SCENE III.-The same. A Park or Lawn, with a Gate leading to the Palace. Enter three Murderers. 1 MUR. But who did bid thee join with us? 3 MUR. Macbeth. 2 MUR. He needs not our mistrust; since he delivers Our offices, and what we have to do, To the direction just. 1 MUR. Then stand with us. The west yet glimmers with some streaks of day: Now spurs the lated traveller apace, To gain the timely inn; and near approaches The subject of our watch. 3 MUR. Hark! I hear horses. BAN. [Within.] Give us a light there, hoa! That are within the note of expectation, 1 MUR. Then 't is he; the rest His horses go about. 3 MUR. Almost a mile; but he does usually, So all men do, from hence to the palace gate Make it their walk. Enter BANQUO and FLEANCE, a Servant with a torch BAN. O, treachery! Fly, good Fleance, fly, fly, fly; Thou mayst revenge.-O slave! [Dies. FLEANCE and Servant escape. 3 MUR. Who did strike out the light? Was 't not the way? 1 MUR. 2 MUR. We have lost the best half of our affair. 1 MUR. Well, let 's away, and say how much is done. SCENE IV.-A Room of State in the Palace. [Exeunt. Enter MACBETH, LADY MACBETH, ROSSE, LENOX, Lords, and Attendants. MACB. You know your own degrees, sit down: at first And last, the hearty welcome. LORDS. Thanks to your majesty. MACB. Ourself will mingle with society, And play the humble host. Our hostess keeps her state; but, in best time, We will require her welcome. LADY M. Pronounce it for me, sir, to all our friends; For my heart speaks, they are welcome. Enter first Murderer, to the door. MACB. See, they encounter thee with their hearts' thanks: Both sides are even: Here I'll sit i' the midst: Be large in mirth; anon, we 'll drink a measure The table round.-There's blood upon thy face. MUR. "T is Banquo's then. MACB. 'Tis better thee without, than he within. Is he dispatch'd? MUR. My lord, his throat is cut; that I did for him. MACB. Thou art the best o' the cut-throats: Yet he 's good, That did the like for Fleance: if thou didst it, MACB. Then comes my fit again: I had else been perfect; Whole as the marble, founded as the rock: As broad and general as the casing air: But now, I am cabin'd, cribb'd, confin'd, bound in To saucy doubts and fears. But Banquo 's safe? safe in a ditch he bides, With twenty trenched gashes on his head; МАСВ. Thanks for that: There the grown serpent lies; the worm, that 's fled, No teeth for the present.-Get thee gone; to-morrow LADY M. My royal lord, You do not give the cheer; the feast is sold [Exit Murderer. That is not often vouch'd, while 't is a making, "T is given with welcome: To feed, were best at home; From thence, the sauce to meat is ceremony, Meeting were bare without it. MACB. Sweet remembrancer!— Now, good digestion wait on appetite, LEN. May it please your highness sit? Enter the Ghost of BANQUO and sits in MACBETH's place. MACB. Here had we now our country's honour roof'd, Were the grac'd person of our Banquo present; Who may I rather challenge for unkindness Than pity for mischance! Lays blame upon his promise. Please it your highness To grace us with your royal company? MACB. The table 's full. LEN. Here is a place reserv'd, sir. MACB. Where? LEN. Here, my good lord. What is 't that moves your highness? MACB. Which of you have done this? LORDS. What, my good lord? MACB. Thou canst not say I did it: never shake Thy gory locks at me. ROSSE. Gentlemen, rise; his highness is not well. LADY M. Sit, worthy friends:-my lord is often thus, And hath been from his youth: 'pray you keep seat; The fit is momentary; upon a thought He will again be well: If much you note him, You shall offend him, and extend his passion; MACB. Ay, and a bold one, that dare look on that 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, Authoris'd by her grandam. Shame itself! Why do you make such faces? When all 's done, You look but on a stool. MACB. Prithee, 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 Those that we bury, back, our monuments LADY M. [Ghost disappears. What! quite unmann'd in folly? Fie, for shame! MACB. If I stand here, I saw him. MACB. Blood hath been shed ere now, i' the olden time, Ere human statute purg'd the gentle weal; Ay, and since too, murthers have been perform'd Too terrible for the ear: the times have been, That when the brains were out the man would die, LADY M. My worthy lord, Your noble friends do lack you. MACB. I do forget: Do not muse at me, my most worthy friends; I have a strange infirmity, which is nothing To those that know me. Come, love and health to all; Enter Ghost. I drink to the general joy of the whole table And to our dear friend Banquo, whom we miss; 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; Thou hast no speculation in those eyes Which thou dost glare with! LADY M. Think of this, good peers, But as a thing of custom: 't is no other; MACB. What man dare, I dare: Approach thou like the rugged Russian bear, Hence, horrible shadow! [Ghost disappears. Unreal mockery, hence!-Why, so;-being gone, I am a man again.—Pray you, sit still. LADY M. You have displac'd the mirth, broke the good meeting, With most admir'd 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. LEX. Good night, and better health |