La. Macd.
Art sure this is the place my Lord appointed
Us to meet him?

Serv.
This is the entrance o'th' Heath; and here
He order'd me to attend him with the Chariot.

La. Macd.
How fondly did my Lord conceive that we
Should shun the place of danger by our flight
From Everness? The darkness of the day
Makes the Heath seem the gloomy walks of death.
We are in danger still: they who dare here
Trust Providence, may trust it any where.

Maid.
But this place, Madam, is more free from terror:
Last night methoughts I heard a dismal noise
Of shrieks and groanings in the air.

La. Macd.
'Tis true, this is a place of greater silence;
Not so much troubled with the groans of those
That die; nor with the out-cries of the living.

Maid.
Yes, I have heard stories, how some men
Have in such lonely places been affrighted
With dreadful shapes and noises. [Macduff hollows.

La. Macd.
But hark, my Lord sure hollows;
'Tis he; answer him quickly.

Serv.
Illo, ho, ho, ho. Enter Macduff.

La. Macd.
Now I begin to see him: are you a foot,
My Lord?

Macd.
Knowing the way to be both short and easie,
And that the Chariot did attend me here,
I have adventur'd. Where are our Children?

La. Macd.
They are securely sleeping in the Chariot. First Song by Witches.

1 Witch.
Speak, Sister, speak; is the deed done?

2 Witch.
Long ago, long ago:
Above twelve glasses since have run.

3 Witch.
Ill deeds are seldom slow;
Nor single: following crimes on former wait.
The worst of creatures fastest propagate.
Many more murders must this one ensue,
As if in death were propagation too.

2 Witch.
He will.

1 Witch.
He shall.

3 Witch.
He must spill much more bloud;
And become worse, to make his Title good.

1 Witch.
Now let's dance.

2 Witch.
Agreed.

3 Witch.
Agreed.

4 Witch.
Agreed.

Chorus.
We shou'd rejoyce when good Kings bleed.
When Cattel die, about we go,
What then, when Monarchs perish, should we do?

Macd.
What can this be?

La. Macd.
This is most strange: but why seem you affraid?
Can you be capable of fears, who have
So often caus'd it in your Enemies?

Macd.
It was an hellish Song, I cannot dread
Ought that is mortal; but this is something more.
Second Song.
Let's have a dance upon the Heath;
We gain more life by Duncan's death.
Sometimes like brinded Cats we shew,
Having no musick but our mew.
Sometimes we dance in some old Mill,
Upon the Hopper, Stones, and Wheel.
To some old Saw, or Bardish Rhime,
Where still the Mill-clack does keep time.
Sometimes about an hollow tree,
A round, a round, a round dance we.
Thither the chirping Cricket comes,
And Beetle, singing drowsie hums.
Sometimes we dance o're Fens and Furs,
To howls of Wolves, and barks of Curs.
And when with none of those we meet,
We dance to th' Ecchoes of our feet.
At the night-Raven's dismal voice,
Whilst others tremble, we rejoyce;
And nimbly, nimbly dance we still
To th' Ecchoes from an hollow Hill.

Macd.
I am glad you are not affraid.

La. Macd.
I would not willingly to sear submit:

None can fear ill, but those that merit it.

Macd.
Am I made bold by her? How strong a guard
Is innocence? If any one would be
Reputed valiant, let him learn of you;
Vertue both courage is, and safety too. [A dance of Witches. Enter two Witches.

Macd.
These seem foul spirits; I'll speak to 'em.
If you can any thing by more than nature know;
You may in these prodigious times fore-tell
Some ill we may avoid.

1 Witch.
Saving thy bloud will cause it to be shed;

2 Witch.
He'll bleed by thee, by whom thou first hast bled.

3 Witch.
Thy Wife shall shunning danger, dangers find,
And fatal be, to whom she most is kind [Ex. Witches.

La. Macd.
Why are you alter'd, Sir? Be not so thoughtful:
The Messengers of Darkness never spake
To men, but to deceive them.

Macd.
Their words seem to fore-tell some dire Predictions.

La. Macd.
He that believes ill news from such as these,
Deserves to find it true. Their words are like
Their shape; nothing but Fiction.
Let's hasten to our journey.

Macd.
I'll take your counsel; for to permit
Such thoughts upon our memories to dwell,
Will make our minds the Registers of Hell. [Exeunt omnes.

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