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(As, an't please heaven, he shall not), they should find What 'twere to kill a father; so should Fleance.

But, peace!-for from broad words, and 'cause he

fail'd

His presence at the tyrant's feast, I hear,
Macduff lives in disgrace: sir, can you tell

Where he bestows himself?

Lord. The son of Duncan,

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From whom this tyrant holds the due of birth,
Lives in the English court; and is receiv'd
Of the most pious Edward with such grace,
That the malevolence of fortune nothing
Takes from his high respect: thither Macduff is gone
To pray the holy king, upon his aid
To wake Northumberland, and warlike Siward :
That, by the help of these (with Him above
To ratify the work) we may again
Give to our tables meat, sleep to our nights;
Free from our feasts and banquets bloody knives;
Do faithful homage, and receive free honours,
All which we pine for now and this report
Hath so exasperate the king, that he

Prepares for some attempt of war,

Len. Sent he to Macduff?

Lord. He did and with an absolute, Sir, not I,

The cloudy messenger turns me his back,

And hums; as who should say, You'll rue the time

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490

That clogs me with this answer.

Len. And that well might

Advise him to a caution, to hold what distance

His wisdom can provide. Some holy angel
Fly to the court of England, and unfold

His message ere he come; that a swift blessing

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[Exeunt.

May soon return to this our suffering country,
Under a hand accurs'd!

Lord. I'll send my prayers with him.

ACT IV. SCENE I.

Thunder. Enter the three Witches.

1 Witch.

THRICE the brinded cat hath mew'd.

2 Witch. Thrice; and once the hedge-pig whin'd.
3 Witch. Harper cries:-'tis time, 'tis time.
1 Witch. Round about the cauldron go;

In the poison'd entrails throw.
Toad, that under the cold stone,
Days and nights hast thirty-one,
Swelter'd venom sleeping got,
Boil thou first i' the charmed pot!
All. Double, double toil and trouble;
Fire, burn; and, cauldron, bubble.
1 Witch. Fillet of a fenny snake,
In the cauldron boil and bake:
Eye of newt, and toe of frog,
Wool of bat, and tongue of dog,
Adder's fork, and blind-worm's sting,
Lizard's leg, and howlet's wing,
For a charm of powerful trouble,
Like a hell-broth boil and bubble.

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All.

All. Double, double toil and trouble;
Fire, burn; and, cauldron, bubble.

3 Witch. Scale of dragon, tooth of wolf;
Witches' mummy: maw, and gulf,
Of the ravin'd salt-sea shark;
Root of hemlock, digg'd i' the dark;
Liver of blaspheming Jew :
Gall of goat, and slips of yew,
Sliver'd in the moon's eclipse;
Nose of Turk, and Tartar's lips;
Finger of birth-strangled babe,
Ditch-deliver'd by a drab,
Make the gruel thick and slab :
Add thereto a tyger's chaudron,
For the ingredients of our cauldron.
All. Double, double toil and trouble;
Fire, burn; and, cauldron, bubble.
2 Witch. Cool it with a baboon's blood,
Then the charm is firm and good.

Enter HECATE, and other three Witches.
Hec. Oh, well done! I cominend your pains;
And every one shall share i' the gains.

And now about the cauldron sing,
Like elves and fairies in a ring,
Inchanting all that you put in.

MUSICK and a SONG.
Black spirits and white,
Blue spirits and grey;
Mingle, mingle, mingle,.
You that mingle may.

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2 Witch.

2 Witch. By the pricking of my thumbs,

Something wicked this way comes:
Open, locks, whoever knocks.

Enter MACВЕТН.

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Mac. How now, you secret, black, and midnight

hags?

What is't you do?

All. A deed without a name.

Mac. I conjure you by that which you profess,

(Howe'er you come to know it) answer me: Though you untie the winds, and let them fight Against the churches; though the yesty waves

Confound and swallow navigation up;

Though bladed corn be lodg'd, and trees blown

down;

Though castles topple on their warder's heads;

Though palaces, and pyramids, do slope

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Their heads to their foundations; though the treasure

Of nature's germins tumble all together,

Even 'till destruction sicken, answer me

To what I ask you.

1 Witch. Speak.

2 Witch. Demand.

3 Witch. We'll answer.

1 Witch. Say, if thoud'st rather hear it from our

Or from our masters'?

mouths,

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Mac. Call them, let me see them.

1 Witch. Pour in sow's blood, that hath eaten

Her

Her nine farrow; grease, that's sweaten
From the murderer's gibbet, throw
Into the flame.

All. Come, high, or low;
Thyself, and office, deftly show.

1st Apparition, an armed Head.

[Thunder.

Mac. Tell me, thou unknown pow'r,

1 Witch. He knows thy thought;

Hear his speech, but say thou nought.

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App. Macbeth! Macbeth! Macbeth! beware

Macduff;

Beware the thane of Fife.-Dismiss me: - Enough.

[Descends.

Mac. What-e'er thou art, for thy good caution,

thanks;

Thou hast harp'd my fear aright: -But one word

more

1 Witch. He will not be commanded: here's ano

ther,

More potent than the first.

2d Apparition, a bloody Child.

App. Macbeth! Macbeth! Macbeth!

[Thunder

Mac. Had I three ears, I'd hear thee.

App. Be bloody, bold, and resolute: laugh to scorn

The power of man; for none of woman born

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Shall harım Macbeth.

[Descends.

Mac. Then live, Macduff, what need I fear of thee?

But yet I'll make assurance double sure,

And

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