Macbeth Read online

  Which keeps me pale. Light thickens, and the crow

  Makes wing to th' rooky wood.52

  Good things of day begin to droop and drowse,

  Whiles night's black agents to their preys do rouse.

  Thou marvel'st at my words, but hold thee still;

  Things bad begun make strong themselves by ill.

  So prithee go with me.

  Exeunt.

  Macbeth

  III.3Enter three Murderers.

  FIRST MURDERER

  But who did bid thee join with us?

  THIRD MURDERER Macbeth.

  SECOND MURDERER

  2 He needs not our mistrust, since he delivers 3 Our offices and what we have to do 4 To the direction just.

  FIRST MURDERER Then stand with us.

  The west yet glimmers with some streaks of day.

  6 Now spurs the lated traveler apace 7 To gain the timely inn, and near approaches The subject of our watch.

  THIRD MURDERER Hark, I hear horses.

  BANQUO Within

  Give us a light there, ho!

  SECOND MURDERER

  10 Then 'tis he: the rest 11 That are within the note of expectation Already are i' th' court.

  13FIRST MURDERER His horses go about.

  THIRD MURDERER

  Almost a mile; but he does usually,

  So all men do, from hence to th' palace gate

  Make it their walk.

  Enter Banquo and Fleance, with a torch.

  SECOND MURDERER A light, a light!

  THIRD MURDERER 'Tis he.

  FIRST MURDERER Stand to't.

  BANQUO

  20 It will be rain tonight.

  FIRST MURDERER Let it come down!

  BANQUO

  O, treachery! Fly, good Fleance, fly, fly, fly!

  [Exit Fleance.]

  Thou mayst revenge-O slave!

  [Banquo slain.]

  THIRD MURDERER

  Who did strike out the light?23

  FIRST MURDERER Was't not the way?

  THIRD MURDERER

  There's but one down: the son is fled.

  SECOND MURDERER

  We have lost best half of our affair.

  FIRST MURDERER

  Well, let's away, and say how much is done.

  Exeunt.

  III.4Banquet prepared. Enter Macbeth, Lady [Macbeth], Ross, Lennox, Lords, and Attendants.

  MACBETH

  You know your own degrees-sit down:1

  At first and last the hearty welcome.

  LORDS

  Thanks to your majesty.

  MACBETH

  Ourself will mingle with society4

  And play the humble host.

  Our hostess keeps her state, but in best time6

  We will require her welcome.

  LADY MACBETH

  Pronounce it for me, sir, to all our friends,

  For my heart speaks they are welcome. Enter First Murderer.

  MACBETH

  10 See, they encounter thee with their hearts' thanks.

  Both sides are even. Here I'll sit i' th' midst.

  Be large in mirth; anon we'll drink a measure

  The table round. [Goes to Murderer.]

  There's blood upon thy face.

  FIRST MURDERER 'Tis Banquo's then.

  MACBETH

  'Tis better thee without than he within.

  Is he dispatched?

  FIRST MURDERER My lord, his throat is cut:

  That I did for him.

  MACBETH Thou art the best o' th' cutthroats.

  Yet he's good that did the like for Fleance:

  19 If thou didst it, thou art the nonpareil.

  FIRST MURDERER

  20 Most royal sir, Fleance is scaped.

  MACBETH

  21 Then comes my fit again. I had else been perfect; 22 Whole as the marble, founded as the rock, 23 As broad and general as the casing air.

  24 But now I am cabined, cribbed, confined, bound in 25 To saucy doubts and fears. But Banquo's safe?

  FIRST MURDERER

  Ay, my good lord. Safe in a ditch he bides,

  27 With twenty trenched gashes on his head, The least a death to nature.

  MACBETH Thanks for that.

  There the grown serpent lies; the worm that's fled29

  Hath nature that in time will venom breed,30

  No teeth for th' present. Get thee gone. Tomorrow

  We'll hear ourselves again.

  Exit Murderer.32

  LADY MACBETH My royal lord,

  You do not give the cheer. The feast is sold33

  That is not often vouched, while 'tis a-making,34

  'Tis given with welcome. To feed were best at home;35

  From thence, the sauce to meat is ceremony:36

  Meeting were bare without it.

  MACBETH Sweet remembrancer!

  Now good digestion wait on appetite,

  And health on both.

  LENNOX May't please your highness sit.

  MACBETH

  Here had we now our country's honor roofed40

  Were the graced person of our Banquo present-

  Enter the Ghost of Banquo,

  and sits in Macbeth's place.

  Who may I rather challenge for unkindness42

  Than pity for mischance.

  ROSS His absence, sir,

  Lays blame upon his promise. Please't your highness To grace us with your royal company?

  MACBETH

  The table's full.

  LENNOX Here is a place reserved, sir.

  MACBETH

  Where?

  LENNOX

  Here, my good lord. What is't that moves your highness?

  MACBETH

  Which of you have done this?

  LORDS

  50 What, my good lord?

  MACBETH

  Thou canst not say I did it. Never shake

  Thy gory locks at me.

  ROSS

  Gentlemen, rise. His highness is not well.

  LADY MACBETH

  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,

  58 You shall offend him and extend his passion.

  Feed, and regard him not.-Are you a man?

  MACBETH

  60 Ay, and a bold one, that dare look on that Which might appall the devil.

  LADY MACBETH O proper stuff!

  This is the very painting of your fear.

  63 This is the air-drawn dagger which you said 64 Led you to Duncan. O, these flaws and starts, 65 Impostors to true fear, would well become A woman's story at a winter's fire,

  67 Authorized by her grandam. Shame itself!

  Why do you make such faces? When all's done,

  You look but on a stool.

  MACBETH Prithee see there!

  70 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 monuments73

  Shall be the maws of kites.

  [Exit Ghost.]74

  LADY MACBETH What, quite unmanned in folly?

  MACBETH

  If I stand here, I saw him.

  LADY MACBETH Fie, for shame!

  MACBETH

  Blood hath been shed ere now, i' th' olden time,

  Ere humane statute purged the gentle weal;77

  Ay, and since too, murders have been performed

  Too terrible for the ear. The time has been

  That, when the brains were out, the man would die,80

  And there an end. But now they rise again,

  With twenty mortal murders on their crowns,82

  And push us from our stools. This is more strange

  Than such a murder is.

  LADY MACBETH My worthy lord,

  Your noble
friends do lack you.

  MACBETH 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 th' general joy o' th' whole table,90

  And to our dear friend Banquo, whom we miss.

  Would he were here! Enter Ghost.92

  To all, and him we thirst,

  And all to all.93

  LORDS Our duties, and the pledge.

  MACBETH

  Avaunt, and quit my sight! Let the earth hide thee!

  Thy bones are marrowless, thy blood is cold;

  96 Thou hast no speculation in those eyes Which thou dost glare with.

  LADY MACBETH Think of this, good peers,

  98 But as a thing of custom. 'Tis no other.

  Only it spoils the pleasure of the time.

  MACBETH

  100 What man dare, I dare.

  Approach thou like the rugged Russian bear,

  102 The armed rhinoceros, or th' Hyrcan tiger; 103 Take any shape but that, and my firm nerves Shall never tremble. Or be alive again

  105 And dare me to the desert with thy sword.

  106 If trembling I inhabit then, protest me 107 The baby of a girl. Hence, horrible shadow!

  Unreal mock'ry, hence!

  [Exit Ghost.]

  Why, so; being gone,

  I am a man again.-Pray you sit still.

  LADY MACBETH

  110 You have displaced the mirth, broke the good meeting 111 With most admired disorder.

  MACBETH Can such things be,

  112 And overcome us like a summer's cloud 113 Without our special wonder? You make me strange 114 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 is blanched with fear.

  ROSS What sights, my lord?

  LADY MACBETH

  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,120

  But go at once.

  LENNOX Good night and better health

  Attend his majesty.

  LADY MACBETH A kind good night to all.

  Exeunt Lords.

  MACBETH

  It will have blood, they say: blood will have blood.

  Stones have been known to move and trees to speak;

  Augurs and understood relations have125

  By maggotpies and choughs and rooks brought forth126

  The secret'st man of blood. What is the night?127

  LADY MACBETH

  Almost at odds with morning, which is which.

  MACBETH

  How sayst thou, that Macduff denies his person

  At our great bidding?130

  LADY MACBETH

  Did you send to him, sir?

  MACBETH

  I hear it by the way; but I will send.131

  There's not a one of them but in his house

  I keep a servant fee'd. I will tomorrow,133

  And betimes I will, to the weird sisters.134

  More shall they speak, for now I am bent to know135

  By the worst means the worst. For mine own good

  All causes shall give way. I am in blood

  Stepped in so far that, should I wade no more,

  Returning were as tedious as go o'er.

  140 Strange things I have in head, that will to hand, 141 Which must be acted ere they may be scanned.

  LADY MACBETH

  142 You lack the season of all natures, sleep.

  MACBETH

  143 Come, we'll to sleep. My strange and self-abuse 144 Is the initiate fear that wants hard use.

  We are yet but young in deed.

  Exeunt.

  III.5Thunder. Enter the three Witches, meeting Hecate.

  FIRST WITCH

  Why, how now, Hecate? You look angerly.

  HECATE

  2 Have I not reason, beldams as you are, Saucy and overbold? How did you dare

  To trade and traffic with Macbeth

  In riddles and affairs of death;

  And I, the mistress of your charms,

  7 The close contriver of all harms, 8 Was never called to bear my part Or show the glory of our art?

  10 And, which is worse, all you have done 11 Hath been but for a wayward son, Spiteful and wrathful, who, as others do,

  Loves for his own ends, not for you.

  But make amends now: get you gone

  15 And at the pit of Acheron Meet me i' th' morning. Thither he

  Will come to know his destiny.

  Your vessels and your spells provide,18

  Your charms and everything beside.

  I am for th' air. This night I'll spend20

  Unto a dismal and a fatal end.

  Great business must be wrought ere noon.

  Upon the corner of the moon

  There hangs a vap'rous drop profound;24

  I'll catch it ere it come to ground;

  And that, distilled by magic sleights,26

  Shall raise such artificial sprites27

  As by the strength of their illusion

  Shall draw him on to his confusion.29

  He shall spurn fate, scorn death, and bear30

  His hopes 'bove wisdom, grace, and fear;

  And you all know security32

  Is mortals' chiefest enemy.

  Music, and a song.

  [FIRST SPIRIT Within]

  Hecate, Hecate, Hecate, O come away!

  HECATE

  Hark, I am called. My little spirit, see,

  Sits in a foggy cloud and stays for me.

  FIRST SPIRIT Within

  Come away, Hecate, Hecate, O come away!

  HECATE

  I come, I come, with all the speed I may.

  Where's Stadling?

  SECOND SPIRIT Within Here.

  HECATE Where's Puckle?

  SECOND SPIRIT Within

  Here.

  FIRST SPIRIT Within

  40 And Hopper too, and Hellway too; 41 We want but you, we want but you!

  Come away, make up the count.

  HECATE

  43 I will but 'noint, and then I mount; I will but 'noint, and then I mount.

  FIRST SPIRIT Within

  Here comes down one to fetch his due,

  46 A kiss, a cull, a sip of blood; And why thou stay'st so long I muse,

  Since the air's so sweet and good.

  HECATE

  O, art thou come? What news?

  SECOND SPIRIT Within

  50 All goes for our delight.

  Either come, or else refuse.

  Now I am furnished for the flight;

  Now I go, and now I fly,

  Malkin my sweet spirit and I.

  THIRD SPIRIT Within

  O what a dainty pleasure's this,

  To sail i' th' air while the moon shines fair,

  To sing, to toy, to dance, and kiss.

  Over woods, high rocks and mountains,

  Over hills and misty fountains,

  60 Over steeples, towers and turrets We fly by night 'mongst troops of spirits.

  No ring of bells to our ears sounds,

  No howls of wolves nor yelps of hounds,

  64 No, nor the noise of water's breach, Nor cannons' throats our height can reach.

  [Exit Hecate.]

  FIRST SPIRIT Within

  Come, let's make haste, she'll soon be back again.

  SECOND SPIRIT Within

  But whilst she moves through the foggy air,

  Let's to the cave and our dire charms prepare.

  Exeunt.

  III.6Enter Lennox and another Lord.

  LENNOX

  My former speeches have but hit your thoughts,1

  Which can interpret farther. Only I say2

&nb
sp; Things have been strangely borne. The gracious Duncan Was pitied of Macbeth. Marry, he was dead.

  And the right valiant Banquo walked too late;

  Whom, you may say, if't please you, Fleance killed, For Fleance fled. Men must not walk too late.

  Who cannot want the thought how monstrous8

  It was for Malcolm and for Donalbain

  To kill their gracious father? Damned fact,10

  How it did grieve Macbeth! Did he not straight,

  In pious rage, the two delinquents tear

  That were the slaves of drink and thralls of sleep?13

  Was not that nobly done? Ay, and wisely too,

  For 'twould have angered any heart alive

  To hear the men deny't. So that I say

  He has borne all things well; and I do think17

  That, had he Duncan's sons under his key—

  As, an't please heaven, he shall not-they should find19

  What 'twere to kill a father. So should Fleance.20

  But peace; for from broad words, and 'cause he failed21

  His presence at the tyrant's feast, I hear

  Macduff lives in disgrace. Sir, can you tell

  Where he bestows himself?

  LORD The son of Duncan,

  25 From whom this tyrant holds the due of birth, Lives in the English court, and is received

  Of the most pious Edward with such grace

  That the malevolence of fortune nothing

  29 Takes from his high respect. Thither Macduff 30 Is gone to pray the holy king upon his aid 31 To wake Northumberland and warlike Siward; That by the help of these (with Him above

  To ratify the work) we may again

  Give to our tables meat, sleep to our nights,

  Free from our feasts and banquets bloody knives,

  36 Do faithful homage and receive free honors-All which we pine for now. And this report Hath so exasperate the king that he

  Prepares for some attempt of war.

  40LENNOX Sent he to Macduff?

  LORD

  He did; and with an absolute "Sir, not I,"

  42 The cloudy messenger turns me his back And hums, as who should say, "You'll rue the time

  44 That clogs me with this answer."

  LENNOX And that well might

  45 Advise him to a caution t' 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

  50 Under a hand accursed.

  LORD I'll send my prayers with him.

  Exeunt.

  IV.1Thunder. Enter the three Witches.

  FIRST WITCH

  Thrice the brindled cat hath mewed.1

  SECOND WITCH

  Thrice, and once the hedgepig whined.

  THIRD WITCH

  Harpier cries-'Tis time, 'tis time!3

  FIRST WITCH

  Round about the cauldron go;

  In the poisoned entrails throw.

  Toad, that under cold stone

  Days and nights has thirty-one

  Sweltered venom sleeping got,8

  Boil thou first i' th' charmed pot.

  ALL

  Double, double toil and trouble,10

  Fire burn and cauldron bubble.

  SECOND WITCH

  Fillet of a fenny snake,12

  In the cauldron boil and bake;

  Eye of newt, and toe of frog,

  Wool of bat, and tongue of dog,

  Adder's fork, and blindworm's sting,16

  Lizard's leg, and owlet's wing—

  For a charm of powerful trouble

  Like a hellbroth boil and bubble.