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

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