Best half of our affair.
First Mur. Well, let's away, and say how
much is done.
[Exeunt.

SCENE IV. The same. Hall in the palace.
A banquet prepared. Enter MACBETH, LADY
MACBETH, ROSS, LENNOX, Lords, and At-
tendants.

We'll hear, ourselves, again. [Exit Murderer.
Lady M.
My royal lord,
You do not give the cheer: the feast is sold
That is not often vouch'd, while 'tis a-making,
'Tis given with welcome: to feed were best at

home;
From thence the sauce to meat is ceremony;
Meeting were bare without it.
Sweet remembrancer!
Now, good digestion wait on appetite,
And health on both !

Macb.

Len.

May't please your highness sit. [The Ghost of Banquo enters, and sits in Macbeth's place. Macb. Here had we now our country's honor roof'd, Were the graced person of our Banquo present;

Mach. You know your own degrees; sit Who may I rather challenge for unkindness down: at first

Than pity for mischance!
Ross.

His absence, sir,

40

Lays blame upon his promise. Please't your

highness

To grace us with your royal company.

Macb. The table's full.

Macb. Come, we'll to sleep. My strange and self-abuse Is the initiate fear that wants hard use:

99 We are yet but young in deed,

SCENE V. A Peath.

Thunder. Enter the three Witches
meeting HECATE.

First Witch. Why, how now, Hecate! you look angerly.

For 'twould have anger'd any heart alive
To hear the men deny't. 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

Hec. Have I not reason, beldams as you are,
Saucy and overbold? How did you dare
To trade and traffic with Macbeth
In riddles and affairs of death;
And I, the mistress of your charms,
The close contriver of all harms,
Was never call'd to bear my part,
Or show the glory of our art?
And, which is worse, all you have done
Hath been but for a wayward son,
Spiteful and wrathful, who, as others do,
Loves for his own ends, not for you.
But make amends now get you gone,
And at the pit of Acheron

10

What 'twere to kill a father; so should Fle

ance.

20

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,

From whom this tyrant holds the due of birth
Lives in the English court, and is received
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 30
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

Meet me i' the morning: thither he
Will come to know his destiny:
Your vessels and your spells provide,
Your charms and every thing beside.
I am for the air; this night I'll spend

20

Unto a dismal and a fatal end:

knives,

Great business must be wrought ere noon :
Upon the corner of the moon

There hangs a vaporous drop profound;
I'll catch it ere it come to ground:
And that distill'd by magic sleights

Do faithful homage and receive free honors:
All which we pine for now and this report
Hath so exasperate the king that he

Shall raise such artificial sprites

As by the strength of their illusion
Shall draw him on to his confusion:

He shall spurn fate, scorn death, and bear 30
He hopes 'bove wisdom, grace and fear :
And you all know, security

Is mortals' chiefest enemy.

[Music and a song within: 'Come away,
come away,' &c.

Hark! I am call'd; my little spirit, see,
Sits in a foggy cloud, and stays for me. [Exit.
First Witch. Come, let's make haste; she'll
soon be back again.
[Exeunt.

SCENE VI. Forres. The palace.
Enter LENNOX and another Lord.

Len. My former speeches have but hit your
thoughts,

Which can interpret further: only, I say,
Things have been strangely borne. The gra-

Prepares for some attempt of war.

Lord. He did and with an absolute 'Sir,
not I,'
40

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 cavern.

Thunder.

First Witch.
mew'd.
Sec. Witch.
whined.

Third Witch.
time.

In the middle, a boiling cauldron.

Enter the three Witches.
Thrice the brinded cat hath
Thrice and once the hedge-pig
Harpier cries 'Tis time, 'tis

First Witch. Round about the cauldrongo;
In the poison'd entrails throw.
†Toad, that under cold stone
Days and nights has thirty-one
Swelter'd venom sleeping got,

Was not that nobly done? Ay, and wisely too; | Boil thou first i' the charmed pot,