Enter Banquo, and Fleance; a Servant with a

torch preceding them. 2 Mur.

A light, a light! 3 Mur.

'Tis he. 1 Mur. Stand to't. Ban. It will be rain to-night. 1 Mur.

Let it come down.

[assaults Banquo. Ban. O, treachery! Fly, good Fleance, fly, fly,

fly; Thou may'st 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.

[Exeunt.

SCENE IV.

A ROOM OF STATE IN THE PALACE.

A banquet prepared. Enter Macbeth, Lady Macbeth,

Rosse, Lenor, Lords, and Attendants. Mac. You know your own degrees, sit down: at

first, And last, the hearty welcome. Lords.

Thanks to your majesty. Mac. 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.
Mac. 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.---There's blood upon thy face.

Mur. 'Tis Banquo's then.

Mac. 'Tis better thee without, than he within. Is he despatch'd ? Mur. My lord, his throat is cut; that I did for

him. Mac. 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.

Most royal sir,
Fleance is 'scap'd.
Mac. 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 cabin’d, cribb’d, confin’d, bound in

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;

To

The least a death to nature.
Mac.

Thanks for that:
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-mor

row

Lady M.

We'll hear, ourselves again. [Exit Murderer.

My royal lord,
You do not give the cheer: the feast is sold,
That is not often vouch'd, while ’tis a making,
'Tis given with welcome: To feed, were best at

home;
From thence, the sauce to meat is ceremony;
Meeting were bare without it.
Mac.

Sweet remembrancer!
Now, good digestion wait on appetite,
And health on both!
Len.

May it please your highness sit? [The ghost of Banquo rises, and sits in

Macbeth's place.
Mac. Here had we now our country's honour

roof'd,
Were the grac'd 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 high-

ness

To grace us with your royal company?

Mac. The table's full.
Len.

Here is a place reserv’d, sir. Mac. Where?

E

Len.

Here, my lord. What is't that moves your highness? Mac. Which of you have done this? Lords.

What, my good lord? Mac. 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, You shall offend him, and extend his passion; Feed, and regard him not. —Are you a man?

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

O

proper stuff! 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 fear,) would well become A woman's story, at a winter's fire, Authoriz'd by her grandam. Shame itself! Why do you make such faces? When all's done, You look but on a stool. Mac. Pr’ythee, see there! behold! look! lo!

how say you? 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.

Lady M. What! quite unmann'd in folly? Lady M.

Mac. If I stand here, I saw him.

Fie, for shame! Mac. Blood hath been shed ere now, i'the olden

time, Ere human statute purg'd the gentle weal; Ay, and since too, murders have been perform'd Too terrible for the ear: the times have 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.

My worthy lord,
Your noble friends do lack you.
Mac.

I do forget:-
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; Then I'll sit down:Give me some wine, fill

full: I drink to the general joy of the whole table,

Lady M.

Ghost rises. And to our dear friend Banquo, whom we miss; Would he were here! to all, and him, we thirst, And all to all. • Lords. Our duties, and the pledge. Mac. Avaunt! and quit my sight! Let the earth

hide thee! Thy bones are marrowless, thy blood is cold;