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,
(How e'er you come to know it) answer me.
&plquo;Though you untie the winds, and let them fight
&plquo;Against the churches; though the yesty waves
&plquo;Confound and swallow navigation up;
&plquo;Though bladed corn be lodg'd, and trees blown down,
&plquo;Though castles topple on their warders heads;
&plquo;Though palaces and pyramids do slope
&plquo;Their heads to their foundations; though the treasure
&plquo;Of natures † ^notegermains tumble all together,
&plquo;Even 'till destruction sicken: answer me
To what I ask you.

1 Witch.
Speak.

2 Witch.
Demand.

3 Witch.
We'll answer.

1 Witch.
Say, if th' hadst rather hear it from our mouths,
Or from our masters?

Macb.
Call 'em: let me see 'em.

1 Witch.
Pour in sow's blood, that hath eaten
Her nine farrow: grease that's sweaten
From the murth'rer's gibbet, throw
Into the flame:

All.
Come high or low:
Thy self and office deftly show. [Thunder. Apparition of an armed head rises.

Macb.
Tell me, thou unknown power—

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

App.
Macbeth! Macbeth! Macbeth! beware Macduff!—
Beware the Thane of Fife—dismiss me—enough. [Descends.

Macb.
What-e'er thou art, for thy good caution thanks.
Thou'st harp'd my fear aright. But one word more—

1 Witch.
He will not be commanded; here's another
More potent than the first. [Thunder. Apparition of a bloody child rises.

App.
Macbeth! Macbeth! Macbeth!

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

App.
Be bloody, bold, and resolute; laugh to scorn
The pow'r of man; for none of woman born
Shall harm Macbeth. [Descends.

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

All.
Listen, but speak not.

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

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

All.
Seek to know no more. [The cauldron sinks into the ground.

Macb.
I will be satisfy'd. Deny me this,
And an eternal curse fall on you: let me know.
Why sinks that cauldron? and what noise is this? [Hoboys.

1 Witch.
Shew!

2 Witch.
Shew!

3 Witch.
Shew!

All.
Shew his eyes, and grieve his heart,
Come like shadows, so depart. [Eight Kings appear and pass over in order, and Banquo last, with a glass in his hand.

Macb.
Thou art too like the spirit of Banquo; down!
Thy crown do's sear mine eye-balls. And thy hair
(Thou other gold-bound-brow) is like the first—
A third, is like the former—filthy hags!
Why do you shew me this?—A fourth?—Start eye!
What, will the line stretch out to th' crack of doom?—

Another yet?—A seventh! I'll see no more—
And yet the eighth appears, who bears a glass,
Which shews me many more; and some I see
That twofold balls and treble scepters carry.
Horrible sight! nay now I see 'tis true,
For the blood-bolter'd Banquo smiles upon me,
And points at them for his. What, is this so?

1 Witch.
Ay Sir, all this is so. But why
Stands Macbeth thus amazedly?
Come sisters, chear we up his sprights,
And shew the best of our delights,
I'll charm the air to give a sound,
While you perform your antique round:
That this great King may kindly say,
Our duties did his welcome pay. [Musick. [The witches dance, and vanish.

Macb.
Where are they? gone?—Let this pernicious hour
Stand ay accursed in the kalendar.
Come in, without there? Enter Lenox.

Len.
What's your grace's will?

Macb.
Saw you the weyward sisters?

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.
Time, thou anticipat'st my dread exploits:
The flighty purpose never is o'er-took
Unless the deed go with it. From this moment,
The very firstlings of my heart shall be
The firstlings of my hand. And even now
To crown my thoughts with acts, be't thought and done:
The castle of Macduff I will surprise,
Seize upon Fife, give to the edge o'th' sword
His wife, his babes, and all unfortunate souls
That trace him in his line. No boasting like a fool,
This deed I'll do before this purpose cool.
But no more sights. Where are these gentlemen?
Come, bring me where they are. [Exeunt.

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