You shall offend him, and extend his passion; Feed, and regard him not.-Are you a man? Macb. Ay, and a bold one, that dare look on that Which might appal the devil. Lady M. O proper stuff! This is the very painting of your fear: This is the air-drawn dagger, which, you said, Led you to Duncan. O, these flaws, and starts, (Impostors to true fear,) would well become A woman's story, at a winter's fire, Authorized by her grandam. Shame itself! Why do you make such faces? When all's done, You look but on a stool. Macb. Pr'ythee, see there! behold! look! lo! how say you? Why, what care I? If thou canst nod, speak too. If charnel-houses, and our graves, must send Lady M. Lady M. [Ghost disappears. What! quite unmann'd in folly? Macb. If I stand here, I saw him. Fie, for shame! Macb. Blood hath been shed ere now, i' the olden time, Ere human statute purged the gentle weal; die, And there an end: but now, they rise again, With twenty mortal murders on their crowns, And push us from our stools: this is more strange Than such a murder is. Lady M. My worthy lord, Your noble friends do lack you. I do forget: Do not muse at me, my most worthy friends; Then I'll sit down.-Give me some wine, fill full: Enter Ghost, I drink to the general joy of the whole table, And to our dear friend Banquo, whom we miss; Would he were here! to all, and him, we thirst, And all to all. Lords. Our duties, and the pledge. Macb. Avaunt! and quit my sight! Let the earth hide thee ! Thy bones are marrowless, thy blood is cold; Lady M. Think of this, good peers, But as a thing of custom: 'tis no other; Approach thou like the rugged Russian bear, gone, I am a man again.-Pray you, sit still. Lady M. You have displaced the mirth, broke the good meeting, With most admired disorder. Macb, Can such things be, And overcome us like a summer's cloud, Without our special wonder? You make me strange Even to the disposition that I owe, When now I think you can behold such sights, And keep the natural ruby of your cheeks, When mine are blanch'd with fear. Rosse. What sights, my lord? Lady M. I pray you, speak not; he grows worse and worse; Question enrages him : at once, good night :Stand not upon the order of your going, But go at once. Len. Good night, and better health Attend his majesty! Lady M. A kind good night to all! [Exeunt Lords and Attendants. Mach. It will have blood; they say, blood will have blood; Stones have been known to move, and trees to speak; Augurs, and understood relations, have By magot-pies, and choughs, and rooks, brought forth The secret'st man of blood.-What is the night? Lady M. Almost at odds with morning, which is which. Mach. How say'st thou, that Macduff denies his person, At our great bidding? Lady M. Did you send to him, sir? Macb. I hear it by the way; but I will send : There's not a one of them, but in his house I keep a servant fee'd. I will to-morrow (And betimes I will) unto the weird sisters: More shall they speak; for now I am bent to know, By the worst means, the worst: for mine own good, All causes shall give way; I am in blood Stepp'd in so far, that, should I wade no more, Returning were as tedious as go o'er : Strange things I have in head, that will to hand; Which must be acted, ere they may be scann'd. Lady M. You lack the season of all natures, sleep. Macb. Come, we'll to sleep. My strange and self-abuse Is the initiate fear, that wants hard use : We are yet but young in deed. [Exeunt. SCENE V.- The Heath. Thunder. Enter HECATE, meeting the three Witches. I Witch. Why, how now, Hecate? you look angerly. Hec. Have I not reason, beldams as you are, In riddles, and affairs of death; And, which is worse, all you have done, Spiteful, and wrathful; who, as others do, Meet me i' the morning; thither he Great business must be wrought ere noon : There hangs a vaporous drop, profound; Is mortal's chiefest enemy. SONG. [within,] Come away, come away, &c. Hark, I am call'd; my little spirit, see, [Exeunt. |