ACT I

Sc. IV

The hearing of my wife with your approach:
So humbly take my leave.

DUN.

My worthy Cawdor!
MACB. [aside.] The Prince of Cumberland! that is a step,

On which I must fall down, or else o'erleap,

For in my way it lies. Stars, hide your fires;
Let not light see my black and deep desires :
The eye wink at the hand; yet let that be,
Which the eye fears, when it is done, to see.
DUN. True, worthy Banquo: he is full so valiant;
And in his commendations I am fed;

It is a banquet to me. Let's after him,
Whose care is gone before to bid us welcome:
It is a peerless kinsman.

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[exit.

[Flourish: exeunt.

SCENE V. Inverness. MACBETH's Castle.

Enter LADY MACBETH, reading a letter. LADY M. They met me in the day of success; and I have learn'd by the perfectest report, they have more in them than mortal knowledge. When I burn'd in desire to question them further, they made themselves air, into which they vanish'd. Whiles I stood rapt in the wonder of it, came missives from the King, who all-hail'd me Thane of Cawdor; by which title, before, these Weird Sisters saluted me, and referr'd 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 promis'd thee. Lay it to thy heart, and farewell.

Glamis thou art, and Cawdor, and shalt be

What thou art promis'd. Yet do I fear thy nature;

It is too full o' the milk of human kindness

To catch the nearest way: thou would'st be great;

Art not without ambition, but without

13

The illness should attend it: what thou would'st highly,

That would'st thou holily; would'st not play false,

20

And yet would'st wrongly win: thou 'ldst have, great ACT I

Glamis,

That which cries Thus thou must do, if thou have it ;

And that which rather thou dost fear to do
Than wishest should be undone. Hie thee hither,

That I may pour my spirits in thine ear,
And chastise with the valour of my tongue
All that impedes thee from the golden round
Which Fate and metaphysical aid doth seem
To have thee crown'd withal.

Enter a Messenger.

MESS. The King comes here to-night.

LADY M.

What is your tidings?

Thou 'rt mad to say it:

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Is not thy master with him? who, were 't so,
Would have inform'd for preparation.

MESS. So please you, it is true. Our Thane is coming:

One of my fellows had the speed of him;

Who, almost dead for breath, had scarcely more

Than would make up his message.

LADY M.

He brings great news.

Give him tending;

[Exit Messenger.

The raven himself is hoarse

That croaks the fatal entrance of Duncan

Under my battlements. Come, you Spirits
That tend on mortal thoughts, unsex me here;
And fill me from the crown to the toe top-full
Of direst cruelty! make thick my blood;
Stop up the access and passage to remorse,1
That no compunctious visitings of nature
Shake my fell purpose, nor keep peace between
The effect and it! Come to my woman's breasts,
And take my milk for gall, you murdering Ministers,
Wherever in your sightless substances

You wait on Nature's mischief! Come, thick Night,
And pall thee in the dunnest smoke of Hell,
That my keen knife see not the wound it makes,
Nor Heaven peep through the blanket of the dark,
To cry Hold, hold!

40

50

Sc. V

pity.

ACT I

Sc. V

Enter MACBETH.

Great Glamis! worthy Cawdor!

Greater than both, by the all-hail hereafter!
Thy letters have transported me beyond
This ignorant present, and I feel now

The future in the instant.

Your face, my Thane, is as a book where men
May read strange matters: to beguile the time,
Look like the time; bear welcome in your eye,
Your hand, your tongue: look like the innocent flower,
But be the serpent under 't. He that's coming

This night's great business into my dispatch;
Which shall to all our nights and days to come

Give solely sovereign sway and masterdom.

MACB. We will speak further.

LADY M.

Only look up clear;

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To alter favour1 ever is to fear:

Leave all the rest to me.

[exeunt.

SCENE VI. The Same. Before MACBETH's Castle.

Hautboys and torches. Enter DUNCAN, MALCOLM,
DONALBAIN, BANQUO, LENNOX, MACDUFF, Ross,
ANGUS, and Attendants.

DUN. This castle hath a pleasant seat; the air

Nimbly and sweetly recommends itself

Unto our gentle senses.

BAN.

This guest of Summer,

The temple-haunting martlet, does approve,

By his lov'd mansionry, that the Heaven's breath
Smells wooingly here: no jutty, frieze,

1 i.e. to wear an anxious face.

Buttress, nor coign of vantage, but this bird

Hath made his pendent bed and procreant cradle:
Where they most breed and haunt, I have observ'd
The air is delicate.

DUN.

Enter LADY MACBETH.

See, see, our honour'd hostess !
The love that follows us sometime is our trouble,

Which still we thank as love. Herein I teach you
How you shall bid God 'ild us for your pains
And thank us for your trouble.

LADY M.

All our service

In every point twice done, and then done double,
Were poor and single business, to contend
Against those honours deep and broad wherewith
Your Majesty loads our House: for those of old,
And the late dignities heap'd up to them,
We rest your hermits.1

DUN.

ΤΟ

Where's the Thane of Cawdor?

We cours'd him at the heels, and had a purpose
To be his purveyor:2 but he rides well;

And his great love, sharp as his spur, hath holp him
To his home before us. Fair and noble Hostess,
We are your guest to-night.
LADY M.

Your servants ever

Have their's, themselves, and what is their's, in compt,
To make their audit at your Highness' pleasure,

Still to return your own.

DUN.

hand;

Give me your

Conduct me to mine host: we love him highly,

And shall continue our graces towards him.

By your leave, Hostess.

21

3

30

[exeunt.

ACT I

Sc. VI

SCENE VII. The Same. MACBETH's Castle.

Hautboys and torches. Enter a Sewer, and divers
Servants with dishes and service, and pass over the
Stage. Then enter MACBETH.

MACB. If it were done when 'tis done, then 'twere well
It were done quickly: if the assassination

1 bedesmen, to pray for you.

on account.

i.c. to arrive before him and prepare a welcome.

91

T

ACT I
Sc. VII

Could trammel up the consequence, and catch,
With his surcease, success; that but this blow
Might be the be-all and the end-all here,
But here, upon this bank and shoal of time,
We'ld jump the life to come. But in these cases
We still have judgment here; that we but teach
Bloody instructions, which, being taught, return
To plague the inventor: this even-handed justice
Commends the ingredients of our poison'd chalice
To our own lips. He's here in double trust:
First, as I am his kinsman and his subject,
Strong both against the deed; then, as his host,
Who should against his murderer shut the door,
Not bear the knife myself. Besides, this Duncan
Hath borne his faculties1 so meek, hath been
So clear in his great office, that his virtues
Will plead like Angels, trumpet-tongu'd, against
The deep damnation of his taking-off;

And Pity, like a naked new-born babe
Striding the blast, or Heaven's Cherubin hors'd
Upon the sightless couriers of the air,

Shall blow the horrid deed in every eye,

That tears shall drown the wind. I have no spur
To prick the sides of my intent, but only

Vaulting ambition, which o'erleaps itself,
And falls on the other-

10

20

Enter LADY MACBETH.

How now! what news?

LADY M. He has almost supp'd: why have you left the

chamber?

MACB. Hath he ask'd for me?

LADY M.
Know you not he has?
MACB. We will proceed no further in this business :
He hath honour'd me of late; and I have bought
Golden opinions from all sorts of people,
Which would be worn now in their newest gloss,
Not cast aside so soon.

LADY M.

Was the hope drunk
Wherein you dress'd yourself? hath it slept since?

1 powers.

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