Of the most pious Edward with such grace, Give to our tables meat, sleep to our nights; 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 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 May soon return to this our suffering country Under a hand accurs'd! Lord. I'll send my prayers with him! [Exeunt. ACT IV. SCENE I.—A dark Cave. In the middle, a Caldron boiling. Thunder. Enter the three Witches. 1 Witch. Thrice the brinded cat hath mew'd. In the poison'd entrails throw. Sliver'd in the moon's eclipse; Make the gruel thick and slab; Enter HECATE, and the other three Witches. And now about the caldron sing, 6 [Music and a Song, Black spirits,' &c.b 2 Witch. By the pricking of my thumbs, Something wicked this way comes :Open, locks, whoever knocks. Enter MACBETH. Macb. How now, you secret, black, and midnight hags, What is 't you do? All. A deed without a name. Macb. I conjure you, by that which you profess, (Howe'er you come to know it,) answer me: a Chaudron-entrails. This is the original stage direction. The modern editors have inserted four lines of a song, which they find in Middleton's Witch,' but without any authority for their introduction here, beyond the stage-direction. In the Witch scene of Act III. we have mention of a song "Come away." These words are also in Middleton. If the song of the fourth act should be inserted in the text, why not that of the third act? Though you untie the winds, and let them fight Though bladed corn be lodg'd, and trees blown down; Their heads to their foundations; though the treasure Even till destruction sicken, answer me To what I ask you. 1 Witch. Say, if thou 'dst rather hear it from our mouths, Or from our masters'? Macb. Call them, let me see them. 1 Witch. Pour in sow's blood, that hath eaten From the murderer's gibbet, throw Into the flame. All. Come, high, or low; Thyself, and office, deftly show. Thunder. An Apparition of an armed Head rises. Macb. Tell me, thou unknown power, 1 Witch. He knows thy thought; Hear his speech, but say thou nought. App. Macbeth! Macbeth! Macbeth! beware Mac duff; Beware the thane of Fife.-Dismiss me :-Enough. [Descends. Macb. Whate'er thou art, for thy good caution, thanks; Thou hast harp'd my fear aright:-But one word more: a Germins-the original is germaine. Germins are seeds; germaine, kindred, something closely related to another. 1 Witch. He will not be commanded: Here's an other, More potent than the first. Thunder. An Apparition of a bloody Child rises. Macb. 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 Shall harm Macbeth. [Descends. Macb. Then live, Macduff: What need I fear of thee? But yet I'll make assurance double sure, And take a bond of fate: thou shalt not live; And sleep in spite of thunder.-What is this, Thunder. An Apparition of a Child crowned, with a Tree in his Hand, rises. That rises like the issue of a king; And wears upon his baby brow the round All. Listen, but speak not to 't. [Descends. Macb. Unfix his earth-bound root? sweet bodements! good! Of Birnam rise, and our high-plac'd Macbeth |