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As, by the strength of their illusion,
Shall draw him on to his confusion:
He shall spurn fate, scorn death, and bear
His hopes 'bove wisdom, grace, and fear:
And you all know, security

Is mortals' chiefest enemy.

SONG. [within.] Come away, come away, etc. Hark, I am call'd; my little spirit, see,

Sits in a foggy cloud, and stays for me. [Exit. Come, let's make haste;

1. Witch.

she'll soon

be back again. [Exeunt.

SCENE VI.

Fores. A Room in the Palace.

Enter LENOX, and another Lord.

Len. My former speeches have but hit your thoughts,

Which can interpret further: only, I say,
Things have been strangely borne: The gracious
Duncan

Was pitied of Macbeth:- marry, he was dead:-
And the right-valiant Banquo walk'd too late;
Whom, you may say, if it please you, Flcance
kill'd,

For Fleance fled. Men must not walk too late.
Who cannot want the thought, how monstrous
It was for Malcom, and for Donalbain,
To kill their gracions father? damned fact!
How it did grieve Macbeth! did he not straight,
In pious rage, the two delinquents tear,

That were the slaves of drink, and thralls of sleep?
Was not that nobly done? Ay, and wisel

For twould have anger'd any heart alive,
To hear the men deny it. So that, I say,
He has borne all things well: and I do think,
That, had he Duncan's sons under his key,

(As, an't please heaven, he shali not,) they should find

What 'twere to kill a father; so should Fleance. But, peace! for from broad words, and 'cause he fail'd

His presence at the tyrant's feast, I hear,
Macduff lives in disgrace: Sir, can you tell
Where he bestows himself?

Lord. The son of Duncan,

From whom this tyrant holds the due of birth,
Lives in the English court; and is receiv'd
Of the most pious Edward with such grace,
That the malevolence of fortune nothing
Takes from his high respect: Thither Macduff
Is gone to pray the holy King his aid

To wake Northumberland, and warlike Siward:
That, by the help of these, (with Him above
To ratify the work,) we may again

Give to our tables meat, sleep to our nights;
Free from our feasts and banquets bloody knives;
Do faithful homage, and receive free honours,
All which we pine for now: And this report
Hath so exasperate the King, that he

Prepares for some attempt of war.

Len. Sent he to Macduff?

Lord. He did: and with an absolute, Sir, not I,

Thy cloudy messenger, turns me his back,

And hums; as who should say, You'll rue the

time

That clogs me with his answer.

Len. And that well might

Advise him to a caution, to hold what distance

His wisdom can provide. Some holy angel
Fly to the court of England, and unfold

His message ere he come; that a swift blessing
May soon return to this our suffering country
Under a hand accurs'd!

Lord. My prayers with him!

[Exeunt.

ACT IV. SCENE I.

A dark Cave. In the middle, a Cauldron boiling.

Thunder. Enter the three Witches

1. Witch. Thrice the brinded cat hath mew'd. 2. Witch. Thrice; ando nce the hedge-pig whin'd. 3. Witch. Harper cries: 'Tis time, 'tis time. Round about the cauldron go;

1. Witch.

-

In the poison'd entrails throw.
Toad, that under coldest stone,
Days and nights hast thirty one
Swelter'd venom sleeping got,
Boil thou first i'the charmed pot!

All. Double, double toil and trouble;
Fire, burn; and, cauldron, bubble.

2. Witch. Fillet of a fenny snake,
In the cauldron boil and bake:
Eye of newt, and toe of frog,
Wool of bat, and tongue of dog,
Adder's fork, and blind-worm's sting,
Lizard's leg, and owlet's wing,

For a charm of powerful trouble;
Like a hell-broth boil and bubble.

All. Double, double toil and trouble;
Fire, burn; and, cauldron, bubble.

3. Witch. Scale of dragon, tooth of wolf; Witches' mummy; maw, and gulf,

Of the ravin'd salt-sea shark;
Root of hemlock, digg'd i'the dark;
Liver of blaspheming Jew;

Gall of goat, and slips of yew,
Sliver'd in the moon's eclipse;
Nose of Turk, and Tarter's lips;
Finger of birth-strangled babe,
Ditch-deliver'd by a drab,

Make the gruel thick and slab:
Add thereto a tiger's chaudron,
For the ingredients of our cauldron,'

All. Double, double toil and trouble;

Fire, burn; and, cauldron, bubble.

1 2. Witch.

Cool it with a baboon's blood,

Then the charm is firm and good.

Enter HECATE, and the other three Witches.

Hec. O, well done! I commend your pains; And every one shall share i'the gains.

And now about the cauldron sing,
Like elves and fairies in a ring,

Enchanting all that you put in.

SONG.

Black spirits and white,
Red spirits and grey;
Mingle, mingle, mingle,

You that mingle may.

[Musick.

2. Witch. By the pricking of my thumbs, Something wicked this way comes: Open, locks, whoever knocks.

Enter MACBETH.

Macb. How now, you secret, black, and midnight hags!

What is't you do?

All A deed without a name,

Macb. I conjure you, by that which you profess,

(Howe'er you come to know it,) answer me: Though you untie the winds, and let them fight Against the churches; though the yesty waves Confound and swallow navigation up;

Though bladed corn be lodg'd, and trees blown down;

Though castles topple on their warders' heads;
Though palaces, and pyramids, do slope
Their heads to their foundations; though the trea-

sure

Of nature's germins tumble all together,

Even till destruction sicken, answer me

[blocks in formation]

1. Witch. Say, if thou'dst rather hear it from our mouths,

Or from our masters'?

Macb

Call them, let me see them.

1. 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.

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