Though bladed corn be lodged 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 germens tumble all together, FIRST WITCH. Say, if thou'dst rather hear it from our mouths, Or from our masters? MACB. Call 'em; let me see 'em. FIRST 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 show! Thunder. First Apparition: an armed Head. MACB. Tell me, thou unknown power, FIRST WITCH. He knows thy thought: Hear his speech, but say thou nought. FIRST APP. Macbeth Macbeth! Macbeth! beware Macduff; Beware the thane of Fife. Dismiss me. Enough. [Descends. MACB. Whate'er thou art, for thy good caution, thanks; Thou hast harp'd my fear aright: but one word more, FIRST WITCH. He will not be commanded: here's another, More potent than the first. Thunder. Second Apparition: a bloody Child. The power of man, for none of woman born Shall harm Macbeth. [Descends. MACB. Then live, Macduff: what need I fear of thee? But yet I'll make assurance double sure, And take a bond of fate: thou shalt not live; Thunder. Third Apparition: a Child crowned, with a tree in his hand. That rises like the issue of a king, What is this And wears upon his baby-brow the round ALL. Listen, but speak not to 't. THIRD APP. Be lion-mettled, proud; and take no care Who chafes, who frets, or where conspirers are: Great Birnam wood to high Dunsinane hill [Descends. МАСВ. That will never be: Who can impress the forest, bid the tree Unfix his earth-bound root? Sweet bodements! good! Of Birnam rise, and our high-placed Macbeth 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? FIRST WITCH. Show! SEC. WITCH. Show! THIRD WITCH. Show! [Hautboys ALL. Show his eyes, and grieve his heart; A show of Eight Kings, the last with a glass in MACB. Thou art too like the spirit of Banquo; down! Why do you show me this? A fourth! Start, eyes! What, will the line stretch out to the 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 sceptres carry : For the blood-bolter'd Banquo smiles upon me, What, is this so? FIRST WITCH. Ay, sir, all this is so: but why Come, sisters, cheer we up his sprites, I'll charm the air to give a sound, MACB. Where are they? Gone? Let this per nicious hour Stand aye accursed in the calendar! Come in, without there! 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 word Macduff is fled to England. MACB. Fled to England! LEN. Ay, my good lord. MACB. Time, thou anticipatest 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 done: The castle of Macduff I will surprise; Seize upon Fife; give to the edge o' the sword But no more sights!-Where are these gentlemen ? SCENE II. Fife. Macduff's castle. Enter LADY MACDUFF, her SON, and Ross. L. MACD. What had he done, to make him fly the land? Ross. You must have patience, madam. L. MACD. He had none: His flight was madness: when our actions do not, Our fears do make us traitors. Ross. You know not Whether it was his wisdom or his fear. L. MACD. Wisdom! to leave his wife, to leave his babes, His mansion and his titles in a place From whence himself does fly? He loves us not; |