Ali.

Seek to know no more.
Macb. I will be satisfied. Deny me this,
And an eternal curse fall on you! Let me know:-
Why sinks that caldron ? and what noise is this?

[Hautbois. 1 Witch. Show! 2 Witch. Show! 3 Witch. Show!

AU. Show his eyes, and grieve his heart; Come like shadows, so depart. Eight kings appear, and pass over the stage in order; the

last with a glass in his hand ; BANQUO following.
Macb. Thou art too like the spirit of Banquo; down!
Thy crown does sear mine eyeballs; — and thy hair,
Thou other gold-bound brow, is like the first. -
A third is like the former.- Filthy hags!
Why do you show me this ?-A fourth? - Start, eyes!
What! will the line stretch out to the crack of doom?
Another yet? - A seventh ? — I'll see no more.-
And yet the eighth appears, who bears a glass,
Which shows me many more; and some I sec,
Thąt twofold balls and treble sceptres carry;
Horrible sight!- Now, I see, 'tis true;
For the blood-boltered 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, cheer we up his sprights,
And show 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.

[Music. The Witches dance, and vanish. Macb. Where are they? Gone?—Let this pernicious

: hour Stand aye accursed in the calendar!Come in, without there!

Enter LENOX. Len.

: What's your grace's will ?
Macb. Saw you the weird 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 damned all those that trust them!I did hear
The galloping of horse. Who was't came by ?

Len. 'f'is two or three, my lord, that bring you word,
Macduff is filed to England.
Macb.

Fled to England ? Len. Ay, my good lord. Macb. T'ime, thou anticipat'st my dread exploits : The flighty purpose never is o'ertook, 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 it 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 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.

SCENE II. Fife. A Room in Macduff's Castle.

Enter LADY MACDUFF, her Son, and ROSSE. L. Macd. What had he done, to make him fly the land ? Rosse. 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. Rosse.

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 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. Rosse.

My dearest coz, I pray you, school yourself: but, for your husband, He is noble, wise, judicious, and best knows The fits o'the season. I dare not speak much further: But cruel are the times, when we are traitors, And do not know ourselves ; 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 move.- I take my leave of you:
Shall 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. Fathered he is, and yet he's fatherless.

Rosse. I am so much a fool, should I stay longer, It would be my disgrace, and your discomfort. I take my leave at once.

[Exit ROSSE. 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 worms and flies?
Son. With what I get, I mean; and so do they.
L. Macd. Poor bird! thou'dst never fear the net, nor

lime, The pit-fall, nor the gin. Son. Why should I, mother? Poor birds they are not

set for.
My father is not dead, for all your saying.

L. Macd. Yes, he is dead; how wilt thou do for a father ?
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 'em to sell again.

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

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 ?

L. Macd. Every one that does so, is a traitor, and must be hanged.

Son. And must they all be hanged, that swear and lie?
L. Macd. Every one.
Son. Who must hang them ?
L. Macd. Why, the honest men.

Son. Then the liars and swearers are fools; for there are liars and swearers enough to beat the honest men, and hang up them.

L. Macd. Now, God help thee, poor monkey! But how wilt thou do for a fatber?

Son. If he were dead, you'd weep for him; if you would not, it were a good sign that I should quickly have a new father, L. Macd. 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 honor 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, methinks, I am too savage; To do worse to you, were fell cruelty, Which is too nigh your person. Heaven preserve you! I dare abide no longer.

[Exit Messenger. L. Macd.

Whither should I fly? I have done no harm. But I remember now I am 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 done no harm ?- What are these faces ?

Enter Murderers.
Mur. Where is your husband ?

L. Macd. I hope, in no place so unsanctified,
Where such as thou may'st find him.
Mur.

He's a traitor.
Son. Thou ly’st, thou shag-eared villain.
Mur.

What, you egg! [Stabbing him. Young fry of treachery ! Son.

He has killed me, mother; Run away, I pray you.

[Dies. [Exit LADY MACDUFF, crying murder,

and pursued by the Murderers.

SCENE III. England. A Room in 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 downfallen birthdom. Each new mórn,
New widows howl; new orphans cry; new sorrows
Strike heaven on the face, that it resounds.

As if it felt with Scotland, and yelled out
Like syllable of dolor.
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 touched you yet. I am young; but something
You may deserve of him through me; and wisdom
To offer 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 your pardon;
That which you are, my thoughts cannot transpose :
Angels are bright still, though the brightest fell:
Though all things foul would wear the brows of grace,
Yet grace must still look so.
Macd.

I have lost my hopes. Mal. Perchance, even there, where I did find my doubts. Why in that rawness left you wife and child, (Those precious motives, those strong knots of love,) Without leave-taking ?-I pray you, Let not my jealousies be your dishonors, But mine own safeties.--You may be rightly just, Whatever I shall think, Macd.

Bleed, bleed, poor country!
Great tyranny, lay thou thy basis sure,
For goodness dares not check thee !--Wear thou thy

wrongs ;-
Thy title is affeered !-- Fare thee well, lord.
I would not be the villain that thou think'st
For the whole space that's in the tyrant's grasp,
And the rich East to boot.
Mal.

Be not offended;
I speak not as in absolute fear of you.
I think our country sinks beneath the yoke.
It weeps, it bleeds; and each new day a gash.
Is added to her wounds. I think, withal,
There would be hands uplifted in my right:
And here, from gracious England, have I offer
Of goodly thousands. But, for all this,
When I shall tread upon the tyrant's head,
Or wear it on my sword, yet my poor country

VOL. II. – 16