1 Witch.
Thrice the brinded Cat hath Mew'd.

2.
Thrice, and once the Hedge-Pig whin'd,
Shutting his Eyes against the Wind.

3.
Harpier cries, 'tis time, 'tis time.

1
Then round about the Cauldron go,
And poyson'd Entrals throw.
This Toad which under Mossie stone,
Has days and nights lain thirty one:
And swelter'd Venom sleeping got,
We'l boyl in the Inchanted Pot.

All.
Double, double, toyl and trouble;
Fire burn, and Cauldron bubble.

2.
The Fillet of a Fenny Snake
Of Scuttle-Fish the vomit black.
The Eye of Newt, and Toe of Frog,
The Wool of Bat, and tongue of Dog.
An Adders fork, and blind-Worms sting,
A Lizzard's leg, and Howlets wing,
Shall like a Hell-broth boil and bubble.

All.
Double, double, &c.

3.
The scale of Dragon, tooth of Wolf,
A Witches Mummy: Maw and Gulf
Of Cormorant and the Sea Shark,
The root of Hemlock dig'd i'th' dark.
The Liver of blaspheming Jew,
With gall of Goats, and slips of Yew,
Pluckt when the Moon was in Eclipse,
With a Turks nose, and Tarters lips;
The finger of a strangl'd Babe,
Born of a Ditch delivered Drab,
Shall make the Greuel thick and slab.
Adding thereto a fat Dutchman's Chawdron,
For the ingredients of our Cawdron.

All.
Double, double, &c.

2.
I'll cool it with the Baboons blood,
And so the Charm is firm and good. Enter Heccate, and the other three Witches.

Hec.
Oh well done, I commend your pains,
And every one shall share the Gains.
And now about the Cauldron sing,
Like Elves and Fairies in a ring. Musick and Song.

Hec.
Black Spirits, and white,
Red Spirits and Gray;
Mingle, mingle, mingle,
You that mingle may. 1 Witch.
Tiffin, Tiffin, keep it stiff in,
Fire-drake Puckey, make it luckey:
Liar Robin, you must bob in. Chor.
A round, a round, about, about,
All ill come running in, all good keep out. 1.
Here's the bloud of a Bat! Hec.
O put in that, put in that. 2.
Here's Lizards brain, Hec.
Put in a grain. 1.
Here's Juice of Toad, here's Oyl of Adder,
That will make the Charm grow madder. 2.
Put in all these, 'twill raise the stanch; Hec.
Nay here's three ounces of a red-hair'd Wench. Chor.
A round, a round, &c. 2.
I by the pricking of my Thumbs,
Know something Wicked this way comes,
Open Locks, whoever knocks. Enter Macbeth.

Macb.
How now you secret, black and mid-night Haggs,
What are you doing?

All.
A deed without a name.

Macb.
I conjure you by that which you profess.
How e're you come to know it, answer me.
Though you let loose the raging Winds to shake whole Towns,
Though bladed Corn be lodg'd, and Trees blown down.
Though Castles tumble on their Warders heads;
Though Palaces and towring Piramids
Are swallowed up in Earth-quakes; Answer me.

1.
Speak.

2.
Pronounce.

3.
Demand.

4.
I'll answer thee.

Macb.
What Destinie's appointed for my Fate?

Hec.
Thou double Thane and King; beware Macduff:
Avoiding him, Macbeth is safe enough.

Macb.
What e're thou art for thy kind Caution, Thanks.

Hec.
Be bold and bloudy, and man's hatred scorn,
Thou shalt be harm'd by none of Woman born.

Macb.
Then live Macduff; what need I fear thy power?
But none can be too sure, thou shalt not live,
That I may tell pale hearted fear it lies,
And sleep in spite of Thunder.

Hec.
Be Confident, be Proud, and take no care
Who wages War, or where Conspirers are,
Macbeth shall like a lucky Monarch Reign,
Till Birnam Wood shall come to Dunsenain.

Macb.
Can Forests move? the Prophesie is good,
If I shall never fall till the great Wood
Of Birnam rise; thou may'st presume Macbeth,
To live out Natures Lease, and pay thy breath
To Time and mortal Custom. Yet my heart
Longs for more Knowledge: Tell me if your Art
Extends so far: shall Banquo's Issue o're
This Kingdom reign?

All.
Enquire no more.

Macb.
I will not be deny'd. Ha! [Cauldron sinks.
An eternal Curse fall on you; let me know
Why sinks that Cauldron, and what noise is this?

1 Witch.
Appear.

2.
Appear.

3.
Appear.
Wound through his Eyes, his harden'd Heart,
Like Shadows come, and straight depart. [A shadow of eight Kings, and Banquo's Ghost after them pass by.

Macb.
Thy Crown offends my sight. A second too like the first.
A third resembles him: a fourth too like the former:
Ye filthy Hags, will they succeed
Each other still till Dooms-day?
Another yet 'a seventh? I'll see no more:
And yet the eighth appears.

Ha! the bloudy Banquo smiles upon me,
And by his smiling on me, seems to say
That they are all Successors of his Race.

Hec.
Ay, Sir, all this is so: but why
Macbeth, stand'st thou amazedly:
Come Sisters, let us chear his heart,
And shew the pleasures of our Art;
I'll charm the Air to give a sound
While you perform your Antick round. [Musick. The Witches Dance and Vanish. The Cave sinks.

Macb.
VVhere are they? Gone?
Let this pernicious hour stand
Accurs'd to all eternity. [Without there. Enter Seaton.

Seat.
VVhat's your Graces will?

Macb.
Saw you the VVayward Sisters?

Seat.
No my Lord.

Macb.
Came they not by you?

Seat.
By me Sir?

Macb.
Infected be the Earth in which they sunk,
And Damn'd all those that trust 'em. Just now
I heard the gallopping of Horse; who was't came by?

Seat.
A Messenger from the English Court, who
Brings word Macduff is fled to England.

Macb.
Fled to England?

Seat.
Ay my Lord.

Macb.
Time thou Anticipat'st all my Designs;
Our purposes seldom succeed, unless
Our Deeds go with them.
My thoughts shall henceforth into Actions rise,
The VVitches made me cruel, but not wise. [Exeunt. Enter Macduffe's Wife, and Lenox.

La. Macd.
I then was frighted with the sad alarm
Of Banquo's Death, when I did counsel him
To fly, but now alas! I much repent it,
VVhat had he done to leave the Land? Macbeth
Did knovv him innocent.

Len.
You must have patience Madam.

La. Macd.
He had none.
His flight vvas madness. VVhen our Actions do not,

Our fears oft make us Traytors.

Len.
You know not whether it was his Wisdom or his Fear.

La. Macd.
Wisdom? to leave his Wife and Children in a place
From whence himself did fly; he loves us not.
He wants the natural touch: For the poor Wren
(The most diminutive of Birds) will with
The Ravenous Owl, fight stoutly for her young ones.

Len.
Your Husband, Madam;
Is Noble, Wise, Judicious, and best knows
The fits o'th' Season. I dare not speak much further,
But cruel are the Times; when we are Traytors,
And do not know our selves: when we hold Rumor,
From what we fear, yet know not what we fear;
But float upon a wild and violent Sea.
Each way, and more, I take my way of you:
'T shall not be long but I'll be here again.
Things at the worst will cease, or else climb upwards
To what they were before. Heaven protect you.

La. Macd.
Farewel Sir. Enter a Woman.

Wom.
Madam, a Gentleman in haste desires
To speak with you.

La. Macd.
A Gentleman, admit him. [Enter Seyton.

Seyton.
Though I have not the honour to be known
To you, yet I was well acquainted with
The Lord Macduff which brings me here to tell you
There's danger near you, be not found here,
Fly with your little one. Heaven preserve you,
I dare stay no longer. [Exit Seyton.

La. Macd.
Where shall I go, and whither shall I fly?
I've done no harm; but I remember now
I'm in a vicious world, where to do harm
Is often prosperous, and to do good
Accounted dangerous folly. Why do I then
Make use of this so womanly defence?
I'll boldly in, and dare this new Alarm:
What need they fear whom Innocence doth arm? [Exit. Enter Malcolm, and Macduff. The Scene Birnam Wood.

Macd.
In these close shades of Birnam Wood let us

Weep our sad Bosoms empty.

Malcolm.
You'l think my Fortunes desperate,
That I dare meet you here upon your summons.

Macd.
You should now
Take Arms to serve your Country. Each new day
New Widows mourn, new Orphans cry, and still
Changes of sorrow reach attentive Heaven.

Malc.
This Tyrant whose foul Name blisters our Tongues,
Was once thought honest. You have lov'd him well.
He has not toucht you yet.

Macd.
I am not treacherous.

Malc.
But Macbeth is.
And yet Macduff may be what I did always think him,
Just, and good.

Macd.
I've lost my hopes.

Malc.
Perhaps even there where I did find my doubts;
But let not Jealousies be your Dishonours,
But my own safeties.

Macd.
Bleed, Bleed, poor Country.
Great Tyranny, lay thy Foundation sure,
Villains are safe when good men are suspected.
I'le say no more. Fare thee well young Prince,
I would not be that Traytor which thou think'st me
For twice Macbeths reward of Treachery.

Malc.
Be not offended:
I speak not as in absolute fear of you:
I think our Country sinks beneath the Yoak,
It weeps, it bleeds, and each new day a gash
Is added to her wounds. I think withal
That many hands would in my Cause be active.
And here from gracious England have I offer
Of goodly Thousands. But for all this,
When I shall tread upon the Tyrants head,
Or wear it on my Sword; yet my poor Country
Will suffer under greater Tyranny
Than what it suffers now.

Macd.
It cannot be.

Malc.
Alas, I find my Nature so inclin'd
To Vice, that soul Macbeth when I shall rule,
Will seem as white as Snow.

Macd.
There cannot in all ransackt Hell be found
A Devil equal to Macbeth.

Malc.
I grant him bloody, false, deceitful, malicious,
And participating in some sins too horrid to name;
But there's no bottom, no depths in my ill appetite,
If such a one be fit to govern, speak?

Macd.
O Scotland, Scotland, when shalt thou see day again?
Since that the truest Issue of thy Throne,
Disclaims his Virtue to avoid the Crown?
Your Royal Father
Was a most Saint-like King; the Queen that bore you,
Oftner upon her Knees, than on her Feet,
Dy'd every day she liv'd. Fare thee well,
These evils thou repeat'st upon thy self,
Hath banisht me from Scotland. O my breast!
Thy hope ends here.

Malc.
Macduff this Noble Passion
Child of Integrity hath from my Soul
Wip'd the black scruples, reconcil'd my Thoughts
To thy good truth and honour. Macbeth
By many of these Trains hath sought to win me
Into his Power: And modest wisdom plucks me
From over-credulous haste. But now
I put my self to thy direction, and
Unspeak mine own Detraction. I abjure
The taunts and blames I laid upon my self,
For strangers to my Nature. What I am truly
Is thine, and my poor Countreys to command.
The gracious Edward has lent us Seymour,
And ten thousand Men. Why are you silent?

Macd.
Such welcome and unwelcome things at once
Are subjects for my Wonder, not my Speech,
My grief and joy contesting in my bosom,
I find that I can scarce my tongue command,
When two Streams meet the Water's at a stand.

Malc.
Assistance granted by that pious King
Must be successful, he who by his touch,
Can cure our Bodies of a foul Disease,
Can by just force subdue a Traitors Mind,
Power supernatural is unconfin'd.

Macd.
If his Compassion does on men Diseas'd
Effect such Cures; what Wonders will he do,
When to Compassion he adds Justice too? [Exeunt. Enter Macbeth and Seaton.

Macb.
Seaton, go bid the Army March.

Seat.
The posture of Affairs requires your Presence.

Macb.
But the Indisposition of my Wife
Detains me here.

Seat.
Th' Enemy is upon our borders, Scotland's in danger.

Macb.
So is my Wife, and I am doubly so.
I am sick in her, and my Kingdom too.
Seaton.

Seaton.
Sir.

Macb.
The spur of my Ambition prompts me to go
And make my Kingdom safe, but Love which softens me
To pity her in her distress, curbs my Resolves.

Seat.
He's strangely disorder'd.

Macb.
Yet why should Love since confin'd, desire
To controul Ambition, for whose spreading hopes
The world's too narrow, it shall not; great Fires
Put out the less; Seaton go bid my Grooms
Make ready; I'le not delay my going.

Seat.
I go.

Macb.
Stay Seaton, stay, Compassion calls me back.

Seat.
He looks and moves disorderly.

Macb.
I'll not go yet. [Enter a Servant, who whispers Macbeth.

Seat.
Well Sir.

Macb.
Is the Queen asleep?

Seat.
What makes 'em whisper and his countenance change?
Perhaps some new design has had ill success.

Macb.
Seaton, go see what posture our affairs are in.

Seat.
I shall, and give you notice Sir. [Exit Seat. Enter Lady Macbeth.

Macb.
How does my gentle Love?

La. Macb.
Duncan is dead.

Macb.
No words of that.

La. Macb.
And yet to me he lives.
His fatal Ghost is now my shadow, and pursues me
Where e're I go.

Macb.
It cannot be my Dear,

Your Fears have mis-inform'd your eyes.

La. Macb.
See there; Believe your own.
Why do you follow me? I did not do it.

Macb.
Methinks there's nothing.

La. Macb.
If you have Valour force him hence.
Hold, hold, he's gone. Now you look strangely.

Macb.
'Tis the strange error of your eyes.

La. Macb.
But the strange error of my eyes
Proceeds from the strange action of your Hands.
Distraction does by fits possess my head,
Because a Crown unjustly covers it.
I stand so high that I am giddy grown.
A Mist does cover me, as Clouds the tops
Of Hills. Let us get down apace.

Macb.
If by your high ascent you giddy grow,
'Tis when you cast your eyes on things below.

La. Macb.
You may in peace resign the ill gain'd Crown.
Why should you labour still to be unjust?
There has been too much blood already spilt.
Make not the Subjects Victims to your guilt.

Macb.
Can you think that a Crime, which you did once
Provoke me to commit? Had not your breath
Blown my Ambition up into a Flame
Duncan had yet been living.

La. Macb.
You were a man,
And by the Charter of your Sex you shou'd
Have govern'd me, there was more crime in you
When you obey'd my Councels, then I contracted
By my giving it. Resign your Kingdom now,
And with your Crown put off your guilt.

Macb.
Resign the Crown, and with it both our Lives.
I must have better Counsellors.

La. Macb.
What, your Witches?
Curse on your Messengers of Hell. Their breath
Infected first my Breast: See me no more.
As King your Crown sits heavy on your Head,
But heavier on my heart: I have had too much
Of Kings already, See the Ghost again. [Ghost appears.

Macb.
Now she relapses.

La. Macb.
Speak to him if thou canst.

Thou look'st on me, and shew'st thy wounded breast.
Shew it the Murderer.

Macb.
Within there, Ho. [Enter Women.

La. Macb.
Am I ta'ne Prisoner? then the Battle's lost. [Exit. [Lady Macbeth led out by Women.

Macb.
She does from Duncan's death to sickness grieve,
And shall from Malcolm's death her health receive.
When by a Viper bitten, nothing's good
To cure the Venom but a Viper's blood. Enter Malcolm, Macduff and Lenox meeting them.

Macd.
See who comes here!

Malc.
My Countryman; but yet I know him not.

Macd.
My ever Gentle Cousin! welcome.

Malc.
I know him now.
Kind Heaven remove the means that makes us strangers.

Len.
Amen.

Macd.
What looks does Scotland bear?

Len.
Alas poor Country, almost afraid to know it self.
It can't be call'd our Mother; but our Grave; where nothing,
But who knows nothing is once seen to smile?
Where sighs, and groans, and shrieks that rend the air,
Are made, not mark'd, where violent sorrow seems
A modern Extasie: there Bells
Are always ringing, and no man asks for whom;
There good mens lives expire e're they sicken.

Macd.
Oh Relation! too nice, and yet too true.

Malc.
What's the newest grief?

Len.
That of an hours age is out of date,
Each minute brings a new one.

Macd.
How does my Wife?

Len.
Why well.

Macd.
And all my Children?

Len.
Well too.

Macd.
The Tyrant has not quarrel'd at their peace?

Len.
No, they were well at peace when I left 'em.

Macd.
Be not so sparing of your speech. How goes't?

Len.
When I came hither to transport the tidings,
Which I have heavily born, there ran a rumour
Of many worthy Men that rose into a head,
Which was to my Belief; witness the rather,

For that I saw the Tyrants Power a foot.
Now, is the time of help; your eye in Scotland
Would create Souldiers, and make women fight.

Malc.
Be't their Comfort,
We are coming thither: Gracious England hath
Lent us good Seymour, and ten thousand men.

Len.
Wou'd I cou'd answer this comfort with the like;
But I have words,
That would be utter'd in the desart air,
Where no man's ear should hear 'em,

Macd.
What concern they? the general cause,
Or is't a grief due to some single breast?

Len.
All honest minds must share in't;
But the main part pertains to you.

Macd.
If it be mine, keep it not from me.

Len.
Let not your ears condemn my tongue for ever,
When they shall possess them with the heaviest sound
That ever yet they heard.

Macd.
At once I guess, yet am afraid to know.

Len.
Your Castle is surpriz'd, your Wife and Children
Savagely murdered: to relate the manner,
Were to increase the butchery of them,
By adding to their fall the death of you.

Malc.
Merciful heaven! Noble Macduff
Give sorrow words; the grief that does not speak,
Whispers the o're charg'd heart, and bids it break.

Macd.
My Children too?

Len.
Your Wife, and both your Children,

Macd.
And I not with them dead? Both, both my Children
Did you say; my Two?

Len.
I have said.

Malc.
Be comforted;
Let's make us Cordials of our great Revenues,
To cure this deadly Grief.

Macd.
He has no Children, nor can he feel
A fathers Grief: Did you say all my Children?
Oh hellish ravenous Kite! all three at one swoop!

Malc.
Dispute it like a man.

Macd.
I shall.
But I must first too feel it as a man.

I cannot but remember such things were,
And were most precious to me: Did Heaven look on,
And would not take their part? sinful Macduff,
They were all struck for thee; for thee they fell:
Not for their own offences; but for thine.

Malc.
Let this give Edges to our Swords; let your tears
Become Oyl to our kindled Rage.

Macd.
Oh I could play the Woman with my eyes,
And brag on't with my tongue; kind Heavens bring this
Dire Friend of Scotland, and my self face to face,
And set him within the reach of my keen Sword.
And if he out-lives that hour, may Heaven forgive
His sins, and punish me for his escape.

Malc.
Let's hasten to the Army, since Macbeth
Is ripe for fall.

Macd.
Heaven give our quarrel but as good success
As it hath Justice in't: Kind Powers above
Grant peace to us, whilst we take his away;
The Night is long that never finds a Day. [Exeunt.

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