Banq.
Thou hast it now, King, Cawdor, Glamis, all,
As the three Sisters promis'd; but I fear
Thou plaid'st most foully for't: yet it was said
It should not stand in thy Posterity:
But that my self should be the Root and Father
Of Many Kings; they told thee truth.
Why, since their promise was made good to thee,
May they not be my Oracles as well?

Enter Macbeth, Lenox, and Attendants.

Macb.
Here's our chief Guest, if he had been forgotten,
It had been want of musick to our Feast.
To night we hold a solemn Supper, Sir;
And all request your presence.

Banq.
Your Majesty lays your command on me,
To which my duty is to obey.

Macb.
Ride you this afternoon?

Banq.
Yes, Royal, Sir.

Macb.
We should have else desired your good advice,
(Which still hath been both grave and prosperous)
In this days Counsel; but we'll take to morrow.
Is't far you ride?

Banq.
As far, Great Sir, as will take up the time:
Go not my horse the better,
I must become a borrower of the night,
For a dark hour or two.

Macb.
Fail not our Feast.

Banq.
My Lord, I shall not.

Macb.
We hear our bloudy Cousins are bestovv'd
In England, and in Ireland; not confessing
Their cruel Parricide; filling their hearers
With strange invention. But, of that to morrovv.
Goes your Son vvith you?

Banq.
He does; and our time novv calls upon us.

Macb.
I vvish your Horses svvift, and sure of foot.
Farevvel. [Ex. Banquo.
Let every man be Master of his time;
Till seven at night, to make society
The more vvelcome; vve vvill our selves vvithdravv,
And be alone till supper. [Exeunt Lords.
Macdduff departed frovvningly, perhaps
He is grovvn jealous; he and Banquo must
Embrace the same Fate.
Do those men attend our pleasure?

Serv.
They do, and vvait vvithout.

Macb.
Bring them before us. [Ex. Servant.
I am no King til I am safely so.
My fears stick deep in Banquo's Successors;
And in his Royalty of Nature reigns that

Which wou'd be fear'd. He dares do much;
And to that dauntless temper of his mind,
He hath a wisdom that doth guide his valour
To act in safety. Under him
My Genius is rebuk'd: he chid the Sisters
When first they put the name of King upon me,
And bad 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 hand:
Thence to be wrested by anothers Race;
No Son of mine succeeding: if't be so;
For Banquo's Issue, I have stain'd my soul
For them: the gracious Duncan I have murder'd:
Rather than so, I will attempt yet further,
And blot out, by their bloud, what e're
Is written of them in the book of Fate. Enter Servant, and two Murtherers.
Wait you without, and stay there till we call. [Ex. Servant.
Was it not yesterday we spoke together?

1 Murth.
It was, so please your Highness.

Macb.
And have you since considered what I told you?
How it was Banquo, who in former times
Held you so much in slavery;
Whilst you were guided to suspect my innocence.
This I made good to you in your last conference;
How you were born in hand; how crost:
The Instruments, who wrought with them.

2 Mur.
You made it known to us.

Macb.
I did so; and now let me reason with you:
Do you find your patience so predominant
In your nature,
As tamely to remit those injuries?
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.

Macb.
Ay, in the catalogue you go for men;
As Hounds, and Grey-hounds, Mungrels, Spaniels, Curs,

Shoughs, water-rugs, and demi-wolves, are all
Call'd by the name of dogs: the list of which
Distinguishes the swift, the slow, the subtil,
The house-keeper, the hunter, every one
According to the gift which bounteous Nature
Hath bestow'd on him; and so of men.
Now, if you have a station in the list,
Nor i'th' worst rank of manhood; say't,
And I will put that business in your bosoms,
Which, if perform'd, will rid you of your enemy,
And will endear you to the love of us.

2 Mur.
I am one, my Liege,
Whom the vile blows, and malice of the Age
Hath so incens'd, that I care not what I do
To spight the World.

1 Mur.
And I another,
So weary with disasters, and so inflicted by fortune,
That I would set my life on any chance,
To mend it, or to lose it.

Macb.
Both of you know Banquo was your enemy.

2 Mur.
True, my Lord.

Macb.
So is he mine; and though I could
With open power take 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 hazard; would ill
Resent a publick process: and thence it is
That I do your assistance crave, to mask
The business from the common eye.

2 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 your selves;
For it must be done to night:
And something from the Palace; always remember'd,
That you keep secrecy with the prescribed Father.
Flean, his Son too, keeps him company;
Whose absence is no less material to me
Than that of Banquo's: he too must embrace the fate

Of that dark hour! Resolve your selves apart.

Both Mur.
We are resolv'd my Liege.

Macb.
I'll call upon you streight. [Ex. Murth,
Now, Banquo, if thy soul can in her flight
Find Heaven, thy happiness begins to night. [Ex. Enter Macduff, and Lady Macduff.

Macd.
It must be so. Great Duncan's bloody death
Can have no other Author but Macbeth.
His Dagger now is to a Scepter grown;
From Duncan's Grave he has deriv'd his Throne.

La. Macd.
Ambition urg'd him to that bloody deed:
May you be never by Ambition led:
Forbid it Heav'n, that in revenge you shou'd
Follow a Copy that is writ in blood.

Macd.
From Duncan's Grave, methinks I hear a groan
That calls aloud for justice.

La. Macd.
If the Throne
Was by Macbeth ill gain'd, Heavens may,
Without your Sword, sufficient vengeance pay.
Usurpers lives have but a short extent,
Nothing lives long in a strange Element.

Macd.
My Countreys dangers call for my defence
Against the bloody Tyrants violence.

L. Macd.
I am afraid you have some other end,
Than meerly Scotland's freedom to defend.
You'd raise your self, whilst you wou'd him dethrone;
And shake his Greatness to confirm your own.
That purpose will appear, when rightly scann'd,
But usurpation at the second hand.
Good Sir, recal your thoughts.

Macd.
What if I shou'd
Assume the Scepter for my Countreys good?
Is that an usurpation? can it be
Ambition to procure the liberty
Of this sad Realm; which does by Treason bleed?
That which provokes, will justifie the deed.

La. Macd.
If the Design should prosper, the Event
May make us safe, but not you Innocent:
For whilst to set our fellow Subjects free
From present Death, or future Slavery.

You wear a Crown, not by your Title due,
Defence in them, is an Offence in you;
That deed's unlawful, though it cost no Blood,
In which you'l be at best unjustly Good.
You, by your Pity, which for us you plead,
Weave but Ambition of a finer thread.

Macd.
Ambition does the height of power affect,
My aim is not to Govern, but Protect:
And he is not ambitious that declares,
He nothing seeks of Scepters but their cares.

La. Macd.
Can you so patiently your self molest,
And lose your own to give your Countrey rest!
In Plagues what sound Physician wou'd endure
To be infected for another's Cure.

Macd.
If by my troubles I cou'd yours release,
My Love wou'd turn those torments to my ease:
I shou'd at once be sick, and healthy too,
Though Sickly in my self, yet Well in you.

La. Macd.
But then reflect upon the Danger, Sir,
Which you by your aspiring wou'd incur
From Fortunes Pinacle, you will too late
Look down, when you are giddy with your height:
Whilst you with Fortune play to win a Crown,
The Peoples Stakes are greater than your own.

Macd.
In hopes to have the common Ills redrest,
Who wou'd not venture single interest. Enter Servant.

Ser.
My Lord, a Gentleman, just now arriv'd
From Court, has brought a Message from the King:

Macd.
One sent from him, can no good Tidings bring?

La. Macd.
What wou'd the Tyrant have?

Macd.
Go, I will hear
The News, though it a dismal Accent bear;
Those who expect and do not fear their Doom,
May hear a Message though from Hell it come. [Exeunt. Enter Macbeth's Lady and Servant.

La. Macb.
Is Banquo gone from Court?

Ser.
Yes Madam, but returns again to night.

La. Macb.
Say to the King, I wou'd attend his leisure
For a few words. [Exit. Ser.

Where our desire is got without content,
Alas, it is not Gain, but punishment!
'Tis safer to be that which we destroy,
Then by Destruction live in doubtful joy. Enter Macbeth.
How now my Lord, why do you keep alone?
Making the worst of Fancy your Companions,
Conversing with those thoughts which shou'd ha'dy'd
With those they think on: things without redress
Shou'd be without regard: what's done, is done.

Macb.
Alas, we have but scorch'd the Snake, not kill'd it,
She'l close and be her self, whilst our poor malice
Remains in danger of her former Sting.
But let the frame of all things be disjoynt
E're we will eat our bread in fear; and sleep
In the affliction of those horrid Dreams
That shake us mightily! Better be with him
Whom we to gain the Crown, have sent to peace;
Then on the torture of the mind so lie
In restless Agony. Duncan is dead;
He, after life's short feaver, now sleeps; Well,
Treason has done its worst; nor Steel, nor Poyson,
Nor Foreign force, nor yet Domestick Malice
Can touch him further.

La. Macb.
Come on, smooth your rough brow.
Be free and merry with your guests to night.

Macb.
I shall, and so I pray be you, but still,
Remember to apply your self to Banquo:
Present him kindness with your Eye and Tongue.
In how unsafe a posture are our honours
That we must have recourse to flattery,
And make our Faces Vizors to our hearts.

La Macb.
You must leave this.

Macb.
How full of Scorpions is my mind? Dear Wife
Thou know'st that Banquo and his Flean lives.

La. Macb.
But they are not Immortal, there's comfort yet in that.

Macb.
Be merry then, for e're the Bat has flown
His Cloyster'd flight; e're to black Heccate's Summons,
The sharp brow'd Beetle with his drowsie hums,
Has rung nights second Peal:

There shall be done a deed of dreadful Note.

La. Macb.
What is't?

Macb.
Be innocent of knowing it, my Dear,
Till thou applaud the deed, come dismal Night
Close up the Eye of the quick-sighted Day
With thy invisible and bloody hand.
The Crow makes wing to the thick shady Grove,
Good things of day grow dark and overcast,
Whilst Nights black Agents to their Preys make hast,
Thou wonder'st at my Language, wonder still,
Things ill begun, strengthen themselves by ill. [Exeunt. Enter three Murtherers.

1 Mur.
The time is almost come,
The West yet glimmers with some streaks of day,
Now the benighted Traveller spurs on,
To gain the timely Inn.

2 Mur.
Hark, I hear Horses, and saw some body alight
At the Park gate.

3 Mur.
Then 'tis he; the rest
That are expected are i'th' Court already.

1 Mur.
His horses go about almost a Mile,
And men from hence to th' Pallace make it their usual walk. [Exe. Enter Banquo and Flean.

Banq.
It will be rain to night.

Flean.
We must make haste:

Banq.
Our haste concerns us more than being wet.
The King expects me at his feast to night,
To which he did invite me with a kindness,
Greater than he was wont to express. [Exeunt. Re-enter Murtherers with drawn Swords.

1 Mur.
Banquo, thou little think'st what bloody feast
Is now preparing for thee.

2 Mur.
Nor to what shades the darkness of this night,
Shall lead thy wandring spirit. [Exeunt after Banquo. [Clashing of Swords is heard from within. Re-enter Flean pursu'd by one of the Murtherers.

Flean.
Murther, help, help, my Father's kill'd. [Exe. running Scene 2 SCENE opens, a Banquet prepar'd. Enter Macbeth, Lady Macbeth, Seaton, Lenox, Lords Attendants.

Macb.
You know your own Degrees, sit down.

Seat.
Thanks to your Majesty.

Macb.
Our self will keep you company,
And play the humble Host to entertain you:
Our Lady keeps her State; but you shall have her welcome too.

La. Macb.
Pronounce it for me Sir, to all our Friends. Enter first Murtherer.

Macb.
Both sides are even; be free in Mirth, anon
We'l drink a measure about the Table.
There's blood upon thy face.

Mur.
'Tis Banquo's then.

Macb.
Is he dispatch'd?

Mur.
My Lord his Throat is cut: that I did for him.

Macb.
Thou art the best of Cut throats;
Yet he is good that did the like for Flean.

Mur.
Most Royal Sir, he scap'd.

Macb.
Then comes my sit again, I had else been perfect,
Firm as a Pillar founded on a Rock!
As unconfin'd as the free spreading Air.
But now I'm check'd with sawcy Doubts and fears.
But Banquo's safe?

Mur.
Safe in a Ditch he lies,
With twenty gaping wounds on his head,
The least of which was Mortal.

Macb.
There the ground Serpent lies; the worm that's fled
Hath Nature, that in time will Venom breed.
Though at present it wants a Sting, to morrow,
To morrow you shall hear further. [Exit. Mur.

La. Macb.
My Royal Lord, you spoil the Feast,
The Sauce to Meat is chearfulness. Enter the Ghost of Banquo and sits in Macbeth's place.

Macb.
Let good digestion wait on Appetite,
And Health on both.

Len.
May it please your Highness to sit.

Macb.
Had we but here our Countreys honour;
Were the grac'd person of our Banquo present,
Whom we may justly challenge for unkindness.

Seat.
His absence Sir,
Lays blame upon his promise; please your Highness,
To grace us with your company?

Macb.
Yes, I'le sit down. The Table's full

Len.
Here is a place reserv'd Sir:

Macb.
Where Sir?

Len.
Here. What is't that moves your Highness?

Macb.
Which of you have done this?

Lords.
Done what?

Macb.
Thou canst not say I did it; never shake
Thy goary Locks at me.

Seat.
Gentlemen rise, his Highness is not well.

La. Macb.
Sit worthy friends, my Lord is often thus,
And hath been from his youth; pray keep your Seats,
The fit is ever sudden if you take notice of it,
You shall offend him, and provoke his passion,
In a moment he'l be well again.
Are you a man?

Macb.
Ay, and a bold one; that dare look on that
Which wou'd distract the Devil

La. Macb.
O proper stuff:
This is the very painting of your fear:
This is the Air-drawn Dagger, which you said
Led you to Duncan. O these Fits and Starts,
(Impostors to true fear) wou'd well become
A womans story, authoriz'd by her Grandam,
Why do you stare thus? when all's done
You look but on a Chair.

Macb.
Prethee see there, how say you now!
Why, what care I, if thou canst nod; speak too.
If Charnel-houses and our Graves must send
Those that we bury, back; our Monuments
Shall be the maws of Kites.

La. Macb.
What quite unmann'd in folly? [The Ghost descends.

Macb.
If I stand here, I saw it:

La. Macb.
Fye, for shame.

Macb.
'Tis not the first of Murders; blood was shed
E're humane Law decreed it for a sin.
Ay, and since Murthers too have been committed
Too terrible for the Ear. The time has been,
That when the brains were out, the man wou'd dye;
And there lie still; but now they rise again
And thrust us from our Seats.

La. Macb.
Sir, your noble Friends do lack you.

Macb.
Wonder not at me my most worthy Friends,

I have a strange Infirmity; 'tis nothing
To those that know me. Give me some Wine,
Here's to the general Joy of all the Table,
And to our dear friend Banquo, whom we miss,
Wou'd he were here: to all, and him, we drink.

Lords.
Our Duties are to pledge it. [the Ghost of Ban. rises at his feet.

Macb.
Let the earth hide thee: thy blood is cold,
Thou hast no use now of thy glaring Eyes.

La. Macb.
Think of this good my Lords, but as a thing
Of Custom: 'tis no other,
Only it spoils the pleasure of the time.

Macb.
What man can dare, I dare:
Approach thou like the rugged Russian Bear,
The Arm'd Rhinoceros, or the Hircanian Tigre:
Take any shape but that; and my firm Nerves
Shall never tremble; or revive a while,
And dare me to the Desart with thy Sword,
If any Sinew shrink, proclaim me then
The Baby of a Girl. Hence horrible shadow. [Ex. Ghost.
So, now I am a man again: pray you sit still.

La. Macb.
You have disturb'd the Mirth;
Broke the glad Meeting with your wild disorder.

Macb.
Can such things be without Astonishment.
You make me strange,
Even to the disposition that I owe,
When now I think you can behold such sights,
And keep the natural colour of your Cheeks,
Whilst mine grew pale with fear.

Seat.
What sights?

La. Macb.
I pray you speak not, he'l grow worse and worse;
Questions enrage him, at once good night:
Stand not upon the Order of your going.

Len.
Good night, and better health attend his Majesty.

La. Macb.
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.
Augures well read in Languages of Birds
By Magpies, Rooks, and Dawes, have reveal'd
The secret Murther. How goes the night?

La. Macb.
Almost at odds with morning, which is which.

Macb.
Why did Macduff after a solemn Invitation,
Deny his presence at our Feast?

La. Macb.
Did you send to him Sir?

Macb.
I did; but I'll send again,
There's not one great Thane in all Scotland,
But in his house I keep a Servant,
He and Banquo must embrace the same Fate.
I will to morrow to the Weyward Sisters,
They shall tell me more; for now I am bent to know
By the worst means, the worst that can befall me:
All Causes shall give way; I am in bloud
Stept in so far, that should I wade no more,
Returning were as bad, as to go o're,

La. Macb.
You lack the season of all Natures, sleep.

Macb.
VVell I'll in
And rest; if sleeping I repose can have,
VVhen the Dead rise and want it in the Grave. [Exeunt. Enter Macduff and Lady Macduff.

La. Macd.
Are you resolved then to be gone?

Macd.
I am:
I know my Answer cannot but inflame
The Tyrants fury to pronounce my death,
My life will soon be blasted by his breath.

La. Macd.
But why so far as England must you fly?

Macd.
The farthest part of Scotland is too nigh.

La. Macd.
Can You leave me, your Daughter and young Son,
To perish by that Tempest which you shun.
VVhen Birds of stronger VVing are fled away,
The Ravenous Kite do's on the weaker prey.

Macd.
He will not injure you, he cannot be
Possest with such unmanly cruelty:
You will your safety to your weakness owe
As Grass escapes the Syth by being low.
Together we shall be too slow to fly:
Single, we may out-ride the Enemy.
I'll from the English King such Succours crave,
As shall revenge the Dead, and Living save.
My greatest misery is to remove,
VVith all the wings of haste from what I love.

La. Macd.
If to be gone seems misery to you,

Good Sir, let us be miserable too.

Macd.
Your Sex which here is your security,
Will by the toyls of flight your Danger be. [Enter Messenger.
What fatal News do's bring thee out of breath?

Mess.
Sir, Banquo's kill'd.

Macd.
Then I am warn'd of Death.
Farewell; our safety, Us, a while must sever:

La. Macd.
Fly, fly, or we may bid farewel for ever.

Macd.
Flying from Death, I am to life unkind,
For leaving you, I leave my Life behind. [Exit.

La. Macd.
Oh my dear Lord, I find now thou art gone,
I am more valiant when unsafe alone.
My heart feels man-hood, it does Death despise,
Yet I am still a Woman in my eyes.
And of my Tears thy absence is the cause,
So falls the Dew when the bright Sun withdraws. [Exeunt. Enter Lenox and Seaton.

Len.
My former speeches have but hit your thoughts
Which can interpret further; Only I say
Things have been strangely carry'd.
Duncan was pitti'd, but he first was dead.
And the right Valiant Banquo walk'd too late:
Men must not walk so late: who can want Sense
To know how monstrous it was in Nature,
For Malcolme and Donalbain, to kill,
Their Royal Father; horrid Fact! how did
It grieve Macbeth, did he not straight
In Pious rage the two Delinquents kill,
That were the slaves of Drunkenness and Sleep?
Was not that nobly done?

Seat.
Ay, and wisely too:
For 'twou'd have anger'd any Loyal heart
To hear the men deny it.

Len.
So that I say he has born all things well:
And I do think that had he Duncan's Sons
Under his power (as may please Heaven he shall not)
They shou'd find what it were to kill a Father.
So shou'd Flean: but peace; I hear Macduff
Deny'd his presence at the Feast: For which
He lives in disgrace. Sir, can you tell

Where he bestows himself?

Seat.
I hear that Malcolme lives i'th' English Court,
And is receiv'd of the most Pious Edward,
With such Grace, that the Malevolences of Fortune
Takes nothing from his high Respect; thither
Macduff is gone to beg the Holy King's
Kind aid, to wake Northumberland
And Warlike Seyward, and by the help of these,
To finish what they have so well begun.
This report
Do's so Exasperate the King, that he
Prepares for some attempt of War.

Len.
Sent he to Macduff?

Seat.
He did, his absolute Command.

Len.
Some Angel fly toth' English Court, and tell
His Message e're he come; that some quick blessing,
To this afflicted Country, may arrive
whilst those that merit it are yet alive. [Exeunt. Thunder, Enter three Witches meeting Hecat.

1 Witch.
How? Hecat, you look angerly.

Hecat.
Have I not reason Beldams?
Why did you all Traffick with Macbeth
'Bout Riddles and affairs of Death,
And call'd not me? All you have done
Hath been but for a Weyward Son:
Make some amends now: get you gon,
And at the pit of Achæron
Meet me i'th' morning: Thither he
Will come to know his Destiny.
Dire business will be wrought e're Noon,
For on a corner of the Moon,
A drop my Spectacles have found,
I'll catch it e're it come to ground.
And that distill'd shall yet e're night,
Raise from the Center such a Spright:
As by the strength of his Illusion,
Shall draw Macbeth to his Confusion. [Musick and Song.

Heccate, Heccate, Heccate! O come away:

Hark, I am call'd, my little Spirit see,
Sits in a foggy Cloud, and stays for me.

Sing within. [Machine descends.
Come away Heccate, Heccate! Oh come away:

Hec.
I come, I come, with all the speed I may,
With all the speed I may.
Where's Stadling?

2.
Here.

Hec.
Where's Puckle?

3.
Here, and Hopper too, and Helway too.

1.
We want but you, we want but you:
Come away, make up the Count.

Hec.
I will but Noint, and then I mount,
I will but, &c.

1.
Here comes down one to fetch his due, a Kiss,
A Cull, a sip of bloud.
And why thou stay'st so long, I muse.
Since th' Air's so sweet and good.

2.
Oh art thou come! What News?
All goes fair for our delight,
Either come, or else refuse,
Now I'm furnish'd for the flight,
Now I go, and now I fly,
Malking my sweet Spirit and I.

3.
Oh what a dainty pleasure's this!
To sail i'th' Air
While the Moon shines fair;
To Sing, to Toy, to Dance and Kiss;
Over Woods, high Rocks and Mountains;
Over Hills, and misty Fountains;
Over Steeples, Towers, and Turrets:
We fly by night 'mongst troops of Spirits.
No Ring of Bells to our Ears sounds,
No Howls of Wolves, nor Yelps of Hounds;
No, nor the noise of Waters breach,
Nor Cannons Throats our Height can reach.

1.
Come let's make haste, she'll soon be back again.

2.
But whilst she moves through the foggy Air,
Let's to the Cave and our dire Charms prepare. Finis Actus III.

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