William Shakespeare

The Tragedy of Macbeth

Macbeth (Traducción) Macbeth (Traducción) Macbeth. Drama histórico en cinco actos (Traducción)

Shakespeare, William. The Tragedy of Macbeth. Edited by Barbara Mowat and Paul Werstine. Washington D.C.: Folger Shakespare Library, 2013. Folger Digital Texts. (This text is furnished courtesy of Folger Digital Texts, www.folgerdigitaltexts.org, and is distributed under Creative Commons license Attribution-NonCommercial 3.0 Unported.)

Joan Oleza Simó (Investigador principal) Tronch Pérez, Jesus (Editor)

English · Verso · 1979 versos

https://playcode.fly.dev/plays/EMOTHE0176_TheTragedyOfMacbeth

Tiempo histórico: Edad Media
Duncan I ruled between 1034 and 1040. Macbeth of Scotland ruled between 1040 and 1058. Malcom III ruled betwee 1058 and 1093. Nonetheless, Shakespeare seemingly conflates the time of the action into a few months.
Datación: 1606–1611
desde 1606 y hasta 1611

Bibliografía

Ediciones modernas

Alexander, Peter, ed. William Shakespeare: The Complete Works. London and Glasgow: Collins, 1951.
Braunmuller, A. R., ed. Macbeth. Shakespeare, William. Updated ed. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2008.
Clark, Sandra and Pamela Mason, ed. Macbeth. Shakespeare, William. London and New York: Bloomsbury Publishing Plc, 2015. The Arden Shakespeare.
Collier, J. Payne, ed. The Plays of Shakespeare: The Text Regulated by the Old Copies and by the Recently Discovered Folio of 1632. London: Whittaker, 1853.
Kittredge, George Lyma, ed. The Complete Works of Shakespeare. Boston: Ginn and Co., 1936.
Miola, Robert, ed. Macbeth. Shakespeare, William. New York: Norton, 2014.
Mowat, Barbara, Paul Werstine, ed. Macbeth. Shakespeare, William. Washington, DC: Folger Shakespeare Library, 2013. Folger Digital Texts. Text editor for EMOTHE Digital Library: Tronch Pérez, Jesús. Also available at: https://emothe.uv.es/biblioteca/textosEMOTHE/EMOTHE0176_TheTragedyOfMacbeth.php. URL: https://shakespeare.folger.edu/shakespeares-works/macbeth/
Sisson, Charles Jasper, ed. William Shakespeare: Complete Works. London: Odhams, 1954.
Taylor, Gary; Wells, Stanley, ed. Hamlet. In: Wells, Stanley; Taylor, Gary, ed. William Shakespeare: The Complete Works. Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1986.

Bibliografía crítica

Adam, R. J. "The Real Macbeth: King of Scots, 1040-54". History Today. 1957, 7, p. 381-7.
Adelman, Janet. Suffocating Mothers: Fantasies of Maternal Origin in Shakespeare’ Plays from Hamlet to The Tempest. London: Routledge, 1992.
Aitchinson, Nick. "Macbeth: Man and Myth". 1999.
Alker, Sharon and Faith Nelson. "“Macbeth, the Jacobean Scot, and the Politics of the Union”". SEL. 2007, 47.2, p. 379-401.
Amnaéus, Daniel A. "“A Missing Scene in Macbeth”". Journal of English and Germanic Philology. 1961, 60.3, p. 435-40.
Barlow, Frank. "“The King’s Evil”". English Historical Review. 1980, 95, p. 3-27.
Bartholomusz, Dennis. Macbeth and the Players. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1969.
Berger Jr, Harry. "“Text Against Performance: The Example of Macbeth”". Genre. 1982, 15, p. 49-79.
Berger Jr, Harry. "“The Early Scenes of Macbeth: Preface to a New Interpretation”". ELH. 1980, 47.1, p. 1-31.
Bloch, Marc. The Royal Touch: Sacred Monarchy and Scrofula in England and France. Tra. J. E. Anderson. 1973.
Boas, F. S. "“Macbeth and Lingua”". Modern Language Review. 1909, 4, p. 517-20.
Boiling, Ronald J. "“Tanistry, Primogeniture, and the Anglicizing of Scotland in Macbeth”". Publications of the Arkansas Philological Society. 1999, 25.1, p. 1-14.
Bradbrook, M.C. "“The Sources of Macbeth”". Shakespeare Survey. 1951 (rpt.), 4, p. 12-25.
Bullough, Geoffrey, ed. "Narrative and Dramatic Sources of Shakespeare". Vol. 7. 1957-75.
Calderwood, J. L. If It Were Done: ‘Macbeth’ and Tragic Action. University of Massachussets University Press, 1986.
Callaghan, Dympna. "“Wicked Women in Macbeth: a Study of Power, Ideology and the Production of Motherhood”". Di Cesare, Mario A. Reconsidering the Renaissance. New York, 1992, p. 355-69.
Campbell, Lily B. "“Political Ideas in Macbeth IV.iii”". Shakespeare Quarterly. 1951, 2, p. 281-6.
Carroll, William. Macbeth: Texts and Contexts. Boston: Bedford Books of St.Martin's Press, 1999.
Clark, Sandra. "“Macbeth and the Language of the Passions”". Shakespeare. 2012, 8.3, p. 300-11.
Clark, Stuart. "Inversion, Misrule and the Meaning of Witchcraft". Past and Present. May 1987, 87, p. 98-127.
Coghill, Nevill. "“Macbeth at the Globe, 1606-1616(?): Three Questions”". Ed. J. G. Price. The Triple Bond: Plays, Mainly Shakespearean in Performance. 1975, p. 223-39.
Coleman, John. "“Facts and Fancies About Macbeth”". The Gentleman’s Magazine. March 1889, p. 218-32.
Cordner, Michael. "“”Wrought with Things Forgotten”: Memory and Performance in Editing Macbeth”". Ed. Peter Holland. Shakespeare, Memory and Performance. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2006, p. 87-116.
Coursen, Herbert R. "“In Deepest Consequence: Macbeth”". Shakespeare Quarterly. 1967, 18.4, p. 375-88.
Dawson, Anthony B. "“Notes and Queries Concerning the Text of Macbeth”". Ed. Ann Thompson. “Macbeth”: The State of the Play. 2014, p. 11-30.
De Quincey, Thomas. "On the Knocking at the Gate in Macbeth". De Quincey, Thomas. Ed. David Mason. The Collected Writings of Thomas De Quincey. Vol. x. 1889-90, p. 389-95, 14 vols.
Dean, Paul. "“Murderous Repetition: Macbeth as Echo Chamber”". English Studies. 1999, 80, p. 216-23.
Diehl, Huston. "“Horrid Image, Sorry Sight, Fatal Vision: The Visual Rhetoric of Macbeth”". SSt. 1983, 16, p. 191-203.
Dyson, J.P. "“The Structural Function of the Banquet Scene in Macbeth”". Shakespeare Quarterly. 1963, 14, p. 369-78.
Ed. Moschovakis, Nick. London and New York: Routledge, 2008. Macbeth: New Critical Essays.
Ed. Muir, Kenneth and Philip Edwards. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1977. Aspects of “Macbeth”.
Ed. Sarah Hatchuel, Nathalie Vienne-Guerrin, Victoria Bladen. 2013. Shakespeare on Screen: “Macbeth”.
Ed. Schoenbaum, S. New York: Garland Pub, 1991. Macbeth: Critical Essays.
Ed. Sinfield, Alan. 1992. Macbeth: New Casebooks.
Ewbank, Inga-Stina. "“The Fiend-Like Queen: A Note on Macbeth and Seneca’s Medea”". Shakespeare Survey. 1966 (rpt), 19, p. 83-5.
Fergussion, Francis. "”Macbeth” as the Imitation of an Action". Ed. Alan S. Downer. English Institute Essays. 1951, p. 31-43.
Flint, Lorna. "“The Significance of Rime in Shakespeare’s Plays: The Example of Macbeth”". Cahiers Élisabéthains. 1993, 43, p. 13-20.
Focus on Macbeth. Ed. Brown, John Russell. London: Routledge and Kegan Paul, 1982.
Gardner, Helen. "Milton’s “Satan” and the Theme of Damnation in Elizabethan Tragedy". Ed. F. P. Wilson. English Studies. 1948, p. 46-66.
Goldberg, Jonathan. "“Speculations: Macbeth and Source”". Ed. Howard, Jean E. and Marion F. O. O’Connor. Shakespeare Reproduced: The Text in History and Ideology. New York, 1987, p. 242-64.
Granville Barker, Harley. "Preface to “Macbeth”". Granville Barker, Harley. Prefaces to Shakespeare. Vol. 6. 1974, 6 vols.
Greenblatt, Stephen. "Shakespeare Bewitched". Ed. Jeffrey N. Cox, Larry Reynolds. New Historical Literary Study. Princeton: Princeton University Press, 1993, p. 108-35.
Henry, Paul. "The Royal Play of Macbeth". 1950.
Holland, Peter. "“”Stands Scotland Where It Did?” The Location of Macbeth on Film”". Ed. Robert Miola. Macbeth. Norton, 2014, p. 357-80.
Ide, Richard S. "“The Theatre of the Mind: An Essay on Macbeth”". EHL. 1975, 42.3, p. 338-61.
Janowitz, Henry. "“Sleep Disorders in the Macbeths”". Journal of the Royal Society of Medicine. 2000, 93.
Jorgensen, Paul. Our Naked Frailties: Sensational Art and Meaning in “Macbeth”. University of California Press, 1971.
Kastan, David Scott. "“Macbeth and the “Name of King””". Shakespeare After Theory. London and New York, 1999, p. 165-82.
Kinney, Arthur. "“Scottish History, the Union of the Crowns and the Issue of the Right Rule”". Ed. Brink, Jean R. and William F. Gentrup. Renaissance Culture in Context. Aldershot, 1993, p. 18-53.
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LaBelle, Jenijoy. "““A Strange Infirmity”: Lady Macbeth’s Amenorrhea”". Shakespeare Quarterly. 1980, 31.2, p. 381-6.
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McDonald, Russ. Look to the Lady: Sarah Siddons, Ellen Terry, and Judi Dench on the Shakespeaerean Stage. Athens: U of Georgia P, 2005.
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Traducciones

Español

Shakespeare, William. Macbeth. Ed. Andreu Jaume. Tra. Agustín García Calvo. Vol. 2. Barcelona, 2012, p. 677-766, 5 vols. (Orig: Macbeth)

Adaptaciones

Davenant, William. Macbeth: A Tragedy with all the Alterations, Amendments, Additions and New Songs. London, 1674.

Characters in the play

Three Witches the Weïrd Sisters

Duncan king of Scotland

Malcolm his elder son

Donalbain Duncan’s younger son

Macbeth thane of Glamis

Seyton attendant to Macbeth

Three Murderers in Macbeth’s service

A Doctor }

Lady Macbeth

A Porter

Banquo commander, with Macbeth, of Duncan’s army

Fleance his son

Macduff a Scottish noble

Lady Macduff

Their son

Lennox } Scottish Nobles

Ross }

Angus }

Menteith }

Caithness }

Siward comander of the English forces

Young Siward Siward’s son

A Captain in Duncan’s army

An Old Man

A Doctor at the English court

Hecate

Apparitions: an Armed Head, a Bloody Child, a Crowned Child, and eight nonspeaking kings

Three Messengers, Three Servants, a Lord, a Soldier

Attendants, a Sewer, Servants, Lords, Thanes, Soldiers (all nonspeaking)

Macbeth and Lennox

All

Third and Second Murderers

Witches

Act I

Scene 1

(Thunder and Lightning.)

(Enter three Witches.)

FIRST WITCH

When shall we three meet again? 1

In thunder, lightning, or in rain? 2

SECOND WITCH

When the hurly-burly’s done, 3

When the battle’s lost and won. 4

THIRD WITCH

That will be ere the set of sun. 5

FIRST WITCH

Where the place? 6

SECOND WITCH

Upon the heath.

THIRD WITCH

There to meet with Macbeth. 7

FIRST WITCH

I come, Graymalkin.

⸢SECOND WITCH⸣

Paddock calls.

⸢THIRD WITCH⸣

Anon.

ALL

Fair is foul, and foul is fair; 8

Hover through the fog and filthy air. 9

(They exit.)

Scene 2

(Alarum within.)

(Enter King ⸢Duncan,⸣ Malcolm, Donalbain, Lennox, with Attendants, meeting a bleeding Captain.)

DUNCAN

What bloody man is that? He can report, 10

As seemeth by his plight, of the revolt 11

The newest state. 12

MALCOLM

This is the sergeant

Who, like a good and hardy soldier, fought 13

’Gainst my captivity. —Hail, brave friend! 14

Say to the King the knowledge of the broil 15

As thou didst leave it. 16

CAPTAIN

Doubtful it stood,

As two spent swimmers that do cling together 17

And choke their art. The merciless Macdonwald 18

(Worthy to be a rebel, for to that 19

The multiplying villainies of nature 20

Do swarm upon him) from the Western Isles 21

Of kerns and ⸢gallowglasses⸣ is supplied; 22

And Fortune, on his damnèd ⸢quarrel⸣smiling, 23

Showed like a rebel’s whore. But all’s too weak; 24

For brave Macbeth (well he deserves that name), 25

Disdaining Fortune, with his brandished steel, 26

Which smoked with bloody execution, 27

Like valor’s minion, carved out his passage 28

Till he faced the slave; 29

Which ne’er shook hands, nor bade farewell to him, 30

Till he unseamed him from the nave to th’ chops, 31

And fixed his head upon our battlements. 32

DUNCAN

O valiant cousin, worthy gentleman! 33

CAPTAIN

As whence the sun ’gins his reflection 34

Shipwracking storms and direful thunders ⸢break,⸣ 35

So from that spring whence comfort seemed to come 36

Discomfort swells. Mark, King of Scotland, mark: 37

No sooner justice had, with valor armed, 38

Compelled these skipping kerns to trust their heels, 39

But the Norweyan lord, surveying vantage, 40

With furbished arms and new supplies of men, 41

Began a fresh assault. 42

DUNCAN

Dismayed not this our captains, Macbeth and Banquo? 43

CAPTAIN

Yes, as sparrows eagles, or the hare the lion. 44

If I say sooth, I must report they were 45

As cannons overcharged with double cracks, 46

So they doubly redoubled strokes upon the foe. 47

Except they meant to bathe in reeking wounds 48

Or memorize another Golgotha, 49

I cannot tell — 50

But I am faint. My gashes cry for help. 51

DUNCAN

So well thy words become thee as thy wounds: 52

They smack of honor both. —Go, get him surgeons. 53

(⸢The Captain is led off by Attendants.⸣)

(Enter Ross and Angus.)

Who comes here? 54

MALCOLM

The worthy Thane of Ross.

LENNOX

What a haste looks through his eyes! 55

So should he look that seems to speak things strange. 56

ROSS

God save the King. 57

DUNCAN

Whence cam’st thou, worthy thane? 58

ROSS

From Fife, great king, 59

Where the Norweyan banners flout the sky 60

And fan our people cold. 61

Norway himself, with terrible numbers, 62

Assisted by that most disloyal traitor, 63

The Thane of Cawdor, began a dismal conflict, 64

Till that Bellona’s bridegroom, lapped in proof, 65

Confronted him with self-comparisons, 66

Point against point, rebellious arm ’gainst arm, 67

Curbing his lavish spirit. And to conclude, 68

The victory fell on us. 69

DUNCAN

Great happiness!

ROSS

That now Sweno, 70

The Norways’ king, craves composition. 71

Nor would we deign him burial of his men 72

Till he disbursèd at Saint Colme’s Inch 73

Ten thousand dollars to our general use. 74

DUNCAN

No more that Thane of Cawdor shall deceive 75

Our bosom interest. Go, pronounce his present death, 76

And with his former title greet Macbeth. 77

ROSS

I’ll see it done. 78

DUNCAN

What he hath lost, noble Macbeth hath won. 79

(They exit.)

Scene 3

(Thunder.)

(Enter the three Witches.)

FIRST WITCH

Where hast thou been, sister? 80

SECOND WITCH

Killing swine. 81

THIRD WITCH

Sister, where thou? 82

FIRST WITCH

A sailor’s wife had chestnuts in her lap 83

And munched and munched and munched. “Give me,” quoth I. 84

“Aroint thee, witch,” the rump-fed runnion cries. 85

Her husband’s to Aleppo gone, master o’ th’ Tiger ; 86

But in a sieve I’ll thither sail, 87

And, like a rat without a tail, 88

I’ll do, I’ll do, and I’ll do. 89

SECOND WITCH

I’ll give thee a wind. 90

FIRST WITCH

Th’ art kind. 91

THIRD WITCH

And I another. 92

FIRST WITCH

I myself have all the other, 93

And the very ports they blow, 94

All the quarters that they know 95

I’ th’ shipman’s card. 96

I’ll drain him dry as hay. 97

Sleep shall neither night nor day 98

Hang upon his penthouse lid. 99

He shall live a man forbid. 100

Weary sev’nnights, nine times nine, 101

Shall he dwindle, peak, and pine. 102

Though his bark cannot be lost, 103

Yet it shall be tempest-tossed. 104

Look what I have. 105

SECOND WITCH

Show me, show me.

FIRST WITCH

Here I have a pilot’s thumb, 106

Wracked as homeward he did come. 107

(Drum within.)

THIRD WITCH

A drum, a drum! 108

Macbeth doth come. 109

ALL,

⸢dancing in a circle⸣ The Weïrd Sisters, hand in hand, 110

Posters of the sea and land, 111

Thus do go about, about, 112

Thrice to thine and thrice to mine 113

And thrice again, to make up nine. 114

Peace, the charm’s wound up. 115

(Enter Macbeth and Banquo.)

MACBETH

So foul and fair a day I have not seen. 116

BANQUO

How far is ’t called to ⸢Forres⸣? —What are these, 117

So withered, and so wild in their attire, 118

That look not like th’ inhabitants o’ th’ earth 119

And yet are on ’t? —Live you? Or are you aught 120

That man may question? You seem to understand me 121

By each at once her choppy finger laying 122

Upon her skinny lips. You should be women, 123

And yet your beards forbid me to interpret 124

That you are so. 125

MACBETH

Speak if you can. What are you?

FIRST WITCH

All hail, Macbeth! Hail to thee, Thane of Glamis! 126

SECOND WITCH

All hail, Macbeth! Hail to thee, Thane of Cawdor! 127

THIRD WITCH

All hail, Macbeth, that shalt be king hereafter! 128

BANQUO

Good sir, why do you start and seem to fear 129

Things that do sound so fair? —I’ th’ name of truth, 130

Are you fantastical, or that indeed 131

Which outwardly you show? My noble partner 132

You greet with present grace and great prediction 133

Of noble having and of royal hope, 134

That he seems rapt withal. To me you speak not. 135

If you can look into the seeds of time 136

And say which grain will grow and which will not, 137

Speak, then, to me, who neither beg nor fear 138

Your favors nor your hate. 139

FIRST WITCH

Hail!

SECOND WITCH

Hail!

THIRD WITCH

Hail!

FIRST WITCH

Lesser than Macbeth and greater. 140

SECOND WITCH

Not so happy, yet much happier. 141

THIRD WITCH

Thou shalt get kings, though thou be none. 142

So all hail, Macbeth and Banquo! 143

FIRST WITCH

Banquo and Macbeth, all hail! 144

MACBETH

Stay, you imperfect speakers. Tell me more. 145

By Sinel’s death I know I am Thane of Glamis. 146

But how of Cawdor? The Thane of Cawdor lives 147

A prosperous gentleman, and to be king 148

Stands not within the prospect of belief, 149

No more than to be Cawdor. Say from whence 150

You owe this strange intelligence or why 151

Upon this blasted heath you stop our way 152

With such prophetic greeting. Speak, I charge you. 153

(Witches vanish.)

BANQUO

The earth hath bubbles, as the water has, 154

And these are of them. Whither are they vanished? 155

MACBETH

Into the air, and what seemed corporal melted, 156

As breath into the wind. Would they had stayed! 157

BANQUO

Were such things here as we do speak about? 158

Or have we eaten on the insane root 159

That takes the reason prisoner? 160

MACBETH

Your children shall be kings. 161

BANQUO

You shall be king.

MACBETH

And Thane of Cawdor too. Went it not so? 162

BANQUO

To th’ selfsame tune and words. —Who’s here? 163

(Enter Ross and Angus.)

ROSS

The King hath happily received, Macbeth, 164

The news of thy success, and, when he reads 165

Thy personal venture in the rebels’ fight, 166

His wonders and his praises do contend 167

Which should be thine or his. Silenced with that, 168

In viewing o’er the rest o’ th’ selfsame day 169

He finds thee in the stout Norweyan ranks, 170

Nothing afeard of what thyself didst make, 171

Strange images of death. As thick as tale 172

⸢Came⸣ post with post, and every one did bear 173

Thy praises in his kingdom’s great defense, 174

And poured them down before him. 175

ANGUS

We are sent

To give thee from our royal master thanks, 176

Only to herald thee into his sight, 177

Not pay thee. 178

ROSS

And for an earnest of a greater honor, 179

He bade me, from him, call thee Thane of Cawdor, 180

In which addition, hail, most worthy thane, 181

For it is thine. 182

BANQUO

What, can the devil speak true?

MACBETH

The Thane of Cawdor lives. Why do you dress me 183

In borrowed robes? 184

ANGUS

Who was the Thane lives yet,

But under heavy judgment bears that life 185

Which he deserves to lose. Whether he was combined 186

With those of Norway, or did line the rebel 187

With hidden help and vantage, or that with both 188

He labored in his country’s wrack, I know not; 189

But treasons capital, confessed and proved, 190

Have overthrown him. 191

MACBETH,

Glamis and Thane of Cawdor!

The greatest is behind. 192

⸢To Ross and Angus.⸣ Thanks for your pains.

Do you not hope your children shall be kings 193

When those that gave the Thane of Cawdor to me 194

Promised no less to them? 195

BANQUO

That, trusted home,

Might yet enkindle you unto the crown, 196

Besides the Thane of Cawdor. But ’tis strange. 197

And oftentimes, to win us to our harm, 198

The instruments of darkness tell us truths, 199

Win us with honest trifles, to betray ’s 200

In deepest consequence. 201

Cousins, a word, I pray you. 202

(⸢They step aside.⸣)

MACBETH,

Two truths are told

As happy prologues to the swelling act 203

Of the imperial theme. 204

This supernatural soliciting 205

Cannot be ill, cannot be good. If ill, 206

Why hath it given me earnest of success 207

Commencing in a truth? I am Thane of Cawdor. 208

If good, why do I yield to that suggestion 209

Whose horrid image doth unfix my hair 210

And make my seated heart knock at my ribs 211

Against the use of nature? Present fears 212

Are less than horrible imaginings. 213

My thought, whose murder yet is but fantastical, 214

Shakes so my single state of man 215

That function is smothered in surmise, 216

And nothing is but what is not. 217

BANQUO

Look how our partner’s rapt. 218

MACBETH,

If chance will have me king, why, chance may crown me 219

Without my stir. 220

BANQUO

New honors come upon him,

Like our strange garments, cleave not to their mold 221

But with the aid of use. 222

MACBETH,

Come what come may,

Time and the hour runs through the roughest day. 223

BANQUO

Worthy Macbeth, we stay upon your leisure. 224

MACBETH

Give me your favor. My dull brain was wrought 225

With things forgotten. Kind gentlemen, your pains 226

Are registered where every day I turn 227

The leaf to read them. Let us toward the King. 228

Think upon what hath chanced, and at more time, 229

The interim having weighed it, let us speak 230

Our free hearts each to other. 231

BANQUO

Very gladly. 232

MACBETH

Till then, enough. —Come, friends. 233

(They exit.)

Scene 4

(Flourish.)

(Enter King ⸢Duncan,⸣ Lennox, Malcolm, Donalbain, and Attendants.)

DUNCAN

Is execution done on Cawdor? ⸢Are⸣ not 234

Those in commission yet returned? 235

MALCOLM

My liege,

They are not yet come back. But I have spoke 236

With one that saw him die, who did report 237

That very frankly he confessed his treasons, 238

Implored your Highness’ pardon, and set forth 239

A deep repentance. Nothing in his life 240

Became him like the leaving it. He died 241

As one that had been studied in his death 242

To throw away the dearest thing he owed 243

As ’twere a careless trifle. 244

DUNCAN

There’s no art

To find the mind’s construction in the face. 245

He was a gentleman on whom I built 246

An absolute trust. 247

(Enter Macbeth, Banquo, Ross, and Angus.)

O worthiest cousin,

The sin of my ingratitude even now 248

Was heavy on me. Thou art so far before 249

That swiftest wing of recompense is slow 250

To overtake thee. Would thou hadst less deserved, 251

That the proportion both of thanks and payment 252

Might have been mine! Only I have left to say, 253

More is thy due than more than all can pay. 254

MACBETH

The service and the loyalty I owe 255

In doing it pays itself. Your Highness’ part 256

Is to receive our duties, and our duties 257

Are to your throne and state children and servants, 258

Which do but what they should by doing everything 259

Safe toward your love and honor. 260

DUNCAN

Welcome hither.

I have begun to plant thee and will labor 261

To make thee full of growing. —Noble Banquo, 262

That hast no less deserved nor must be known 263

No less to have done so, let me enfold thee 264

And hold thee to my heart. 265

BANQUO

There, if I grow,

The harvest is your own. 266

DUNCAN

My plenteous joys,

Wanton in fullness, seek to hide themselves 267

In drops of sorrow. —Sons, kinsmen, thanes, 268

And you whose places are the nearest, know 269

We will establish our estate upon 270

Our eldest, Malcolm, whom we name hereafter 271

The Prince of Cumberland; which honor must 272

Not unaccompanied invest him only, 273

But signs of nobleness, like stars, shall shine 274

On all deservers. —From hence to Inverness 275

And bind us further to you. 276

MACBETH

The rest is labor which is not used for you. 277

I’ll be myself the harbinger and make joyful 278

The hearing of my wife with your approach. 279

So humbly take my leave. 280

DUNCAN

My worthy Cawdor.

MACBETH,

The Prince of Cumberland! That is a step 281

On which I must fall down or else o’erleap, 282

For in my way it lies. Stars, hide your fires; 283

Let not light see my black and deep desires. 284

The eye wink at the hand, yet let that be 285

Which the eye fears, when it is done, to see. 286

(He exits.)

DUNCAN

True, worthy Banquo. He is full so valiant, 287

And in his commendations I am fed: 288

It is a banquet to me. —Let’s after him, 289

Whose care is gone before to bid us welcome. 290

It is a peerless kinsman. 291

(Flourish.)

(They exit.)

Scene 5

(Enter Macbeth’s Wife, alone, with a letter.)

LADY MACBETH,

⸢reading the letter⸣ They met me in the

day of success, and I have learned by the perfect’st

report they have more in them than mortal knowledge.

When I burned in desire to question them further, they

made themselves air, into which they vanished.

Whiles I stood rapt in the wonder of it came missives

from the King, who all-hailed me “Thane of Cawdor,”

by which title, before, these Weïrd Sisters saluted me

and referred me to the coming on of time with “Hail,

king that shalt be.” This have I thought good to deliver

thee, my dearest partner of greatness, that thou

might’st not lose the dues of rejoicing by being ignorant

of what greatness is promised thee. Lay it to thy

heart, and farewell.

Glamis thou art, and Cawdor, and shalt be 292

What thou art promised. Yet do I fear thy nature; 293

It is too full o’ th’ milk of human kindness 294

To catch the nearest way. Thou wouldst be great, 295

Art not without ambition, but without 296

The illness should attend it. What thou wouldst highly, 297

That wouldst thou holily; wouldst not play false 298

And yet wouldst wrongly win. Thou ’dst have, great Glamis, 299

That which cries “Thus thou must do,” if thou have it, 300

And that which rather thou dost fear to do, 301

Than wishest should be undone. Hie thee hither, 302

That I may pour my spirits in thine ear 303

And chastise with the valor of my tongue 304

All that impedes thee from the golden round, 305

Which fate and metaphysical aid doth seem 306

To have thee crowned withal. 307

(Enter Messenger.)

What is your tidings?

MESSENGER

The King comes here tonight. 308

LADY MACBETH

Thou ’rt mad to say it.

Is not thy master with him, who, were ’t so, 309

Would have informed for preparation? 310

MESSENGER

So please you, it is true. Our thane is coming. 311

One of my fellows had the speed of him, 312

Who, almost dead for breath, had scarcely more 313

Than would make up his message. 314

LADY MACBETH

Give him tending.

He brings great news. 315

(Messenger exits.)

The raven himself is hoarse

That croaks the fatal entrance of Duncan 316

Under my battlements. Come, you spirits 317

That tend on mortal thoughts, unsex me here, 318

And fill me from the crown to the toe top-full 319

Of direst cruelty. Make thick my blood. 320

Stop up th’ access and passage to remorse, 321

That no compunctious visitings of nature 322

Shake my fell purpose, nor keep peace between 323

Th’ effect and it. Come to my woman’s breasts 324

And take my milk for gall, you murd’ring ministers, 325

Wherever in your sightless substances 326

You wait on nature’s mischief. Come, thick night, 327

And pall thee in the dunnest smoke of hell, 328

That my keen knife see not the wound it makes, 329

Nor heaven peep through the blanket of the dark 330

To cry “Hold, hold!” 331

(Enter Macbeth.)

Great Glamis, worthy Cawdor,

Greater than both by the all-hail hereafter! 332

Thy letters have transported me beyond 333

This ignorant present, and I feel now 334

The future in the instant. 335

MACBETH

My dearest love,

Duncan comes here tonight. 336

LADY MACBETH

And when goes hence?

MACBETH

Tomorrow, as he purposes. 337

LADY MACBETH

O, never

Shall sun that morrow see! 338

Your face, my thane, is as a book where men 339

May read strange matters. To beguile the time, 340

Look like the time. Bear welcome in your eye, 341

Your hand, your tongue. Look like th’ innocent flower, 342

But be the serpent under ’t. He that’s coming 343

Must be provided for; and you shall put 344

This night’s great business into my dispatch, 345

Which shall to all our nights and days to come 346

Give solely sovereign sway and masterdom. 347

MACBETH

We will speak further. 348

LADY MACBETH

Only look up clear.

To alter favor ever is to fear. 349

Leave all the rest to me. 350

(They exit.)

Scene 6

(Hautboys and Torches.)

(Enter King ⸢Duncan,⸣ Malcolm, Donalbain, Banquo, Lennox, Macduff, Ross, Angus, and Attendants.)

DUNCAN

This castle hath a pleasant seat. The air 351

Nimbly and sweetly recommends itself 352

Unto our gentle senses. 353

BANQUO

This guest of summer,

The temple-haunting ⸢martlet,⸣ does approve, 354

By his loved ⸢mansionry,⸣ that the heaven’s breath 355

Smells wooingly here. No jutty, frieze, 356

Buttress, nor coign of vantage, but this bird 357

Hath made his pendant bed and procreant cradle. 358

Where they ⸢most⸣ breed and haunt, I have observed, 359

The air is delicate. 360

(Enter Lady ⸢Macbeth.⸣)

DUNCAN

See, see our honored hostess! — 361

The love that follows us sometime is our trouble, 362

Which still we thank as love. Herein I teach you 363

How you shall bid God ’ild us for your pains 364

And thank us for your trouble. 365

LADY MACBETH

All our service,

In every point twice done and then done double, 366

Were poor and single business to contend 367

Against those honors deep and broad wherewith 368

Your Majesty loads our house. For those of old, 369

And the late dignities heaped up to them, 370

We rest your hermits. 371

DUNCAN

Where’s the Thane of Cawdor?

We coursed him at the heels and had a purpose 372

To be his purveyor; but he rides well, 373

And his great love, sharp as his spur, hath helped him 374

To his home before us. Fair and noble hostess, 375

We are your guest tonight. 376

LADY MACBETH

Your servants ever

Have theirs, themselves, and what is theirs in compt 377

To make their audit at your Highness’ pleasure, 378

Still to return your own. 379

DUNCAN

Give me your hand.

(⸢Taking her hand.⸣)

Conduct me to mine host. We love him highly 380

And shall continue our graces towards him. 381

By your leave, hostess. 382

(They exit.)

Scene 7

(Hautboys. Torches.)

(Enter a Sewer and divers Servants with dishes and service over the stage.)

(Then enter Macbeth.)

MACBETH

If it were done when ’tis done, then ’twere well 383

It were done quickly. If th’ assassination 384

Could trammel up the consequence and catch 385

With his surcease success, that but this blow 386

Might be the be-all and the end-all here, 387

But here, upon this bank and ⸢shoal⸣ of time, 388

We’d jump the life to come. But in these cases 389

We still have judgment here, that we but teach 390

Bloody instructions, which, being taught, return 391

To plague th’ inventor. This even-handed justice 392

Commends th’ ingredience of our poisoned chalice 393

To our own lips. He’s here in double trust: 394

First, as I am his kinsman and his subject, 395

Strong both against the deed; then, as his host, 396

Who should against his murderer shut the door, 397

Not bear the knife myself. Besides, this Duncan 398

Hath borne his faculties so meek, hath been 399

So clear in his great office, that his virtues 400

Will plead like angels, trumpet-tongued, against 401

The deep damnation of his taking-off; 402

And pity, like a naked newborn babe 403

Striding the blast, or heaven’s cherubin horsed 404

Upon the sightless couriers of the air, 405

Shall blow the horrid deed in every eye, 406

That tears shall drown the wind. I have no spur 407

To prick the sides of my intent, but only 408

Vaulting ambition, which o’erleaps itself 409

And falls on th’ other — 410

(Enter Lady ⸢Macbeth.⸣)

How now, what news? 411

LADY MACBETH

He has almost supped. Why have you left the chamber? 412

MACBETH

Hath he asked for me? 413

LADY MACBETH

Know you not he has?

MACBETH

We will proceed no further in this business. 414

He hath honored me of late, and I have bought 415

Golden opinions from all sorts of people, 416

Which would be worn now in their newest gloss, 417

Not cast aside so soon. 418

LADY MACBETH

Was the hope drunk

Wherein you dressed yourself? Hath it slept since? 419

And wakes it now, to look so green and pale 420

At what it did so freely? From this time 421

Such I account thy love. Art thou afeard 422

To be the same in thine own act and valor 423

As thou art in desire? Wouldst thou have that 424

Which thou esteem’st the ornament of life 425

And live a coward in thine own esteem, 426

Letting “I dare not” wait upon “I would,” 427

Like the poor cat i’ th’ adage? 428

MACBETH

Prithee, peace.

I dare do all that may become a man. 429

Who dares ⸢do⸣ more is none. 430

LADY MACBETH

What beast was ’t, then,

That made you break this enterprise to me? 431

When you durst do it, then you were a man; 432

And to be more than what you were, you would 433

Be so much more the man. Nor time nor place 434

Did then adhere, and yet you would make both. 435

They have made themselves, and that their fitness now 436

Does unmake you. I have given suck, and know 437

How tender ’tis to love the babe that milks me. 438

I would, while it was smiling in my face, 439

Have plucked my nipple from his boneless gums 440

And dashed the brains out, had I so sworn as you 441

Have done to this. 442

MACBETH

If we should fail —

LADY MACBETH

We fail?

But screw your courage to the sticking place 443

And we’ll not fail. When Duncan is asleep 444

(Whereto the rather shall his day’s hard journey 445

Soundly invite him), his two chamberlains 446

Will I with wine and wassail so convince 447

That memory, the warder of the brain, 448

Shall be a fume, and the receipt of reason 449

A limbeck only. When in swinish sleep 450

Their drenchèd natures lies as in a death, 451

What cannot you and I perform upon 452

Th’ unguarded Duncan? What not put upon 453

His spongy officers, who shall bear the guilt 454

Of our great quell? 455

MACBETH

Bring forth men-children only,

For thy undaunted mettle should compose 456

Nothing but males. Will it not be received, 457

When we have marked with blood those sleepy two 458

Of his own chamber and used their very daggers, 459

That they have done ’t? 460

LADY MACBETH

Who dares receive it other,

As we shall make our griefs and clamor roar 461

Upon his death? 462

MACBETH

I am settled and bend up

Each corporal agent to this terrible feat. 463

Away, and mock the time with fairest show. 464

False face must hide what the false heart doth know. 465

(They exit.)

Act II

Scene 1

(Enter Banquo, and Fleance with a torch before him.)

BANQUO

How goes the night, boy?

FLEANCE

The moon is down. I have not heard the clock. 466

BANQUO

And she goes down at twelve.

FLEANCE

I take ’t ’tis later, sir.

BANQUO

Hold, take my sword. 467

(⸢He gives his sword to Fleance.⸣)

There’s husbandry in heaven;

Their candles are all out. Take thee that too. 468

A heavy summons lies like lead upon me, 469

And yet I would not sleep. Merciful powers, 470

Restrain in me the cursèd thoughts that nature 471

Gives way to in repose. 472

(Enter Macbeth, and a Servant with a torch.)

Give me my sword. —Who’s there?

MACBETH

A friend. 473

BANQUO

What, sir, not yet at rest? The King’s abed. 474

He hath been in unusual pleasure, and 475

Sent forth great largess to your offices. 476

This diamond he greets your wife withal, 477

By the name of most kind hostess, and shut up 478

In measureless content. 479

(⸢He gives Macbeth a diamond.⸣)

MACBETH

Being unprepared,

Our will became the servant to defect, 480

Which else should free have wrought. 481

BANQUO

All’s well. 482

I dreamt last night of the three Weïrd Sisters. 483

To you they have showed some truth. 484

MACBETH

I think not of them.

Yet, when we can entreat an hour to serve, 485

We would spend it in some words upon that business, 486

If you would grant the time. 487

BANQUO

At your kind’st leisure.

MACBETH

If you shall cleave to my consent, when ’tis, 488

It shall make honor for you. 489

BANQUO

So I lose none

In seeking to augment it, but still keep 490

My bosom franchised and allegiance clear, 491

I shall be counseled. 492

MACBETH

Good repose the while.

BANQUO

Thanks, sir. The like to you. 493

(Banquo ⸢and Fleance⸣ exit.)

MACBETH

Go bid thy mistress, when my drink is ready, 494

She strike upon the bell. Get thee to bed. 495

(⸢Servant⸣ exits.)

Is this a dagger which I see before me, 496

The handle toward my hand? Come, let me clutch thee. 497

I have thee not, and yet I see thee still. 498

Art thou not, fatal vision, sensible 499

To feeling as to sight? Or art thou but 500

A dagger of the mind, a false creation 501

Proceeding from the heat-oppressèd brain? 502

I see thee yet, in form as palpable 503

As this which now I draw. 504

(⸢He draws his dagger.⸣)

Thou marshal’st me the way that I was going, 505

And such an instrument I was to use. 506

Mine eyes are made the fools o’ th’ other senses 507

Or else worth all the rest. I see thee still, 508

And, on thy blade and dudgeon, gouts of blood, 509

Which was not so before. There’s no such thing. 510

It is the bloody business which informs 511

Thus to mine eyes. Now o’er the one-half world 512

Nature seems dead, and wicked dreams abuse 513

The curtained sleep. Witchcraft celebrates 514

Pale Hecate’s off’rings, and withered murder, 515

Alarumed by his sentinel, the wolf, 516

Whose howl’s his watch, thus with his stealthy pace, 517

With Tarquin’s ravishing ⸢strides,⸣ towards his design 518

Moves like a ghost. Thou ⸢sure⸣and firm-set earth, 519

Hear not my steps, which ⸢way they⸣ walk, for fear 520

Thy very stones prate of my whereabouts 521

And take the present horror from the time, 522

Which now suits with it. Whiles I threat, he lives. 523

Words to the heat of deeds too cold breath gives. 524

(A bell rings.)

I go, and it is done. The bell invites me. 525

Hear it not, Duncan, for it is a knell 526

That summons thee to heaven or to hell. 527

(He exits.)

Scene 2

(Enter Lady ⸢Macbeth.⸣)

LADY MACBETH

That which hath made them drunk hath made me bold. 528

What hath quenched them hath given me fire. Hark! —Peace. 529

It was the owl that shrieked, the fatal bellman, 530

Which gives the stern’st good-night. He is about it. 531

The doors are open, and the surfeited grooms 532

Do mock their charge with snores. I have drugged their possets, 533

That death and nature do contend about them 534

Whether they live or die. 535

MACBETH,

⸢within⸣ Who’s there? what, ho!

LADY MACBETH

Alack, I am afraid they have awaked, 536

And ’tis not done. Th’ attempt and not the deed 537

Confounds us. Hark! —I laid their daggers ready; 538

He could not miss ’em. Had he not resembled 539

My father as he slept, I had done ’t. 540

(Enter Macbeth ⸢with bloody daggers.⸣)

My husband? 541

MACBETH

I have done the deed. Didst thou not hear a noise? 542

LADY MACBETH

I heard the owl scream and the crickets cry. 543

Did not you speak? 544

MACBETH

When?

LADY MACBETH

Now. 545

MACBETH

As I descended?

LADY MACBETH

Ay. 546

MACBETH

Hark! —Who lies i’ th’ second chamber? 547

LADY MACBETH

Donalbain. 548

MACBETH

This is a sorry sight. 549

LADY MACBETH

A foolish thought, to say a sorry sight. 550

MACBETH

There’s one did laugh in ’s sleep, and one cried “Murder!” 551

That they did wake each other. I stood and heard them. 552

But they did say their prayers and addressed them 553

Again to sleep. 554

LADY MACBETH

There are two lodged together.

MACBETH

One cried “God bless us” and “Amen” the other, 555

As they had seen me with these hangman’s hands, 556

List’ning their fear. I could not say “Amen” 557

When they did say “God bless us.” 558

LADY MACBETH

Consider it not so deeply. 559

MACBETH

But wherefore could not I pronounce “Amen”? 560

I had most need of blessing, and “Amen” 561

Stuck in my throat. 562

LADY MACBETH

These deeds must not be thought

After these ways; so, it will make us mad. 563

MACBETH

Methought I heard a voice cry “Sleep no more! Macbeth does murder sleep” —the innocent sleep, 564

Sleep that knits up the raveled sleave of care, 565

The death of each day’s life, sore labor’s bath, 566

Balm of hurt minds, great nature’s second course, 567

Chief nourisher in life’s feast. 568

LADY MACBETH

What do you mean?

MACBETH

Still it cried “Sleep no more!” to all the house. 569

“Glamis hath murdered sleep, and therefore Cawdor 570

Shall sleep no more. Macbeth shall sleep no more.” 571

LADY MACBETH

Who was it that thus cried? Why, worthy thane, 572

You do unbend your noble strength to think 573

So brainsickly of things. Go get some water 574

And wash this filthy witness from your hand. — 575

Why did you bring these daggers from the place? 576

They must lie there. Go, carry them and smear 577

The sleepy grooms with blood. 578

MACBETH

I’ll go no more.

I am afraid to think what I have done. 579

Look on ’t again I dare not. 580

LADY MACBETH

Infirm of purpose!

Give me the daggers. The sleeping and the dead 581

Are but as pictures. ’Tis the eye of childhood 582

That fears a painted devil. If he do bleed, 583

I’ll gild the faces of the grooms withal, 584

For it must seem their guilt. 585

(She exits ⸢with the daggers.⸣)

(Knock within.)

MACBETH

Whence is that knocking?

How is ’t with me when every noise appalls me? 586

What hands are here! Ha, they pluck out mine eyes. 587

Will all great Neptune’s ocean wash this blood 588

Clean from my hand? No, this my hand will rather 589

The multitudinous seas incarnadine, 590

Making the green one red. 591

(Enter Lady ⸢Macbeth.⸣)

LADY MACBETH

My hands are of your color, but I shame 592

To wear a heart so white. 593

(Knock.)

I hear a knocking

At the south entry. Retire we to our chamber. 594

A little water clears us of this deed. 595

How easy is it, then! Your constancy 596

Hath left you unattended. 597

(Knock.)

Hark, more knocking.

Get on your nightgown, lest occasion call us 598

And show us to be watchers. Be not lost 599

So poorly in your thoughts. 600

MACBETH

To know my deed ’twere best not know myself. 601

(Knock.)

Wake Duncan with thy knocking. I would thou couldst. 602

(They exit.)

Scene 3

(Knocking within.)

(Enter a Porter.)

PORTER

Here’s a knocking indeed! If a man were porter

of hell gate, he should have old turning the

key. (Knock.) Knock, knock, knock! Who’s there, i’

th’ name of Beelzebub? Here’s a farmer that hanged

himself on th’ expectation of plenty. Come in time!

Have napkins enough about you; here you’ll sweat

for ’t. (Knock.) Knock, knock! Who’s there, in th’

other devil’s name? Faith, here’s an equivocator

that could swear in both the scales against either

scale, who committed treason enough for God’s

sake yet could not equivocate to heaven. O, come in,

equivocator. (Knock.) Knock, knock, knock! Who’s

there? Faith, here’s an English tailor come hither for

stealing out of a French hose. Come in, tailor. Here

you may roast your goose. (Knock.) Knock, knock!

Never at quiet. —What are you? —But this place is

too cold for hell. I’ll devil-porter it no further. I had

thought to have let in some of all professions that go

the primrose way to th’ everlasting bonfire.

(Knock.) Anon, anon!

(⸢The Porter opens the door to ⸣ Macduff and Lennox.)

I pray you, remember the porter.

MACDUFF

Was it so late, friend, ere you went to bed 603

That you do lie so late? 604

PORTER

Faith, sir, we were carousing till the second

cock, and drink, sir, is a great provoker of three

things.

MACDUFF

What three things does drink especially

provoke?

PORTER

Marry, sir, nose-painting, sleep, and urine.

Lechery, sir, it provokes and unprovokes. It provokes

the desire, but it takes away the performance.

Therefore much drink may be said to be an

equivocator with lechery. It makes him, and it

mars him; it sets him on, and it takes him off; it

persuades him and disheartens him; makes him

stand to and not stand to; in conclusion, equivocates

him in a sleep and, giving him the lie, leaves

him.

MACDUFF

I believe drink gave thee the lie last night.

PORTER

That it did, sir, i’ th’ very throat on me; but I

requited him for his lie, and, I think, being too

strong for him, though he took up my legs sometime,

yet I made a shift to cast him.

MACDUFF

Is thy master stirring? 605

(Enter Macbeth.)

Our knocking has awaked him. Here he comes. 606

(⸢Porter exits.⸣)

LENNOX

Good morrow, noble sir. 607

MACBETH

Good morrow, both.

MACDUFF

Is the King stirring, worthy thane? 608

MACBETH

Not yet.

MACDUFF

He did command me to call timely on him. 609

I have almost slipped the hour. 610

MACBETH

I’ll bring you to him.

MACDUFF

I know this is a joyful trouble to you, 611

But yet ’tis one. 612

MACBETH

The labor we delight in physics pain. 613

This is the door. 614

MACDUFF

I’ll make so bold to call,

For ’tis my limited service. 615

(Macduff exits.)

LENNOX

Goes the King hence today? 616

MACBETH

He does. He did appoint so. 617

LENNOX

The night has been unruly. Where we lay, 618

Our chimneys were blown down and, as they say, 619

Lamentings heard i’ th’ air, strange screams of death, 620

And prophesying, with accents terrible, 621

Of dire combustion and confused events 622

New hatched to th’ woeful time. The obscure bird 623

Clamored the livelong night. Some say the earth 624

Was feverous and did shake. 625

MACBETH

’Twas a rough night.

LENNOX

My young remembrance cannot parallel 626

A fellow to it. 627

(Enter Macduff.)

MACDUFF

O horror, horror, horror!

Tongue nor heart cannot conceive nor name thee! 628

MACBETH AND LENNOX

What’s the matter? 629

MACDUFF

Confusion now hath made his masterpiece. 630

Most sacrilegious murder hath broke ope 631

The Lord’s anointed temple and stole thence 632

The life o’ th’ building. 633

MACBETH

What is ’t you say? The life?

LENNOX

Mean you his Majesty? 634

MACDUFF

Approach the chamber and destroy your sight 635

With a new Gorgon. Do not bid me speak. 636

See and then speak yourselves. 637

(Macbeth and Lennox exit.)

Awake, awake!

Ring the alarum bell. —Murder and treason! 638

Banquo and Donalbain, Malcolm, awake! 639

Shake off this downy sleep, death’s counterfeit, 640

And look on death itself. Up, up, and see 641

The great doom’s image. Malcolm, Banquo, 642

As from your graves rise up and walk like sprites 643

To countenance this horror. —Ring the bell. 644

(Bell rings.)

(Enter Lady ⸢Macbeth.⸣)

LADY MACBETH

What’s the business, 645

That such a hideous trumpet calls to parley 646

The sleepers of the house? Speak, speak! 647

MACDUFF

O gentle lady, 648

’Tis not for you to hear what I can speak. 649

The repetition in a woman’s ear 650

Would murder as it fell. 651

(Enter Banquo.)

O Banquo, Banquo,

Our royal master’s murdered. 652

LADY MACBETH

Woe, alas!

What, in our house? 653

BANQUO

Too cruel anywhere. —

Dear Duff, I prithee, contradict thyself 654

And say it is not so. 655

(Enter Macbeth, Lennox, and Ross.)

MACBETH

Had I but died an hour before this chance, 656

I had lived a blessèd time; for from this instant 657

There’s nothing serious in mortality. 658

All is but toys. Renown and grace is dead. 659

The wine of life is drawn, and the mere lees 660

Is left this vault to brag of. 661

(Enter Malcolm and Donalbain.)

DONALBAIN

What is amiss? 662

MACBETH

You are, and do not know ’t. 663

The spring, the head, the fountain of your blood 664

Is stopped; the very source of it is stopped. 665

MACDUFF

Your royal father’s murdered. 666

MALCOLM

O, by whom?

LENNOX

Those of his chamber, as it seemed, had done ’t. 667

Their hands and faces were all badged with blood. 668

So were their daggers, which unwiped we found 669

Upon their pillows. They stared and were distracted. 670

No man’s life was to be trusted with them. 671

MACBETH

O, yet I do repent me of my fury, 672

That I did kill them. 673

MACDUFF

Wherefore did you so?

MACBETH

Who can be wise, amazed, temp’rate, and furious, 674

Loyal, and neutral, in a moment? No man. 675

Th’ expedition of my violent love 676

Outrun the pauser, reason. Here lay Duncan, 677

His silver skin laced with his golden blood, 678

And his gashed stabs looked like a breach in nature 679

For ruin’s wasteful entrance; there the murderers, 680

Steeped in the colors of their trade, their daggers 681

Unmannerly breeched with gore. Who could refrain 682

That had a heart to love, and in that heart 683

Courage to make ’s love known? 684

LADY MACBETH

Help me hence, ho!

MACDUFF

Look to the lady. 685

MALCOLM,

Why do we hold our tongues,

That most may claim this argument for ours? 686

DONALBAIN,

What should be spoken here, where our fate, 687

Hid in an auger hole, may rush and seize us? 688

Let’s away. Our tears are not yet brewed. 689

MALCOLM,

Nor our strong sorrow upon the foot of motion. 690

BANQUO

Look to the lady. 691

(⸢Lady Macbeth is assisted to leave.⸣)

And when we have our naked frailties hid, 692

That suffer in exposure, let us meet 693

And question this most bloody piece of work 694

To know it further. Fears and scruples shake us. 695

In the great hand of God I stand, and thence 696

Against the undivulged pretense I fight 697

Of treasonous malice. 698

MACDUFF

And so do I.

ALL

So all.

MACBETH

Let’s briefly put on manly readiness 699

And meet i’ the hall together. 700

ALL

Well contented.

(⸢All but Malcolm and Donalbain⸣ exit.)

MALCOLM

What will you do? Let’s not consort with them. 701

To show an unfelt sorrow is an office 702

Which the false man does easy. I’ll to England. 703

DONALBAIN

To Ireland I. Our separated fortune 704

Shall keep us both the safer. Where we are, 705

There’s daggers in men’s smiles. The near in blood, 706

The nearer bloody. 707

MALCOLM

This murderous shaft that’s shot

Hath not yet lighted, and our safest way 708

Is to avoid the aim. Therefore to horse, 709

And let us not be dainty of leave-taking 710

But shift away. There’s warrant in that theft 711

Which steals itself when there’s no mercy left. 712

(They exit.)

Scene 4

(Enter Ross with an Old Man.)

OLD MAN

Threescore and ten I can remember well, 713

Within the volume of which time I have seen 714

Hours dreadful and things strange, but this sore night 715

Hath trifled former knowings. 716

ROSS

Ha, good father,

Thou seest the heavens, as troubled with man’s act, 717

Threatens his bloody stage. By th’ clock ’tis day, 718

And yet dark night strangles the traveling lamp. 719

Is ’t night’s predominance or the day’s shame 720

That darkness does the face of earth entomb 721

When living light should kiss it? 722

OLD MAN

’Tis unnatural,

Even like the deed that’s done. On Tuesday last 723

A falcon, tow’ring in her pride of place, 724

Was by a mousing owl hawked at and killed. 725

ROSS

And Duncan’s horses (a thing most strange and certain), 726

Beauteous and swift, the minions of their race, 727

Turned wild in nature, broke their stalls, flung out, 728

Contending ’gainst obedience, as they would 729

Make war with mankind. 730

OLD MAN

’Tis said they eat each other.

ROSS

They did so, to th’ amazement of mine eyes 731

That looked upon ’t. 732

(Enter Macduff.)

Here comes the good Macduff. —

How goes the world, sir, now? 733

MACDUFF

Why, see you not?

ROSS

Is ’t known who did this more than bloody deed? 734

MACDUFF

Those that Macbeth hath slain. 735

ROSS

Alas the day,

What good could they pretend? 736

MACDUFF

They were suborned.

Malcolm and Donalbain, the King’s two sons, 737

Are stol’n away and fled, which puts upon them 738

Suspicion of the deed. 739

ROSS

’Gainst nature still!

Thriftless ambition, that will ravin up 740

Thine own lives’ means. Then ’tis most like 741

The sovereignty will fall upon Macbeth. 742

MACDUFF

He is already named and gone to Scone 743

To be invested. 744

ROSS

Where is Duncan’s body?

MACDUFF

Carried to Colmekill, 745

The sacred storehouse of his predecessors 746

And guardian of their bones. 747

ROSS

Will you to Scone?

MACDUFF

No, cousin, I’ll to Fife. 748

ROSS

Well, I will thither.

MACDUFF

Well, may you see things well done there. Adieu, 749

Lest our old robes sit easier than our new. 750

ROSS

Farewell, father. 751

OLD MAN

God’s benison go with you and with those 752

That would make good of bad and friends of foes. 753

(All exit.)

Act III

Scene 1

(Enter Banquo.)

BANQUO

Thou hast it now —King, Cawdor, Glamis, all 754

As the Weïrd Women promised, and I fear 755

Thou played’st most foully for ’t. Yet it was said 756

It should not stand in thy posterity, 757

But that myself should be the root and father 758

Of many kings. If there come truth from them 759

(As upon thee, Macbeth, their speeches shine) 760

Why, by the verities on thee made good, 761

May they not be my oracles as well, 762

And set me up in hope? But hush, no more. 763

(Sennet sounded.)

(Enter Macbeth as King, Lady ⸢Macbeth,⸣ Lennox, Ross, Lords, and Attendants.)

MACBETH

Here’s our chief guest. 764

LADY MACBETH

If he had been forgotten,

It had been as a gap in our great feast 765

And all-thing unbecoming. 766

MACBETH

Tonight we hold a solemn supper, sir, 767

And I’ll request your presence. 768

BANQUO

Let your Highness

Command upon me, to the which my duties 769

Are with a most indissoluble tie 770

Forever knit. 771

MACBETH

Ride you this afternoon? 772

BANQUO

Ay, my good lord. 773

MACBETH

We should have else desired your good advice 774

(Which still hath been both grave and prosperous) 775

In this day’s council, but we’ll take tomorrow. 776

Is ’t far you ride? 777

BANQUO

As far, my lord, as will fill up the time 778

’Twixt this and supper. Go not my horse the better, 779

I must become a borrower of the night 780

For a dark hour or twain. 781

MACBETH

Fail not our feast.

BANQUO

My lord, I will not. 782

MACBETH

We hear our bloody cousins are bestowed 783

In England and in Ireland, not confessing 784

Their cruel parricide, filling their hearers 785

With strange invention. But of that tomorrow, 786

When therewithal we shall have cause of state 787

Craving us jointly. Hie you to horse. Adieu, 788

Till you return at night. Goes Fleance with you? 789

BANQUO

Ay, my good lord. Our time does call upon ’s. 790

MACBETH

I wish your horses swift and sure of foot, 791

And so I do commend you to their backs. 792

Farewell. 793

(Banquo exits.)

Let every man be master of his time 794

Till seven at night. To make society 795

The sweeter welcome, we will keep ourself 796

Till suppertime alone. While then, God be with you. 797

(Lords ⸢and all but Macbeth and a Servant⸣ exit.)

Sirrah, a word with you. Attend those men 798

Our pleasure? 799

SERVANT

They are, my lord, without the palace gate. 800

MACBETH

Bring them before us. 801

(Servant exits.)

To be thus is nothing,

But to be safely thus. Our fears in Banquo 802

Stick deep, and in his royalty of nature 803

Reigns that which would be feared. ’Tis much he dares, 804

And to that dauntless temper of his mind 805

He hath a wisdom that doth guide his valor 806

To act in safety. There is none but he 807

Whose being I do fear; and under him 808

My genius is rebuked, as it is said 809

Mark Antony’s was by Caesar. He chid the sisters 810

When first they put the name of king upon me 811

And bade them speak to him. Then, prophet-like, 812

They hailed him father to a line of kings. 813

Upon my head they placed a fruitless crown 814

And put a barren scepter in my grip, 815

Thence to be wrenched with an unlineal hand, 816

No son of mine succeeding. If ’t be so, 817

For Banquo’s issue have I filed my mind; 818

For them the gracious Duncan have I murdered, 819

Put rancors in the vessel of my peace 820

Only for them, and mine eternal jewel 821

Given to the common enemy of man 822

To make them kings, the seeds of Banquo kings. 823

Rather than so, come fate into the list, 824

And champion me to th’ utterance. —Who’s there? 825

(Enter Servant and two Murderers.)

⸢To the Servant.⸣ Now go to the door, and stay there till we call. 826

(Servant exits.)

Was it not yesterday we spoke together? 827

⸢MURDERERS⸣

It was, so please your Highness. 828

MACBETH

Well then, now

Have you considered of my speeches? Know 829

That it was he, in the times past, which held you 830

So under fortune, which you thought had been 831

Our innocent self. This I made good to you 832

In our last conference, passed in probation with you 833

How you were borne in hand, how crossed, the instruments, 834

Who wrought with them, and all things else that might 835

To half a soul and to a notion crazed 836

Say “Thus did Banquo.” 837

FIRST MURDERER

You made it known to us.

MACBETH

I did so, and went further, which is now 838

Our point of second meeting. Do you find 839

Your patience so predominant in your nature 840

That you can let this go? Are you so gospeled 841

To pray for this good man and for his issue, 842

Whose heavy hand hath bowed you to the grave 843

And beggared yours forever? 844

FIRST MURDERER

We are men, my liege.

MACBETH

Ay, in the catalogue you go for men, 845

As hounds and greyhounds, mongrels, spaniels, curs, 846

Shoughs, water-rugs, and demi-wolves are clept 847

All by the name of dogs. The valued file 848

Distinguishes the swift, the slow, the subtle, 849

The housekeeper, the hunter, every one 850

According to the gift which bounteous nature 851

Hath in him closed; whereby he does receive 852

Particular addition, from the bill 853

That writes them all alike. And so of men. 854

Now, if you have a station in the file, 855

Not i’ th’ worst rank of manhood, say ’t, 856

And I will put that business in your bosoms 857

Whose execution takes your enemy off, 858

Grapples you to the heart and love of us, 859

Who wear our health but sickly in his life, 860

Which in his death were perfect. 861

SECOND MURDERER

I am one, my liege,

Whom the vile blows and buffets of the world 862

Hath so incensed that I am reckless what 863

I do to spite the world. 864

FIRST MURDERER

And I another

So weary with disasters, tugged with fortune, 865

That I would set my life on any chance, 866

To mend it or be rid on ’t. 867

MACBETH

Both of you

Know Banquo was your enemy. 868

⸢MURDERERS⸣

True, my lord.

MACBETH

So is he mine, and in such bloody distance 869

That every minute of his being thrusts 870

Against my near’st of life. And though I could 871

With barefaced power sweep him from my sight 872

And bid my will avouch it, yet I must not, 873

For certain friends that are both his and mine, 874

Whose loves I may not drop, but wail his fall 875

Who I myself struck down. And thence it is 876

That I to your assistance do make love, 877

Masking the business from the common eye 878

For sundry weighty reasons. 879

SECOND MURDERER

We shall, my lord,

Perform what you command us. 880

FIRST MURDERER

Though our lives —

MACBETH

Your spirits shine through you. Within this hour at most 881

I will advise you where to plant yourselves, 882

Acquaint you with the perfect spy o’ the time, 883

The moment on ’t, for ’t must be done tonight 884

And something from the palace; always thought 885

That I require a clearness. And with him 886

(To leave no rubs nor botches in the work) 887

Fleance, his son, that keeps him company, 888

Whose absence is no less material to me 889

Than is his father’s, must embrace the fate 890

Of that dark hour. Resolve yourselves apart. 891

I’ll come to you anon. 892

⸢MURDERERS⸣

We are resolved, my lord. 893

MACBETH

I’ll call upon you straight. Abide within. 894

(⸢Murderers exit.⸣)

It is concluded. Banquo, thy soul’s flight, 895

If it find heaven, must find it out tonight. 896

(⸢He exits.⸣)

Scene 2

(Enter Macbeth’s Lady and a Servant.)

LADY MACBETH

Is Banquo gone from court? 897

SERVANT

Ay, madam, but returns again tonight. 898

LADY MACBETH

Say to the King I would attend his leisure 899

For a few words. 900

SERVANT

Madam, I will. 901

(He exits.)

LADY MACBETH

Naught’s had, all’s spent, 902

Where our desire is got without content. 903

’Tis safer to be that which we destroy 904

Than by destruction dwell in doubtful joy. 905

(Enter Macbeth.)

How now, my lord, why do you keep alone, 906

Of sorriest fancies your companions making, 907

Using those thoughts which should indeed have died 908

With them they think on? Things without all remedy 909

Should be without regard. What’s done is done. 910

MACBETH

We have scorched the snake, not killed it. 911

She’ll close and be herself whilst our poor malice 912

Remains in danger of her former tooth. 913

But let the frame of things disjoint, both the worlds suffer, 914

Ere we will eat our meal in fear, and sleep 915

In the affliction of these terrible dreams 916

That shake us nightly. Better be with the dead, 917

Whom we, to gain our peace, have sent to peace, 918

Than on the torture of the mind to lie 919

In restless ecstasy. Duncan is in his grave. 920

After life’s fitful fever he sleeps well. 921

Treason has done his worst; nor steel nor poison, 922

Malice domestic, foreign levy, nothing 923

Can touch him further. 924

LADY MACBETH

Come on, gentle my lord,

Sleek o’er your rugged looks. Be bright and jovial 925

Among your guests tonight. 926

MACBETH

So shall I, love,

And so I pray be you. Let your remembrance 927

Apply to Banquo; present him eminence 928

Both with eye and tongue: unsafe the while that we 929

Must lave our honors in these flattering streams 930

And make our faces vizards to our hearts, 931

Disguising what they are. 932

LADY MACBETH

You must leave this.

MACBETH

O, full of scorpions is my mind, dear wife! 933

Thou know’st that Banquo and his Fleance lives. 934

LADY MACBETH

But in them nature’s copy’s not eterne. 935

MACBETH

There’s comfort yet; they are assailable. 936

Then be thou jocund. Ere the bat hath flown 937

His cloistered flight, ere to black Hecate’s summons 938

The shard-born beetle with his drowsy hums 939

Hath rung night’s yawning peal, there shall be done 940

A deed of dreadful note. 941

LADY MACBETH

What’s to be done?

MACBETH

Be innocent of the knowledge, dearest chuck, 942

Till thou applaud the deed. —Come, seeling night, 943

Scarf up the tender eye of pitiful day 944

And with thy bloody and invisible hand 945

Cancel and tear to pieces that great bond 946

Which keeps me pale. Light thickens, and the crow 947

Makes wing to th’ rooky wood. 948

Good things of day begin to droop and drowse, 949

Whiles night’s black agents to their preys do rouse. — 950

Thou marvel’st at my words, but hold thee still. 951

Things bad begun make strong themselves by ill. 952

So prithee go with me. 953

(They exit.)

Scene 3

(Enter three Murderers.)

FIRST MURDERER

But who did bid thee join with us? 954

THIRD MURDERER

Macbeth.

SECOND MURDERER,

⸢to the First Murderer⸣ He needs not our mistrust, since he delivers 955

Our offices and what we have to do 956

To the direction just. 957

FIRST MURDERER

Then stand with us. —

The west yet glimmers with some streaks of day. 958

Now spurs the lated traveler apace 959

To gain the timely inn, ⸢and⸣ near approaches 960

The subject of our watch. 961

THIRD MURDERER

Hark, I hear horses. 962

BANQUO,

within Give us a light there, ho! 963

SECOND MURDERER

Then ’tis he. The rest 964

That are within the note of expectation 965

Already are i’ th’ court. 966

FIRST MURDERER

His horses go about. 967

THIRD MURDERER

Almost a mile; but he does usually 968

(So all men do) from hence to th’ palace gate 969

Make it their walk. 970

(Enter Banquo and Fleance, with a torch.)

SECOND MURDERER

A light, a light! 971

THIRD MURDERER

’Tis he. 972

FIRST MURDERER

Stand to ’t. 973

BANQUO

It will be rain tonight. 974

FIRST MURDERER

Let it come down! 975

(⸢The three Murderers attack.⸣)

BANQUO

O treachery! Fly, good Fleance, fly, fly, fly! 976

Thou mayst revenge —O slave! 977

(⸢He dies.⸣)

(⸢Fleance exits.⸣)

THIRD MURDERER

Who did strike out the light? 978

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. 979

(They exit.)

Scene 4

(Banquet prepared.)

(Enter Macbeth, Lady ⸢Macbeth,⸣ Ross, Lennox, Lords, and Attendants.)

MACBETH

You know your own degrees; sit down. At first 980

And last, the hearty welcome. 981

(⸢They sit.⸣)

LORDS

Thanks to your Majesty. 982

MACBETH

Ourself will mingle with society 983

And play the humble host. 984

Our hostess keeps her state, but in best time 985

We will require her welcome. 986

LADY MACBETH

Pronounce it for me, sir, to all our friends, 987

For my heart speaks they are welcome. 988

(Enter First Murderer ⸢to the door.⸣)

MACBETH

See, they encounter thee with their hearts’ thanks. 989

Both sides are even. Here I’ll sit i’ th’ midst. 990

Be large in mirth. Anon we’ll drink a measure 991

The table round. 992

(⸢He approaches the Murderer.⸣)

There’s blood upon thy face.

MURDERER

’Tis Banquo’s then. 993

MACBETH

’Tis better thee without than he within. 994

Is he dispatched? 995

MURDERER

My lord, his throat is cut. That I did for him. 996

MACBETH

Thou art the best o’ th’ cutthroats, 997

Yet he’s good that did the like for Fleance. 998

If thou didst it, thou art the nonpareil. 999

MURDERER

Most royal sir, Fleance is ’scaped. 1000

MACBETH,

Then comes my fit again. I had else been perfect, 1001

Whole as the marble, founded as the rock, 1002

As broad and general as the casing air. 1003

But now I am cabined, cribbed, confined, bound in 1004

To saucy doubts and fears. 1005

MURDERER

Ay, my good lord. Safe in a ditch he bides, 1006

With twenty trenchèd gashes on his head, 1007

The least a death to nature. 1008

MACBETH

Thanks for that.

There the grown serpent lies. The worm that’s fled 1009

Hath nature that in time will venom breed, 1010

No teeth for th’ present. Get thee gone. Tomorrow 1011

We’ll hear ourselves again. 1012

(Murderer exits.)

LADY MACBETH

My royal lord,

You do not give the cheer. The feast is sold 1013

That is not often vouched, while ’tis a-making, 1014

’Tis given with welcome. To feed were best at home; 1015

From thence, the sauce to meat is ceremony; 1016

Meeting were bare without it. 1017

(Enter the Ghost of Banquo, and sits in Macbeth’s place.)

MACBETH,

⸢to Lady Macbeth⸣ Sweet remembrancer! — 1018

Now, good digestion wait on appetite 1019

And health on both! 1020

LENNOX

May ’t please your Highness sit.

MACBETH

Here had we now our country’s honor roofed, 1021

Were the graced person of our Banquo present, 1022

Who may I rather challenge for unkindness 1023

Than pity for mischance. 1024

ROSS

His absence, sir,

Lays blame upon his promise. Please ’t your Highness 1025

To grace us with your royal company? 1026

MACBETH

The table’s full. 1027

LENNOX

Here is a place reserved, sir.

MACBETH

Where? 1028

LENNOX

Here, my good lord. What is ’t that moves your Highness? 1029

MACBETH

Which of you have done this? 1030

LORDS

What, my good lord?

MACBETH,

⸢to the Ghost⸣ Thou canst not say I did it. Never shake 1031

Thy gory locks at me. 1032

ROSS

Gentlemen, rise. His Highness is not well. 1033

LADY MACBETH

Sit, worthy friends. My lord is often thus 1034

And hath been from his youth. Pray you, keep seat. 1035

The fit is momentary; upon a thought 1036

He will again be well. If much you note him 1037

You shall offend him and extend his passion. 1038

Feed and regard him not. 1039

Are you a man?

MACBETH

Ay, and a bold one, that dare look on that 1040

Which might appall the devil. 1041

LADY MACBETH

O, proper stuff!

This is the very painting of your fear. 1042

This is the air-drawn dagger which you said 1043

Led you to Duncan. O, these flaws and starts, 1044

Impostors to true fear, would well become 1045

A woman’s story at a winter’s fire, 1046

Authorized by her grandam. Shame itself! 1047

Why do you make such faces? When all’s done, 1048

You look but on a stool. 1049

MACBETH

Prithee, see there. Behold, look! 1050

⸢To the Ghost.⸣ Lo, how say you?

Why, what care I? If thou canst nod, speak too. — 1051

If charnel houses and our graves must send 1052

Those that we bury back, our monuments 1053

Shall be the maws of kites. 1054

(⸢Ghost exits.⸣)

LADY MACBETH

What, quite unmanned in folly? 1055

MACBETH

If I stand here, I saw him. 1056

LADY MACBETH

Fie, for shame!

MACBETH

Blood hath been shed ere now, i’ th’ olden time, 1057

Ere humane statute purged the gentle weal; 1058

Ay, and since too, murders have been performed 1059

Too terrible for the ear. The ⸢time⸣ has been 1060

That, when the brains were out, the man would die, 1061

And there an end. But now they rise again 1062

With twenty mortal murders on their crowns 1063

And push us from our stools. This is more strange 1064

Than such a murder is. 1065

LADY MACBETH

My worthy lord,

Your noble friends do lack you. 1066

MACBETH

I do forget. —

Do not muse at me, my most worthy friends. 1067

I have a strange infirmity, which is nothing 1068

To those that know me. Come, love and health to all. 1069

Then I’ll sit down. —Give me some wine. Fill full. 1070

(Enter Ghost.)

I drink to th’ general joy o’ th’ whole table 1071

And to our dear friend Banquo, whom we miss. 1072

Would he were here! To all, and him we thirst, 1073

And all to all. 1074

LORDS

Our duties, and the pledge.

(⸢They raise their drinking cups.⸣)

MACBETH,

⸢to the Ghost⸣ Avaunt, and quit my sight! Let the earth hide thee. 1075

Thy bones are marrowless; thy blood is cold; 1076

Thou hast no speculation in those eyes 1077

Which thou dost glare with. 1078

LADY MACBETH

Think of this, good peers,

But as a thing of custom. ’Tis no other; 1079

Only it spoils the pleasure of the time. 1080

MACBETH,

⸢to the Ghost⸣ What man dare, I dare. 1081

Approach thou like the rugged Russian bear, 1082

The armed rhinoceros, or th’ Hyrcan tiger; 1083

Take any shape but that, and my firm nerves 1084

Shall never tremble. Or be alive again 1085

And dare me to the desert with thy sword. 1086

If trembling I inhabit then, protest me 1087

The baby of a girl. Hence, horrible shadow! 1088

Unreal mock’ry, hence! 1089

(⸢Ghost exits.⸣)

Why so, being gone,

I am a man again. —Pray you sit still. 1090

LADY MACBETH

You have displaced the mirth, broke the good meeting 1091

With most admired disorder. 1092

MACBETH

Can such things be

And overcome us like a summer’s cloud, 1093

Without our special wonder? You make me strange 1094

Even to the disposition that I owe 1095

When now I think you can behold such sights 1096

And keep the natural ruby of your cheeks 1097

When mine is blanched with fear. 1098

ROSS

What sights, my lord?

LADY MACBETH

I pray you, speak not. He grows worse and worse. 1099

Question enrages him. At once, good night. 1100

Stand not upon the order of your going, 1101

But go at once. 1102

LENNOX

Good night, and better health

Attend his Majesty. 1103

LADY MACBETH

A kind good night to all. 1104

(Lords ⸢and all but Macbeth and Lady Macbeth⸣ exit.)

MACBETH

It will have blood, they say; blood will have blood. 1105

Stones have been known to move, and trees to speak. 1106

Augurs and understood relations have 1107

By maggot pies and choughs and rooks brought forth 1108

The secret’st man of blood. —What is the night? 1109

LADY MACBETH

Almost at odds with morning, which is which. 1110

MACBETH

How say’st thou that Macduff denies his person 1111

At our great bidding? 1112

LADY MACBETH

Did you send to him, sir?

MACBETH

I hear it by the way; but I will send. 1113

There’s not a one of them but in his house 1114

I keep a servant fee’d. I will tomorrow 1115

(And betimes I will) to the Weïrd Sisters. 1116

More shall they speak, for now I am bent to know 1117

By the worst means the worst. For mine own good, 1118

All causes shall give way. I am in blood 1119

Stepped in so far that, should I wade no more, 1120

Returning were as tedious as go o’er. 1121

Strange things I have in head that will to hand, 1122

Which must be acted ere they may be scanned. 1123

LADY MACBETH

You lack the season of all natures, sleep. 1124

MACBETH

Come, we’ll to sleep. My strange and self-abuse 1125

Is the initiate fear that wants hard use. 1126

We are yet but young in deed. 1127

(They exit.)

Scene 5

(Thunder.)

(Enter the three Witches, meeting Hecate.)

FIRST WITCH

Why, how now, Hecate? You look angerly. 1128

HECATE

Have I not reason, beldams as you are? 1129

Saucy and overbold, how did you dare 1130

To trade and traffic with Macbeth 1131

In riddles and affairs of death, 1132

And I, the mistress of your charms, 1133

The close contriver of all harms, 1134

Was never called to bear my part 1135

Or show the glory of our art? 1136

And which is worse, all you have done 1137

Hath been but for a wayward son, 1138

Spiteful and wrathful, who, as others do, 1139

Loves for his own ends, not for you. 1140

But make amends now. Get you gone, 1141

And at the pit of Acheron 1142

Meet me i’ th’ morning. Thither he 1143

Will come to know his destiny. 1144

Your vessels and your spells provide, 1145

Your charms and everything beside. 1146

I am for th’ air. This night I’ll spend 1147

Unto a dismal and a fatal end. 1148

Great business must be wrought ere noon. 1149

Upon the corner of the moon 1150

There hangs a vap’rous drop profound. 1151

I’ll catch it ere it come to ground, 1152

And that, distilled by magic sleights, 1153

Shall raise such artificial sprites 1154

As by the strength of their illusion 1155

Shall draw him on to his confusion. 1156

He shall spurn fate, scorn death, and bear 1157

His hopes ’bove wisdom, grace, and fear. 1158

And you all know, security 1159

Is mortals’ chiefest enemy. 1160

(Music and a song.)

Hark! I am called. My little spirit, see, 1161

Sits in a foggy cloud and stays for me. 1162

(⸢Hecate exits.⸣)

(Sing within “Come away, come away,” etc.)

FIRST WITCH

Come, let’s make haste. She’ll soon be back again. 1163

(They exit.)

Scene 6

(Enter Lennox and another Lord.)

LENNOX

My former speeches have but hit your thoughts, 1164

Which can interpret farther. Only I say 1165

Things have been strangely borne. The gracious Duncan 1166

Was pitied of Macbeth; marry, he was dead. 1167

And the right valiant Banquo walked too late, 1168

Whom you may say, if ’t please you, Fleance killed, 1169

For Fleance fled. Men must not walk too late. 1170

Who cannot want the thought how monstrous 1171

It was for Malcolm and for Donalbain 1172

To kill their gracious father? Damnèd fact, 1173

How it did grieve Macbeth! Did he not straight 1174

In pious rage the two delinquents tear 1175

That were the slaves of drink and thralls of sleep? 1176

Was not that nobly done? Ay, and wisely, too, 1177

For ’twould have angered any heart alive 1178

To hear the men deny ’t. So that I say 1179

He has borne all things well. And I do think 1180

That had he Duncan’s sons under his key 1181

(As, an ’t please heaven, he shall not) they should find 1182

What ’twere to kill a father. So should Fleance. 1183

But peace. For from broad words, and ’cause he failed 1184

His presence at the tyrant’s feast, I hear 1185

Macduff lives in disgrace. Sir, can you tell 1186

Where he bestows himself? 1187

LORD

The ⸢son⸣ of Duncan

(From whom this tyrant holds the due of birth) 1188

Lives in the English court and is received 1189

Of the most pious Edward with such grace 1190

That the malevolence of fortune nothing 1191

Takes from his high respect. Thither Macduff 1192

Is gone to pray the holy king upon his aid 1193

To wake Northumberland and warlike Siward 1194

That, by the help of these (with Him above 1195

To ratify the work), we may again 1196

Give to our tables meat, sleep to our nights, 1197

Free from our feasts and banquets bloody knives, 1198

Do faithful homage, and receive free honors, 1199

All which we pine for now. And this report 1200

Hath so exasperate ⸢the⸣ King that he 1201

Prepares for some attempt of war. 1202

LENNOX

Sent he to Macduff? 1203

LORD

He did, and with an absolute “Sir, not I,” 1204

The cloudy messenger turns me his back 1205

And hums, as who should say “You’ll rue the time 1206

That clogs me with this answer.” 1207

LENNOX

And that well might

Advise him to a caution ⸢t’ hold⸣ what distance 1208

His wisdom can provide. Some holy angel 1209

Fly to the court of England and unfold 1210

His message ere he come, that a swift blessing 1211

May soon return to this our suffering country 1212

Under a hand accursed. 1213

LORD

I’ll send my prayers with him. 1214

(They exit.)

Act IV

Scene 1

(Thunder.)

(Enter the three Witches.)

FIRST WITCH

Thrice the brinded cat hath mewed. 1215

SECOND WITCH

Thrice, and once the hedge-pig whined. 1216

THIRD WITCH

Harpier cries “’Tis time, ’tis time!” 1217

FIRST WITCH

Round about the cauldron go; 1218

In the poisoned entrails throw. 1219

Toad, that under cold stone 1220

Days and nights has thirty-one 1221

Sweltered venom sleeping got, 1222

Boil thou first i’ th’ charmèd pot. 1223

(⸢The Witches circle the cauldron.⸣)

ALL

Double, double toil and trouble; 1224

Fire burn, and cauldron bubble. 1225

SECOND WITCH

Fillet of a fenny snake 1226

In the cauldron boil and bake. 1227

Eye of newt and toe of frog, 1228

Wool of bat and tongue of dog, 1229

Adder’s fork and blindworm’s sting, 1230

Lizard’s leg and howlet’s wing, 1231

For a charm of powerful trouble, 1232

Like a hell-broth boil and bubble. 1233

ALL

Double, double toil and trouble; 1234

Fire burn, and cauldron bubble. 1235

THIRD WITCH

Scale of dragon, tooth of wolf, 1236

Witch’s mummy, maw and gulf 1237

Of the ravined salt-sea shark, 1238

Root of hemlock digged i’ th’ dark, 1239

Liver of blaspheming Jew, 1240

Gall of goat and slips of yew 1241

Slivered in the moon’s eclipse, 1242

Nose of Turk and Tartar’s lips, 1243

Finger of birth-strangled babe 1244

Ditch-delivered by a drab, 1245

Make the gruel thick and slab. 1246

Add thereto a tiger’s chaudron 1247

For th’ ingredience of our cauldron. 1248

ALL

Double, double toil and trouble; 1249

Fire burn, and cauldron bubble. 1250

SECOND WITCH

Cool it with a baboon’s blood. 1251

Then the charm is firm and good. 1252

(Enter Hecate ⸢to⸣ the other three Witches.)

HECATE

O, well done! I commend your pains, 1253

And everyone shall share i’ the gains. 1254

And now about the cauldron sing 1255

Like elves and fairies in a ring, 1256

Enchanting all that you put in. 1257

(Music and a song: “Black Spirits,” etc.)

(⸢Hecate exits.⸣)

SECOND WITCH

By the pricking of my thumbs, 1258

Something wicked this way comes. 1259

Open, locks, 1260

Whoever knocks. 1261

(Enter Macbeth.)

MACBETH

How now, you secret, black, and midnight hags? 1262

What is ’t you do? 1263

ALL

A deed without a name.

MACBETH

I conjure you by that which you profess 1264

(Howe’er you come to know it), answer me. 1265

Though you untie the winds and let them fight 1266

Against the churches, though the yeasty waves 1267

Confound and swallow navigation up, 1268

Though bladed corn be lodged and trees blown down, 1269

Though castles topple on their warders’ heads, 1270

Though palaces and pyramids do slope 1271

Their heads to their foundations, though the treasure 1272

Of nature’s ⸢germens tumble all together⸣ 1273

Even till destruction sicken, answer me 1274

To what I ask you. 1275

FIRST WITCH

Speak.

SECOND WITCH

Demand.

THIRD WITCH

We’ll answer.

FIRST WITCH

Say if th’ hadst rather hear it from our mouths 1276

Or from our masters’. 1277

MACBETH

Call ’em. Let me see ’em.

FIRST WITCH

Pour in sow’s blood that hath eaten 1278

Her nine farrow; grease that’s sweaten 1279

From the murderers’ gibbet throw 1280

Into the flame. 1281

ALL

Come high or low;

Thyself and office deftly show. 1282

(Thunder.)

(First Apparition, an Armed Head.)

MACBETH

Tell me, thou unknown power — 1283

FIRST WITCH

He knows thy thought.

Hear his speech but say thou naught. 1284

FIRST APPARITION

Macbeth! Macbeth! Macbeth! Beware Macduff! 1285

Beware the Thane of Fife. Dismiss me. Enough. 1286

(He descends.)

MACBETH

Whate’er thou art, for thy good caution, thanks. 1287

Thou hast harped my fear aright. But one word more — 1288

FIRST WITCH

He will not be commanded. Here’s another 1289

More potent than the first. 1290

(Thunder.)

(Second Apparition, a Bloody Child.)

SECOND APPARITION

Macbeth! Macbeth! Macbeth! — 1291

MACBETH

Had I three ears, I’d hear thee. 1292

SECOND APPARITION

Be bloody, bold, and resolute. Laugh to scorn 1293

The power of man, for none of woman born 1294

Shall harm Macbeth. 1295

(⸢He⸣ descends.)

MACBETH

Then live, Macduff; what need I fear of thee? 1296

But yet I’ll make assurance double sure 1297

And take a bond of fate. Thou shalt not live, 1298

That I may tell pale-hearted fear it lies, 1299

And sleep in spite of thunder. 1300

(Thunder.)

(Third Apparition, a Childe Crowned, with a tree in his hand.)

What is this

That rises like the issue of a king 1301

And wears upon his baby brow the round 1302

And top of sovereignty? 1303

ALL

Listen but speak not to ’t. 1304

THIRD APPARITION

Be lion-mettled, proud, and take no care 1305

Who chafes, who frets, or where conspirers are. 1306

Macbeth shall never vanquished be until 1307

Great Birnam Wood to high Dunsinane Hill 1308

Shall come against him. 1309

(⸢He⸣ descends.)

MACBETH

That will never be.

Who can impress the forest, bid the tree 1310

Unfix his earthbound root? Sweet bodements, good! 1311

Rebellious dead, rise never till the Wood 1312

Of Birnam rise, and our high-placed Macbeth 1313

Shall live the lease of nature, pay his breath 1314

To time and mortal custom. Yet my heart 1315

Throbs to know one thing. Tell me, if your art 1316

Can tell so much: shall Banquo’s issue ever 1317

Reign in this kingdom? 1318

ALL

Seek to know no more.

MACBETH

I will be satisfied. Deny me this, 1319

And an eternal curse fall on you! Let me know! 1320

(⸢Cauldron sinks.⸣ Hautboys.)

Why sinks that cauldron? And what noise is this? 1321

FIRST WITCH

Show. 1322

SECOND WITCH

Show. 1323

THIRD WITCH

Show. 1324

ALL

Show his eyes and grieve his heart. 1325

Come like shadows; so depart. 1326

(A show of eight kings, ⸢the eighth king⸣ with a glass in his hand, and Banquo last.)

MACBETH

Thou art too like the spirit of Banquo. Down! 1327

Thy crown does sear mine eyeballs. And thy hair, 1328

Thou other gold-bound brow, is like the first. 1329

A third is like the former. —Filthy hags, 1330

Why do you show me this? —A fourth? Start, eyes! 1331

What, will the line stretch out to th’ crack of doom? 1332

Another yet? A seventh? I’ll see no more. 1333

And yet the eighth appears who bears a glass 1334

Which shows me many more, and some I see 1335

That twofold balls and treble scepters carry. 1336

Horrible sight! Now I see ’tis true, 1337

For the blood-boltered Banquo smiles upon me 1338

And points at them for his. 1339

(⸢The Apparitions disappear.⸣)

What, is this so?

FIRST WITCH

Ay, sir, all this is so. But why 1340

Stands Macbeth thus amazedly? 1341

Come, sisters, cheer we up his sprites 1342

And show the best of our delights. 1343

I’ll charm the air to give a sound 1344

While you perform your antic round, 1345

That this great king may kindly say 1346

Our duties did his welcome pay. 1347

(Music.)

(The Witches dance and vanish.)

MACBETH

Where are they? Gone? Let this pernicious hour 1348

Stand aye accursèd in the calendar! — 1349

Come in, without there. 1350

(Enter Lennox.)

LENNOX

What’s your Grace’s will?

MACBETH

Saw you the Weïrd Sisters? 1351

LENNOX

No, my lord.

MACBETH

Came they not by you? 1352

LENNOX

No, indeed, my lord.

MACBETH

Infected be the air whereon they ride, 1353

And damned all those that trust them! I did hear 1354

The galloping of horse. Who was ’t came by? 1355

LENNOX

’Tis two or three, my lord, that bring you word 1356

Macduff is fled to England. 1357

MACBETH

Fled to England?

LENNOX

Ay, my good lord.

MACBETH,

Time, thou anticipat’st my dread exploits. 1358

The flighty purpose never is o’ertook 1359

Unless the deed go with it. From this moment 1360

The very firstlings of my heart shall be 1361

The firstlings of my hand. And even now, 1362

To crown my thoughts with acts, be it thought and done: 1363

The castle of Macduff I will surprise, 1364

Seize upon Fife, give to th’ edge o’ th’ sword 1365

His wife, his babes, and all unfortunate souls 1366

That trace him in his line. No boasting like a fool; 1367

This deed I’ll do before this purpose cool. 1368

But no more sights! 1369

Come bring me where they are. 1370

(They exit.)

Scene 2

(Enter Macduff’s Wife, her Son, and Ross.)

LADY MACDUFF

What had he done to make him fly the land? 1371

ROSS

You must have patience, madam. 1372

LADY MACDUFF

He had none.

His flight was madness. When our actions do not, 1373

Our fears do make us traitors. 1374

ROSS

You know not

Whether it was his wisdom or his fear. 1375

LADY MACDUFF

Wisdom? To leave his wife, to leave his babes, 1376

His mansion and his titles in a place 1377

From whence himself does fly? He loves us not; 1378

He wants the natural touch; for the poor wren, 1379

The most diminutive of birds, will fight, 1380

Her young ones in her nest, against the owl. 1381

All is the fear, and nothing is the love, 1382

As little is the wisdom, where the flight 1383

So runs against all reason. 1384

ROSS

My dearest coz,

I pray you school yourself. But for your husband, 1385

He is noble, wise, judicious, and best knows 1386

The fits o’ th’ season. I dare not speak much further; 1387

But cruel are the times when we are traitors 1388

And do not know ourselves; when we hold rumor 1389

From what we fear, yet know not what we fear, 1390

But float upon a wild and violent sea 1391

Each way and move —I take my leave of you. 1392

Shall not be long but I’ll be here again. 1393

Things at the worst will cease or else climb upward 1394

To what they were before. —My pretty cousin, 1395

Blessing upon you. 1396

LADY MACDUFF

Fathered he is, and yet he’s fatherless. 1397

ROSS

I am so much a fool, should I stay longer 1398

It would be my disgrace and your discomfort. 1399

I take my leave at once. 1400

(Ross exits.)

LADY MACDUFF

Sirrah, your father’s dead. 1401

And what will you do now? How will you live? 1402

SON

As birds do, mother. 1403

LADY MACDUFF

What, with worms and flies?

SON

With what I get, I mean; and so do they. 1404

LADY MACDUFF

Poor bird, thou ’dst never fear the net nor lime, 1405

The pitfall nor the gin. 1406

SON

Why should I, mother? Poor birds they are not set for. 1407

My father is not dead, for all your saying. 1408

LADY MACDUFF

Yes, he is dead. How wilt thou do for a father? 1409

SON

Nay, how will you do for a husband? 1410

LADY MACDUFF

Why, I can buy me twenty at any market. 1411

SON

Then you’ll buy ’em to sell again. 1412

LADY MACDUFF

Thou speak’st with all thy wit, 1413

And yet, i’ faith, with wit enough for thee. 1414

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 enough 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’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, 1415

Though in your state of honor I am perfect. 1416

I doubt some danger does approach you nearly. 1417

If you will take a homely man’s advice, 1418

Be not found here. Hence with your little ones! 1419

To fright you thus methinks I am too savage; 1420

To do worse to you were fell cruelty, 1421

Which is too nigh your person. Heaven preserve you! 1422

I dare abide no longer. 1423

(Messenger exits.)

LADY MACDUFF

Whither should I fly?

I have done no harm. But I remember now 1424

I am in this earthly world, where to do harm 1425

Is often laudable, to do good sometime 1426

Accounted dangerous folly. Why then, alas, 1427

Do I put up that womanly defense 1428

To say I have done no harm? 1429

(Enter Murderers.)

What are these faces?

MURDERER

Where is your husband? 1430

LADY MACDUFF

I hope in no place so unsanctified 1431

Where such as thou mayst find him. 1432

MURDERER

He’s a traitor.

SON

Thou liest, thou shag-eared villain! 1433

MURDERER

What, you egg?

⸢Stabbing him.⸣ Young fry of treachery! 1434

SON

He has killed me, mother.

Run away, I pray you. 1435

(⸢Lady Macduff⸣ exits, crying “Murder!” ⸢followed by the Murderers bearing the Son’s body.⸣)

Scene 3

(Enter Malcolm and Macduff.)

MALCOLM

Let us seek out some desolate shade and there 1436

Weep our sad bosoms empty. 1437

MACDUFF

Let us rather

Hold fast the mortal sword and, like good men, 1438

Bestride our ⸢downfall’n⸣ birthdom. Each new morn 1439

New widows howl, new orphans cry, new sorrows 1440

Strike heaven on the face, that it resounds 1441

As if it felt with Scotland, and yelled out 1442

Like syllable of dolor. 1443

MALCOLM

What I believe, I’ll wail; 1444

What know, believe; and what I can redress, 1445

As I shall find the time to friend, I will. 1446

What you have spoke, it may be so, perchance. 1447

This tyrant, whose sole name blisters our tongues, 1448

Was once thought honest. You have loved him well. 1449

He hath not touched you yet. I am young, but something 1450

You may ⸢deserve⸣ of him through me, and wisdom 1451

To offer up a weak, poor, innocent lamb 1452

T’ appease an angry god. 1453

MACDUFF

I am not treacherous. 1454

MALCOLM

But Macbeth is.

A good and virtuous nature may recoil 1455

In an imperial charge. But I shall crave your pardon. 1456

That which you are, my thoughts cannot transpose. 1457

Angels are bright still, though the brightest fell. 1458

Though all things foul would wear the brows of grace, 1459

Yet grace must still look so. 1460

MACDUFF

I have lost my hopes.

MALCOLM

Perchance even there where I did find my doubts. 1461

Why in that rawness left you wife and child, 1462

Those precious motives, those strong knots of love, 1463

Without leave-taking? I pray you, 1464

Let not my jealousies be your dishonors, 1465

But mine own safeties. You may be rightly just, 1466

Whatever I shall think. 1467

MACDUFF

Bleed, bleed, poor country!

Great tyranny, lay thou thy basis sure, 1468

For goodness dare not check thee. Wear thou thy wrongs; 1469

The title is affeered. —Fare thee well, lord. 1470

I would not be the villain that thou think’st 1471

For the whole space that’s in the tyrant’s grasp, 1472

And the rich East to boot. 1473

MALCOLM

Be not offended.

I speak not as in absolute fear of you. 1474

I think our country sinks beneath the yoke. 1475

It weeps, it bleeds, and each new day a gash 1476

Is added to her wounds. I think withal 1477

There would be hands uplifted in my right; 1478

And here from gracious England have I offer 1479

Of goodly thousands. But, for all this, 1480

When I shall tread upon the tyrant’s head 1481

Or wear it on my sword, yet my poor country 1482

Shall have more vices than it had before, 1483

More suffer, and more sundry ways than ever, 1484

By him that shall succeed. 1485

MACDUFF

What should he be?

MALCOLM

It is myself I mean, in whom I know 1486

All the particulars of vice so grafted 1487

That, when they shall be opened, black Macbeth 1488

Will seem as pure as snow, and the poor state 1489

Esteem him as a lamb, being compared 1490

With my confineless harms. 1491

MACDUFF

Not in the legions

Of horrid hell can come a devil more damned 1492

In evils to top Macbeth. 1493

MALCOLM

I grant him bloody,

Luxurious, avaricious, false, deceitful, 1494

Sudden, malicious, smacking of every sin 1495

That has a name. But there’s no bottom, none, 1496

In my voluptuousness. Your wives, your daughters, 1497

Your matrons, and your maids could not fill up 1498

The cistern of my lust, and my desire 1499

All continent impediments would o’erbear 1500

That did oppose my will. Better Macbeth 1501

Than such an one to reign. 1502

MACDUFF

Boundless intemperance

In nature is a tyranny. It hath been 1503

Th’ untimely emptying of the happy throne 1504

And fall of many kings. But fear not yet 1505

To take upon you what is yours. You may 1506

Convey your pleasures in a spacious plenty 1507

And yet seem cold —the time you may so hoodwink. 1508

We have willing dames enough. There cannot be 1509

That vulture in you to devour so many 1510

As will to greatness dedicate themselves, 1511

Finding it so inclined. 1512

MALCOLM

With this there grows

In my most ill-composed affection such 1513

A stanchless avarice that, were I king, 1514

I should cut off the nobles for their lands, 1515

Desire his jewels, and this other’s house; 1516

And my more-having would be as a sauce 1517

To make me hunger more, that I should forge 1518

Quarrels unjust against the good and loyal, 1519

Destroying them for wealth. 1520

MACDUFF

This avarice

Sticks deeper, grows with more pernicious root 1521

Than summer-seeming lust, and it hath been 1522

The sword of our slain kings. Yet do not fear. 1523

Scotland hath foisons to fill up your will 1524

Of your mere own. All these are portable, 1525

With other graces weighed. 1526

MALCOLM

But I have none. The king-becoming graces, 1527

As justice, verity, temp’rance, stableness, 1528

Bounty, perseverance, mercy, lowliness, 1529

Devotion, patience, courage, fortitude, 1530

I have no relish of them but abound 1531

In the division of each several crime, 1532

Acting it many ways. Nay, had I power, I should 1533

Pour the sweet milk of concord into hell, 1534

Uproar the universal peace, confound 1535

All unity on earth. 1536

MACDUFF

O Scotland, Scotland!

MALCOLM

If such a one be fit to govern, speak. 1537

I am as I have spoken. 1538

MACDUFF

Fit to govern?

No, not to live. —O nation miserable, 1539

With an untitled tyrant bloody-sceptered, 1540

When shalt thou see thy wholesome days again, 1541

Since that the truest issue of thy throne 1542

By his own interdiction stands ⸢accursed⸣ 1543

And does blaspheme his breed? —Thy royal father 1544

Was a most sainted king. The queen that bore thee, 1545

Oft’ner upon her knees than on her feet, 1546

Died every day she lived. Fare thee well. 1547

These evils thou repeat’st upon thyself 1548

Hath banished me from Scotland. —O my breast, 1549

Thy hope ends here! 1550

MALCOLM

Macduff, this noble passion,

Child of integrity, hath from my soul 1551

Wiped the black scruples, reconciled my thoughts 1552

To thy good truth and honor. Devilish Macbeth 1553

By many of these trains hath sought to win me 1554

Into his power, and modest wisdom plucks me 1555

From overcredulous haste. But God above 1556

Deal between thee and me, for even now 1557

I put myself to thy direction and 1558

Unspeak mine own detraction, here abjure 1559

The taints and blames I laid upon myself 1560

For strangers to my nature. I am yet 1561

Unknown to woman, never was forsworn, 1562

Scarcely have coveted what was mine own, 1563

At no time broke my faith, would not betray 1564

The devil to his fellow, and delight 1565

No less in truth than life. My first false speaking 1566

Was this upon myself. What I am truly 1567

Is thine and my poor country’s to command — 1568

Whither indeed, before ⸢thy here-approach,⸣ 1569

Old Siward with ten thousand warlike men, 1570

Already at a point, was setting forth. 1571

Now we’ll together, and the chance of goodness 1572

Be like our warranted quarrel. Why are you silent? 1573

MACDUFF

Such welcome and unwelcome things at once 1574

’Tis hard to reconcile. 1575

(Enter a Doctor.)

MALCOLM

Well, more anon. —Comes the King forth, 1576

I pray you? 1577

DOCTOR

Ay, sir. There are a crew of wretched souls 1578

That stay his cure. Their malady convinces 1579

The great assay of art, but at his touch 1580

(Such sanctity hath heaven given his hand) 1581

They presently amend. 1582

MALCOLM

I thank you, doctor.

(⸢Doctor⸣ exits.)

MACDUFF

What’s the disease he means? 1583

MALCOLM

’Tis called the evil:

A most miraculous work in this good king, 1584

Which often since my here-remain in England 1585

I have seen him do. How he solicits heaven 1586

Himself best knows, but strangely visited people 1587

All swoll’n and ulcerous, pitiful to the eye, 1588

The mere despair of surgery, he cures, 1589

Hanging a golden stamp about their necks, 1590

Put on with holy prayers; and, ’tis spoken, 1591

To the succeeding royalty he leaves 1592

The healing benediction. With this strange virtue, 1593

He hath a heavenly gift of prophecy, 1594

And sundry blessings hang about his throne 1595

That speak him full of grace. 1596

(Enter Ross.)

MACDUFF

See who comes here.

MALCOLM

My countryman, but yet I know him ⸢not.⸣ 1597

MACDUFF

My ever-gentle cousin, welcome hither. 1598

MALCOLM

I know him now. —Good God betimes remove 1599

The means that makes us strangers! 1600

ROSS

Sir, amen.

MACDUFF

Stands Scotland where it did? 1601

ROSS

Alas, poor country,

Almost afraid to know itself. It cannot 1602

Be called our mother, but our grave, where nothing 1603

But who knows nothing is once seen to smile; 1604

Where sighs and groans and shrieks that rent the air 1605

Are made, not marked; where violent sorrow seems 1606

A modern ecstasy. The dead man’s knell 1607

Is there scarce asked for who, and good men’s lives 1608

Expire before the flowers in their caps, 1609

Dying or ere they sicken. 1610

MACDUFF

O relation too nice and yet too true! 1611

MALCOLM

What’s the newest grief? 1612

ROSS

That of an hour’s age doth hiss the speaker. 1613

Each minute teems a new one. 1614

MACDUFF

How does my wife?

ROSS

Why, well. 1615

MACDUFF

And all my children? 1616

ROSS

Well too. 1617

MACDUFF

The tyrant has not battered at their peace? 1618

ROSS

No, they were well at peace when I did leave ’em. 1619

MACDUFF

Be not a niggard of your speech. How goes ’t? 1620

ROSS

When I came hither to transport the tidings 1621

Which I have heavily borne, there ran a rumor 1622

Of many worthy fellows that were out; 1623

Which was to my belief witnessed the rather 1624

For that I saw the tyrant’s power afoot. 1625

Now is the time of help. Your eye in Scotland 1626

Would create soldiers, make our women fight 1627

To doff their dire distresses. 1628

MALCOLM

Be ’t their comfort

We are coming thither. Gracious England hath 1629

Lent us good Siward and ten thousand men; 1630

An older and a better soldier none 1631

That Christendom gives out. 1632

ROSS

Would I could answer

This comfort with the like. But I have words 1633

That would be howled out in the desert air, 1634

Where hearing should not latch them. 1635

MACDUFF

What concern they —

The general cause, or is it a fee-grief 1636

Due to some single breast? 1637

ROSS

No mind that’s honest

But in it shares some woe, though the main part 1638

Pertains to you alone. 1639

MACDUFF

If it be mine,

Keep it not from me. Quickly let me have it. 1640

ROSS

Let not your ears despise my tongue forever, 1641

Which shall possess them with the heaviest sound 1642

That ever yet they heard. 1643

MACDUFF

Hum! I guess at it.

ROSS

Your castle is surprised, your wife and babes 1644

Savagely slaughtered. To relate the manner 1645

Were on the quarry of these murdered deer 1646

To add the death of you. 1647

MALCOLM

Merciful heaven!—

What, man, ne’er pull your hat upon your brows. 1648

Give sorrow words. The grief that does not speak 1649

Whispers the o’erfraught heart and bids it break. 1650

MACDUFF

My children too? 1651

ROSS

Wife, children, servants, all that could be found. 1652

MACDUFF

And I must be from thence? My wife killed too? 1653

ROSS

I have said. 1654

MALCOLM

Be comforted. 1655

Let’s make us med’cines of our great revenge 1656

To cure this deadly grief. 1657

MACDUFF

He has no children. All my pretty ones? 1658

Did you say “all”? O hell-kite! All? 1659

What, all my pretty chickens and their dam 1660

At one fell swoop? 1661

MALCOLM

Dispute it like a man. 1662

MACDUFF

I shall do so, 1663

But I must also feel it as a man. 1664

I cannot but remember such things were 1665

That were most precious to me. Did heaven look on 1666

And would not take their part? Sinful Macduff, 1667

They were all struck for thee! Naught that I am, 1668

Not for their own demerits, but for mine, 1669

Fell slaughter on their souls. Heaven rest them now. 1670

MALCOLM

Be this the whetstone of your sword. Let grief 1671

Convert to anger. Blunt not the heart; enrage it. 1672

MACDUFF

O, I could play the woman with mine eyes 1673

And braggart with my tongue! But, gentle heavens, 1674

Cut short all intermission! Front to front 1675

Bring thou this fiend of Scotland and myself. 1676

Within my sword’s length set him. If he ’scape, 1677

Heaven forgive him too. 1678

MALCOLM

This ⸢tune⸣ goes manly.

Come, go we to the King. Our power is ready; 1679

Our lack is nothing but our leave. Macbeth 1680

Is ripe for shaking, and the powers above 1681

Put on their instruments. Receive what cheer you may. 1682

The night is long that never finds the day. 1683

(They exit.)

Act V

Scene 1

(Enter a Doctor of Physic and a Waiting-Gentlewoman.)

DOCTOR

I have two nights watched with you but can

perceive no truth in your report. When was it she

last walked?

GENTLEWOMAN

Since his Majesty went into the field, I

have seen her rise from her bed, throw her nightgown

upon her, unlock her closet, take forth paper,

fold it, write upon ’t, read it, afterwards seal it, and

again return to bed; yet all this while in a most fast

sleep.

DOCTOR

A great perturbation in nature, to receive at

once the benefit of sleep and do the effects of

watching. In this slumb’ry agitation, besides her

walking and other actual performances, what at any

time have you heard her say?

GENTLEWOMAN

That, sir, which I will not report after

her.

DOCTOR

You may to me, and ’tis most meet you

should.

GENTLEWOMAN

Neither to you nor anyone, having no

witness to confirm my speech.

(Enter Lady ⸢Macbeth⸣ with a taper.)

Lo you, here she comes. This is her very guise and,

upon my life, fast asleep. Observe her; stand close.

DOCTOR

How came she by that light?

GENTLEWOMAN

Why, it stood by her. She has light by

her continually. ’Tis her command.

DOCTOR

You see her eyes are open.

GENTLEWOMAN

Ay, but their sense are shut.

DOCTOR

What is it she does now? Look how she rubs

her hands.

GENTLEWOMAN

It is an accustomed action with her to

seem thus washing her hands. I have known her

continue in this a quarter of an hour.

LADY MACBETH

Yet here’s a spot.

DOCTOR

Hark, she speaks. I will set down what comes

from her, to satisfy my remembrance the more

strongly.

LADY MACBETH

Out, damned spot, out, I say! One. Two.

Why then, ’tis time to do ’t. Hell is murky. Fie, my

lord, fie, a soldier and afeard? What need we fear

who knows it, when none can call our power to

account? Yet who would have thought the old man

to have had so much blood in him?

DOCTOR

Do you mark that?

LADY MACBETH

The Thane of Fife had a wife. Where is

she now? What, will these hands ne’er be clean? No

more o’ that, my lord, no more o’ that. You mar all

with this starting.

DOCTOR

Go to, go to. You have known what you should

not.

GENTLEWOMAN

She has spoke what she should not,

I am sure of that. Heaven knows what she has known.

LADY MACBETH

Here’s the smell of the blood still. All

the perfumes of Arabia will not sweeten this little

hand. O, O, O!

DOCTOR

What a sigh is there! The heart is sorely

charged.

GENTLEWOMAN

I would not have such a heart in my

bosom for the dignity of the whole body.

DOCTOR

Well, well, well.

GENTLEWOMAN

Pray God it be, sir.

DOCTOR

This disease is beyond my practice. Yet I have

known those which have walked in their sleep,

who have died holily in their beds.

LADY MACBETH

Wash your hands. Put on your nightgown.

Look not so pale. I tell you yet again, Banquo’s

buried; he cannot come out on ’s grave.

DOCTOR

Even so?

LADY MACBETH

To bed, to bed. There’s knocking at the

gate. Come, come, come, come. Give me your

hand. What’s done cannot be undone. To bed, to

bed, to bed.

(Lady ⸢Macbeth⸣ exits.)

DOCTOR

Will she go now to bed?

GENTLEWOMAN

Directly.

DOCTOR

Foul whisp’rings are abroad. Unnatural deeds 1684

Do breed unnatural troubles. Infected minds 1685

To their deaf pillows will discharge their secrets. 1686

More needs she the divine than the physician. 1687

God, God forgive us all. Look after her. 1688

Remove from her the means of all annoyance 1689

And still keep eyes upon her. So, good night. 1690

My mind she has mated, and amazed my sight. 1691

I think but dare not speak. 1692

GENTLEWOMAN

Good night, good doctor.

(They exit.)

Scene 2

(Drum and Colors. Enter Menteith, Caithness, Angus, Lennox, ⸢and⸣ Soldiers.)

MENTEITH

The English power is near, led on by Malcolm, 1693

His uncle Siward, and the good Macduff. 1694

Revenges burn in them, for their dear causes 1695

Would to the bleeding and the grim alarm 1696

Excite the mortified man. 1697

ANGUS

Near Birnam Wood

Shall we well meet them. That way are they coming. 1698

CAITHNESS

Who knows if Donalbain be with his brother? 1699

LENNOX

For certain, sir, he is not. I have a file 1700

Of all the gentry. There is Siward’s son 1701

And many unrough youths that even now 1702

Protest their first of manhood. 1703

MENTEITH

What does the tyrant?

CAITHNESS

Great Dunsinane he strongly fortifies. 1704

Some say he’s mad; others that lesser hate him 1705

Do call it valiant fury. But for certain 1706

He cannot buckle his distempered cause 1707

Within the belt of rule. 1708

ANGUS

Now does he feel

His secret murders sticking on his hands. 1709

Now minutely revolts upbraid his faith-breach. 1710

Those he commands move only in command, 1711

Nothing in love. Now does he feel his title 1712

Hang loose about him, like a giant’s robe 1713

Upon a dwarfish thief. 1714

MENTEITH

Who, then, shall blame

His pestered senses to recoil and start 1715

When all that is within him does condemn 1716

Itself for being there? 1717

CAITHNESS

Well, march we on

To give obedience where ’tis truly owed. 1718

Meet we the med’cine of the sickly weal, 1719

And with him pour we in our country’s purge 1720

Each drop of us. 1721

LENNOX

Or so much as it needs

To dew the sovereign flower and drown the weeds. 1722

Make we our march towards Birnam. 1723

(They exit marching.)

Scene 3

(Enter Macbeth, ⸢the⸣ Doctor, and Attendants.)

MACBETH

Bring me no more reports. Let them fly all. 1724

Till Birnam Wood remove to Dunsinane 1725

I cannot taint with fear. What’s the boy Malcolm? 1726

Was he not born of woman? The spirits that know 1727

All mortal consequences have pronounced me thus: 1728

“Fear not, Macbeth. No man that’s born of woman 1729

Shall e’er have power upon thee.” Then fly, false thanes, 1730

And mingle with the English epicures. 1731

The mind I sway by and the heart I bear 1732

Shall never sag with doubt nor shake with fear. 1733

(Enter Servant.)

The devil damn thee black, thou cream-faced loon! 1734

Where got’st thou that goose-look? 1735

SERVANT

There is ten thousand — 1736

MACBETH

Geese, villain? 1737

SERVANT

Soldiers, sir. 1738

MACBETH

Go prick thy face and over-red thy fear, 1739

Thou lily-livered boy. What soldiers, patch? 1740

Death of thy soul! Those linen cheeks of thine 1741

Are counselors to fear. What soldiers, whey-face? 1742

SERVANT

The English force, so please you. 1743

MACBETH

Take thy face hence. 1744

(⸢Servant exits.⸣)

Seyton! —I am sick at heart

When I behold —Seyton, I say! —This push 1745

Will cheer me ever or ⸢disseat⸣ me now. 1746

I have lived long enough. My way of life 1747

Is fall’n into the sere, the yellow leaf, 1748

And that which should accompany old age, 1749

As honor, love, obedience, troops of friends, 1750

I must not look to have, but in their stead 1751

Curses, not loud but deep, mouth-honor, breath 1752

Which the poor heart would fain deny and dare not. — 1753

Seyton! 1754

(Enter Seyton.)

SEYTON

What’s your gracious pleasure? 1755

MACBETH

What news more?

SEYTON

All is confirmed, my lord, which was reported. 1756

MACBETH

I’ll fight till from my bones my flesh be hacked. 1757

Give me my armor. 1758

SEYTON

’Tis not needed yet. 1759

MACBETH

I’ll put it on. 1760

Send out more horses. Skirr the country round. 1761

Hang those that talk of fear. Give me mine armor. — 1762

How does your patient, doctor? 1763

DOCTOR

Not so sick, my lord, 1764

As she is troubled with thick-coming fancies 1765

That keep her from her rest. 1766

MACBETH

Cure ⸢her⸣ of that.

Canst thou not minister to a mind diseased, 1767

Pluck from the memory a rooted sorrow, 1768

Raze out the written troubles of the brain, 1769

And with some sweet oblivious antidote 1770

Cleanse the stuffed bosom of that perilous stuff 1771

Which weighs upon the heart? 1772

DOCTOR

Therein the patient

Must minister to himself. 1773

MACBETH

Throw physic to the dogs. I’ll none of it. — 1774

Come, put mine armor on. Give me my staff. 1775

(⸢Attendants begin to arm him.⸣)

Seyton, send out. —Doctor, the thanes fly from me. — 1776

Come, sir, dispatch. —If thou couldst, doctor, cast 1777

The water of my land, find her disease, 1778

And purge it to a sound and pristine health, 1779

I would applaud thee to the very echo 1780

That should applaud again —Pull ’t off, I say. — 1781

What rhubarb, senna, or what purgative drug 1782

Would scour these English hence? Hear’st thou of them? 1783

DOCTOR

Ay, my good lord. Your royal preparation 1784

Makes us hear something. 1785

MACBETH

Bring it after me. —

I will not be afraid of death and bane 1786

Till Birnam Forest come to Dunsinane. 1787

DOCTOR,

Were I from Dunsinane away and clear, 1788

Profit again should hardly draw me here. 1789

(They exit.)

Scene 4

(Drum and Colors. Enter Malcolm, Siward, Macduff, Siward’s son, Menteith, Caithness, Angus, and Soldiers, marching.)

MALCOLM

Cousins, I hope the days are near at hand 1790

That chambers will be safe. 1791

MENTEITH

We doubt it nothing.

SIWARD

What wood is this before us? 1792

MENTEITH

The Wood of Birnam.

MALCOLM

Let every soldier hew him down a bough 1793

And bear ’t before him. Thereby shall we shadow 1794

The numbers of our host and make discovery 1795

Err in report of us. 1796

SOLDIER

It shall be done.

SIWARD

We learn no other but the confident tyrant 1797

Keeps still in Dunsinane and will endure 1798

Our setting down before ’t. 1799

MALCOLM

’Tis his main hope;

For, where there is advantage to be given, 1800

Both more and less have given him the revolt, 1801

And none serve with him but constrainèd things 1802

Whose hearts are absent too. 1803

MACDUFF

Let our just censures

Attend the true event, and put we on 1804

Industrious soldiership. 1805

SIWARD

The time approaches

That will with due decision make us know 1806

What we shall say we have and what we owe. 1807

Thoughts speculative their unsure hopes relate, 1808

But certain issue strokes must arbitrate; 1809

Towards which, advance the war. 1810

(They exit marching.)

Scene 5

(Enter Macbeth, Seyton, and Soldiers, with Drum and Colors.)

MACBETH

Hang out our banners on the outward walls. 1811

The cry is still “They come!” Our castle’s strength 1812

Will laugh a siege to scorn. Here let them lie 1813

Till famine and the ague eat them up. 1814

Were they not forced with those that should be ours, 1815

We might have met them dareful, beard to beard, 1816

And beat them backward home. 1817

(A cry within of women.)

What is that noise?

SEYTON

It is the cry of women, my good lord. 1818

(⸢He exits.⸣)

MACBETH

I have almost forgot the taste of fears. 1819

The time has been my senses would have cooled 1820

To hear a night-shriek, and my fell of hair 1821

Would at a dismal treatise rouse and stir 1822

As life were in ’t. I have supped full with horrors. 1823

Direness, familiar to my slaughterous thoughts, 1824

Cannot once start me. 1825

(⸢Enter Seyton.⸣)

Wherefore was that cry?

SEYTON

The Queen, my lord, is dead. 1826

MACBETH

She should have died hereafter. 1827

There would have been a time for such a word. 1828

Tomorrow and tomorrow and tomorrow 1829

Creeps in this petty pace from day to day 1830

To the last syllable of recorded time, 1831

And all our yesterdays have lighted fools 1832

The way to dusty death. Out, out, brief candle! 1833

Life’s but a walking shadow, a poor player 1834

That struts and frets his hour upon the stage 1835

And then is heard no more. It is a tale 1836

Told by an idiot, full of sound and fury, 1837

Signifying nothing. 1838

(Enter a Messenger.)

Thou com’st to use thy tongue: thy story quickly. 1839

MESSENGER

Gracious my lord, 1840

I should report that which I say I saw, 1841

But know not how to do ’t. 1842

MACBETH

Well, say, sir.

MESSENGER

As I did stand my watch upon the hill, 1843

I looked toward Birnam, and anon methought 1844

The Wood began to move. 1845

MACBETH

Liar and slave!

MESSENGER

Let me endure your wrath if ’t be not so. 1846

Within this three mile may you see it coming. 1847

I say, a moving grove. 1848

MACBETH

If thou speak’st false,

Upon the next tree shall thou hang alive 1849

Till famine cling thee. If thy speech be sooth, 1850

I care not if thou dost for me as much. — 1851

I pull in resolution and begin 1852

To doubt th’ equivocation of the fiend, 1853

That lies like truth. “Fear not till Birnam Wood 1854

Do come to Dunsinane,” and now a wood 1855

Comes toward Dunsinane. —Arm, arm, and out! — 1856

If this which he avouches does appear, 1857

There is nor flying hence nor tarrying here. 1858

I ’gin to be aweary of the sun 1859

And wish th’ estate o’ th’ world were now undone. — 1860

Ring the alarum bell. —Blow wind, come wrack, 1861

At least we’ll die with harness on our back. 1862

(They exit.)

Scene 6

(Drum and Colors. Enter Malcolm, Siward, Macduff, and their army, with boughs.)

MALCOLM

Now near enough. Your leafy screens throw down 1863

And show like those you are. —You, worthy uncle, 1864

Shall with my cousin, your right noble son, 1865

Lead our first battle. Worthy Macduff and we 1866

Shall take upon ’s what else remains to do, 1867

According to our order. 1868

SIWARD

Fare you well.

Do we but find the tyrant’s power tonight, 1869

Let us be beaten if we cannot fight. 1870

MACDUFF

Make all our trumpets speak; give them all breath, 1871

Those clamorous harbingers of blood and death. 1872

(They exit.)

(Alarums continued.)

Scene 7

(Enter Macbeth.)

MACBETH

They have tied me to a stake. I cannot fly, 1873

But, bear-like, I must fight the course. What’s he 1874

That was not born of woman? Such a one 1875

Am I to fear, or none. 1876

(Enter young Siward.)

YOUNG SIWARD

What is thy name? 1877

MACBETH

Thou ’lt be afraid to hear it. 1878

YOUNG SIWARD

No, though thou call’st thyself a hotter name 1879

Than any is in hell. 1880

MACBETH

My name’s Macbeth.

YOUNG SIWARD

The devil himself could not pronounce a title 1881

More hateful to mine ear. 1882

MACBETH

No, nor more fearful.

YOUNG SIWARD

Thou liest, abhorrèd tyrant. With my sword 1883

I’ll prove the lie thou speak’st. 1884

(⸢They fight,⸣ and young Siward ⸢is⸣ slain.)

MACBETH

Thou wast born of woman.

But swords I smile at, weapons laugh to scorn, 1885

Brandished by man that’s of a woman born. 1886

(He exits.)

(Alarums.)

(Enter Macduff.)

MACDUFF

That way the noise is. Tyrant, show thy face! 1887

If thou beest slain, and with no stroke of mine, 1888

My wife and children’s ghosts will haunt me still. 1889

I cannot strike at wretched kerns, whose arms 1890

Are hired to bear their staves. Either thou, Macbeth, 1891

Or else my sword with an unbattered edge 1892

I sheathe again undeeded. There thou shouldst be; 1893

By this great clatter, one of greatest note 1894

Seems bruited. Let me find him, Fortune, 1895

And more I beg not. 1896

(He exits.)

(Alarums.)

(Enter Malcolm and Siward.)

SIWARD

This way, my lord. The castle’s gently rendered. 1897

The tyrant’s people on both sides do fight, 1898

The noble thanes do bravely in the war, 1899

The day almost itself professes yours, 1900

And little is to do. 1901

MALCOLM

We have met with foes

That strike beside us. 1902

SIWARD

Enter, sir, the castle.

(They exit.)

(Alarum.)

⸢Scene 8⸣

(Enter Macbeth.)

MACBETH

Why should I play the Roman fool and die 1903

On mine own sword? Whiles I see lives, the gashes 1904

Do better upon them. 1905

(Enter Macduff.)

MACDUFF

Turn, hellhound, turn!

MACBETH

Of all men else I have avoided thee. 1906

But get thee back. My soul is too much charged 1907

With blood of thine already. 1908

MACDUFF

I have no words;

My voice is in my sword, thou bloodier villain 1909

Than terms can give thee out. 1910

(Fight. Alarum.)

MACBETH

Thou losest labor.

As easy mayst thou the intrenchant air 1911

With thy keen sword impress as make me bleed. 1912

Let fall thy blade on vulnerable crests; 1913

I bear a charmèd life, which must not yield 1914

To one of woman born. 1915

MACDUFF

Despair thy charm,

And let the angel whom thou still hast served 1916

Tell thee Macduff was from his mother’s womb 1917

Untimely ripped. 1918

MACBETH

Accursèd be that tongue that tells me so, 1919

For it hath cowed my better part of man! 1920

And be these juggling fiends no more believed 1921

That palter with us in a double sense, 1922

That keep the word of promise to our ear 1923

And break it to our hope. I’ll not fight with thee. 1924

MACDUFF

Then yield thee, coward, 1925

And live to be the show and gaze o’ th’ time. 1926

We’ll have thee, as our rarer monsters are, 1927

Painted upon a pole, and underwrit 1928

“Here may you see the tyrant.” 1929

MACBETH

I will not yield

To kiss the ground before young Malcolm’s feet 1930

And to be baited with the rabble’s curse. 1931

Though Birnam Wood be come to Dunsinane 1932

And thou opposed, being of no woman born, 1933

Yet I will try the last. Before my body 1934

I throw my warlike shield. Lay on, Macduff, 1935

And damned be him that first cries “Hold! Enough!” 1936

(They exit fighting.)

(Alarums.)

(⸢They⸣ enter fighting, and Macbeth ⸢is⸣ slain.)

(⸢Macduff exits carrying off Macbeth’s body.⸣)

(Retreat and flourish.)

(Enter, with Drum and Colors, Malcolm, Siward, Ross, Thanes, and Soldiers.)

MALCOLM

I would the friends we miss were safe arrived. 1937

SIWARD

Some must go off; and yet by these I see 1938

So great a day as this is cheaply bought. 1939

MALCOLM

Macduff is missing, and your noble son. 1940

ROSS

Your son, my lord, has paid a soldier’s debt. 1941

He only lived but till he was a man, 1942

The which no sooner had his prowess confirmed 1943

In the unshrinking station where he fought, 1944

But like a man he died. 1945

SIWARD

Then he is dead?

ROSS

Ay, and brought off the field. Your cause of sorrow 1946

Must not be measured by his worth, for then 1947

It hath no end. 1948

SIWARD

Had he his hurts before?

ROSS

Ay, on the front. 1949

SIWARD

Why then, God’s soldier be he!

Had I as many sons as I have hairs, 1950

I would not wish them to a fairer death; 1951

And so his knell is knolled. 1952

MALCOLM

He’s worth more sorrow, and that I’ll spend for him. 1953

SIWARD

He’s worth no more. 1954

They say he parted well and paid his score, 1955

And so, God be with him. Here comes newer comfort. 1956

(Enter Macduff with Macbeth’s head.)

MACDUFF

Hail, King! for so thou art. Behold where stands 1957

Th’ usurper’s cursèd head. The time is free. 1958

I see thee compassed with thy kingdom’s pearl, 1959

That speak my salutation in their minds, 1960

Whose voices I desire aloud with mine. 1961

Hail, King of Scotland! 1962

ALL

Hail, King of Scotland! 1963

(Flourish.)

MALCOLM

We shall not spend a large expense of time 1964

Before we reckon with your several loves 1965

And make us even with you. My thanes and kinsmen, 1966

Henceforth be earls, the first that ever Scotland 1967

In such an honor named. What’s more to do, 1968

Which would be planted newly with the time, 1969

As calling home our exiled friends abroad 1970

That fled the snares of watchful tyranny, 1971

Producing forth the cruel ministers 1972

Of this dead butcher and his fiend-like queen 1973

(Who, as ’tis thought, by self and violent hands, 1974

Took off her life) —this, and what needful else 1975

That calls upon us, by the grace of grace, 1976

We will perform in measure, time, and place. 1977

So thanks to all at once and to each one, 1978

Whom we invite to see us crowned at Scone. 1979

(Flourish.)

(All exit.)