2 Witch. By the pricking of my thumbs, Something wicked this way comes: Open, locks, whoever knocks.

Enter MACBeth.

Macb. How now, you secret, black, and midnight you do?

What is't
All.

A deed without a name.

[hags?

Macb. 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 lodg'd, and trees blown down; Though castles topple on their warders' heads; Though palaces, and pyramids, do slope

Their heads to their foundations; though the treasure Of nature's germins' tumble all together,

Even till destruction sicken, answer me

To what I ask you.

1 Witch.

2 Witch.

3 Witch.

Speak.

Demand.

We'll answer.

1 Witch. Say, if thou'dst rather hear it from our

Or from our masters'.

Macb.

[mouths,

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 3 show.

Thunder. An Apparition of an armed Head rises.

Macb. Tell me, thou unknown power,

1

frothy or foaming.

2 i. e. seeds which have begun to germinate or sprout.

dextrously, adroitly.

He knows thy thought:

1 Witch. Hear his speech, but say thou nought. App. Macbeth! Macbeth! Macbeth! beware Macduff;

Beware the thane of Fife.-Dismiss me:-Enough.

[Descends.

Macb. What-e'er thou art, for thy good caution,

thanks;

Thou hast harp'd' my fear aright:-But one word

more:

1 Witch. He will not be commanded: Here's anMore potent than the first.

[other, Thunder. An Apparition of a bloody Child rises. App. Macbeth! Macbeth! Macbeth!— Macb. Had I three ears, I'd hear thee. App. Be bloody, bold, And resolute: laugh to scorn the power of man, For none of woman born shall harm Macbeth.

[Descends. Macb. Then live, Macduff; What need I fear of

But yet I'll make assurance double sure,

And take a bond of fate: thou shalt not live;

That I may tell pale-hearted fear, it lies,
And sleep in spite of thunder.-What is this,

[thec?

Thunder. An Apparition of a Child crowned, with a tree in his hand, rises.

That rises like the issue of a king;

And wears upon his baby brow the round'

And top of sovereignty?

All.

Listen, but speak not. App. Be lion-mettled, proud; and take no care Who chafes, who frets, or where conspirers are: Macbeth shall never vanquish'd be, until

To harp, is to touch on a passion as a harper touches a string. 2 The round is that part of the crown that encircles the head. The top is the ornament that rises above it.-JOHNSON.

Great Birnam wood to high Dunsinane hill

Shall come against him.
Macb.

[Descends.

That will never be;

Who can impress1 the forest; bid the tree

Unfix his earth-bound root? sweet bodements! good!
Rebellious head, rise never, till the wood

Of Birnam rise, and our high-plac'd Macbeth
Shall live the lease of nature, pay his breath
To time, and mortal custom.-Yet my heart
Throbs to know one thing; Tell me, (if your art
Can tell so much,) shall Banquo's issue ever
Reign in this kingdom?

All.

Seek to know no more.

Macb. I will be satisfied: deny me this, And an eternal curse fall on you! Let me know:Why sinks that cauldron? and what noise is this? [Hautboys. 1 Witch. Show! 2 Witch. Show! 3 Witch. Show! All. Show his eyes, and grieve his heart; Come like shadows, so depart.

Eight Kings appear, and pass over the stage in order, the last with a glass in his hand; BANQUO following. Macb. Thou art too like the spirit of Banquo; down!

Thy crown does sear mine eye-balls :—And thy air,
Thou other gold-bound brow, is like the first :—
A third is like the former :-Filthy hags!

Why do you show me this?-A fourth? Start, eyes!
What! will the line stretch out to th' crack of doom?
Another yet?-A seventh ?-I'll see no more:-
And yet the eighth appears, who bears a glass,
Which shows me many more; and some I see,
That two-fold balls and treble scepters carry :2

1i. e. command to service like an impressed soldier.

A compliment to James I., who first united the two islands, and the three kingdoms, under one head; whose house too was said to be descended from Banquo.-WARBURton.

Horrible sight!-Ay, now, I see, 'tis true;
For the blood-bolter'd' Banquo smiles upon me,
And points at them for his.-What, is this so?

1 Witch. Ay, sir, all this is so :-But why
Stands Macbeth thus amazedly?—
Come, sisters, cheer we up his sprights,
And show the best of our delights;
I'll charm the air to give a sound,
While you perform your antique2 round:
That this great king may kindly say,
Our duties did his welcome pay.

[Musick. The Witches dance, and vanish. Macb. Where are they? Gone?-Let this perStand aye accursed in the calendar!

Come in, without there!

[nicious hour

Macb. Infected be the air whereon they ride: And damn'd, all those that trust them!-I did hear The galloping of horse: Who was't came by?

Len. 'Tis two or three, my lord, that bring you Macduff is fled to England.

Macb.

Len. Ay, my good lord.

Fled to England?

[word,

Macb. Time, thou anticipat'st3 my dread exploits.

The flighty purpose never is o'ertook,

Unless the deed go with it: From this moment,

The very firstlings of my heart shall be

The firstlings of my hand.

And even now

To crown my thoughts with acts, be it thought and

The castle of Macduff I will surprise;

2

i. e. whose blood hath issued out at many wounds.

[done:

antique for antic. 3 To anticipate, in the sense of, to outstrip.

Seize upon Fife; give to the edge o' th' sword
His wife, his babes, and all unfortunate souls
That trace his line. No boasting like a fool;
This deed I'll do, before this purpose cool:
But no more sights!—Where are these gentlemen?
Come, bring me where they are.
[Exeunt.

SCENE II.-Fife. A room in Macduff's castle.

Enter Lady MACDUFF, her Son, and Rosse. L. Macd. What had he done, to make him fly the Rosse. You must have patience, madam. [land? L. Macd. He had none : His flight was madness: When our actions do not, Our fears do make us traitors.

Rosse.

You know not, Whether it was his wisdom, or his fear.

L. Macd. Wisdom! to leave his wife, to leave his His mansion, and his titles, in a place [babes, From whence himself does fly? He loves us not; He wants the natural touch: for the poor wren, The most diminutive of birds, will fight, Her young ones in her nest, against the owl. All is the fear, and nothing is the love; As little is the wisdom, where the flight So runs against all reason.

My dearest coz,

Rosse.
I pray you, school yourself: But, for your husband,
He is noble, wise, judicious, and best knows

The fits o' th' season. I dare not speak much further:
But cruel are the times, when we are traitors,
And do not know ourselves; when we hold rumour
From what we fear, yet know not what we fear;
But float upon a wild and violent sea,
Each way, and move.-I take my leave of
Shall not be long but I'll be here again:

And are not conscious of guilt.

you:

I