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.

SCENE IV. Without the Castle.

Enter ROSSE and an Old Man.

[Exeunt.

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 hawked at, and killed.

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

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

Old M.
Rosse. They did
That looked upon't.

'Tis said, they ate each other. so; to the amazement of mine eyes, Here comes the good Macduff.

Enter MACDuff.

How goes the world, sir, now?

Why, see you not?

Macd.
Rosse. Is't known who did this more than bloody deed?
Macd. Those that Macbeth hath slain.

Alas, the day!

They were suborned.

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 will ravin up

Thine own life's means! - Then 'tis most like,
The sovereignty will fall upon Macbeth.

Macd. He is already named; and gone to Scone,
To be invested.

Rosse.

Where is Duncan's body?

Macd. Carried to Colme-kill;

The sacred storehouse of his predecessors,

And guardian of their bones.

Rosse.

Will you to Scone?

Well, I will thither.

Macd. No, cousin, I'll to Fife.
Rosse.

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 promised; 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.

T*

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
Forever knit.

Let your highness

my duties

Macb. Ride you this afternoon?

Ban.

Ay, my good lord. Macb. We should have else desired 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 bestowed 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

The sweeter welcome, we will keep ourself

[Exit BANQUO.

Till supper-time alone: while then, God be with you. [Exeunt LADY MACBETH, Lords, Ladies, &c. Sirrah, a word with you. Attend those men

Our pleasure?

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

[Exit Atten.

To be thus is nothing;

But to be safely thus.-Our fears in Banquo

Stick deep; and in his royalty of nature

Reigns that, which would be feared. 'Tis much he dares;
And, to that dauntless temper of his mind,

He hath a wisdom that doth guide his valor
To act in safety. There is none but he
Whose being I do fear; and, under him,

My genius is rebuked; as, it 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 hailed him father to a line of kings;
Upon my head they placed a fruitless crown,
And put a barren sceptre in my gripe,
Thence to be wrenched with an unlineal hand,
No son of mine succeeding. If it be so,
For Banquo's issue have I filed my mind;
For them the gracious Duncan have I murdered;
Put rancors 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,

And champion me to the utterance!-Who's there?—
Re-enter Attendant, with two Murderers.

Now go to the door, and stay there till we call,

[Exit Attendant.

Was it not yesterday we spoke together?
1 Mur. It was, so please your highness.
Macb.

Well then, now

Have you considered of my speeches? Know,
That it was he, in the times past, which held you
So under fortune; which, you thought, had been
Our innocent self. This I made good to you

In our last conference, passed in probation with you,
How you were borne in hand; how crossed; the instruments;
Who wrought with them; and all things else, that might,
To half a soul, and to a notion crazed,

Say, Thus did Banquo.

1 Mur.
You made it known to us.
Macb. I did so; and went further, which is now
Our point of second meeting. Do you find
Your patience so predominant in your nature,
That you can let this go? Are you so gospelled
To pray for that good man, and for his issue,
Whose heavy hand has bowed you to the grave,
And beggared yours forever?

1 Mur.

We are men, my liege.. Macb. Ay, in the catalogue ye go for men; As hounds, and greyhounds, mongrels, spaniels, curs, Shoughs, water-rugs, and demi-wolves, are cleped All by the name of dogs. The valued file

Distinguishes the swift, the slow, the subtle,
The housekeeper, the hunter, every one
According to the gift which bounteous nature
Hath in him closed; whereby he does receive
Particular addition, from the bill

That writes them all alike: and so of men.
Now, if you have a station in the file,
Not in the worst rank of manhood, say it;
And I will put that business in your bosoms,
Whose execution takes your enemy off;
Grapples you to the heart and love of us,
Who wear our health but sickly in his life,
Which in his death were perfect.

2 Mur.
I am one, my liege,
Whom the vile blows and buffets of the world
Have so incensed, that I am reckless what

I do, to spite the world.

1 Mur.

And I another,
So weary with disasters, tugged with fortune,
That I would set my life on any chance,

To mend it, or be rid on't.

Macb.

Both of you

Know, Banquo was your enemy.

2 Mur.

True, my lord. Macb. So is he mine; and in such bloody distance, That every minute of his being thrusts

Against my near'st of life. And though I could
With barefaced power sweep him from my sight,
And bid my will avouch it, yet I must not,
For certain friends that are both his and mine,
Whose loves I may not drop, but wail his fall
Whom I myself struck down; and thence it is,
That I to your assistance do make love;
Masking the business from the common eye,
For sundry weighty reasons.

2 Mur.

We shall, my lord,

Perform what you command us.

1 Mur.

Though our lives

Macb. Your spirits shine through you. Within this hour, at most,

I will advise you where to plant yourselves;
Acquaint you with the perfect spy o' the time,
The moment on't: for't must be done to-night,
And something from the palace; always thought,
That I require a clearness. And with him
(To leave no rubs, nor botches, in the work)