ACT III

SCENE I. Forres. A Room in the Palace

Enter Banquo

BANQUOThou hast it now, King, Cawdor, Glamis, all, As the Weird Women promis’d; 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.

Sennet sounded. Enter Macbeth as King, Lady Macbeth as Queen; Lennox, Ross, Lords, and Attendants

MACBETHHere’s our chief guest.

LADY MACBETHIf he had been forgotten, It had been as a gap in our great feast, And all-thing unbecoming.

MACBETHTonight we hold a solemn supper, sir, And I’ll request your presence.

BANQUOLet your Highness Command upon me, to the which my duties Are with a most indissoluble tie For ever knit.

MACBETHRide you this afternoon?

BANQUOAy, my good lord.

MACBETHWe should have else desir’d your good advice (Which still hath been both grave and prosperous) In this day’s council; but we’ll take tomorrow. Is’t far you ride?

BANQUOAs 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.

MACBETHFail not our feast.

BANQUOMy lord, I will not.

MACBETHWe hear our bloody cousins are bestow’d In England and in Ireland; not confessing Their cruel parricide, filling their hearers With strange invention. But of that tomorrow, 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?

BANQUOAy, my good lord: our time does call upon’s.

MACBETHI wish your horses swift and sure of foot; And so I do commend you to their backs. Farewell.—

Exit Banquo

Let every man be master of his time Till seven at night; to make society The sweeter welcome, we will keep ourself Till supper time alone: while then, God be with you.

Exeunt Lady Macbeth, Lords, &c

Sirrah, a word with you. Attend those men Our pleasure?

SERVANTThey are, my lord, without the palace gate.

MACBETHBring them before us.

Exit Servant

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 fear’d: ’tis much he dares; And, to that dauntless temper of his mind, He hath a wisdom that doth guide his valour To act in safety. There is none but he Whose being I do fear: and under him My genius is rebuk’d; as, it is said, Mark Antony’s was by Caesar. He chid the sisters When first they put the name of king upon me, And bade them speak to him; then, prophet-like, They hail’d him father to a line of kings: Upon my head they plac’d a fruitless crown, And put a barren sceptre in my gripe, Thence to be wrench’d with an unlineal hand, No son of mine succeeding. If’t be so, For Banquo’s issue have I fil’d my mind; For them the gracious Duncan have I murder’d; Put rancours 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 th’ utterance!—Who’s there?—

Enter Servant with two Murderers

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

Exit Servant

Was it not yesterday we spoke together?

FIRST MURDERERIt was, so please your Highness.

MACBETHWell then, now Have you consider’d 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, pass’d in probation with you How you were borne in hand, how cross’d, the instruments, Who wrought with them, and all things else that might To half a soul and to a notion craz’d Say, “Thus did Banquo.”

FIRST MURDERERYou made it known to us.

MACBETHI 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 gospell’d, To pray for this good man and for his issue, Whose heavy hand hath bow’d you to the grave, And beggar’d yours forever?

FIRST MURDERERWe are men, my liege.

MACBETHAy, in the catalogue ye go for men; As hounds, and greyhounds, mongrels, spaniels, curs, Shoughs, water-rugs, and demi-wolves are clept All by the name of dogs: the valu’d file Distinguishes the swift, the slow, the subtle, The housekeeper, the hunter, every one According to the gift which bounteous nature Hath in him clos’d; 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 i’ th’ worst rank of manhood, say’t; 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.

SECOND MURDERERI am one, my liege, Whom the vile blows and buffets of the world Hath so incens’d that I am reckless what I do to spite the world.

FIRST MURDERERAnd I another, So weary with disasters, tugg’d with fortune, That I would set my life on any chance, To mend it or be rid on’t.

MACBETHBoth of you Know Banquo was your enemy. BOTH MURDERERS. True, my lord.

MACBETHSo 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 barefac’d 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 Who 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.

SECOND MURDERERWe shall, my lord, Perform what you command us.

FIRST MURDERERThough our lives—

MACBETHYour spirits shine through you. Within this hour at most, I will advise you where to plant yourselves, Acquaint you with the perfect spy o’ th’ time, The moment on’t; for’t must be done tonight And something from the palace; always thought That I require a clearness. And with him (To leave no rubs nor botches in the work) Fleance his son, that keeps him company, Whose absence is no less material to me Than is his father’s, must embrace the fate Of that dark hour. Resolve yourselves apart. I’ll come to you anon. BOTH MURDERERS. We are resolv’d, my lord.

MACBETHI’ll call upon you straight: abide within.

Exeunt Murderers

It is concluded. Banquo, thy soul’s flight, If it find heaven, must find it out tonight.

Exit

Enter Lady Macbeth and a Servant

LADY MACBETHIs Banquo gone from court?

SERVANTAy, madam, but returns again tonight.

LADY MACBETHSay to the King, I would attend his leisure For a few words.

SERVANTMadam, I will.

Exit

LADY MACBETHNaught’s had, all’s spent, Where our desire is got without content: ’Tis safer to be that which we destroy, Than by destruction dwell in doubtful joy.

Enter Macbeth

How now, my lord, why do you keep alone, Of sorriest fancies your companions making, Using those thoughts which should indeed have died With them they think on? Things without all remedy Should be without regard: what’s done is done.

MACBETHWe have scorch’d the snake, not kill’d it. She’ll close, and be herself; whilst our poor malice Remains in danger of her former tooth. But let the frame of things disjoint, Both the worlds suffer, Ere we will eat our meal in fear, and sleep In the affliction of these terrible dreams That shake us nightly. Better be with the dead, Whom we, to gain our peace, have sent to peace, Than on the torture of the mind to lie In restless ecstasy. Duncan is in his grave; After life’s fitful fever he sleeps well; Treason has done his worst: nor steel, nor poison, Malice domestic, foreign levy, nothing Can touch him further.

LADY MACBETHCome on, Gently my lord, sleek o’er your rugged looks; Be bright and jovial among your guests tonight.

MACBETHSo shall I, love; and so, I pray, be you. Let your remembrance apply to Banquo; Present him eminence, both with eye and tongue: Unsafe the while, that we Must lave our honours in these flattering streams, And make our faces vizards to our hearts, Disguising what they are.

LADY MACBETHYou must leave this.

MACBETHO, full of scorpions is my mind, dear wife! Thou know’st that Banquo, and his Fleance, lives.

LADY MACBETHBut in them nature’s copy’s not eterne.

MACBETHThere’s comfort yet; they are assailable. Then be thou jocund. Ere the bat hath flown His cloister’d flight, ere to black Hecate’s summons The shard-born beetle, with his drowsy hums, Hath rung night’s yawning peal, there shall be done A deed of dreadful note.

LADY MACBETHWhat’s to be done?

MACBETHBe innocent of the knowledge, dearest chuck, Till thou applaud the deed. Come, seeling night, Scarf up the tender eye of pitiful day, And with thy bloody and invisible hand Cancel and tear to pieces that great bond Which keeps me pale!—Light thickens; and the crow Makes wing to th’ rooky wood. Good things of day begin to droop and drowse, Whiles night’s black agents to their preys do rouse. Thou marvell’st at my words: but hold thee still; Things bad begun make strong themselves by ill. So, pr’ythee, go with me.

Exeunt

Enter three Murderers

FIRST MURDERERBut who did bid thee join with us?

THIRD MURDERERMacbeth.

SECOND MURDERERHe needs not our mistrust; since he delivers Our offices and what we have to do To the direction just.

FIRST MURDERERThen stand with us. The west yet glimmers with some streaks of day. Now spurs the lated traveller apace, To gain the timely inn; and near approaches The subject of our watch.

THIRD MURDERERHark! I hear horses.

BANQUO[Within.] Give us a light there, ho!

SECOND MURDERERThen ’tis he; the rest That are within the note of expectation Already are i’ th’ court.

FIRST MURDERERHis horses go about.

THIRD MURDERERAlmost a mile; but he does usually, So all men do, from hence to the palace gate Make it their walk.

Enter Banquo and Fleance with a torch

SECOND MURDERERA light, a light!

THIRD MURDERER’Tis he.

FIRST MURDERERStand to’t.

BANQUOIt will be rain tonight.

FIRST MURDERERLet it come down.

Assaults Banquo

BANQUOO, treachery! Fly, good Fleance, fly, fly, fly! Thou mayst revenge—O slave!

Dies. Fleance escapes

THIRD MURDERERWho did strike out the light?

FIRST MURDERERWas’t not the way?

THIRD MURDERERThere’s but one down: the son is fled.

SECOND MURDERERWe have lost best half of our affair.

FIRST MURDERERWell, let’s away, and say how much is done.

Exeunt

A banquet prepared. Enter Macbeth, Lady Macbeth, Ross, Lennox, Lords and Attendants

MACBETHYou know your own degrees, sit down. At first And last the hearty welcome. LORDS. Thanks to your Majesty.

MACBETHOurself will mingle with society, And play the humble host. Our hostess keeps her state; but, in best time, We will require her welcome.

LADY MACBETHPronounce it for me, sir, to all our friends; For my heart speaks they are welcome.

Enter first Murderer to the door

MACBETHSee, they encounter thee with their hearts’ thanks. Both sides are even: here I’ll sit i’ th’ midst. Be large in mirth; anon we’ll drink a measure The table round. There’s blood upon thy face. MURDERER. ’Tis Banquo’s then.

MACBETH’Tis better thee without than he within. Is he dispatch’d? MURDERER. My lord, his throat is cut. That I did for him.

MACBETHThou art the best o’ th’ cut-throats; Yet he’s good that did the like for Fleance: If thou didst it, thou art the nonpareil. MURDERER. Most royal sir, Fleance is ’scap’d.

MACBETHThen comes my fit again: I had else been perfect; Whole as the marble, founded as the rock, As broad and general as the casing air: But now I am cabin’d, cribb’d, confin’d, bound in To saucy doubts and fears. But Banquo’s safe? MURDERER. Ay, my good lord. Safe in a ditch he bides, With twenty trenched gashes on his head; The least a death to nature.

MACBETHThanks for that. There the grown serpent lies; the worm that’s fled Hath nature that in time will venom breed, No teeth for th’ present.—Get thee gone; tomorrow We’ll hear, ourselves, again.

Exit Murderer

LADY MACBETHMy royal lord, You do not give the cheer: the feast is sold That is not often vouch’d, while ’tis a-making, ’Tis given with welcome. To feed were best at home; From thence the sauce to meat is ceremony; Meeting were bare without it.

The Ghost of Banquo rises, and sits in Macbeth’s place

MACBETHSweet remembrancer!— Now, good digestion wait on appetite, And health on both!

LENNOXMay’t please your Highness sit.

MACBETHHere had we now our country’s honour roof’d, Were the grac’d person of our Banquo present; Who may I rather challenge for unkindness Than pity for mischance!

ROSSHis absence, sir, Lays blame upon his promise. Please’t your Highness To grace us with your royal company?

MACBETHThe table’s full.

LENNOXHere is a place reserv’d, sir.

MACBETHWhere?

LENNOXHere, my good lord. What is’t that moves your Highness?

MACBETHWhich of you have done this? LORDS. What, my good lord?

MACBETHThou canst not say I did it. Never shake Thy gory locks at me.

ROSSGentlemen, rise; his Highness is not well.

LADY MACBETHSit, worthy friends. My lord is often thus, And hath been from his youth: pray you, keep seat; The fit is momentary; upon a thought He will again be well. If much you note him, You shall offend him, and extend his passion. Feed, and regard him not.—Are you a man?

MACBETHAy, and a bold one, that dare look on that Which might appal the devil.

LADY MACBETHO proper stuff! This is the very painting of your fear: This is the air-drawn dagger which you said, Led you to Duncan. O, these flaws, and starts (Impostors to true fear), would well become A woman’s story at a winter’s fire, Authoris’d by her grandam. Shame itself! Why do you make such faces? When all’s done, You look but on a stool.

MACBETHPr’ythee, see there! Behold! look! lo! how say you? Why, what care I? If thou canst nod, speak too.— If charnel houses and our graves must send Those that we bury back, our monuments Shall be the maws of kites.

Ghost disappears

LADY MACBETHWhat, quite unmann’d in folly?

MACBETHIf I stand here, I saw him.

LADY MACBETHFie, for shame!

MACBETHBlood hath been shed ere now, i’ th’ olden time, Ere humane statute purg’d the gentle weal; Ay, and since too, murders have been perform’d Too terrible for the ear: the time has been, That, when the brains were out, the man would die, And there an end; but now they rise again, With twenty mortal murders on their crowns, And push us from our stools. This is more strange Than such a murder is.

LADY MACBETHMy worthy lord, Your noble friends do lack you.

MACBETHI do forget.— Do not muse at me, my most worthy friends. I have a strange infirmity, which is nothing To those that know me. Come, love and health to all; Then I’ll sit down.—Give me some wine, fill full.— I drink to the general joy o’ th’ whole table, And to our dear friend Banquo, whom we miss: Would he were here.

Ghost rises again

To all, and him, we thirst, And all to all. LORDS. Our duties, and the pledge.

MACBETHAvaunt! and quit my sight! let the earth hide thee! Thy bones are marrowless, thy blood is cold; Thou hast no speculation in those eyes Which thou dost glare with!

LADY MACBETHThink of this, good peers, But as a thing of custom: ’tis no other, Only it spoils the pleasure of the time.

MACBETHWhat man dare, I dare: Approach thou like the rugged Russian bear, The arm’d rhinoceros, or th’ Hyrcan tiger; Take any shape but that, and my firm nerves Shall never tremble: or be alive again, And dare me to the desert with thy sword; If trembling I inhabit then, protest me The baby of a girl. Hence, horrible shadow! Unreal mock’ry, hence!

Ghost disappears

Why, so;—being gone, I am a man again.—Pray you, sit still.

LADY MACBETHYou have displaced the mirth, broke the good meeting With most admir’d disorder.

MACBETHCan such things be, And overcome us like a summer’s cloud, Without our special wonder? You make me strange Even to the disposition that I owe, When now I think you can behold such sights, And keep the natural ruby of your cheeks, When mine are blanch’d with fear.

ROSSWhat sights, my lord?

LADY MACBETHI pray you, speak not; he grows worse and worse; Question enrages him. At once, good night:— Stand not upon the order of your going, But go at once.

LENNOXGood night; and better health Attend his Majesty!

LADY MACBETHA kind good night to all!

Exeunt all Lords and Attendants

MACBETHIt will have blood, they say, blood will have blood. Stones have been known to move, and trees to speak; Augurs, and understood relations, have By magot-pies, and choughs, and rooks, brought forth The secret’st man of blood.—What is the night?

LADY MACBETHAlmost at odds with morning, which is which.

MACBETHHow say’st thou, that Macduff denies his person At our great bidding?

LADY MACBETHDid you send to him, sir?

MACBETHI hear it by the way; but I will send. There’s not a one of them but in his house I keep a servant fee’d. I will tomorrow (And betimes I will) to the Weird Sisters: More shall they speak; for now I am bent to know, By the worst means, the worst. For mine own good, All causes shall give way: I am in blood Stepp’d in so far that, should I wade no more, Returning were as tedious as go o’er. Strange things I have in head, that will to hand, Which must be acted ere they may be scann’d.

LADY MACBETHYou lack the season of all natures, sleep.

MACBETHCome, we’ll to sleep. My strange and self-abuse Is the initiate fear that wants hard use. We are yet but young in deed.

Exeunt

Thunder. Enter the three Witches meeting Hecate

FIRST WITCHWhy, how now, Hecate? you look angerly.

HECATEHave I not reason, beldams as you are, Saucy and overbold? How did you dare To trade and traffic with Macbeth In riddles and affairs of death; And I, the mistress of your charms, The close contriver of all harms, Was never call’d to bear my part, Or show the glory of our art? And, which is worse, all you have done Hath been but for a wayward son, Spiteful and wrathful; who, as others do, Loves for his own ends, not for you. But make amends now: get you gone, And at the pit of Acheron Meet me i’ th’ morning: thither he Will come to know his destiny. Your vessels and your spells provide, Your charms, and everything beside. I am for th’ air; this night I’ll spend Unto a dismal and a fatal end. Great business must be wrought ere noon. Upon the corner of the moon There hangs a vap’rous drop profound; I’ll catch it ere it come to ground: And that, distill’d by magic sleights, Shall raise such artificial sprites, 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.

Music and song within, “Come away, come away” &c

Hark! I am call’d; my little spirit, see, Sits in a foggy cloud and stays for me.

Exit

FIRST WITCHCome, let’s make haste; she’ll soon be back again.

Exeunt

Enter Lennox and another Lord

LENNOXMy former speeches have but hit your thoughts, Which can interpret farther: only, I say, Thing’s 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’t please you, Fleance kill’d, For Fleance fled. Men must not walk too late. Who cannot want the thought, how monstrous It was for Malcolm and for Donalbain To kill their gracious 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 wisely too; For ’twould have anger’d any heart alive, To hear the men deny’t. So that, I say, He has borne all things well: and I do think, That had he Duncan’s sons under his key (As, and’t please heaven, he shall 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?

LORDThe 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, upon 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.

LENNOXSent he to Macduff?

LORDHe did: and with an absolute “Sir, not I,” The cloudy messenger turns me his back, And hums, as who should say, “You’ll rue the time That clogs me with this answer.”

LENNOXAnd that well might Advise him to a caution, t’ 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!

LORDI’ll send my prayers with him.

Exeunt