Don. What should be spoken here,

Where our fate, hid within an augre-hole,

May rush, and seize us? Let's away; our tears

Are not yet brew'd.

And when we have our naked frailties hid,
That suffer in exposure, let us meet,

And question this most bloody piece of work,

To know it further. Fears and scruples shake us : In the great hand* of God I stand; and, thence, Against the undivulg'd pretence † I fight

Of treasonous malice.

Macb.

All.

And so do I.

So all.

Macb. Let's briefly put on manly readiness, And meet i'the hall together.

All.

Well contented.

[Exeunt all but Mal. and Don.

Mal. What will you do? Let's not consort with

them :

To show an unfelt sorrow, is an office

Which the false man does easy: I'll to England.
Don. To Ireland, I; our separated fortune
Shall keep us both the safer where we are,
There's daggers in men's smiles: the near in blood,
The nearer bloody.

Mal.

:

This murderous shaft that's shot, Hath not yet lighted; and our safest way Is, to avoid the aim. Therefore, to horse; And let us not be dainty of leave-taking, But shift away: There's warrant in that theft Which steals itself, when there's no mercy left. [Exeunt.

1

SCENE IV.

Without the castle.

Enter Rosse and an Old Man.

Old M. Threescore and ten I can remember well: Within the volume of which time, I have seen Hours dreadful, and things strange; but this sore

Rosse.

Ah, good father, Thou see'st, the heavens, as troubled with man's

act,

Threaten his bloody stage: by the clock, 'tis day, And yet dark night strangles the travelling lamp : Is't night's predominance, or the day's shame, That darkness does the face of earth intomb, When living light should kiss it?

Old M. "Tis unnatural, Even like the deed that's done. On Tuesday last, A falcon, tow'ring in her pride of place, Was by a mousing owl hawk'd at, and kill'd.

Rosse. And Duncan's horses (a thing most strange and certain,)

Beauteous and swift, the minions of their race, Turn'd wild in nature, broke their stalls, flung out, Contending 'gainst obedience, as they would make War with mankind.

Old M.

"Tis said, they eat each other. Rosse. They did so; to the amazement of mine

Rosse. Is't known who did this more than bloody

They were suborn'd:

which puts upon them

'Gainst nature still :

Malcolm, and Donalbain, the king's two sons,

Are stol'n away and fled;

Suspicion of the deed.

Thriftless ambition, that will ravin up

Thine own life's means!-Then 'tis most like,
The sovereignty will fall upon Macbeth.

Macd. He is already nam'd; and gone to Scone,

To be invested.

Rosse.

Where is Duncan's body?

Macd. Carried to Colmes-kill;

The sacred storehouse of his predecessors,

And guardian of their bones.

Rosse.

Will you to Scone?

Well, I will thither.

Macd. No, cousin, I'll to Fife.
Rosse.

Macd. Well, may you see things well done there;

-adieu !

Lest our old robes sit easier than our new!

Rosse. Father, farewell.

Old M. God's benison go with you; and with those

That would made good of bad, and friends of foes!

ACT III.

[Exeunt.

SCENE I. Fores. A room in the palace.

Enter Banquo.

Ban. Thou hast it now, King, Cawdor, Glamis,

all

As the weird women promis'd; and, I fear,

Intend to themselves.

Thou play'dst most foully for't: yet it was said,
It should not stand in thy posterity;

But that myself should be the root, and father
Of many kings. If there come truth from them
(As upon thee, Macbeth, their speeches shine,)
Why, by the verities on thee made good,
May they not be my oracles as well,

And set me up in hope? But, hush; no more.

Senet sounded. Enter Macbeth, as King; Lady Macbeth, as Queen; Lenox, Rosse, Lords, Ladies, and attendants.

Macb. Here's our chief guest.
Lady M.

If he had been forgotten,

It had been as a gap in our great feast,

And all things unbecoming.

Macb. To-night we hold a solemn supper, sir,

And I'll request your presence.

Ban.

Let your highness

Command upon me; to the which, my duties

Are with a most indissoluble tie

(Which still have been both grave and prosperous,) In this day's council; but we'll take to-morrow. Is't far you ride?

Ban. As far, my lord, as will fill up the time "Twixt this and supper: go not my horse the better, I must become a borrower of the night,

For a dark hour or twain.

Macb.

Ban. My lord, I will not.

Fail not our feat.

Macb. We hear our bloody cousins are bestow'd In England, and in Ireland; not confessing Their cruel parricide, filling their hearers

With strange invention: But of that to-morrow;

When, therewithal, we shall have cause of state,
Craving us jointly. Hie you to horse: Adieu,
Till you return at night. Goes Fleance with you ?
Ban. Ay, my good lord: our time does call upon

us.

Macb. I wish your horses swift, and sure of foot; And so I do commend* you to their backs.

Farewell.

Let every man be master of his time

Till seven at night; to make society

[Exit Banquo.

The sweeter welcome, we will keep ourself
Till supper-time alone: while then, God be with

you.

[Exeunt Lady Macbeth, Lords, Ladies, &c. Sirrah, a word: Attend those men our pleasure? Atten. They are, my lord, without the palace gate.

Macb. Bring them before us.-[Exit Atten.] To be thus, is nothing;

But to be safely thus :-Our fears in Banquo
Stick deep; and in his royalty† of nature

Reigns that, which would be fear'd: "Tis much he dares;

And, to that dauntless temper of his mind,
He hath a wisdom that doth guide his valour
To act in safety. There is none, but he,
Whose being I do fear; and, under him,
My genius is rebuk'd; as, it is said,

Mark Antony's was by Cæsar. He chid the sisters,
When first they put the name of king upon me,
And bade them speak to him; then, prophet-like,
They hail'd him father to a line of kings:
Upon my head they plac'd a fruitless crown,
And put a barren sceptre in my gripe,
Thence to be wrench'd with an unlineal hand,
No son of mine succeeding. If it be so,
For Banquo's issue have I'fil'dt my mind,
For them the gracious Duncan have I murder'd;
Put rancours in the vessel of my peace

Commit.

+ Nobleness.

For defiled.