Macd.
Was it so late, friend, ere you went to bed,
That you do lie so late?

Port.

Faith, sir, we were carousing till the second cock: and drink, sir, is a great provoker of three things. ^note

Macd.

What three things does drink especially provoke?

Port.

Marry, sir, nose-painting, sleep and urine. Lechery, sir, it provokes and unprovokes; it provokes the desire, but it takes away the performance: therefore much drink may be said to be an equivocator with lechery: it makes him and it mars him; it sets him on and it takes him off; it persuades him and disheartens him; makes him stand to and not stand to; in conclusion, equivocates him in a sleep ^note, and giving him the lie, leaves him.

Macd.

I believe drink gave thee the lie last night.

Port.

That it did, sir, i' the very throat on me ^note: but I requited him for his lie, and, I think, being too strong for

him, though he took up ^note my legs sometime, yet I made a shift to cast him. ^{note note}

Macd.
Is thy master stirring? ^note Enter Macbeth. ^note
Our knocking has awaked him; here he comes.

Len.
Good morrow, noble sir.

Macb.
Good morrow, both.

Macd.
Is the king stirring, worthy thane?

Macb.
Not yet.

Macd.
He did command me to call timely on him:
I have ^note almost slipp'd the hour.

Macb.
I'll bring you to him.

Macd.
I know this is a joyful trouble to you;
But yet 'tis one.

Macb.
The labour we delight in physics ^note pain.
This ^note is the door.

Macd.
I'll make so bold to call,
For 'tis my limited service. ^note [Exit. ^note

Len.
Goes the king hence ^note to-day?

Macb.
He does: ^note he did appoint so.

Len.
The night has been unruly: where we lay,
Our chimneys were blown down, and, as they say,
Lamentings heard i' the air, strange screams of death, ^note
And prophesying ^note with accents terrible

Of dire combustion ^note and confused events
New hatch'd to the woful time: the ^{note note} obscure ^note bird
Clamour'd the livelong night: some say, the earth
Was feverous and did shake. ^note

Macb.
'Twas a rough night.

Len.
My young remembrance cannot parallel
A fellow to it. Re-enter Macduff. ^note

Macd.
O horror, horror, horror! Tongue nor ^note heart
Cannot conceive nor name thee. ^note

Macb. Len.
What's the matter?

Macd.
Confusion now hath made his masterpiece.
Most sacrilegious murder hath broke ope
The Lord's anointed temple, and stole thence
The life o' the building.

Macb.
What is't you say? the life?

Len.
Mean you his majesty?

Macd. ^note
Approach the chamber, and destroy your sight
With a new Gorgon: do not bid me speak;
See, and then speak yourselves. [Exeunt ^note Macbeth and Lennox.
Awake, awake!
Ring the alarum-bell. Murder and treason!
Banquo and Donalbain! Malcolm! awake!
Shake off this downy sleep, death's counterfeit,
And look on death itself! up, up, and see
The great doom's image! Malcolm! Banquo! ^note

As from your graves rise up, and walk like sprites,
To countenance this horror. Ring the bell. [Bell rings. ^{note note} Enter ^note Lady Macbeth. ^note

Lady M.
What's the business,
That such a ^note hideous trumpet calls to parley
The sleepers of the house? speak, speak! ^note

Macd.
O ^note gentle lady,
'Tis not for you to hear what I can speak:
The repetition, in a woman's ear,
Would murder as it fell. Enter Banquo. ^note
O Banquo, Banquo!
Our royal master's murder'd. ^note

Lady M.
Woe, alas!
What, in our house?

Ban.
Too cruel any where.
Dear Duff ^note, I prithee, contradict ^note thyself,
And say it is not so. Re-enter ^note Macbeth and Lennox, with Ross.

Macb.
Had I but died an hour before this chance,
I had lived a blessed time; for from this instant
There's nothing serious in mortality:
All is but toys: renown and grace is dead ^note;

The wine of life is drawn, and the mere lees
Is ^note left this vault to brag of. Enter Malcolm and Donalbain.

Don.
What is amiss?

Macb.
You are, and do not know't ^note:
The spring, the head, ^note the fountain of your blood
Is stopp'd; the very source of it is stopp'd.

Macd.
Your royal father's murder'd.

Mal.
O, by whom?

Len.
Those of his chamber, as it seem'd, had ^note done't:
Their hands and faces were all badged ^note with blood;
So were their daggers, which unwiped we found
Upon their pillows:
They stared, and were distracted; no ^note man's life
Was to be trusted with them. ^note

Macb.
O, yet I do repent me of my fury,
That I did kill them. ^note

Macd.
Wherefore did you so?

Macb.
Who can be wise, amazed ^note, temperate and furious,
Loyal and neutral, in a moment? No man:
The expedition of my violent love
Outrun ^note the pauser reason. Here lay Duncan,
His silver skin laced ^note with his golden ^note blood ^note,
And his gash'd stabs look'd like a breach in nature
For ruin's wasteful entrance: there, the murderers,
Steep'd in the colours of their trade, their daggers
Unmannerly breech'd ^note with gore: who could refrain,

That had a heart to love, and in that heart ^note
Courage to make's ^note love known?

Lady M.
Help me hence, ho!

Macd. ^note
Look to the lady.

Mal. [Aside ^note to Don.]
Why do we hold our tongues,
That most may claim this argument for ours?

Don. [Aside ^note to Mal.]
What should be spoken here, where our fate,
Hid in ^note an auger-hole, may rush, and seize us? ^note
Let's away ^note;
Our tears are not yet brew'd.

Mal. [Aside ^note to Don.]
Nor our strong sorrow
Upon ^note the foot of motion.

Ban.
Look ^note to the lady: [Lady ^note Macbeth is carried out.
And when we have our naked frailties hid,
That suffer in exposure, let us meet,
And question this most bloody piece of work,
To know it further. Fears and scruples shake us:
In the great hand of God I stand, and thence
Against the undivulged pretence I fight
Of treasonous malice.

Macd. ^note
And ^note so do I.

All.
So all.

Macb.
Let's briefly put on manly readiness,
And meet i' the hall together.

All.
Well contented. [Exeunt all but ^note Malcolm and Donalbain.

Mal.
What will you do? Let's not consort with them: ^note
To show an unfelt sorrow is an office
Which the false man does easy. I'll to England. ^note

Don.
To Ireland, I; our separated fortune
Shall keep us both the safer: where we are
There's daggers in men's smiles: the near ^note in blood,
The nearer bloody. ^note

Mal.
This murderous shaft that's shot
Hath not yet lighted, and our safest way
Is to avoid the aim. Therefore to horse ^note;
And let us not be dainty of leave-taking,
But shift away: there's warrant in that theft
Which steals itself when there's no mercy left. [Exeunt. ^note Scene IV. [Footnote: Outside ^note Macbeth's castle. Enter Ross with an old Man.

Old M.
Threescore and ten I can remember well:
Within the volume of which time I have ^note seen
Hours dreadful and things strange, but this sore night
Hath trifled former knowings.

Ross.
Ah ^note, good father,
Thou seest, the heavens, as troubled with man's act,
Threaten ^note his ^note bloody stage ^note: by the clock 'tis day,
And yet dark night strangles the travelling ^note lamp:
Is't night's predominance, or the day's shame,

That darkness does the face of earth entomb,
When living light should ^note kiss it?

Old M.
'Tis unnatural,
Even like the deed that's done. On Tuesday last
A falcon towering in her pride of place
Was by a mousing owl hawk'd at and kill'd.

Ross.
And Duncan's horses ^note—a thing most strange and certain ^note—
Beauteous and swift, the minions of their ^note race,
Turn'd wild in nature, broke their stalls, flung ^note out,
Contending 'gainst obedience, as they would make
War ^note with mankind ^note.

Old M.
'Tis said they eat ^note each other.

Ross.
They did so, to the amazement of mine eyes,
That look'd upon't. Enter Macduff. ^note
Here comes the good Macduff. ^note
How goes the world, sir, now?

Macd.
Why, see you not?

Ross.
Is't known who did this more than bloody deed?

Macd.
Those that Macbeth hath slain.

Ross.
Alas, the day!
What good could they pretend?

Macd.
They were ^note suborn'd ^note:
Malcolm and Donalbain, the king's two sons,
Are stol'n away and fled, which puts upon them
Suspicion of the deed.

Ross.
'Gainst nature still:
Thriftless ambition, that wilt ^note ravin up ^note

Thine ^note own life's ^note means! Then 'tis ^note most like
The sovereignty will fall upon Macbeth.

Macd.
He is already named, and gone ^note to Scone
To be invested.

Ross.
Where is Duncan's body?

Macd.
Carried to Colme-kill ^note,
The sacred storehouse of his predecessors
And guardian of their bones.

Ross.
Will you to Scone?

Macd.
No, cousin, I'll to Fife.

Ross.
Well, I will thither.

Macd.
Well, may ^note you see things well done there: adieu!
Lest our old robes sit easier than our new!

Ross.
Farewell, father.

Old M.
God's benison go with you ^note, and with those
That would make good of bad and friends of foes! [Exeunt. ^note ACT III. Scene I. Forres. ^note The palace. ^note Enter Banquo.

Ban.
Thou hast it now: king, Cawdor, Glamis ^note all,
As ^note the weird ^note women ^note promised, and I fear
Thou play'dst most foully ^note for't: yet it was said
It should not stand in thy posterity,

But that myself should be the root and father
Of many kings. If there come truth from them—
As upon thee, Macbeth, their speeches shine ^note—
Why, by the verities on thee made good,
May they not be my oracles as well
And set me up in hope? ^note But hush, no more. Sennet sounded. ^note Enter Macbeth, as king; Lady Macbeth, as queen; Lennox, Ross, ^note Lords, Ladies ^note, and Attendants.

Macb.
Here's our chief guest.

Lady M.
If he had been forgotten,
It had been as a gap in our great feast,
And all-thing ^note unbecoming.

Macb.
To-night we hold a solemn supper, sir,
And I'll ^note request your presence.

Ban.
Let your highness ^note
Command upon ^note me, to the which my duties
Are with a most indissoluble tie
For ever knit.

Macb.
Ride you this afternoon?

Ban.
Ay, my good lord.

Macb.
We should have else desired your good advice,
Which still hath been both grave and prosperous,
In this day's council ^note; but we'll take ^note to-morrow.
Is't ^note far you ride? ^note

Ban.
As far, my lord, as will fill up the time
'Twixt this and supper: go not my horse the better,
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 ^note to horse: adieu,
Till you ^note return at night. Goes Fleance with you?

Ban.
Ay, my good lord: our time does call upon's ^note.

Macb.
I wish your horses swift and sure of foot,
And so I do commend you to their backs.
Farewell. [Exit Banquo.
Let every man be master of his time
Till seven at night; to make society
The sweeter welcome, ^note we will keep ourself
Till supper-time alone: while ^note then, God be with ^note you ^note! [Exeunt ^note all but Macbeth and an Attendant. ^{note note}
Sirrah, a word with you ^note: attend those men
Our pleasure?

Attend.
They are, my lord, without the palace-gate. ^note

Macb.
Bring them before us. [Exit Attendant. ^note
To be thus is nothing;
But ^note to be safely thus: our fears in Banquo
Stick deep; and in his royalty of nature
Reigns that which would be fear'd: 'tis much he dares, ^note
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 rebuked, as it is said
Mark ^note Antony's was by Cæsar. ^{note note} He chid the sisters,
When first they put the name of king upon me,
And bade ^note them speak to him; then prophet-like
They hail'd him father to a line of kings:
Upon my head they placed a fruitless crown
And put a barren sceptre in my gripe,
Thence to be wrench'd with ^note an unlineal hand,
No son of mine succeeding. If't be ^note so,
For Banquo's issue have I filed ^note 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 the common enemy of man,
To make them kings, the seed ^note of Banquo kings! ^note
Rather than so, come, fate, into the list,
And champion me to the utterance! Who's there? ^note Re-enter ^note Attendant, with two Murderers.
Now ^note go ^note to the door, and stay there till we call. [Exit Attendant. ^note
Was it not yesterday we spoke together?

First Mur. ^note
It was, so please your highness.

Macb.
Well then, now
Have you ^note consider'd of my speeches? ^note 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, pass'd in probation with you ^note,
How you were borne in hand, how cross'd, the instruments,
Who wrought with them, and all things else that might ^note
To half a soul and to a notion crazed
Say ‘Thus did Banquo.’

First Mur.
You made it known to us. ^note

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? 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? ^note

First Mur.
We are men, my liege.

Macb.
Ay, in the catalogue ye go for men;
As hounds and greyhounds, mongrels, spaniels, curs,
Shoughs ^note, water-rugs and demi-wolves, are clept ^note
All by the name of dogs: the valued file
Distinguishes the swift, the slow, the subtle,
The housekeeper, the hunter, every one
According to the gift which bounteous nature
Hath in him closed; whereby he does receive
Particular addition, from the bill ^note
That writes them all alike: and so of men.
Now if you have a station in the file,
Not i' the ^note worst ^note rank of manhood, say it ^note,
And I will put that ^note 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.

Sec. Mur.
I am one, my liege ^note,
Whom the vile blows and buffets of the world
Have ^note so incensed that I am reckless what
I do ^note to spite the world.

First Mur.
And I another
So weary ^note with disasters, tugg'd ^note 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. ^note

Both Mur.
True, my lord.

Macb.
So, is he mine, and in such bloody distance
That every minute of his being thrusts
Against my near'st of life: and though I could
With barefaced 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
Who ^note I myself struck down: and thence it is ^note
That I to your assistance do make love,
Masking the business from the common eye
For sundry weighty reasons.

Sec. Mur.
We shall, my lord,
Perform what you command us.

First Mur.
Though our lives—

Macb.
Your spirits shine through you. Within ^note this hour at most ^{note note}

I will advise you where to plant yourselves, ^note
Acquaint you ^note with the perfect spy o' the ^note time,
The moment on't; for't must be done to-night,
And something from the palace; always thought ^note
That I require a clearness: ^note and with him—
To leave no rubs nor botches in the work—
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 ^note anon.

Both Mur.
We are resolved, my lord ^note.

Macb.
I'll call upon you straight: abide within. [Exeunt Murderers. ^note
It is concluded: Banquo, thy soul's flight,
If it find heaven, must find it out to-night. [Exit. ^{note note} Scene II. [Footnote: The palace. ^note Enter Lady Macbeth ^note and a Servant.

Lady M.
Is Banquo gone from court?

Serv.
Ay, madam, but returns again to-night.

Lady M.
Say to the king, I would attend his leisure
For a few words.

Serv.
Madam ^note, I will. [Exit.

Lady M. ^note
Nought's had ^note, all's spent,
Where our desire is got without content:
'Tis safer ^note to be that which we destroy
Than by destruction dwell in doubtful joy. Enter Macbeth.
How ^note now, my lord! why do you keep alone,
Of sorriest fancies ^note your companions making;
Using those thoughts which should indeed have died
With them they think on? Things without all ^note remedy
Should be without regard: what's done is done.

Macb.
We have scotch'd ^note the snake, not kill'd it:
She'll close ^note and be herself, whilst our poor malice
Remains in danger of her former tooth.
But let the frame ^note of things disjoint, both the worlds suffer ^note, ^note
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 peace ^note, have sent to peace,
Than on the torture of the mind to lie
In restless ecstasy. Duncan is in his ^note grave; ^note
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 ^note.

Lady M.
Come on;
Gentle my lord, sleek o'er your rugged looks;
Be bright and jovial among ^note your guests to-night.

Macb.
So shall I, love; and so, I pray, be you:
Let your remembrance apply ^note to Banquo;
Present him eminence, both with eye and tongue:
Unsafe the while, that we ^{note note}
Must lave our honours in these flattering ^note streams,
And make our faces visards ^note to our ^note hearts,
Disguising what they are.

Lady M.
You must leave this. ^note

Macb.
O, full of scorpions is my mind, dear wife!
Thou know'st that Banquo, and his Fleance ^note, lives ^note.

Lady M.
But in them nature's copy's not eterne ^note.

Macb.
There's comfort yet; they are assailable;
Then be thou jocund: ere the bat hath flown
His cloister'd flight; ere to black Hecate's summons
The shard-borne ^note beetle with his drowsy hums
Hath rung night's yawning peal, there shall be done
A deed of dreadful note. ^note

Lady M.
What's to be done?

Macb.
Be innocent of the knowledge, dearest chuck,
Till thou applaud the deed. Come, seeling ^note night,
Scarf 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! Light ^note thickens, and the crow
Makes wing to the rooky ^note wood ^note: ^note

Good things of day begin to droop and drowse,
Whiles ^note night's black agents to their preys ^note do rouse.
Thou marvell'st at my words: but hold thee still;
Things bad begun make strong themselves by ill:
So, prithee, go with me. [Exeunt. ^note Scene III. [Footnote: A park ^note near the palace. Enter three Murderers.

First Mur.
But who did bid thee join with us?

Third Mur.
Macbeth.

Sec. Mur.
He needs not our ^{note note} mistrust; since he delivers
Our offices, and what we have to do,
To the direction just. ^note

First Mur.
Then stand with us.
The west yet glimmers with some streaks of day:
Now spurs the lated ^note traveller apace
To gain the timely inn, and ^note near ^note approaches
The subject of our watch.

Third Mur.
Hark! I hear horses.

Ban. [Within]
Give us a light ^note there, ho!

Sec. Mur.
Then 'tis he ^note: the rest
That are ^note within the note of expectation ^note
Already ^note are i' the court.

First Mur.
His horses go about. ^note

Third Mur.
Almost a mile: but he does usually—
So all men do—from ^note hence to the palace gate
Make it their walk.

Sec. Mur.
A light, a light! Enter ^note Banquo, and Fleance ^note with a torch.

Third Mur.
'Tis he.

First Mur.
Stand to 't. ^note

Ban.
It will be ^note rain to-night.

First Mur.
Let it come down. [They ^note set upon Banquo.

Ban.
O, treachery! Fly, good ^note Fleance, fly, fly, fly! ^note
Thou mayst revenge. O slave! [Dies ^note. Fleance escapes.

Third Mur.
Who did strike out the light?

First Mur.
Was't not the way?

Third Mur.
There's but one down; the son is fled ^note.

Sec. Mur.
We have ^note lost ^note
Best half of our affair.

First Mur.
Well, let's away and say how much is done. [Exeunt.

^note Scene IV. [Footnote: Hall ^note in the palace. A banquet ^note prepared. Enter Macbeth, Lady Macbeth, Ross, Lennox, Lords, and Attendants.

Macb.
You know your own degrees; sit down: at first ^{note note}
And last ^note the hearty welcome. ^note

Lords.
Thanks to your majesty.

Macb.
Ourself will mingle with society
And play the humble host.
Our hostess keeps her state, but in best ^note time
We will require her welcome.

Lady M.
Pronounce it for me, sir, to all our friends,
For my heart speaks they are ^note welcome. Enter first Murderer to the door. ^note

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
The table round. [Approaching the door ^note] There's blood upon thy face.

Mur.
'Tis Banquo's then.

Macb. ^note
'Tis better thee without than he ^note within.
Is he dispatch'd?

Mur.
My lord, his throat is cut; that I did ^note for him.

Macb.
Thou art the best o' the ^note cut-throats: yet he's good ^note
That did the like for Fleance: if thou didst it,
Thou art the nonpareil. ^note

Mur.
Most royal sir,
Fleance is 'scaped.

Macb. [Aside ^note]
Then comes my fit again: I had else been perfect, ^note
Whole as the marble, founded as the rock,
As broad and general as the casing air:
But now I am ^note cabin'd, cribb'd, confined, 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 gashes on his head;
The least a death to nature.

Macb.
Thanks for that. [Aside ^note]
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 ^{note note} again. ^note [Exit Murderer.

Lady M.
My royal lord,
You do not give the cheer: the feast is sold ^note
That is not often vouch'd ^note, while 'tis a-making, ^note
'Tis given with welcome: to feed ^note were best at home;
From thence the sauce to meat is ceremony;
Meeting were bare without it.

Macb.
Sweet remembrancer!

Now good digestion wait on appetite,
And health on both!

Len.
May't please your highness sit. [The Ghost ^note of Banquo enters, and sits in Macbeth's place.

Macb.
Here had we now our country's honour roof'd,
Were the graced person of our Banquo present;
Who ^note may I rather challenge for unkindness
Than pity for mischance! ^note

Ross.
His absence, sir,
Lays blame upon his promise. Please't ^note your highness ^note
To grace us with your royal company. ^note

Macb.
The table's full.

Len.
Here is ^note a place reserved, sir.

Macb.
Where?

Len.
Here, my good lord ^note. What is't that moves your highness? ^note

Macb.
Which of you have done this?

Lords.
What, my good lord?

Macb.
Thou canst not say I did it: never shake
Thy gory locks at me.

Ross.
Gentlemen, rise; his highness is not well.

Lady M.
Sit, worthy friends: my lord is often thus,
And hath been from his youth: pray you, keep seat;
The fit is momentary ^note; upon ^note a thought
He will again be well: if much you note him,
You shall offend him and extend his passion: ^note
Feed ^note, and regard him not. Are you a man?

Macb.
Ay, and a bold one, that dare look on that
Which might appal the devil.

Lady M.
O ^note proper stuff! ^note
This is the very painting of your fear:
This is the air-drawn dagger which, you said,
Led you to Duncan. O, these flaws and starts,
Impostors to true ^note fear, would well become
A woman's story at a winter's fire,
Authorized by her grandam. Shame itself!
Why do you make such faces? When all's done,
You look but on a stool.

Macb. ^note
Prithee, see there! behold! look! lo! how say you? ^note
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. [Exit Ghost. ^note

Lady M.
What, quite unmann'd in folly ^note?

Macb.
If I stand here, I saw him.

Lady M.
Fie, for shame!

Macb.
Blood hath been shed ere now, i' the olden ^note time,
Ere humane ^note statute purged the gentle ^note weal;
Ay, and since too, murders have been ^note perform'd
Too terrible for the ear: the time has ^note 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. ^note

Lady M.
My worthy lord,
Your noble friends do lack you.

Macb.
I do forget ^note.
Do not muse at me, my most worthy friends;
I have a strange infirmity, which is nothing
To those that know me. Come, ^note love and health to all;
Then I'll sit down. Give me some wine, fill full.
I drink to the general joy o' ^note the whole table,
And to our dear friend Banquo, whom we miss;
Would he were here! to all and him we thirst,
And all ^note to all.

Lords.
Our duties, and the pledge. Re-enter Ghost. ^note

Macb. ^note
Avaunt! 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 M.
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,
The arm'd rhinoceros, or the Hyrcan ^note tiger;
Take any shape but that, and my firm nerves
Shall never tremble: or be alive ^note again,
And dare me to the desert with thy sword;
If trembling I inhabit then, ^note protest ^note me

The baby of a girl. Hence, horrible ^note shadow!
Unreal mockery, hence! [Exit Ghost.3 ^note
Why, so: being gone ^note, ^note
I am a man again. Pray you, sit still.

Lady M.
You have displaced the mirth, broke the good meeting,
With most admired disorder. ^note

Macb.
Can such things be,
And overcome us like a summer's cloud,
Without our special wonder? You ^note make me strange
Even to ^note the disposition that I owe ^note,
When now ^note I think you can behold such sights,
And keep the natural ruby of your cheeks ^note,
When mine is ^note blanch'd with fear.

Ross.
What sights ^note, my lord?

Lady M.
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 M.
A kind ^note good night to all! [Exeunt ^note all but Macbeth and Lady M.

Macb.
It will have blood: ^note they say ^note blood will have blood:
Stones have been known to move and trees to speak;
Augures ^{note note} and understood ^note relations have
By maggot-pies and ^note choughs ^note and rooks brought forth
The secret'st man of blood. What is the night?

Lady M.
Almost at odds with morning, which is which.

Macb.
How say'st thou, that Macduff denies his person
At our great bidding?

Lady M.
Did you send to him, sir? ^note

Macb.
I hear ^note it by the way, but I will send:
There's not a one ^{note note} of them but in his house
I keep ^note a servant fee'd. I will to-morrow,
And betimes I will ^note, to ^note the weird ^note sisters: ^note
More shall they speak, for now I am ^note bent to know,
By the worst means, the worst. For mine own good ^note
All causes shall give way: I am in blood
Stepp'd ^note in so far that, should I wade no more,
Returning were as tedious as go ^note o'er:
Strange things I have in head that will to hand,

Which must be acted ere they may be scann'd.

Lady M.
You lack the season of all natures ^note, sleep.

Macb.
Come, we'll to ^note sleep. My strange and self-abuse
Is the initiate fear that wants hard use:
We are ^note yet but young in deed ^note. [Exeunt. ^note Scene V. [Footnote: A heath. ^note Thunder. Enter the three Witches, meeting Hecate. ^note

First Witch.
Why, how now, Hecate! you look angerly.

Hec.
Have I not reason, beldams ^note as you are,
Saucy and over-bold? ^note 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 show the glory of our art?
And, which is worse, all you have done
Hath been but for a wayward ^note son,
Spiteful and wrathful; who, as others do, ^note
Loves ^note for his own ends, not for you.
But make amends now: get you gone,
And at the pit of Acheron
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.

I am for the ^note air; this night I'll spend
Unto a dismal and a fatal ^note end:
Great business must be wrought ere noon:
Upon the corner of the moon
There hangs a vaporous drop profound;
I'll catch it ere it come to ground:
And that distill'd by magic sleights ^note
Shall raise ^note such artificial sprites
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' ^note chiefest enemy. [Music and a song within:
‘Come away, come away,’ &c. ^note
Hark! I am call'd; my little spirit, see, ^note
Sits in a ^note foggy cloud, and stays for me. [Exit. ^note

First Witch.
Come, let's make haste; she'll soon be back again. ^note [Exeunt. ^note Scene VI. [Footnote: Forres. The palace. ^note Enter Lennox and another Lord. ^note

Len.
My former speeches have but hit your thoughts, ^note
Which can interpret farther ^note: only I say

Things have been strangely borne ^note. The gracious Duncan
Was pitied of Macbeth: marry, he was dead:
And the right-valiant ^note Banquo walk'd too late;
Whom, you may say, if't please you, Fleance kill'd,
For Fleance fled: men must not walk too late.
Who cannot want ^note the thought, how monstrous ^note
It was for Malcolm and for Donalbain
To kill their gracious father? ^note damned fact!
How it did grieve Macbeth! ^note did he not straight,
In pious rage, the two delinquents tear,
That were the slaves of drink and thralls of sleep?
Was not that ^note nobly done? Ay, and ^note wisely too;
For 'twould have anger'd any heart alive
To hear the men deny't ^note. So that, I say,
He has borne all things well: and I do think
That, had he Duncan's sons under his key ^note—
As, an't ^note please heaven, he shall not—they should ^note find
What 'twere to kill a father; so should Fleance.
But, peace! for from broad words, and 'cause ^note 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. ^note
The son ^note of Duncan,
From whom this tyrant holds the due of birth,
Lives ^note in the English court, and is ^note received
Of the most pious Edward with such grace

That the malevolence of fortune nothing ^note
Takes from his high respect. Thither Macduff
Is gone to pray the holy ^note king, upon ^note his aid ^note
To wake Northumberland and warlike Siward ^note:
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 ^note from our feasts and banquets ^note bloody knives,
Do faithful homage and receive free honours:
All which we pine for now: and this report
Hath so exasperate ^note the king ^note that he
Prepares for some attempt of war ^note.

Len.
Sent he to Macduff?

Lord. ^note
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 caution, to ^note hold what distance
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 ^note
Under a hand accursed!

Lord.
I'll send my prayers with him. ^note [Exeunt.

ACT IV. ^note Scene I. [Footnote: A cavern. In the middle, a boiling cauldron. ^note Thunder. Enter the three Witches.

First Witch.
Thrice the brinded cat hath mew'd.

Sec. Witch.
Thrice and ^note once the hedge-pig ^note whined.

Third Witch.
Harpier ^note cries ‘'Tis ^note time, 'tis time.’

First Witch.
Round about the cauldron go: ^note
In the poison'd entrails ^note throw.
Toad, that ^note under cold ^note stone
Days and nights has ^note thirty one ^note
Swelter'd venom sleeping ^note got,
Boil thou first i' the charmed pot.

All.
Double, double ^note toil and trouble;
Fire burn and cauldron bubble.

Sec. Witch. ^note
Fillet of a fenny snake,
In the cauldron boil and bake;
Eye of newt and toe of frog,
Wool of bat and tongue of dog,

Adder's fork and blind-worm's ^note sting,
Lizard's leg and howlet's ^note wing,
For a charm of powerful trouble,
Like a hell-broth boil and bubble.

All.
Double, double ^note toil and trouble;
Fire burn and cauldron bubble.

Third Witch.
Scale of dragon, tooth of wolf,
Witches' ^note mummy, maw and gulf
Of the ravin'd ^note salt-sea shark ^note,
Root of hemlock digg'd i' the dark,
Liver of blaspheming Jew,
Gall of goat and slips of yew
Sliver'd ^note in the moon's eclipse,
Nose of Turk and Tartar's lips,
Finger of birth-strangled babe
Ditch-deliver'd by a drab,
Make the gruel thick and slab:
Add thereto a tiger's chaudron ^note,
For the ingredients ^note of our cauldron ^note.

All.
Double, double ^note toil and trouble;
Fire burn and cauldron bubble.

Sec. Witch.
Cool it with a baboon's blood,
Then the charm is firm and good. Enter ^note Hecate to the other three Witches.

Hec.
O ^note, well done! I commend your pains;
And every one shall share i' the gains:
  And now about the cauldron sing,

Like elves and fairies in a ring,
Enchanting all that you put in. [Music and a song: ‘Black spirits,’ &c. ^note [Hecate retires. ^note

Sec. Witch.
By the pricking of my thumbs,
Something wicked this way comes:

  Open, locks,
  Whoever knocks! ^{note note}Enter Macbeth.

Macb.
How now, you secret, black, and midnight hags!
What is't you do?

All.
A deed without a name.

Macb.
I conjure you, by that which you profess,
Howe'er you come to know it, answer me:
Though you untie the winds, and let them fight
Against the churches; though the yesty waves
Confound and swallow navigation up;
Though bladed ^note corn be lodged and trees blown down;
Though castles topple on ^note their warders' heads;
Though palaces and pyramids do slope ^note
Their heads to their foundations; though the treasure
Of nature's germins ^note tumble all together ^note,
Even till destruction sicken; answer me
To what I ask you.

First Witch.
Speak.

Sec. Witch.
Demand.

Third Witch.
We'll answer.

First Witch.
Say, if thou'dst ^note rather hear it from our mouths,
Or from our masters? ^note

Macb.
Call 'em, let me see 'em ^note.

First Witch.
Pour in sow's blood, that hath eaten
Her nine farrow; grease ^note that's sweaten
From the murderer's gibbet throw
Into the flame.

All.
Come, high or low;
Thyself and office deftly show! Thunder. First Apparition ^note: an armed Head.

Macb.
Tell me, thou unknown power,— ^note

First Witch.
He knows thy thought:
Hear his speech, but say thou nought.

First App.
Macbeth! Macbeth! Macbeth! beware Macduff ^note;
Beware the thane of Fife. Dismiss me: enough. [Descends. ^note

Macb.
Whate'er thou art, for thy good caution thanks;
Thou hast ^note harp'd ^note my fear aright: but one word more,— ^note

First Witch.
He will not be commanded: here's another,
More potent than the first. Thunder. Second Apparition ^note: a bloody Child.

Sec. App.
Macbeth! Macbeth! Macbeth!

Macb.
Had I three ears, I'ld hear thee.

Sec. App.
Be bloody, bold and resolute; laugh to scorn ^note
The power of man, for none of woman born
Shall harm Macbeth. ^note [Descends.

Macb.
Then live, Macduff: what need I fear of thee?
But yet I'll make assurance double ^note sure,
And take a bond of fate: thou shalt not live;
That I may tell pale-hearted fear it lies,
And sleep in spite of thunder. Thunder. Third ^note Apparition: a Child crowned, with a tree in his hand.
What is this,
That rises like the issue of a king, ^note
And wears upon his baby-brow the round
And top ^note of sovereignty?

All.
Listen, but speak not to 't.

Third App.
Be lion-mettled ^note, proud, and take no care
Who chafes, who frets, or where conspirers are:
Macbeth shall never vanquish'd be until
Great Birnam ^note wood to high Dunsinane ^note hill
Shall come against him. [Descends. ^note

Macb.
That will never be:
Who can impress the forest, bid the tree
Unfix his earth-bound root? Sweet bodements! good!
Rebellion's head ^note, rise never, till the wood
Of Birnam ^note rise, and our high-placed Macbeth
Shall live the lease of nature, pay his breath
To time and mortal custom. Yet my heart ^note
Throbs to know one thing: tell me, if your art ^note
Can tell so much: shall Banquo's issue ever
Reign in this kingdom?

All.
Seek to know no more.

Macb.
I will be satisfied: deny me this, ^note
And an eternal curse fall on you! Let me know:
Why ^note sinks that cauldron? and what noise is this? [Hautboys. ^note

First Witch.
Show!

Sec. Witch.
Show!

Third Witch.
Show!

All.
Show his eyes, and grieve his heart ^note;
Come like shadows, so depart! A show ^note of eight Kings, the last with a glass in his hand; Banquo's Ghost following.

Macb.
Thou art too like the spirit of Banquo: down!
Thy crown does sear mine eye-balls. And thy hair ^note, ^note
Thou other gold-bound brow, is ^note like the first.
A third is like the former. Filthy hags!
Why do you show me this? A fourth! Start, eyes ^note!
What, will the line stretch out to the crack of doom?
Another yet! A seventh! I'll see no more:
And yet the eighth ^note appears, who bears a glass
Which shows me many more; and some I see
That two-fold balls and treble sceptres carry:
Horrible sight! Now ^note I see 'tis true;
For the blood-bolter'd Banquo smiles upon me,
And points at them for his. What, is ^note this so?

First Witch. ^note
Ay, sir, all this is so: but why
Stands Macbeth thus amazedly?
Come, sisters, cheer we up his sprites ^note,
And show the best of our delights:
I'll charm the air to give a sound,
While you perform your antic ^note round,
That this great king may kindly say
Our duties did his welcome pay. ^note [Music. The Witches dance, and then vanish, with Hecate. ^note

Macb.
Where are they? Gone? Let this pernicious hour ^note
Stand aye accursed in the calendar!
Come in, without there! Enter Lennox.

Len.
What's your grace's will?

Macb.
Saw you the weird ^note sisters ^note?

Len.
No, my lord.

Macb.
Came they not by you?

Len.
No indeed, my lord.

Macb.
Infected be the air whereon they ride,
And damn'd all those that trust them! I did hear
The galloping of horse: who was't came by?

Len.
'Tis two or three, my lord, that bring you word
Macduff is fled to England.

Macb.
Fled to England!

Len.
Ay, my good lord.

Macb. [Aside ^note]
Time, thou anticipatest my dread exploits:
The flighty purpose never is o'ertook
Unless the deed go with it: from this moment
The very firstlings ^note of my heart shall be

The firstlings ^note of my hand. And even now,
To crown my thoughts with acts, be it ^note thought and done:
The castle of Macduff I will surprise;
Seize upon Fife; give to the edge o' the sword
His wife, his babes, and all unfortunate ^note souls
That trace him in ^note his line. No boasting like a fool; ^note
This deed I'll do before this purpose ^note cool:
But no more sights ^note!—Where are these gentlemen?
Come, bring me where they are. [Exeunt. ^note Scene II. [Footnote: Fife. Macduff's castle. ^note Enter Lady Macduff ^note, her Son, and Ross.

L. Macd. ^note
What had he done, to make him fly the land?

Ross.
You must have patience, madam.

L. Macd.
He had none:
His flight was madness: when our actions do not,
Our fears do make us traitors.

Ross.
You know not
Whether it was his wisdom or his fear.

L. Macd.
Wisdom! to leave his wife, to leave his babes,
His mansion and his titles, in a place
From whence himself does fly? He loves us not;
He wants the natural touch: for the poor wren,
The most diminutive ^note of birds, will fight,
Her young ones in her nest, against the owl.
All is the fear and nothing is the love;
As little is the wisdom, where the flight

So runs against all reason.

Ross.
My dearest coz ^note,
I pray you, school yourself: but, for your husband,
He is ^note noble, wise, judicious, and best knows
The fits o' ^note the season ^note. I dare not speak much further:
But cruel are the times, when we are traitors
And do not know ^note ourselves; when we hold rumour
From what we ^note fear, yet ^note know not what we fear,
But float upon ^note a wild and violent sea
Each way and move. ^note I take my leave of you:
Shall ^note not be long but I'll be here again:
Things at the worst will cease, or else climb upward
To what they were before. My pretty cousin,
Blessing upon you!

L. Macd.
Father'd he is, and yet he's fatherless. ^note

Ross.
I am so much a fool, should I stay longer,
It would be my disgrace and your discomfort: ^note
I take my leave at once. [Exit. ^note

L. Macd.
Sirrah, your father's dead:
And what will you do now? How will you live?

Son.
As birds do, mother.

L. Macd.
What, with ^note worms and flies?

Son.
With ^note what I get, I mean ^note; and so do they.

L. Macd.
Poor bird! thou'ldst never fear the net nor lime ^note, ^note

The pitfall nor the gin.

Son.
Why should I, mother? Poor birds they are not set for. ^note
My father is ^note not dead, for all your saying.

L. Macd.
Yes, he is dead: how wilt thou do ^note for a father? ^note

Son.
Nay, how will you do for a husband?

L. Macd.
Why, I can buy me twenty at any market.

Son.
Then you'll buy ^note 'em to sell again.

L. Macd.
Thou speak'st with all ^note thy wit, and yet, i' faith,
With wit enough for thee. ^{note note}

Son.
Was my father a traitor, mother?

L. Macd.

Ay, that he was.

Son.

What is a traitor?

L. Macd.

Why, one that swears and lies.

Son.

And be all traitors that do so? ^note

L. Macd.

Every one that does so is a traitor, and must be hang'd. ^note

Son.

And must they all be hang'd that swear and lie?

L. Macd.

Every one.

Son.

Who must hang them?

L. Macd.

Why, the ^note honest men.

Son.

Then the liars and swearers are fools; for there are liars and swearers enow ^note to beat the honest men and hang up them.

L. Macd.

Now ^note, God help thee, poor monkey! But how wilt thou do for a father? ^note

Son.

If he were dead, you'ld weep for him: if you would not, it were a good sign that I should quickly have a new father.

L. Macd. ^note
Poor prattler, how thou talk'st! Enter a Messenger.

Mess.
Bless you, fair dame! I am not to you known,
Though in your state of honour I am perfect.
I doubt some danger does approach you nearly:
If you will take a homely man's advice,
Be not found here; hence, with your little ones.
To fright you thus, ^note methinks I am too savage;
To do worse to you ^note were fell cruelty,
Which is too nigh your person. Heaven preserve you!
I dare abide no longer. [Exit. ^note

L. Macd.
Whither ^note should I fly?
I have ^note done no harm. But I remember now
I am ^note in this earthly world, where to do harm
Is often laudable, to do good sometime
Accounted dangerous folly: why then, alas,
Do I put up that womanly defence,
To say I have ^note done no harm?—What are these faces? ^note Enter Murderers.

First Mur. ^note
Where is your husband?

L. Macd.
I hope, in no place so unsanctified
Where such as thou mayst find him.

First Mur.
He's a traitor.

Son.
Thou liest, thou shag-ear'd ^note villain!

First Mur.
What, you egg! [Stabbing him. ^note
Young fry of treachery!

Son.
He has ^note kill'd me, mother:
Run away, I pray ^note you! [Dies. ^note [Exit ^note Lady Macduff, crying ‘Murder!’ Exeunt murderers, following her. ^note Scene III. [Footnote: England. Before ^note the King's palace. Enter Malcolm and Macduff.

Mal.
Let us seek out some desolate shade, and there
Weep our sad bosoms empty.

Macd.
Let us rather
Hold fast the mortal sword, and like good men
Bestride our down-fall'n ^note birthdom ^note: each new morn
New widows howl, new orphans cry, new sorrows
Strike heaven on the face, that it resounds
As if it felt with Scotland and yell'd out
Like syllable ^note of dolour.

Mal.
What I believe, I'll wail;
What know, believe; and what I can redress,
As I shall find the time to friend, I will.
What you have spoke, it may be so perchance.
This tyrant, whose sole name blisters our tongues,
Was once thought honest: you have loved him well;
He hath not touch'd you yet. I am ^note young; but something
You may deserve ^note of him ^note through me; and wisdom ^note
To offer ^note up a weak, poor, innocent lamb

To appease an angry god.

Macd.
I am not treacherous.

Mal.
But Macbeth is.
A good and virtuous nature may recoil
In an imperial charge. But I shall crave ^note your pardon;
That which you are, my thoughts cannot transpose:
Angels are bright still, though the brightest fell:
Though all things foul would wear ^note the brows of grace,
Yet grace must still look ^note so.

Macd.
I have ^note lost my hopes.