There's daggers in men's smiles: the near in blood,
The nearer bloody.1

Mal.

This murderous shaft that's shot, Hath not yet lighted2; and our safest way Is, to avoid the aim. Therefore, to horse; And let us not be dainty of leave-taking, But shift away: There's warrant in that theft Which steals itself, when there's no mercy left.

[Exeunt.

SCENE IV.

Without the Castle.

Enter RossE and an old Man.

Old M. Threescore and ten I can remember well : Within the volume of which time, I have seen Hours dreadful, and things strange; but this sore night Hath trifled former knowings.

Rosse.

Ah, good father,

Thou see'st, the heavens, as troubled with man's act,
Threaten his bloody stage: by the clock, 'tis day,
And yet dark night strangles the travelling lamp:
Is it night's predominance, or the day's shame,
That darkness does the face of earth entomb,
When living light should kiss it?

Old M.

'Tis unnatural, Even like the deed that's done. On Tuesday last,

A falcon, tow'ring in her pride of place,

Was by a mousing owl hawk'd at, and kill'd.

The nearer bloody.] Meaning, that he suspected Macbeth to be the murderer; for he was the nearest in blood to the two princes, being the cousin-german of Duncan. STEEVENS.

2 This murderous shaft that's shot,

Hath not yet lighted ;] The design to fix the murder upon some innocent person has not yet taken effect; or, the end for which the murder was committed is not yet attained.

Rosse. And Duncan's horses, (a thing most strange
and certain,)

Beauteous and swift, the minions of their race,
Turn'd wild in nature, broke their stalls, flung out,
Contending 'gainst obedience, as they would make
War with mankind.

Old M.

'Tis said, they eat each other.

Rosse. They did so; to the amazement of mine eyes, That look'd upon't. Here comes the good Mac

duff:

Enter MACDuff.

Why, see you not?

How goes the world, sir, now?

Macd.

Rosse. Is't known, who did this more than bloody

Malcolm, and Donalbain, the king's two sons,
Are stol'n away and fled; which puts upon them
Suspicion of the deed.

Rosse.

'Gainst nature still:

Thriftless ambition, that wilt ravin up

Thine own life's means! - Then 'tis most like,

The sovereignty will fall upon Macbeth.

Macd. He is already nam'd; and gone to Scone, To be invested.

Rosse.

Where is Duncan's body?

Macd. Carried to Colmes-kill;*

The sacred storehouse of his predecessors,

And guardian of their bones.

3

they pretend?] i. e. intend, or design.

4 Colmes-kill ;] Or Colm-kill, is the famous Iona, one of the western isles, which Dr. Johnson visited, and describes in his Tour. It is now called Icolmkill. Kill, in the Erse language, signifies a burying-place.

Macd. Well, may you see things well done there;

adieu !

Lest our old robes sit easier than our new!

Rosse. Father, farewell.

Old M. God's benison go with you; and with those That would make good of bad, and friends of foes!

[Exeunt.

ACT III.

SCENE I. Fores. A Room in the Palace.

Enter BANQUO.

Ban. Thou hast it now, King, Cawdor, Glamis, all As the weird women promis'd; and, I fear,

Thou play'dst most foully for't: yet it was said,
It should not stand in thy posterity;

But that myself should be the root, and father
Of many kings. If there come truth from them,
(As upon thee, Macbeth, their speeches shine,)
Why, by the verities on thee made good,
May they not be my oracles as well,

And set me up in hope? But, hush; no more.

Senet sounded. Enter MACBETH, as King; Lady MACBETH, as Queen; LENOX, ROSSE, Lords, Ladies, and Attendants.

Macb. Here's our chief guest.

Lady M.

If he had been forgotten,

It had been as a gap in our great feast,

And all-things unbecoming.

Macb. To-night we hold a solemn supper, sir,

And I'll request your presence.

Ban.

Command upon me; to the which,
Are with a most indissoluble tie
For ever knit.

Macb. Ride you this afternoon?

Ban.

Let your highness

my duties

Ay, my good lord.

Macb. We should have else desir'd your good advice (Which still hath been both grave and prosperous,)

In this day's council; but we'll take to-morrow.
Is't far you ride?

Ban. As far, my lord, as will fill up the time
"Twixt this and supper: go not my horse the better,
I must become a borrower of the night,

For a dark hour, or twain.

Macb.

Ban. My lord, I will not.

Fail not our feast.

Macb. We hear, our bloody cousins are bestow'd In England, and in Ireland; not confessing Their cruel parricide, filling their hearers With strange invention: But of that to-morrow; When, therewithal, we shall have cause of state, Craving us jointly. Hie you to horse: Adieu, Till you return at night. Goes Fleance with you? Ban. Ay, my good lord: our time does call upon us. Macb. I wish your horses swift, and sure of foot; And so I do commend you to their backs.

Farewell.

Let every man be master of his time

Till seven at night; to make society

[Exit BANQUO.

The sweeter welcome, we will keep ourself

Till supper-time alone: while then, God be with you.

[Exeunt Lady MACBETH, Lords, Ladies, &c.

Sirrah, a word+: Attend those men our pleasure?

"Sirrah, a word with you: Attend those men
Our pleasure?"- MALONE.

Atten. They are, my lord, without the palace gate. Macb. Bring them before us. —

[Exit Attendant. To be thus, is nothing;

But to be safely thus:- Our fears in Banquo
Stick deep; and in his royalty of nature 5

Reigns that, which would be fear'd: 'Tis much he dares;
And, to that dauntless temper of his mind,

He hath a wisdom that doth guide his valour
To act in safety. There is none, but he
Whose being I do fear: and, under him,
My genius is rebuk'd; as, it is said,

Mark Antony's was by Cæsar. He chid the sisters,
When first they put the name of king upon me,
And bade them speak to him; then, prophet-like,
They hail'd him father to a line of kings:
Upon my head they plac'd a fruitless crown,
And put a barren sceptre in my gripe,
Thence to be wrench'd with an unlineal hand,
No son of mine succeeding. If it be so,
For Banquo's issue have I fil'd my mind;
For them the gracious Duncan have I murder'd;
Put rancours in the vessel of my peace
Only for them; and mine eternal jewel
Given to the common enemy of man,
To make them kings, the seed of Banquo kings!
Rather than so, come, fate, into the list,

5

8

royalty of nature-] Royalty, in the present instance, signifies nobleness, supreme excellence.

6 to] i. e. in addition to.

7 For Banquo's issue have I fil'd —] i. e. defiled.

8

the common enemy of man,] It is always an entertainment to an inquisitive reader, to trace a sentiment to its original source; and therefore, though the term enemy of man, applied to the devil, is in itself natural and obvious, yet some may be pleased with being informed, that Shakspeare probably borrowed it from the first lines of The Destruction of Troy; a book which he is known to have read. This expression, however, he might have had in many other places. The word fiend signifies enemy.