their illusion,
Shall draw him on to his confusion:
He shall spurn fate, scorn death, and bear
His hopes 'bove wisdom, grace, and fear:
And you all know, security
Is mortals' chiefest enemy.
[Music and a song.
Hark, I am call'd; my little spirit, see,
Sits in a foggy cloud, and stays for me.
[Sing within. Come away, come away, &c.
1 Witch.
Come, let's make haste, she'll soon be back again.
[Exeunt.
SCENE VI.
5 noteEnter Lenox, and another Lord.
Len.
My former speeches have but hit your thoughts,
-- 550 --
Which can interpret further: only, I say,
Things have been strangely borne: The gracious Duncan
Was pitied of Macbeth:—marry, he was dead:—
And the right-valiant Banquo walk'd too late;
Whom, you may say, if it please you, Fleance kill'd,
For Fleance fled. Men must not walk too late.
Who cannot want the thought 9Q0554, how monsterous
It was for Malcolm, and for Donalbain,
To kill their gracious father? damned fact!
How it did grieve Macbeth! did he not straight,
In pious rage, the two delinquents tear,
That were the slaves of drink, and thralls of sleep?
Was not that nobly done? Ay, and wisely too;
For 'twould have anger'd any heart alive,
To hear the men deny it. So that, I say,
He has borne all things well: and I do think,
That, had he Duncan's sons under his key,
(As, an't please heaven, he shall not) they should find
What 'twere to kill a father; so should Fleance.
But, peace!—for from broad words, and 'cause he fail'd
His presence at the tyrant's feast, I hear,
Macduff lives in disgrace: Sir, can you tell
Where he bestows himself?
Lord.
6 noteThe son of Duncan,
From whom this tyrant holds the due of birth,
Lives in the English court; and is receiv'd
Of the most pious Edward with such grace,
-- 551 --
That the malevolence of fortune nothing
Takes from his high respect: Thither Macduff is gone7 note
To pray the holy king, upon his aid
To wake Northumberland, and warlike Siward:
That, by the help of these, (with Him above
To ratify the work) we may again
Give to our tables meat, sleep to our nights;
Free from our feasts and banquets bloody knives8 note
;
Do faithful homage, 9 note
and receive free honours,
All which we pine for now: And this report
Hath so exasperate 1 notethe king, that he
Prepares for some attempt of war.
Len.
Sent he to Macduff?
Lord.
He did: and with an absolute, Sir, not I,
The cloudy messenger turns me his back,
And hums; as who should say, You'll rue the time
That clogs me with this answer.
Len.
And that well might
Advise him to a caution2 note
, to hold what distance
-- 552 --
His wisdom can provide. Some holy angel
Fly to the court of England, and unfold
His message ere he come; that a swift blessing
May soon return to this our suffering country,
Under a hand accurs'd 9Q0555!
Lord.
I'll send my prayers with him.
[Exeunt.
Samuel Johnson [1778], The plays of William Shakspeare. In ten volumes. With the corrections and illustrations of various commentators; to which are added notes by Samuel Johnson and George Steevens. The second edition, Revised and Augmented (Printed for C. Bathurst [and] W. Strahan [etc.], London) [word count] [S10901].
