Scene One
A desert place．
[Thunder and lightning．Enter three Witches]
First Witch
When shall we three meet again
In thunder，lightning，or in rain？
Second Witch
When the hurlyburly's done，
When the battle's lost and won．
Third Witch
That will be ere the set of sun．
First Witch
Where the place？
Second Witch
Upon the heath．
Third Witch
There to meet with Macbeth．
First Witch
I come，Graymalkin！
Second Witch
Paddock calls．
Third Witch
Anon．
ALL
Fair is foul，and foul is fair：
Hover through the fog and filthy air．
[Exeunt ]

Scene Two
A camp near Forres．
[Alarum within．Enter DUNCAN，MALCOLM，DONALBAIN，LENNOX，with Attendants，meeting a bleeding Sergeant ]
DUNCAN
What bloody man is that？He can report，
As seemeth by his plight，of the revolt
The newest state．
MALCOLM
This is the sergeant
Who like a good and hardy soldier fought
'Gainst my captivity．Hail，brave friend！
Say to the king the knowledge of the broil
As thou didst leave it．
Sergeant
Doubtful it stood；
As two spent swimmers，that do cling together
And choke their art．The merciless
Macdonwald——
Worthy to be a rebel，for to that
The multiplying villanies of nature
Do swarm upon him—from the western isles
Of kerns and gallowglasses is supplied；
And fortune，on his damned quarrel smiling，
Show'd like a rebel's whote：but all's too weak：
For brave Macbeth—well he deserves that
name—
Disdaining fortune，with his brandish'd steel，
Which smoked with bloody execution，
Like valour's minion carved out his passage
Till he faced the slave；
Which ne'er shook hands，nor bade farewell to him，
Till he unseam'd him from the navel to the chaps，
And fix'd his head upon our battlements．
DUNCAN
O valiant cousin！worthy gentleman！
Sergeant
As whence the sun 'gins his reflection
Shipwrecking storms and direful thunders break，
So from that spring whence comfort seem'd to come
Discomfort swell．Mark，king of Scotland，mark：
No sooner justice had with valour arm'd
Compell'd these skipping kerns to trust their heels，
But the Norweyan lord surveying vantage，
With furbish'd arms and new supplies of men
Began a fresh assault．
DUNCAN
Dismay'd not this
Our captains，Macbeth and Banquo？
Sergeant
Yes；
As sparrows eagles，or the hare the lion．
If I say sooth，I must report they were
As cannons overcharged with double cracks，so they
Doubly redoubled strokes upon the foe：
Except they meant to bathe in reeking wounds，
Or memorise another Golgotha，
I cannot tell．
But I am faint，my gashes cry for help．
DUNCAN
So well thy words become thee as thy wounds；
They smack of honour both．Go get him surgeons．
[Exit Sergeant，attended]
Who comes here？
[Enter ROSS]
MALCOLM
The worthy thane of Ross．
LENNOX
What a haste looks through his eyes！So should he look
That seems to speak things strange．
ROSS
God save the king！
DUNCAN
Whence camest thou，worthy thane？
ROSS
From Fife，great king；
Where the Norweyan banners flout the sky
And fan our people cold．Norway himself，
With terrible numbers，
Assisted by that most disloyal traitor
The thane of Cawdor，began a dismal conflict；
Till that Bellona's bridegroom，lapp'd in proof，
Confronted him with self-comparisons，
Point against point rebellious，arm'gainst arm．
Curbing his lavish spirit：and，to conclude，
The victory fell on us．
DUNCAN
Great happiness！
ROSS
That now
Sweno，the Norways'king，craves composition：
Nor would we deign him burial of his men
Till he disbursed at Saint Colme's inch
Ten thousand dollars to our general use．
DUNCAN
No more that thane of Cawdor shall deceive
Our bosom interest：go pronounce his present death，
And with his former title greet Macbeth．
ROSS
I'll see it done．
DUNCAN
What he hath lost noble Macbeth hath won．
[Exeunt]

Scene Seven
Macbeth's castle．
[Hautboys and torches．Enter a Sewer，and divers Servants with dishes and service，and pass over thestage．Then enter MACBETH]
MACBETH
If it were done when'tis done，then'twere well
It were done quickly：if the assassination
Could trammel up the consequence，and catch
With his surcease success；that but this blow
Might be the be—all and the end—all here，
But here，upon this bank and shoal of time，
We'ld jump the life to come．But in these cases
We still have judgement here；that we but teach
Bloody instructions，which，being taught，return
To plague the inventor：this even－handed justice
Commend the ingredients of our poison'd chalice
To our own lips．He's here in double trust；
First，as I am his kinsman and his subject，
Strong both against the deed；then，as his host，
Who should against his murderer shut the door，
Not bear the knife myself．Besides，this Duncan
Hath borne his faculties so meek，hath been
So clear in his great office，that his virtues
Will plead like angels，trumpet —tongued，against
The deep damnation of his taking－off；
And pity，like a naked new—born babe，
Striding the blast，or heaven's cherubim，horsed
Upon the sightless couriers of the air，
Shall blow the horrid deed in every eye，
That tears shall drown the wind．I have no spur
To prick the sides of my intent，but only
Vaulting ambition，which o'er leaps itself
And falls on the other．
[Enter LADY MACBETH]
How now！what news？
LADY MACBETH
He has almost supp'd：why have you left the chamber？
MACBETH
Hath he ask'd for me？
LADY MACBETH
Know you not he has？
MACBETH
We will proceed no further in this business：
He hath honour'd me of late；and I have bought
Golden opinions from all sorts of people，
Which would be worn now in their newest gloss，
Not cast aside so soon．
LADY MACBETH
Was the hope drunk
Wherein you dress'd yourself？hath it slept since？
And wakes it now，to look so green and pale
At what it did so freely？From this time
Such I account thy love．Art thou afeard
To be the same in thine own act and valour
As thou art in desire？Wouldst thou have that
Which thou esteem'st the ornament of life，
And live a coward in thine own esteem，
Letting'I dare not'wait upon'I would，'
Like the poor cat i'the adage ？
MACBETH
Prithee，peace：
I dare do all that may become a man；
Who dares do more is none．
LADY MACBETH
What beast was't，then，
That made you break this enterprise to me？
When you durst do it，then you were a man；
And，to be more than what you were，you would
Be so much more the man．Nor time nor place
Did then adhere，and yet you would make both：
They have made themselves，and that their fitnessnow
Does unmake you．I have given suck，and know
How tender'tis to love the babe that milks me：
I would，while it was smiling in my face，
Have pluck'd my nipple from his boneless gums，
And dash'd the brains out，had I so sworn as you
Have done to this
MACBETH
If we should fail？
LADY MACBETH
We fail！
But screw your courage to the sticking －place，
And we'll not fail．When Duncan is asleep——
Whereto the rather shall his day's hard journey
Soundly invite him－－his two chamberlains
Will I with wine and wassail so convince
That memory，the warder of the brain，
Shall be a fume，and the receipt of reason
A limbeck only：when in swinish sleep
Their drenched natures lie as in a death，
What cannot you and I perform upon
The unguarded Duncan？what not put upon
His spongy officers，who shall bear the guilt
Of our great quell ？
MACBETH
Bring forth men—children only；
For thy undaunted mettle should compose
Nothing but males．Will it not be received，
When we have mark'd with blood those sleepy two
Of his own chamber and used their very daggers，
That they have done't？
LADY MACBETH
Who dares receive it other．
As we shall make our griefs and clamour roar
Upon his death？
MACBETH
I am settled，and bend up
Each corporal agent to this terrible feat．
Away，and mock the time with fairest show：
False face must hide what the false heart doth know．
[Exeunt]

Scene One
Court of Macbeth's castle．
[Enter BANQUO，and FLEANCE bearing a torchbefore him]
BANQUO
How goes the night，boy？
FLEANCE
The moon is down；I have not heard the clock．
BANQUO
And she goes down at twelve．
FLEANCE
I take't，'tis later，sir．
BANQUO
Hold，take my sword．There's husbandry in heaven；
Their candles are all out．Take thee that too．
A heavy summons lies like lead upon me，
And yet I would not sleep：merciful powers，
Restrain in me the cursed thoughts that nature
Gives way to in repose ！
[Enter MACBETH，and a Servant with a torch]
Give me my sword．
Who's there？
MACBETH
A friend．
BANQUO
What，sir，not yet at rest？ The king's a—bed：
He hath been in unusual pleasure，and
Sent forth great largess to your offices．
This diamond he greets your wife withal，
By the name of most kind hostess；and shut up
In measureless content．
MACBETH
Being unprepared，
Our will became the servant to defect；
Which else should free have wrought．
BANQUO
All's well．
I dreamt last night of the three weird sisters：
To you they have show'd some truth．
MACBETH
I think not of them：
Yet，when we can entreat an hour to serve，
We would spend it in some words upon that business，
If you would grant the time．
BANQUO
At your kind'st leisure．
MACBETH
If you shall cleave to my consent，when'tis，
It shall make honour for you．
BANQUO
So I lose none
In seeking to augment it，but still keep
My bosom franchised and allegiance clear，
I shall be counsell'd．
MACBETH
Good repose the while！
BANQUO
Thanks，sir：the like to you！
[Exeunt BANQUO and FLEANCE]
MACBETH
Go bid thy mistress，when my drink is ready，
She strike upon the bell．Get thee to bed．
[Exit Servant]
Is this a dagger which I see before me，
The handle toward my hand？Come，let me clutch thee．
I have thee not，and yet I see thee still．
Art thou not，fatal vision，sensible
To feeling as to sight ？or art thou but
A dagger of the mind，a false creation，
Proceeding from the heat－oppressed brain？
I see thee yet，in form as palpable
As this which now I draw．
Thou marshall'st me the way that I was going；
And such an instrument I was to use．
Mine eyes are made the fools o' the other senses，
Or else worth all the rest；I see thee still，
And on thy blade and dudgeon gouts of blood，
Which was not so before．There's no such thing：
It is the bloody business which informs
Thus to mine eyes．Now o'er the one halfworld
Nature seems dead，and wicked dreams abuse
The curtain'd sleep；witchcraft celebrates
Pale Hecate's offerings，and wither'd murder，
Alarum'd by his sentinel，the wolf，
Whose howl's his watch，thus with his stealthy pace．
With Tarquin's ravishing strides，towards his design
Moves like a ghost．Thou sure and firm—set earth，
Hear not my steps，which way they walk，for fear
Thy very stones prate of my where about，
And take the present horror from the time，
Which now suits with it．Whiles I threat，he lives：
Words to the heat of deeds too cold breath gives．
[A bell rings]
I go，and it is done；the bell invites me．
Hear it not，Duncan；for it is a knell
That summons thee to heaven or to hell．
[Exit]

Scene Two
The same．
[Enter LADY MACBETH]
LADY MACBETH
That which hath made them drunk hath made me bold；
What hath quench'd them hath given me fire．
Hark ！Peace！
It was the owl that shriek'd，the fatal bellman，
Which gives the stern'st good-night．He is about it：
The doors are open；and the surfeited grooms
Do mock their charge with snores：I have drugg'd their possets，
That death and nature do contend about them，
Whether they live or die．
MACBETH
[Within] Who's there？ what，ho！
LADY MACBETH
Alack，I am afraid they have awaked，
And'tis not done．The attempt and not the deed
Confounds us．Hark！ I laid their daggers ready；
He could not miss'em．Had he not resembled
My father as he slept，I had done 't．
[Enter MACBETH]
My husband！
MACBETH
I have done the deed．Didst thou not hear a noise？
LADY MACBETH
I heard the owl scream and the crickets cry．
Did not you speak？
MACBETH
When？
LADY MACBETH
Now．
MACBETH
As I descended ？
LADY MACBETH
Ay．
MACBETH
Hark！
Who lies i'the second chamber ？
LADY MACBETH
Donalbain．
MACBETH
This is a sorry sight．
[Looking on his hands]
LADY MACBETH
A foolish thought，to say a sorry sight．
MACBETH
There's one did laugh in's sleep，and one cried 'Murder！'
That they did wake each other：I stood and heard them：
But they did say their prayers，and address'd them Again to sleep．
LADY MACBETH
There are two lodged together．
MACBETH
One cried 'God bless us！'and'Amen'the other；
As they had seen me with these hangman's hands．
Listening their fear，I could not say'Amen，'
When they did say 'God bless us！'
LADY MACBETH
Consider it not so deeply．
MACBETH
But wherefore could not I pronounce 'Amen'？
I had most need of blessing，and 'Amen'
Stuck in my throat．
LADY MACBETH
These deeds must not be thought
After these ways；so，it will make us mad．
MACBETH
Methought I heard a voice cry'Sleep no more！
Macbeth does murder sleep'，the innocent sleep，
Sleep that knits up the ravell'd sleeve of care，
The death of each day's life，sore labour's bath，
Balm of hurt minds，great nature's second course，
Chief nourisher in life's feast，——
LADY MACBETH
What do you mean？
MACBETH
Still it cried'Sleep no more！'to all the house：
'Glamis hath murder'd sleep，and therefore Cawdor
Shall sleep no more；Macbeth shall sleep no more．'
LADY MACBETH
Who was it that thus cried？ Why，worthy thane，
You do unbend your noble strength，to think
So brainsickly of things．Go get some water，
And wash this filthy witness from your hand．
Why did you bring these daggers from the place？
They must lie there：go carry them；and smear
The sleepy groom with blood．
MACBETH
I'll go no more：
I am afraid to think what I have done；
Look on't again I dare not．
LADY MACBETH
Infirm of purpose！
Give me the daggers：the sleeping and the dead
Are but as pictures：．'tis the eye of childhood
That fears a painted devil．If he do bleed，
I'll gild the faces of the grooms withal；
For it must seem their guilt．
[Exit．Knocking within]
MACBETH
Whence is that knocking？
How is't with me，when every noise appals me？
What hands are here？ ha！ they pluck out mine eyes．
Will all great Neptune's ocean wash this blood
Clean from my hand？ No，this my hand will rather
The multitudinous seas in incarnadine，
Making the green one red．
[Re-enter LADY MACBETH]
LADYMACBETH
My hands are of your colour；but I shame
To wear a heart so white．
[Knocking within]
I hear a knocking．
At the south entry：retire we to our chamber；
A little water clears us of this deed：
How easy is it，then！ Your constancy
Hath left you unattended．
[Knocking within]
Hark！ more knocking．
Get on your nightgown，lest occasion call us，
And show us to be watchers．Be not lost
So poorly in your thoughts．．
MACBETH
To know my deed，'twere best not know myself．
[Knocking within]
Wake Duncan with thy knocking！ I would thou couldst！
[Exeunt]

Scene One
Forres．The palace．
[Enter BANQUO]
BANQUO
Thou hast it now：king，Cawdor，Glamis，all，
As the weird women promised，and，I fear，
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．
[Sennet sounded．Enter MACBETH，as king，LADYMACBETH，as queen，LENNOX，ROSS，Lords，Ladies，and Attendants]
MACBETH
Here's our chief guest．
LADY MACBETH
If he had been forgotten，
It had been as a gap in our great feast，
And all—thing unbecoming．
MACBETH
To－night we hold a solemn supper sir，
And I'll request your presence．
BANQUO
Let your highness
Command upon me；to the which my duties
Are with a most indissoluble tie
For ever knit．
MACBETH
Ride you this afternoon？
BANQUO
Ay，my good lord．
MACBETH
We should have else desired your good advice，
Which still hath been both grave and prosperous，
In this day's council；but we'll take to－morrow．
Is't far you ride？
BANQUO
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．
MACBETH
Fail not our feast．
BANQUO
My lord，I will not．
MACBETH
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？
BANQUO
Ay，my good lord：our time does call upon's．
MACBETH
I wish your horses swift and sure of foot；
And so I do commend you to their backs．Farewell．
[Exit BANQUO]
Let every man be master of his time
Till seven at night：to make society
The sweeter welcome，we will keep our self
Till supper- time alone：while then，God be with you！
[Exeunt all but MACBETH，and an attendant]
Sirrah，a word with you：attend those men
Our pleasure？
ATTENDANT
They are，my lord，without the palace gate．
MACBETH
Bring them before us．
[Exit Attendant]
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 rebuked；as，it is said，
Mark Antony's was by Caesar．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 placed 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't be so，
For Banquo's issue have I filed my mind；
For them the gracious Duncan have I murder'd；
Put rancours in the vessel of my peace
Only for them；and mine eternal jewel
Given to the common enemy of man，
To make them kings，the seed of Banquo kings！
Rather than so，come fate into the list．
And champion me to the utterance！ Who's there！
[Re-enter Attendant，with two Murderers]
Now go to the door，and stay there till we call．
[Exit Attendant]
Was it not yesterday we spoke together？
First Murderer
It was，so please your highness．
MACBETH
Well then，now
Have you consider'd of my speeches？ Know
That it was he in the times past which held you
So under fortune，which you thought had been
Our innocent self：this I made good to you
In our last conference，pass'd in probation with you，
How you were borne in hand，how cross'd，
the instruments，
Who wrought with them，and all things else that might
To half a soul and to a notion cratzed
Say'Thus did Banquo．'
First Murderer
You made it known to us．
MACBETH
I did so，and went further，which is now
Our point of second meeting．Do you find
Your patience so predominant in your nature
That you can let this go？Are you so gospell ' d
To pray for this good man and for his issue，
Whose heavy hand hath bow'd you to the grave
And beggar'd yours for ever？
First Murderer
We are men，my liege．
MACBETH
Ay，in the catalogue ye go for men；
As hounds and greyhounds，mongrels，spaniels，curs
Shoughs，water-rugs and demi-wolves，are clept
All by the name of dogs：the valued file
Distinguishes the swift，the slow，the subtle，
The housekeeper，the hunter，every one
According to the gift which bounteous nature
Hath in him closed；whereby he does receive
Particular addition．from the bill
That writes them all alike：and so of men．
Now，if you have a station in the file，
Not i' the worst rank of manhood，say't；
And I will put that business in your bosoms，
Whose execution takes your enemy off，
Grapples you to the heart and love of us，
Who wear our health but sickly in his life，
Which in his death were perfect．
Second Murderer
I am one，my liege，
Whom the vile blows and buffets of the world
Have so incensed that I am reckless what
I do to spite the world．
First Murderer
And I another
So weary with disasters，tugg'd with fortune，
That I would set my lie on any chance，
To mend it，or be rid on't．
MACBETH
Both of you
Know Banquo was your enemy．
Both Murderers
True，my lord．
MACBETH
So is he mine；and in such bloody distance，
That every minute of his being thrusts
Against my near'st of life：and though I could
With barefaced power sweep him from my sight
And bid my will avouch it，yet I must not，
For certain friends that are both his and mine，
Whose loves I may not drop，but wail his fall
Who I myself struck down；and thence it is，
That I to your assistance do make love，
Masking the business from the common eye
For sundry weighty reasons．
Second Murderer
We shall，my lord，
Perform what you command us．
First Murderer
Though our lives——
MACBETH
Your spirits shine through you．Within this hour at most
I will advise you where to plant yourselves；
Acquaint you with the perfect spy o'the time，
The moment on't；for't must be done to- night，
And something from the palace；always thought
That I require a clearness：and with him——
To leave no rubs nor botches in the work——
Fleance his son，that keeps him company，
Whose absence is no less material to me
Than is his father's，must embrace the fate
Of that dark hour．Resolve yourselves apart：
I'll come to you anon．
Both Murderers
We are resolved，my lord．
MACBETH
I'll call upon you straight：abide within．
[Exeunt Murderers]
It is concluded．Banquo，thy soul's flight，
If it find heaven，must find it out to- night．
[Exit]

Scene Two
The palace．
[Enter LADY MACBETH and a Servant]
LADY MACBETH
Is Banquo gone from court？
Servant
Ay，madam，but returns again to-night．
LADY MACBETH
Say to the king，I would attend his leisure
For a few words．
Servant
Madam，I will．
[Exit]
LADY MACBETH
Nought 's had，all's spent，
Where our desire is got without content：
'Tis safer to be that which we destroy
Than by destruction dwell in doubtful joy．
[Enter MACBETH]
How now，my lord！why do you keep alone，
Of sorriest fancies your companions making，
Using those thoughts which should indeed have died
With them they think on？Things without all remedy
Should be without regard：what's done is done．
MACBETH
We have scotch 'd the snake，not kill'd it：
She'll close and be herself，whilst our poor malice
Remains in danger of her former tooth．
But let the frame of things disjoint，both the worlds suffer，
Ere we will eat our meal in fear and sleep
In the affliction of these terrible dreams
That shake us nightly：better be with the dead，
Whom we，to gain our peace，have sent to peace，
Than on the torture of the mind to lie
In restless ecstasy．Duncan is in his grave；
After life's fitful fever he sleeps well；
Treason has done his worst：nor steel，nor poison，
Malice domestic，foreign levy，nothing，
Can touch him further．
LADY MACBETH
Come on；
Gentle my lord，sleek o 'er your rugged looks；
Be bright and jovial among your guests to－night．
MACBETH
So shall I，love；and so，I pray，be you：
Let your remembrance apply to Banquo；
Present him eminence，both with eye and tongue：
Unsafe the while，that we
Must lave our honours in these flattering streams，
And make our faces vizards to our hearts，
Disguising what they are．
LADY MACBETH
You must leave this．
MACBETH
O，full of scorpions is my mind，dear wife！
Thou know'st that Banquo，and his Fleance，lives．
LADY MACBETH
But in them nature's copy's not eterne．
MACBETH
There's comfort yet；they are assailable；
Then be thou jocund：ere the bat hath flown
His cloister'd flight，ere to black Hecate 's summons
The shard - borne beetle with his drowsy hums
Hath rung night's yawning peal，there shall bedone
A deed of dreadful note．
LADY MACBETH
What's to be done？
MACBETH
Be innocent of the knowledge，dearest chuck，
Till thou applaud the deed．Come，seeling night，
Scarf up the tender eye of pitiful day；
And with thy bloody and invisible hand
Cancel and tear to pieces that great bond
Which keeps me pale ！Light thickens；and the crow
Makes wing to the rooky wood：
Good things of day begin to droop and drowse；
While night's black agents to their preys do rouse．
Thou marvell 'st at my words：but hold thee still；
Things bad begun make strong themselves by ill．
So，prithee，go with me．
[Exeunt]

Scene three
A park near the palace．
[Enter three Murderers]
First Murderer
But who did bid thee join with us？
Third Murderer
Macbeth．
Second Murderer
He needs not our mistrust，since he delivers
Our offices and what we have to do
To the direction just．
First Murderer
Then stand with us．
The west yet glimmmers with some streaks of day：
Now spurs the lated traveller apace
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
Then'tis he：the rest
That are within the note of expectation
Already are i'the court．
First Murderer
His horses go about．
Third Murderer
Almost a mile：but he does usually，
So all men do，from hence to the palace gate
Make it their walk．
Second Murderer
A light，a light！
[Enter BANQUO，and FLEANCE with a torch ]
Third Murderer
'Tis he．
First Murderer
Stand to't．
BANQUO
It will be rain to-night．
First Murderer
Let it come down．
[They set upon BANQUO]
BANQUO
O，treachery ！Fly，good Fleance，fly，fly，fly！
Thou mayst revenge．O slave ！
[Dies．FLEANCE escapes]
Third Murderer
Who did strike out the light？
First Murderer
Wast 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]

Scene Five
A Heath．
[Thunder．Enter the three Witches meeting HECATE ]
First Witch
Why，how now，Hecate！you look angerly．
HECATE
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，
The close contriver of all harms，
Was never call'd to bear my part，
Or show the glory of our art？
And，which is worse，all you have done
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，
And at the pit of Acheron
Meet me i'the morning：thither he
Will come to know his destiny：
Your vessels and your spells provide，
Your charms and every thing beside．
I am for the air；this night I'll spend
Unto a dismal and a fatal end：
Great business must be wrought ere noon：
Upon the corner of the moon
There hangs a vaporous drop profound；
I'll catch it ere it come to ground：
And that distill 'd by magic sleights
Shall raise such artificial sprites
As by the strength of their illusion
Shall draw him on to his confusion：
He shall spurn fate，scorn death，and bear
He hopes 'bove wisdom，grace and fear：
And you ll know，security
Is mortals 'chiefest enemy．
[Music and a song within：'Come away，come away，'＆c]
Hark！I am call'd；my little spirit，see，
Sits in a foggy cloud，and stays for me．
[Exit]
First Witch
Come，let's make haste；she'll soon be back again．
[Exeunt]

Scene Two
Fife．Macduff's castle．
[Enter LADY MACDUFF，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．
ROSS
You know not
Whether it was his wisdom or his fear．
LADY MACDUFF
Wisdom！to leave his wife，to leave his babes，
Nis mansion and his titles in a place
From whence himself does fly？He loves us not；
He wants the natural touch：for the poor wren，
The most diminutive of birds，will fight，
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．
ROSS
My dearest coz，
I pray you，school yourself：but for your husband，
He is noble，wise，judicious，and best knows
The fits o'the season．I dare not speak much further；
But cruel are the times，when we are traitors
And do not know ourselves，when we hold rumour
From what we fear，yet know not what we fear，
But float upon a wild and violent sea
Each way and move．I take my leave of you：
Shall not be long but I'll be here again：
Things at the worst will cease，or else climb upward
To what they were before．My pretty cousin，
Blessing upon you！
LADY MACDUFF
Father'd he is，and yet he's fatherless．
ROSS
I am so much a fool，should I stay longer，
It would be my disgrace and your discomfort：
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
Poor bird！thou'ldst never fear the net nor lime，
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 ？
LADY MACDUFF
Why，I can buy me twenty at any market．
Son
Then you'll buy'em to sell again．
LADY MACDUFF
Thou speak'st with all thy wit：and yet，i'faith，
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．
Son
And be all traitors that do so？
LADY MACDUFF
Every one that does so is a traitor，and must be hanged．
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 and hang up them．
LADY MACDUFF
Now，God help thee，poor monkey！
But how wilt thou do for a father？
Son
If he were dead，you'ld 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 honour I am perfect．
I doubt some danger does you nearly：
If you will take a homely man's advice，
Be not found here；hence，with your little ones．
To fright you thus，methinks，I am too savage；
To do worse to you were fell cruelty，
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 defence，
To say I have done no harm ？
[Enter Murderers]
What are these faces？
First Murderer
Where is your husband？
LADY MACDUFF
I hope，in no place so unsanctified
Where such as thou mayst find him．
First Murderer
He's a traitor．
Son
Thou liest，thou shag -hair'd villain ！
First Murderer
What，you egg！
[Stabbing him]
Young fry of treachery ！
Son
He has kill'd me，mother：
Run away，I pray you！
[Dies]
[Exit LADY MACDUFF crying'Murder！'Exe unt Murderers，following her]

Scene three
England．Before the King's palace．
[Enter 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
Bestride our down－fall'n birthdom：each new morn
New widows howl，new orphans cry，new sorrows
Strike heaven on the face，that it resounds
As if it felt with Scotland and yell'd out
Like syllable of dolour．
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．
What you have spoke，it may be so perchance．
This tyrant，whose sole name blisters our tongues，
Was once thought honest：you have loved him well．
He hath not touch'd you yet．I am young；but something
You may deserve of him through me，and wisdom
To offer up a weak poor innocent lamb
To appease an angry god．
MACDUFF
I am not treacherous．
MALCOLM
But Macbeth is．
A good and virtuous nature may recoil
In an imperial charge．But I shall crave your pardon；
That which you are my thoughts cannot transpose：
Angels are bright still，though the brightest fell；
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．
Why in that rawness left you wife and child，
Those precious motives，those strong knots of love，
Without leave taking？I pray you，
Let not my jealousies be your dishonours，
But mine own safeties．You may be rightly just，
Whatever I shall think．
MACDUFF
Bleed，bleed，poor country！
Great tyranny ！lay thou thy basis sure，
For goodness dare not cheque thee：wear thou thy wrongs；
The title is affeer'd！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：
I speak not as in absolute fear of you．
I think our country sinks beneath the yoke；
It weeps，it bleeds；and each new day a gash
Is added to her wounds：I think withal
There would be hands uplifted in my right；
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 know
All the particulars of vice so grafted
That，when they shall be open'd，black Macbeth
Will seem as pure as snow，and the poor state
Esteem him as a lamb，being compared
With my confineless harms．
MACDUFF
Not in the legions
Of horrid hell can come a devil more damn'd
In evils to top Macbeth．
MALCOLM
I grant him bloody，
Luxurious，avaricious，false，deceitful，
Sudden，malicious，smacking of every sin
Thst has a name：but there's no bottom，none，
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'erbear
That did oppose my will：better Macbeth
Than such an one to reign．
MACDUFF
Boundless intemperance
In nature is a tyranny；it hath been
The untimely emptying of the happy throne
And fall of many kings．But fear not yet
To take upon you what is yours：you may
Convey your pleasures in a spacious plenty，
And yet seem cold，the time you may so hoodwink．
We have willing dames enough：there cannot be
That vulture in you，to devour so many
As will to greatness dedicate themselves，
Finding it so inclined．
MALCOLM
With this there grows
In my most ill-composed affection such
A stanchless avarice that，were I king，
I should cut off the nobles for their lands，
Desire his jewels and this other's house：
And my more－having would be as a sauce
To make me hunger more；that I should forge
Quarrels unjust against the good and loyal，
Destroying them for wealth．
MACDUFF
This avarice
Sticks deeper，grows with more pernicious root
Than summer－seeming lust，and it hath been
The sword of our slain kings：yet do not fear；
Scotland hath foisons to fill up your will．
Of your mere own：all these are portable，
With other graces weigh'd．
MALCOLM
But I have none：the king－becoming graces，
As justice，verity，temperance，stableness，
Bounty，perse verance，mercy，low liness，
Devot ion，patience，cou rage，fortitude，
I have no relish of them，but abound
In the division of each several crime，
Acting it many ways．Nay，had I power，I should
Pour the sweet milk of concord into hell，
Uproar the universal peace，confound
All unity on earth．
MACDUFF
O Scotland，Scotland！
MALCOLM
If such a one be fit to govern，speak：
I am as I have spoken．
MACDUFF
Fit to govern
No，not to live ！．O nation miserable，
With an untitled tyrant bloody－scepter'd，
When shalt thou see thy wholesome days again，
Since that the truest issue of thy throne
By his own interdiction stands accursed，
And does blaspheme his breed？Thy royal father
Was a most sainted king：the queen that bore thee，
Oftener upon her knees than on her feet，
Died every day she lived．Fare thee well！
These evils thou repeat'st upon thyself
Have banish'd me from Scotland．O my breast，
Thy hope ends here！
MALCOLM
Macd uff，this noble passion，
Child of integrity，hath from my soul
Wiped the black scruples，reconciled my thoughts
To thy good truth and honour．Devilish Macbeth
By many of these trains hath sought to win me
Into his power，and modest wisdom plucks me
From over－credulous haste：but God above
Deal between thee and me！for even now
I put myself to thy direction，and
Unspeak mine own detraction，here abjure
The taints and blames I laid upon myself，
For strangers to my nature．I am yet
Unknown to woman，never was forsworn，
Scarcely have coveted what was mine own，
At no time broke my faith，would not betray
The devil to his fellow and delight
No less in truth than life：my first false speaking
Was this upon myself：what I am truly，
Is thine and my poor country's to command：
Whither indeed，before thy here－approach，
Old Siward，with ten thousand warlike men，
Already at a point，was setting forth．
Now we'll together；and the chance of goodness
Be like our warranted quarrel ！Why are you silent？
MACDUFF
Such welcome and unwelcome things at once
'Tis hard to reconcile．
[Enter a Doctor]
MALCOLM
Well；more anon．——Comes the king forth，I pray you？
Doctor
Ay，sir；there are a crew of wretched souls
That stay his cure：their malady convinces
The great assay of art；but at his touch——
Such sanctity hath heaven given his hand——
They presently amend．

MALCOLM
I thank you，doctor．
[Exit Doctor]
MACDUFF
What's the disease he means？
MALCOLM
'Tis call'd the evil：
A most miraculous work in this good king；
Which often，since my here－remain in England，
I have seen him do．How he solicits heaven，
Himself best knows：but strangely－visited people，
All swoln and ulcerous，pitiful to the eye，
The mere despair of surgery，he cures，
Hanging a golden stamp about their necks，
Put on with holy prayers：and'tis spoken，
To the succeeding royalty he leaves
The healing benediction．With this strange virtue，
He hath a heavenly gift of prophecy，
And sundry blessings hang about his throne，
That speak him full of grace．
[Enter ROSS]
MACDUFF
See，who comes here？
MALCOLM
My countryman；but yet I know him not．
MACDUFF
My ever－gentle cousin，welcome hither．
MALCOLM
I know him now．Good God，betimes remove
The means that makes us strangers ！
ROSS
Sir，amen．
MACDUFF
Stands Scotland where it did ？
ROSS
Alas，poor country！
Almost afraid to know itself．It cannot
Be call'd our mother，but our grave；where nothing，
But who knows nothing，is once seen to smile；
Where sighs and groans and shrieks that rend the air
Are made，not mark'd；where violent sorrow seems
A modern ecstasy；the dead man's knell
Is there scarce ask'd for who；and good men's lives
Expire before the flowers in their caps，
Dying or ere they sicken．
MACDUFF
O，relation
Too nice，and yet too true！
MALCOLM
What's the newest grief ？
ROSS
That of an hour's age doth hiss the speaker：
Each minute teems a new one．
MACDUFF
How does my wife？
ROSS
Why，well．
MACDUFF
And all my children？
ROSS
Well too．
MACDUFF
The tyrant has not batter 'd at their peace？
ROSS
No；they were well at peace when I did leave'em．
MACDUFF
But not a niggard of your speech：how goes't？
ROSS
When I came hither to transport the tidings，
Which I have heavily borne，there ran a rumour
Of many worthy fellows that were out；
Which was to my belief witness'd the rather，
For that I saw the tyrant's power a－foot：
Now is the time of help；your eye in Scotland
Would create soldiers，make our women fight，
To doff their dire distresses．
MALCOLM
Be't their comfort
We are coming thither：gracious England hath
Lent us good Siward and ten thousand men；
An older and a better soldier none
That Christendom gives out．
ROSS
Would I could answer
This comfort with the like ！But I have words
That would be howl'd out in the desert air，
Where hearing should not latch them．
MACDUFF
What concern they？
The general cause？or is it a fee－grief
Due to some single breast ？
ROSS
No mind that's honest
But in it shares some woe；though the main part
Pertains to you alone．
MACDUFF
If it be mine，
Keep it not from me，quickly let me have it．
ROSS
Let not your ears despise my tongue for ever，
Which shall possess them with the heaviest sound
That ever yet they heard．
MACDUFF
Hum！I guess at it．
ROSS
Your castle is surprised；your wife and babes
Savagely slaughter'd：to relate the manner，
Were，on the quarry of these muder'd deer，
To add the death of you．
MALCOLM
Merciful heaven！
What，man！ne'er pull your hat upon your brows；
Give sorrow words：the grief that does not speak
Whispers the o'er－fraught heart and bids it break．
MACDUFF
My children too？
ROSS
Wife，children，servants，all
That could be found．
MACDUFF
And I must be from thence ！
My wife kill'd too？
ROSS
I have said．
MALCOLM
Be comforted：
Let's make us medicines of our great revenge，
To cure this deadly grief．
MACDUFF
He has no children．All my pretty ones ？
Did you say all？ O hell-kite ！All？
What，all my pretty chickens and their dam
At one fell swoop ？
MALCOLM
Dispute it like a man．
MACDUFF
I shall do so；
But I must also feel it as a man：
I cannot but remember such things were，
That were most precious to me．Did heaven lookon，
And would not take their part？Sinful Macduff，
They were all struck for thee！naught that I am，
Not for their own demerits，but for mine，
Fell slaughter on their souls．Heaven rest them now！
MALCOLM
Be this the whetstone of your sword：let grief
Convert to anger；blunt not the heart，enrage it．
MACDUFF
O，I could play the woman with mine eyes
And braggart with my tongue！But，gentle heavens，
Cut short all intermission；front to front
Bring thou this fiend of Scotland and myself；
Within my sword's length set him；if he 'scape，
Heaven forgive him too！
MALCOLM
This tune goes manly．
Come，go we to the king；our power is ready；
Our lack is nothing but our leave；Macbeth
Is ripe for shaking，and the powers above
Put on their instruments．Receive what cheer you may：
The night is long that never finds the day．
[Exeunt]

Scene Two
The country near Dunsinane．
[Drum and colours．Enter MENTEITH，CAITHNESS，ANGUS，LENNOX，and Soldiers]
MENTEITH
The English power is near，led on by Malcolm，
His uncle Siward and the good Macduff：
Revenges burn in them；for their dear causes
Would to the bleeding and the grim alarm
Excite the mortified man．
ANGUS
Near Birnam wood
Shall we well meet them；that way are they coming．
CAITHNESS
Who knows if Donlalbain be with his brother？
LENNOX
For certain，sir，he is not：I have a file
Of all the gentry：there is Siwad's son，
And many unrough youths that even now
Protest their first of manhood．
MENTEITH
What does the tyrant ？
CAITHNESS
Great Dunsinane he strongly fortifies：
Some say he's mad；others that lesser hate him
Do call it valiant fury：but，for certain，
He cannot buckle his distemper'd cause
within the belt of rule．
ANGUS
Now does he feel
His secret murders sticking on his hands；
Now minutely revolts upbraid his faith－breach；
Those he commands move only in command，
Nothing in love：now does he feel his title
Hang loose about him，like a giant's robe
Upon a dwarfish thief．
MENTEITH
Who then shall blame
His pester'd senses to recoil and start，
When all that is within him does condemn
Itself for being there？
CAITHNESS
Well，march we on，
To gived obedience where'tis truly owed：
Meet we the medicine of the sickly weal，
And with him pour we in our country's purge
Each drop of us．
LENNOX
Or so much as it needs，
To dew the sovereign flower and drown the weeds．
Make we our march towards Birnam．
[Exeunt，marching]