Having obtained a signal victory over the rebels and the Norwegians, Macbeth, accompanied by Banquo, hastens to join the King at Fores. Whilst crossing a heath, they perceive the three witches, who have been holding together their diabolical converse. Banquo astonished exclaims;

<< What are these,

So wither'd, and so wild in their attire;
That look not like the inhabitants o' the earth,
And yet are on 't? Live you? or are you aught

PL. I.

2 WITCH. Not so happy, yet much happier.
3 WITCH. Thou shalt get kings, though thou be none :
MACBETH. Stay, you imperfect speakers, tell me more :
So, all hail, Macbeth, and Banquo!-

By Sinel's death, I know, I am thane of Glamis;
But how of Cawdor? the thane of Cawdor lives,
A prosperous gentleman; and to be king
Stands not within the prospect of belief,
No more than to be Cawdor. Say, from whence
You owe this strange intelligence; or why
Upon this blasted heath you stop our way
With such prophetick greeting?- Speak, I charge you.»
The witches vanish but soon afterwards the Chief-
tains are met by Rosse and Angus, sent by Duncan
to salute Macbeth as Thane of Cawdor, who thus
begins to give credence to the other predictions he
has just heard.
:-
«Two truths are told,

That man may question? You seem to understand me,
By each at once her choppy finger laying
Upon her skinny lips :-You should be women,
And yet your beards forbid me to interpret
That you are so. »

The design represents the moment when, in answer to Macbeth's challenge the weird sisters reply :

<< WITCH. All hail, Macbecth! hail to thee, thane of Glamis!
2 WITCH. All hail, Macbecth! hail to thee, thane of Cawdor!
3 WITCH. All hail, Macbeth! that shalt be king hereafter.
BANQUO. Good sir, why do you start; and seem to fear
Things that do sound so fair?-I' the naine of truth,
Are ye fantastical, or that indeed

Which outwardly ye show? My noble partner
You greet with present grace, and great prediction
Of noble having, and of royal hope,

That he seems rapt withal; to me you speak not:
If you can look into the seeds of time,

And say, which grain will grow, and which will not :
Speak then to me, who neither beg, nor fear,
Your favours, nor your hate.

I WITCH. Lesser than Macbeth, and greater.

As happy prologues to the swelling act

Of the imperial theme. I thank you, gentlemen. -
This supernatural soliciting
Cannot be ill; cannot be good :
If ill,
Why hath it given me earnest of success,
Commencing in a truth? I am thane of Cawdor:
If good, why do I yield to that suggestion
Whose horrid image doth unfix my hair,
And make my seated heart knock at my ribs,
Against the use of nature? Present fears
Are less than horrible imaginings:

My thought, whose murder yet is but fantastical,
Shakes so my single state of man, that function
Is smother'd in surmise; and nothing is,

But what is not.»>

ACT II, SCENE 3.

MACBETH and LENOX.

What's the matter?

MACDUFF. Confusion now hath made his master-piece!
Most sacrilegious murder had broke open
The lord's anointed temple, and stole thence
The life o' the building.

Duncan wishing, in every possible manner, to Macduff, having discovered the horrid murde display his love towards Macbeth, visits him in his turns from Duncan's Chamber, exclaiming,— Castle at Inverness and thus gives the Thane means of accomplishing his wicked purpose. Macbeth «O horror! horror! horror! Tongue, nor heart, struggles within himself against the evil suggestion Cannot conceive, nor name thee! of murdering the King; but, urged by Lady Macbeth, whose bold character is traced with all the energy of Shakspeare's matchless powers, the fatal deed is consummated during the night time: the bloody daggers are placed near the two attending grooms of the Chamber, to make it seem their guilt. Early in the morning, Macduff and Lenox arrive, and Macbeth, who his supposed to have been called forth from his bed Chamber, by their loud knocking at the Castle Gate, is saluted by Lenox.

Good-morrow, both!
MACDUFF. Is the king stirring, worthy thane?
MACBETH.
Not yet.
MACDUFF. He did command me to call timely on him;
I have almost slipp'd the hour.
MACBETH.

I'll bring you to him.
MACDUFF. I know, this is a joyful trouble to you;

But yet, 'tis one.

MACBETH.

MACBETH.

What is't you say? the life?
LENOX. Mean you his majesty?
MACDUFF. Approach the chamber, and destroy your sight
With a new Gorgon :
:- Do not bid me speak;
See, and then speak yourselves. Awake! awake!
[Exeunt Macbeth and Lenox.
Ring the alarum-bell: Murder! and treason!
Banquo, and Donalbain! Malcolm! awake!
Shake off this downy sleep, death's counterfeit,
And look on death itself!

The great doom's image!

up, up, and see
Malcolm! Banquo!

As from your graves rise up, and walk like sprights,
To countenance this horror!»

Macbeth flies to the King's chamber, but returns immediately: to Malcolm and Donalbain's enquiries

The labour, we delight in, physicks pain. about what has caused the alarm, the guilty Thane

This is the door.

MACDUFF.

I'll make so bold to call,

For 'tis my limited service. LENOX. Goes the king hence to-day? MACBETH.

[Exit Macduff.

He does:- he did appoint so.>> The moment represented in the design is when