Macbeth Read online

  ALL

  Double, double toil and trouble,20

  Fire burn and cauldron bubble.

  THIRD WITCH

  Scale of dragon, tooth of wolf,

  23 Witch's mummy, maw and gulf 24 Of the ravined salt-sea shark, Root of hemlock digged i' th' dark,

  Liver of blaspheming Jew,

  Gall of goat, and slips of yew

  Slivered in the moon's eclipse,

  Nose of Turk, and Tartar's lips,

  30 Finger of birth-strangled babe 31 Ditch-delivered by a drab 32 Make the gruel thick and slab.

  33 Add thereto a tiger's chawdron For th' ingredience of our cauldron.

  ALL

  Double, double toil and trouble,

  Fire burn and cauldron bubble.

  SECOND WITCH

  Cool it with a baboon's blood,

  38 Then the charm is firm and good.

  Enter Hecate and the other three Witches.

  HECATE

  O, well done! I commend your pains,

  40 And every one shall share i' th' gains.

  And now about the cauldron sing

  Like elves and fairies in a ring,

  Enchanting all that you put in.

  Music and a song.

  HECATE

  Black spirits and white,

  Red spirits and gray

  46 Mingle, mingle, mingle, You that mingle may.

  FOURTH WITCH

  Tiffin, Tiffin,

  Keep it stiff in.

  FIFTH WITCH

  Firedrake Pucky,50

  Make it lucky.

  HECATE

  Liar Robin,

  You must bob in.

  CHORUS

  Around, around, around, about, about,

  All ill come running in, all good keep out.

  FOURTH WITCH

  Here's the blood of a bat.

  HECATE

  O put in that, put in that.

  FIFTH WITCH

  Here's lizard's brain.

  HECATE

  Put in a grain.

  FOURTH WITCH

  Here's juice of toad, here's oil of adder,60

  That will make the charm grow madder.

  FIFTH WITCH

  Put in all these, 'twill raise the stench.

  HECATE

  Nay, here's three ounces of a red-haired wench.

  CHORUS

  Around, around, around, about, about,

  All ill come running in, all good keep out.

  [Exeunt Hecate and the three Singers.]

  SECOND WITCH

  By the pricking of my thumbs,

  Something wicked this way comes.

  Open locks,

  Whoever knocks!

  Enter Macbeth.

  MACBETH

  70 How now, you secret, black, and midnight hags, What is't you do?

  ALL A deed without a name.

  MACBETH

  72 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

  75 Against the churches, though the yeasty waves Confound and swallow navigation up,

  77 Though bladed corn be lodged and trees blown down, Though castles topple on their warders' heads,

  79 Though palaces and pyramids do slope 80 Their heads to their foundations, though the treasure 81 Of Nature's germens tumble all together 82 Even till destruction sicken, answer me To what I ask you.

  FIRST WITCH Speak.

  SECOND WITCH Demand.

  THIRD WITCH We'll answer.

  FIRST WITCH

  Say if thou'dst rather hear it from our mouths

  85 Or from our masters.

  MACBETH Call 'em. Let me see 'em.

  FIRST WITCH

  Pour in sow's blood, that hath eaten

  87 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.90

  Thunder. First Apparition, an Armed Head.

  MACBETH

  Tell me, thou unknown power-

  FIRST WITCH He knows thy thought: Hear his speech, but say thou nought.

  FIRST APPARITION

  Macbeth, Macbeth, Macbeth, beware Macduff,

  Beware the Thane of Fife. Dismiss me. Enough.

  He descends.

  MACBETH

  Whate'er thou art, for thy good caution thanks:

  Thou hast harped my fear aright. But one word more-96

  FIRST WITCH

  He will not be commanded. Here's another,

  More potent than the first.

  Thunder. Second Apparition, a Bloody Child.

  SECOND APPARITION

  Macbeth, Macbeth, Macbeth-

  MACBETH

  Had I three ears, I'd hear thee.100

  SECOND APPARITION

  Be bloody, bold, and resolute. Laugh to scorn

  The pow'r of man, for none of woman born

  Shall harm Macbeth.

  Descends.

  MACBETH

  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,106

  That I may tell pale-hearted fear it lies

  And sleep in spite of thunder.

  Thunder. Third Apparition, a Child Crowned, with a tree in his hand.

  What is this

  That rises like the issue of a king

  110 And wears upon his baby brow the round And top of sovereignty?

  ALL Listen, but speak not to't.

  THIRD APPARITION

  Be lion-mettled, proud, and take no care

  Who chafes, who frets, or where conspirers are.

  Macbeth shall never vanquished be until

  Great Birnam Wood to high Dunsinane Hill

  Shall come against him. Descends.

  MACBETH That will never be.

  117 Who can impress the forest, bid the tree 118 Unfix his earthbound root? Sweet bodements, good.

  Rebellious dead rise never till the Wood

  120 Of Birnam rise, and our high-placed Macbeth 121 Shall live the lease of nature, pay his breath To time and mortal custom. Yet my heart

  Throbs to know one thing. Tell me, if your art

  124 Can tell so much: Shall Banquo's issue ever Reign in this kingdom?

  ALL Seek to know no more.

  MACBETH

  I will be satisfied. Deny me this,

  And an eternal curse fall on you! Let me know.

  Why sinks that cauldron? and what noise is this?

  Hautboys.

  FIRST WITCH Show!

  130 SECOND WITCH Show!

  THIRD WITCH Show!

  ALL

  Show his eyes, and grieve his heart,

  Come like shadows, so depart.133

  A show of eight Kings and Banquo, last [King ] with a

  glass in his hand.

  MACBETH

  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!138

  What, will the line stretch out to th' crack of doom?

  Another yet? A seventh? I'll see no more.140

  And yet the eighth appears, who bears a glass

  Which shows me many more; and some I see

  That twofold balls and treble scepters carry.143

  Horrible sight! Now I see 'tis true;

  For the blood-boltered Banquo smiles upon me145

  And points at them for his. What? Is this so?

  [Exeunt apparitions.]

  FIRST WITCH

  Ay, sir, all this is so. But why147

  Stands Macbeth thus amazedly?

  Come, sisters, cheer we up his sprites149

  And show the best
of our delights.150

  I'll charm the air to give a sound

  While you perform your antic round,152

  That this great king may kindly say

  Our duties did his welcome pay.

  Music. The Witches dance, and vanish.

  MACBETH

  Where are they? Gone? Let this pernicious hour

  Stand aye accursed in the calendar.

  Come in, without there!

  Enter Lennox.

  LENNOX What's your grace's will?

  MACBETH

  Saw you the weird sisters?

  LENNOX No, my lord.

  MACBETH

  Came they not by you?

  LENNOX No indeed, my lord.

  MACBETH

  160 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?

  LENNOX

  'Tis two or three, my lord, that bring you word

  Macduff is fled to England.

  MACBETH Fled to England?

  LENNOX

  Ay, my good lord.

  MACBETH [Aside]

  166 Time, thou anticipat'st my dread exploits.

  167 The flighty purpose never is o'ertook Unless the deed go with it. From this moment

  169 The very firstlings of my heart shall be 170 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 th' edge o' th' sword

  His wife, his babes, and all unfortunate souls

  175 That trace him in his line. No boasting like a fool; This deed I'll do before this purpose cool. But no more sights.

  [To Lennox] Where are these gentlemen?

  Come, bring me where they are.

  Exeunt.

  IV.2Enter Macduff's Wife, her Son, and Ross.

  LADY MACDUFF

  What had he done to make him fly the land?

  ROSS

  You must have patience, madam.

  LADY MACDUFF He had none.

  His flight was madness. When our actions do not,

  Our fears do make us traitors.4

  ROSS You know not

  Whether it was his wisdom or his fear.

  LADY MACDUFF

  Wisdom? To leave his wife, to leave his babes,

  His mansion and his titles in a place7

  From whence himself does fly? He loves us not,

  He wants the natural touch. For the poor wren,9

  The most diminutive of birds, will fight,10

  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.14

  ROSS My dearest coz,

  I pray you school yourself. But for your husband,15

  He is noble, wise, judicious, and best knows16

  The fits o' th' season. I dare not speak much further, 18 But cruel are the times when we are traitors 19 And do not know ourselves; when we hold rumor 20 From what we fear, yet know not what we fear, But float upon a wild and violent sea

  22 Each way and none. I take my leave of you, Shall not be long but I'll be here again.

  24 Things at the worst will cease, or else climb upward To what they were before. [To the Son] My pretty cousin, Blessing upon you.

  LADY MACDUFF

  Fathered he is, and yet he's fatherless.

  ROSS

  I am so much a fool, should I stay longer

  29 It would be my disgrace and your discomfort.

  30 I take my leave at once.

  Exit.

  LADY MACDUFF

  Sirrah, your father's dead;

  And what will you do now? How will you live?

  SON

  As birds do, mother.

  LADY MACDUFF What, with worms and flies?

  SON

  With what I get, I mean; and so do they.

  LADY MACDUFF

  35 Poor bird, thou'dst never fear the net nor lime, 36 The pitfall nor the gin.

  SON

  Why should I, mother? Poor birds they are not set for.

  My father is not dead for all your saying.

  LADY MACDUFF

  Yes, he is dead. How wilt thou do for a father?

  SON Nay, how will you do for a husband?40

  LADY MACDUFF Why, I can buy me twenty at any market.

  SON Then you'll buy 'em to sell again.42

  LADY MACDUFF

  Thou speak'st with all thy wit; and yet, i' faith,43

  With wit enough for thee.

  SON Was my father a traitor, mother?

  LADY MACDUFF Ay, that he was.

  SON What is a traitor?

  LADY MACDUFF Why, one that swears and lies.48

  SON And be all traitors that do so?

  LADY MACDUFF Every one that does so is a traitor and must be hanged.50

  SON And must they all be hanged that swear and lie?

  LADY MACDUFF Every one.

  SON Who must hang them?

  LADY MACDUFF Why, the honest men.

  SON Then the liars and swearers are fools, for there are liars and swearers enow to beat the honest men and57 hang up them.

  LADY MACDUFF Now God help thee, poor monkey! But how wilt thou do for a father?60

  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.

  LADY MACDUFF Poor prattler, how thou talk'st!

  Enter a Messenger.

  MESSENGER

  Bless you, fair dame. I am not to you known,

  Though in your state of honor I am perfect.66

  I doubt some danger does approach you nearly.67

  If you will take a homely man's advice,68

  Be not found here. Hence with your little ones.

  70 To fright you thus methinks I am too savage; 71 To do worse to you were fell cruelty, 72 Which is too nigh your person. Heaven preserve you!

  I dare abide no longer.

  Exit.

  LADY MACDUFF 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 defense

  To say I have done no harm?

  Enter Murderers. What are these faces?

  MURDERER

  80 Where is your husband?

  LADY MACDUFF

  I hope in no place so unsanctified

  Where such as thou mayst find him.

  MURDERER He's a traitor.

  SON

  83 Thou liest, thou shag-haired villain!

  MURDERER What, you egg!

  [Stabs him.]

  84 Young fry of treachery!

  SON He has killed me, mother.

  Run away, I pray you!

  [Dies.] Exit [Lady Macduff ], crying "Murder"

  [pursued by Murderers].

  IV.3Enter Malcolm and Macduff.

  MALCOLM

  Let us seek out some desolate shade, and there

  Weep our sad bosoms empty.

  MACDUFF Let us rather

  Hold fast the mortal sword and, like good men,3

  Bestride our downfall birthdom. Each new morn4

  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.8

  MALCOLM What I believe, I'll wail;

  What know, believe; and what I can redress,

  As I shall find the time to friend, I will.10

  What you have spoke, it may be so perchance.

  This tyrant, whose sole name blisters our tongues,12

  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 wisdom15

  To offer up a weak, poor, innocent lamb

  T' appease an angry god.

  MACDUFF

  I am not treacherous.

  MALCOLM But Macbeth is.

  A good and virtuous nature may recoil19

  In an imperial charge. But I shall crave your pardon.20

  That which you are, my thoughts cannot transpose:21

  Angels are bright still though the brightest fell;22

  23 Though all things foul would wear the brows of grace, Yet grace must still look so.

  MACDUFF I have lost my hopes.

  MALCOLM

  Perchance even there where I did find my doubts.

  26 Why in that rawness left you wife and child, Those precious motives, those strong knots of love, Without leave-taking? I pray you,

  29 Let not my jealousies be your dishonors, 30 But mine own safeties. You may be rightly just Whatever I shall think.

  MACDUFF Bleed, bleed, poor country!

  32 Great tyranny, lay thou thy basis sure, For goodness dare not check thee; wear thou thy wrongs, 34 The 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.

  MALCOLM Be not offended.

  38 I speak not as in absolute fear of you.

  I think our country sinks beneath the yoke,

  40 It weeps, it bleeds, and each new day a gash 41 Is added to her wounds. I think withal There would be hands uplifted in my right;

  43 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

  Shall have more vices than it had before,

  More suffer, and more sundry ways than ever,

  By him that shall succeed.

  MACDUFF What should he be?

  MALCOLM

  It is myself I mean, in whom I know50

  All the particulars of vice so grafted51

  That, when they shall be opened, black Macbeth52

  Will seem as pure as snow, and the poor state

  Esteem him as a lamb, being compared

  With my confineless harms.55

  MACDUFF Not in the legions

  Of horrid hell can come a devil more damned

  In evils to top Macbeth.

  MALCOLM I grant him bloody,

  Luxurious, avaricious, false, deceitful,58

  Sudden, malicious, smacking of every sin59

  That has a name. But there's no bottom, none,60

  In my voluptuousness. Your wives, your daughters,

  Your matrons, and your maids could not fill up

  The cistern of my lust; and my desire

  All continent impediments would o'erbear64

  That did oppose my will. Better Macbeth

  Than such an one to reign.

  MACDUFF Boundless intemperance

  In nature is a tyranny. It hath been67

  Th' untimely emptying of the happy throne

  And fall of many kings. But fear not yet

  To take upon you what is yours. You may70

  Convey your pleasures in a spacious plenty71

  And yet seem cold-the time you may so hoodwink.

  We have willing dames enough. There cannot be73

  That vulture in you to devour so many

  As will to greatness dedicate themselves,

  Finding it so inclined.

  MALCOLM With this there grows

  77 In my most ill-composed affection such 78 A stanchless avarice that, were I king, 79 I should cut off the nobles for their lands, 80 Desire his jewels, and this other's house, And my more-having would be as a sauce