I Mur. It was, so please your highness.
Macb.
Well then, now
Have you consider'd of my speeches? Know,
That it was he, in the times past, which held
you

So under fortune; which, you thought, had been
Our innocent self: this I made good to you
In our last conference; pass'd in probation with

you,

How you were borne in hand; how cross'd; the instruments;

Who wrought with them; and all things else, that might,

To half a soul, and to a notion crazed,
Say, Thus did Banquo.

I Mur.

You made it known to us.

Macb. I did so; and went further, which is

now

Our point of second meeting. Do you find Your patience so predominant in your nature, That you can let this go? Are you so gospell'd, To pray for this good man, and for his issue, Whose heavy hand hath bow'd you to the grave, And beggar'd yours for ever?

I Mur.

We are men, my liege. Macb. Ay, in the catalogue ye go for men ; As hounds, and greyhounds, mongrels, spaniels,

curs,

Shoughs, water-rugs, and demi-wolves, are cleped

All by the name of dogs: the valued file Distinguishes the swift, the slow, the subtle, The housekeeper, the hunter, every one According to the gift which bounteous nature Hath in him closed; whereby he does receive Particular addition, from the bill

That writes them all alike: and so of men.
Now, if you have a station in the file,
Not in the worst rank of manhood, say it;
And I will put that business in your bosoms
Whose execution takes your enemy off;
Grapples you to the heart and love of us,
Who wear our health but sickly in his life,
Which in his death were perfect.

2 Mur. I am one, my liege, Whom the vile blows and buffets of the world Have so incensed, that I am reckless what

I do, to spite the world.

I Mur.
And I another,
So weary with disasters, tugg'd with fortune,
That I would set my life on any chance,
To mend it, or be rid on't.

Macb.

Both of you

Know, Banquo was your enemy.

2 Mur.

True, my lord. Macb. So is he mine; and in such bloody distance,

That every minute of his being thrusts

Against my near'st of life: and though I could
With bare-faced power sweep him from my sight,
And bid my will avouch it, yet I must not,
For certain friends that are both his and mine,
Whose loves I may not drop, but wail his fall
Whom I myself struck down: and thence it is
That I to your assistance do make love ;
Masking the business from the common eye,
For sundry weighty reasons.

2 Mur.

We shall, my lord,

Perform what you command us.

I Mur.

Though our lives

Mach. Your spirits shine through you. Within

this hour, at most,

I will advise you where to plant yourselves :
Acquaint you with the perfect spy o' the time,
The moment on't; for't must be done to-night,
And something from the palace; always thought
That I require a clearness: and with him,
(To leave no rubs, nor botches, in the work,)
Fleance his son, that keeps him company,
Whose absence is no less material to me
Than is his father's, must embrace the fate
Of that dark hour. Resolve yourselves apart;

I'll come to you anon.

Both Mur.

We are resolved, my lord. Macb. I'll call upon you straight; abide

within.

It is concluded:-Banquo, thy soul's flight,
If it find heaven, must find it out to-night.

Exeunt.

SCENE II.-The same.

Another Room in the

Palace.

Enter LADY MACBETH and a Servant.

Lady M. Is Banquo gone from court?

Serv. Ay, madam, but returns again to-night. Lady M. Say to the king, I would attend his leisure

For a few words.

Serv.

Lady M.

Nought's had, all's spent,

Where our desire is got without content :
'Tis safer to be that which we destroy,
Than, by destruction, dwell in doubtful joy.

Enter MACBETH.

How now, my lord? why do you keep alone,

Of sorriest fancies your companions making? Using those thoughts which should indeed have died

With them they think on? Things without all remedy,

Should be without regard: what's done is done. Macb. We have scotch'd the snake, not kill'd

it;

She'll close, and be herself; whilst our poor malice

Remains in danger of her former tooth.

But let the frame of things disjoint, both the worlds suffer,

Ere we will eat our meal in fear, and sleep
In the affliction of these terrible dreams,

That shake us nightly: better be with the dead, Whom we, to gain our peace, have sent to peace,

Than on the torture of the mind to lie

In restless ecstasy. Duncan is in his grave;
After life's fitful fever he sleeps well;
Treason has done his worst: nor steel, nor poison,
Malice domestic, foreign levy, nothing,
Can touch him further!

Lady M. Come on ;

Gentle my lord, sleek o'er your rugged looks; Be bright and jovial among your guests to-night. Macb. So shall I, love; and so, I pray, be you:

Let your remembrance apply to Banquo; Present him eminence, both with eye and tongue: Unsafe the while, that we

Must lave our honours in these flattering streams;
And make our faces vizards to our hearts,

Disguising what they are.
Lady M.

You must leave this.

Macb. O, full of scorpions is my mind, dear

wife!

Thou know'st that Banquo, and his Fleance, lives. Lady M. But in them Nature's copy's not

eterne.

Macb. There's comfort yet; they are assailable;

Then be thou jocund: ere the bat hath flown His cloister'd flight; ere, to black Hecate's

summons,

The shard-borne beetle, with his drowsy hums,
Hath rung night's yawning peal,

There shall be done a deed of dreadful note.
Lady M. What's to be done?

Macb. Be innocent of the knowledge, dearest chuck,

Till thou applaud the deed. Come, seeling night,
Scarf up the tender eye of pitiful day;

And, with thy bloody and invisible hand,
Cancel, and tear to pieces, that great bond
Which keeps me pale!-Light thickens; and the

crow

Makes wing to the rooky wood;

Good things of day begin to droop and drowse ; Whiles night's black agents to their prey do