To gain the timely inn; and near approaches 3 Mur. Hark! I hear horses. Ban. [Within.] Give us a light there, ho! That are within the note of expectation, 1 Mur. Then it is he; the rest His horses go about. 3 Mur. Almost a mile; but he does usually, So all men do, from hence to the palace gate. Make it their walk. Enter BANQUO and FLEANCE, a Servant with a torch pre 2 Mur. 3 Mur. 1 Mur. Stand to't. ceding them. A light, a light! Ban. It will be rain to-night. 1 Mur. 'Tis he. Let it come down. [Assaults BANQUO. Ban. O, treachery! Fly, good Fleance, fly, fly, fly; Thou mayst revenge. O slave! [Dies. FLEANCE and Servant escape. 3 Mur. Who did strike out the light? 1 Mur. Was't not the way? 3 Mur. There's but one down; the son is fled. 2 Mur. We have lost best half of our affair. 1 Mur. Well, let's away, and say how much is done. SCENE IV. A Room of State in the Palace. A Banquet prepared. Enter MACBETH, LADY MACBETH, ROSSE, LENOX, Lords, and Attendants. Macb. You know your own degrees; sit down: at first And last, the hearty welcome. Lords. Thanks to your majesty. Macb. Ourself will mingle with society, And play the humble host. Our hostess keeps her state; but, in best time, We will require her welcome. Lady M. Pronounce it for me, sir, to all our friends; For my heart speaks, they are welcome. Enter first Murderer, to the door. Macb. See, they encounter thee with their hearts' thanks. Both sides are even: Here I'll sit i' the midst: Macb. 'Tis better thee without, than he within. Mur. My lord, his throat is cut; that I did for him. Macb. Thou art the best o' the cut-throats. Yet he's good, That did the like for Fleance: if thou didst it, Thou art the nonpareil. Mur. Fleance is 'scaped. Most royal sir, Macb. Then comes my fit again. I had else been perfect; Whole as the marble, founded as the rock; As broad and general as the casing air: But now, I am cabined, cribbed, confined, bound in The least a death to nature. Macb. Thanks for that. There the grown serpent lies; the worm, that's fled, No teeth for the present.-Get thee gone; to-morrow Lady M. That is not often vouched while 'tis a making, Macb. Sweet remembrancer! Now, good digestion wait on appetite, Len. May it please your highness, sit? [The ghost of BANQUO rises, and sits in MACBETH'S place. Macb. Here had we now our country's honor roofed, Were the graced person of our Banquo present; Who may I rather challenge for unkindness Than pity for mischance! Rosse. His absence, sir, Lays blame upon his promise. Please it your highness To grace us with your royal company? Macb. The table's full. Len. Macb. Here's a place reserved, sir. Where? Len. Here, my good lord. What is't that moves your highness? 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. Rosse. 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; upon a thought. He will again be well. If much you note him, Macb. Ay, and a bold one, that dare look on that Which might appal the devil. Lady M. Authorized by her grandam. Shame itself! Why do you make such faces? When all's done, Macb. Pr'ythee, see there! behold! look! lo! how say you? Why, what care I? If thou canst nod, speak too.- Those that we bury, back, our monuments Lady M. [Ghost disappears. What! quite unmanned in folly? Macb. If I stand here, I saw him. Fie, for shame! Macb. Blood hath been shed ere now, i' the olden time, Ere human statute purged the general weal; Ay, and since, too, murders have been performed Too terrible for the ear. The times have been, That, when the brains were out, the man would die, And push us from our stools. This is more strange Lady M. My worthy lord, I do forget. Your noble friends do lack you. Do not muse at me, my most worthy friends; I have a strange infirmity, which is nothing To those that know me. Come, love and health to all; Ghost rises. And to our dear friend Banquo, whom we miss; Lords. Our duties, and the pledge. Macb. 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 Lady M. Think of this, good peers, But as a thing of custom. 'Tis no other; Macb. What man dare, I dare: Approach thou like the rugged Russian bear, [Ghost disappears. Unreal mockery, hence!-Why, so;-being gone, I am a man again.- 'Pray you, sit still. Lady M. You have displaced the mirth, broke the good meeting, With most admired disorder. Macb. Can such things be, And overcome us like a summer's cloud, Without our special wonder? You make me strange Even to the disposition that I owe, When now I think you can behold such sights, And keep the natural ruby of your cheeks, When mine are blanched with fear. Rosse. What sights, 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. Good night, and better health A kind good night to all! Attend his majesty! [Exeunt Lords and Attendants. Macb. It will have blood; they say, blood will have blood; Stones have been known to move, and trees to speak; Augures and understood relations have, By magot-pies, and choughs, and rooks, brought forth 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? Macb. I hear it by the way; but I will send: There's not a one of them, but in his house I keep a servant feed. I will, to-morrow, (And betimes I will,) to the weird sisters. More shall they speak; for now I am bent to know, Stepped in so far, that, should I wade no more, Strange things I have in head, that will to hand; Lady M. You lack the season of all natures, sleep. Macb. Come, we'll to sleep. My strange and self abuse Is the initiate fear, that wants hard use. We are yet but young in deed. [Exeunt. Enter HECATE, meeting the three Witches. 1 Witch. Why, how now, Hecate? you look angerly. Hec. Have I not reason, beldames, as you are, Saucy, and overbold? How did you dare To trade and traffic with Macbeth, In riddles and affairs of death; |