To make them kings, the seed of Banquo kings! Rather than so, come, fate, into the list, And champion me to the utterance! Who's there? Re-enter Attendant, with two Murderers. Now to the door, and stay there till we call. [Exit Attendant, Was it not yesterday we spoke together? Well then, now 1 Mur. It was, so please your highness. Macb. 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 in struments; Who wrought with them; and all things else, that might, To half a soul, and a notion craz'd, Say, Thus did Banquo. 1 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 • Challenge me to extremities. 2 Proved. 3 Deluded. 4 Are you so obedient to the precept of the Gospel. 1 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 That writes them all alike: and so of men. Which in his death were perfect. 2 Mur. I am one, my liege, Whom the vile blows and buffets of the world Have so incens'd, that I am reckless & what I do, to spite the world. 1 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. 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-fac'd 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. 1 Mur. Though our lives Mach. Your spirits shine through you. Within I will advise you where to plant yourselves. I'll come to you anon. 2 Mur. We are resolv'd, my lord. Mach. I'll call upon you straight; abide within. • Mortal enmity. 2 Because of. It is concluded:-Banquo, thy soul's flight, [Exeunt. SCENE II. The same. Another Room. Enter Lady MACBETH, and a Servant. Lady M. Is Banquo gone from court? For a few words. Serv. Lady M. Madam, I will. [Exit. 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 MACВЕТН. How now, my lord? why do you keep alone, Mach. 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, 3 Most melancholy. Ere we will eat our meal in fear, and sleep That shake us nightly: Better be with the dead, Lady M. Come on ; Gentle my lord, sleek o'er your rugged looks; Macb. So shall I, love; and so, I pray, be you: 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. Mach. 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." Mach. 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, 4 Agony. i. e. The copy, 5 Do him the highest honours. the lease, by which they hold their lives from nature has its time of termination. 7 The beetle borne in the air by its shards or scaly wings. |