Enter Macbeth, Lenox, and Roffe. Mach. Had I but dy'd an hour before this chance, I had liv'd a bleffed time; for, from this inftant, There's nothing ferious in mortality; All is but toys: Renown, and Grace, is dead; Enter Malcolm, and Donalbain. Don. What is amifs? Mach. You are, and do not know't: The fping, the head, the fountain of your blood Macd. Your royal father's murder'd. Len. Those of his chamber, as it feem'd, had don't; Macb. O, yet I do repent me of my fury, That I did kill them. Macd. Wherefore did you fo? Macb. Who can be wife, amaz'd, temp'rate and furious, Loyal and neutral in a moment? no man. The expedition of my violent love Out-run the paufer, Reafon. Here, lay Duncan; And his gafh'd ftabs look'd like a breach in Nature, Lady. Help me hence, ho! Macd. Look to the lady. Mal. Why do we hold our tongues, [Seeming to faint. That most may claim this argument for ours? N 2 Don. Don. What fhould be spoken here, Where our Fate, hid within an augre-hole, May rufh, and feize us? Let's away, our tears Mal. Nor our ftrong forrow on The foot of motion. Ban. Look to the lady; [Lady Macbeth is carried out. And queftion this moft bloody piece of work, Of treasonous malice. Mach. So do I. All. So, all. Macb. Let's briefly put on manly readiness, And meet i'th' hall together. All. Well contented. [Exeunt. Mal. What will you do? let's not confort with them: To fhew an unfelt forrow is an office Which the falfe man does easy. I'll to England. Don. To Ireland, I; our feparated fortune Shall keep us both the fafer; where we are, There's daggers in men's fmiles; the near in blood, The nearer bloody. Mal. This murderous fhaft, that's fhot, Hath not yet lighted; and our safest way Is to avoid the aim. Therefore, to horfe; And let us not be dainty of leave-taking, But shift there's warrant in that theft, Which fteals itself when there's no mercy left. [Exeunt. away; SCENE, the outfide of Macbeth's Cafile. Ol. Ma. Enter Roffe, with an old Man. Within the volume of which time, I've seen Hreefcore and ten I can remember well, Hours dreadful, and things ftrange; but this fore night Hath Hath trifled former knowings. Roffe. Ah, good father, Thou feeft, the heav'ns, as troubled with man's act, Old Man. 'Tis unnatural; On Tuesday laft, A faulcon, towring in her pride of place, Was by a moufing owl hawkt at, and kill'd. Roffe. And Duncan's horfes, (a thing moft ftrange and certain!) (12) Beauteous and fwift, the minions of the Race, Turn'd wild in nature, broke their ftalls, Aung out, Contending 'gainft obedience, as they would Make war with man. Old Man. 'Tis faid, they eat each other. Roffe. They did fo; to the amazement of mine eyes, That look'd upon't. Enter Macduff. Here comes the good Macduff. Roffe. Is't known, who did this more than bloody deed? ́Macd. Thofe, that Macbeth hath flain. Roffe. Alas, the day! What good could they pretend? (12) And Duncan's Horfes, (a thing moft firange and certain!) Beauteous and fift, the Minions of their Race,] The I am pretty certain, all the Copies have err'd, one after another, in this Reading; and that I have reftor'd the true one. Poet does not mean, that they were the beft of their Breed; but that they were excellent Reters: in which Sense he very poetically calls them, the Minions of the Race. This is a Mode of Expreflion, which he feems very fond of. Malcolm, and Donalbain, the King's two fons, Roffe. 'Gainft nature ftill; Thriftlefs ambition! that wilt ravin up Thine own life's means.-Then 'tis moft like, Roffe. Where is Duncan's body? Macd. Carried to Colmes-hill, The facred ftorehoufe of his predeceffors, Roffe. Will you to Scone? Macd. No, Coufin, I'll to Fife. Refe. Well, I will thither. Macd.Well, mayyou fee thingswell done there, (adieu;} Left our old robes fit easier than our new ! Roffe. Farewel, Father. Old Man. God's benifon go with you, and with thofe That would make good of bad, and friends of foes. [Exeunt. A C T III. SCENE, an Apartment in the Palace. T Enter Banquo. HOU haft it now; King, Cawdor, Glamis, all The weird women promis'd; and, I fear, Thou play'dft most foully for't: yet it was faid, It fhould not ftand in thy pofterity; But that myself fhould be the root, and father Why, Why, by the verities on thee made good, May they not be my oracles as well, And fet me up in hope? but, hush, no more. Trumpets found. Enter Macbeth as King; Lady Macbeth, Lenox, Roffe, Lords and Attendants. Macb. Here's our chief gueft. Lady. 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 folemn fupper, Sir, And I'll request your prefence. Ban. Lay your Highness' Command upon me; to the which, my Duties For ever knit. Macb. Ride you this afternoon? Macb. We fhould have elfe defir'd Your good advice (which ftill hath been both grave Ban. As far, my Lord, as will fill up the time 'Twixt this and fupper. Go not my horfe the better, I must become a borrower of the night For a dark hour or twain. Mach. Fail not our feast. Ban. My Lord, I will not. Macb. We hear, our bloody Coufins are beftow'd In England, and in Ireland; not confeffing Their cruel Parricide, filling their hearers With ftrange invention; but of that to-morrow; When therewithal we shall have caufe of State, Craving us jointly. Hie to horfe, adieu, 'Till you return at night. Goes Fleance with you ? Ban. Ay, my good Lord; our time does call upon us. Macb. I with your horses swift, and fure of foot: And fo I do commend you to their backs. Farewel. |