Do faithful homage, and receive free honours,
All which we pine for now: And this report
Hath so exasperate the king, that he
Prepares for some attempt of war.
Len.

Sent he to Macduff?
Lord. He did: and with an absolute, Sir, not I,
The cloudy messenger turns me his back,
And hums; as who should say, You'll rue the time
That clogs me with this answer.
Len.

And that well might Advise him to a caution, to hold what distance His wisdom can provide. Some holy angel Fly to the court of England, and unfold His message ere he come; that a swift blessing May soon return to this our suffering country Under a hand accurs'd! Lord.

My prayers with him!

[Exeunt. ACT IV.

SCENE I.

A DARK CAVE.

IN THE MIDDLE, A CALDRON
BOILING.

Thunder. Enter the three Witches.

1 Witch. Thrice the brinded cat hath mew'd. 2 Witch. Thrice; and once the hedge-pig

whin'd.
3 Witch. Harper cries:- 'Tis time, 'tis time.
1 Witch. Round about the caldron go;

In the poison's entrails throw.-
Toad, that under coldest stone,
Days and nights hast thirty one
Swelter'd venom sleeping got,
Boil thou first i’the charmed pot!

All. Double, double toil and trouble;
Fire, burn; and, caldron, bubble.

2 Witch. Fillet of a fenny snake,
In the caldron boil and bake:
Eye of newt, and toe of frog,
Wool of bat, and tongue of dog,
Adder's fork, and blind-worm's sting,
Lizard's leg, and owlet's wing,
For a charm of powerful trouble,
Like a hell-broth boil and bubble.

All. Double, double toil and trouble;
Fire, burn; and, caldron, bubble.

3 IVitch. Scale of dragon, tooth of wolf; Witches' mummy; maw, and gulf,

Of the ravin’d salt-sea shark;
Root of hemlock, digg'd i'the dark;
Liver of blaspheming Jew;
Gall of goat, and slips of yew,
Sliver'd 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,
For the ingredients of our caldron.

All. Double, double toil and trouble;
Fire, burn; and, caldron, bubble.

2 Witch. Cool it with a baboon's blood,
Then the charm is firm and good.

Enter Hecate, to the other three Witches.
Hec. O, well done! I commend your pains;
And every one shall share i’the gains.
And now about the caldron sing,
Like elves and fairies in a ring,
Enchanting all that you put in.

(Musick.

SON G.
Black spirits and white,

Red spirits and grey;
Mingle, mingle, mingle,

You that mingle may.

2 Witch. By the pricking of my thumbs, Something wicked this way comes :-Open, locks, whoever knocks.

Enter Macbeth.

Mac. How now, you secret, black, and midnight

hags? What is't

you

do? AN

A deed without a name. Mac. 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 corn be lodg’d, and trees blown

down; Though castles topple on their warders' heads; Though palaces, and pyramids, do slope Their heads to their foundations; though the trea

sure

Of nature's germins tumble all together,
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 thou’dst rather hear it from our

mouths,
Or from our masters'?
Mac.

Call them, let me see them.
1 Witch. Pour in sow's blood, that hath eaten
Her nine farrow; grease, that's sweaten
From the murderer's gibbet, throw
Into the flame.

All. Come, high, or low;
Thyself, and office, deftly show.

Thunder. An Apparition of an armed head rises. Mac. 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. Mac. What-e'er thou art, for thy good caution,

thanks; Thou hast 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. An Apparition of a bloody child rises. App.

Macbeth! Macbeth! Macbeth! Mac. Had I three ears, I'd hear thee.

App. Be bloody, bold, and resolute: laugh to scorn The power of man; for none of woman born Shall harm Macbeth.

[descends. Mac. 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 lies,
And sleep in spite of thunder. What is this,