SCENE VI.-Forres. A Room in the Palace. Enter LENOX, and another Lord. Len. My former speeches have but hit your thoughts, Which can interpret farther: only, I say, Things have been strangely borne. The gracious Duncan Was pitied of Macbeth,-marry, he was dead :- For Fleance fled. Men must not walk too late; That were the slaves of drink, and thralls of sleep: Was that not nobly done? Ay, and wisely too; For 'twould have anger'd any heart alive To hear the men deny it. So that, I say, He has borne all things well: and I do think, That, had he Duncan's sons under his key, (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, Lord. The son of Duncan, From whom this tyrant holds the due of birth, 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 accursed! Lord. I'll send my prayers with him! [Exeunt. ACT IV. SCENE I.-A dark Cave. In the middle, a Cauldron boiling. Thunder. Enter the three Witches. HRICE the brinded cat hath mew'd. 3 Witch. Harpier cries :-'tis time, 'tis time. I Witch. Round about the cauldron go; In the cauldron boil and bake: Fire, burn; and, cauldron, bubble.. Liver of blaspheming Jew; Enter HECATE, to the other three Witches. Hec. O, well done! I commend your pains; And every one shall share i' the gains, And now about the cauldron sing, Like elves and fairies in a ring, Enchanting all that you put in. SONG. Black spirits and white, 2 Witch. By the pricking of my thumbs, Something wicked this way comes :Open, locks, whoever knocks. Enter MACBEth. Mach. How now, you secret, black, and midnight hags, What is't you do? All. A deed without a name. Mach. 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 lodged, and trees blown down; Though castles topple on their warders' heads; treasure Of nature's germins tumble all together, I Witch. 2 Witch. 3 Witch. Speak. Demand. We'll answer. I Witch. Say, if thou'dst rather hear it from our mouths, Or from our masters'? Macb. Call them, let me see them. I Witch. Pour in sow's blood, that hath eaten 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. Thunder. An Apparition of an armed Head rises. Macb. Tell me, thou unknown power,— I Witch. He knows thy thought; Hear his speech, but say thou nought. App. Macbeth! Macbeth! Macbeth! beware Macduff; Beware the thane of Fife.-Dismiss me : enough. [Descends, |