ACT IV
SCENE I. A dark Cave. In the middle, a Cauldron Boiling
Thunder. Enter the three Witches
FIRST WITCHThrice the brinded cat hath mew’d.
SECOND WITCHThrice, and once the hedge-pig whin’d.
THIRD WITCHHarpier cries:—’Tis time, ’tis time.
FIRST WITCHRound about the cauldron go; In the poison’d entrails throw.— Toad, that under cold stone Days and nights has thirty-one Swelter’d venom sleeping got, Boil thou first i’ th’ charmed pot!
ALLDouble, double, toil and trouble; Fire, burn; and cauldron, bubble.
SECOND WITCHFillet 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 howlet’s wing, For a charm of powerful trouble, Like a hell-broth boil and bubble.
ALLDouble, double, toil and trouble; Fire, burn; and cauldron, bubble.
THIRD WITCHScale of dragon, tooth of wolf, Witch’s mummy, maw and gulf Of the ravin’d salt-sea shark, Root of hemlock digg’d i’ th’ dark, Liver of blaspheming Jew, Gall of goat, and slips of yew Sliver’d in the moon’s eclipse, Nose of Turk, and Tartar’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 th’ ingredients of our cauldron.
ALLDouble, double, toil and trouble; Fire, burn; and cauldron, bubble.
SECOND WITCHCool it with a baboon’s blood. Then the charm is firm and good.
Enter Hecate
HECATEO, well done! I commend your pains, And everyone shall share i’ th’ gains. And now about the cauldron sing, Like elves and fairies in a ring, Enchanting all that you put in.
Music and a song: “Black Spirits,” &c
Exit Hecate
SECOND WITCHBy the pricking of my thumbs, Something wicked this way comes. Open, locks, Whoever knocks!
Enter Macbeth
MACBETHHow now, you secret, black, and midnight hags! What is’t you do?
ALLA deed without a name.
MACBETHI 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 treasure Of nature’s germens tumble all together, Even till destruction sicken, answer me To what I ask you.
FIRST WITCHSpeak.
SECOND WITCHDemand.
THIRD WITCHWe’ll answer.
FIRST WITCHSay, if thou’dst rather hear it from our mouths, Or from our masters?
MACBETHCall ’em, let me see ’em.
FIRST WITCHPour in sow’s blood, that hath eaten Her nine farrow; grease that’s sweaten From the murderer’s gibbet throw Into the flame.
ALLCome, high or low; Thyself and office deftly show!
Thunder. An Apparition of an armed Head rises
MACBETHTell me, thou unknown power,—
FIRST WITCHHe knows thy thought: Hear his speech, but say thou naught. APPARITION. Macbeth! Macbeth! Macbeth! Beware Macduff; Beware the Thane of Fife.—Dismiss me.—Enough.
Descends
MACBETHWhate’er thou art, for thy good caution, thanks; Thou hast harp’d my fear aright.—But one word more.
FIRST WITCHHe will not be commanded. Here’s another, More potent than the first.
Thunder. An Apparition of a bloody Child rises
APPARITION. Macbeth! Macbeth! Macbeth!
MACBETHHad I three ears, I’d hear thee. APPARITION. Be bloody, bold, and resolute. Laugh to scorn The power of man, for none of woman born Shall harm Macbeth.
Descends
MACBETHThen live, Macduff: what need I fear of thee? But yet I’ll make assurance double sure, And take a bond of fate. Thou shalt not live; That I may tell pale-hearted fear it lies, And sleep in spite of thunder.
Thunder. An Apparition of a Child crowned, with a tree in his hand, rises
What is this, That rises like the issue of a king, And wears upon his baby brow the round And top of sovereignty?
ALLListen, but speak not to’t. APPARITION. Be lion-mettled, proud, and take no care Who chafes, who frets, or where conspirers are: Macbeth shall never vanquish’d be, until Great Birnam wood to high Dunsinane hill Shall come against him.
Descends
MACBETHThat will never be: Who can impress the forest; bid the tree Unfix his earth-bound root? Sweet bodements, good! Rebellious head, rise never till the wood Of Birnam rise, and our high-plac’d Macbeth Shall live the lease of nature, pay his breath To time and mortal custom.—Yet my heart Throbs to know one thing: tell me, if your art Can tell so much, shall Banquo’s issue ever Reign in this kingdom?
ALLSeek to know no more.
MACBETHI will be satisfied: deny me this, And an eternal curse fall on you! Let me know. Why sinks that cauldron? and what noise is this?
Hautboys
FIRST WITCHShow!
SECOND WITCHShow!
THIRD WITCHShow!
ALLShow his eyes, and grieve his heart; Come like shadows, so depart!
A show of eight kings appear, and pass over in order, the last with a glass in his hand; Banquo following
MACBETHThou are too like the spirit of Banquo. Down! Thy crown does sear mine eyeballs:—and thy hair, Thou other gold-bound brow, is like the first. A third is like the former.—Filthy hags! Why do you show me this?—A fourth!—Start, eyes! What, will the line stretch out to th’ crack of doom? Another yet!—A seventh!—I’ll see no more:— And yet the eighth appears, who bears a glass Which shows me many more; and some I see That twofold balls and treble sceptres carry. Horrible sight!—Now I see ’tis true; For the blood-bolter’d Banquo smiles upon me, And points at them for his.—What! is this so?
FIRST WITCHAy, sir, all this is so:—but why Stands Macbeth thus amazedly?— Come, sisters, cheer we up his sprites, And show the best of our delights. I’ll charm the air to give a sound, While you perform your antic round; That this great king may kindly say, Our duties did his welcome pay.
Music. The Witches dance, and vanish
MACBETHWhere are they? Gone?—Let this pernicious hour Stand aye accursed in the calendar!— Come in, without there!
Enter Lennox
LENNOXWhat’s your Grace’s will?
MACBETHSaw you the Weird Sisters?
LENNOXNo, my lord.
MACBETHCame they not by you?
LENNOXNo, indeed, my lord.
MACBETHInfected be the air whereon they ride; And damn’d all those that trust them!—I did hear The galloping of horse: who was’t came by?
LENNOX’Tis two or three, my lord, that bring you word Macduff is fled to England.
MACBETHFled to England!
LENNOXAy, my good lord.
MACBETHTime, thou anticipat’st my dread exploits: The flighty purpose never is o’ertook Unless the deed go with it. From this moment The very firstlings of my heart shall be The firstlings of my hand. And even now, To crown my thoughts with acts, be it thought and done: The castle of Macduff I will surprise; Seize upon Fife; give to th’ edge o’ th’ sword His wife, his babes, and all unfortunate souls That trace him in his line. No boasting like a fool; This deed I’ll do before this purpose cool: But no more sights!—Where are these gentlemen? Come, bring me where they are.
Exeunt
Enter Lady Macduff her Son and Ross
LADY MACDUFFWhat had he done, to make him fly the land?
ROSSYou must have patience, madam.
LADY MACDUFFHe had none: His flight was madness: when our actions do not, Our fears do make us traitors.
ROSSYou know not Whether it was his wisdom or his fear.
LADY MACDUFFWisdom! to leave his wife, to leave his babes, His mansion, and his titles, in a place From whence himself does fly? He loves us not: He wants the natural touch; for the poor wren, The most diminutive of birds, will fight, Her young ones in her nest, against the owl. All is the fear, and nothing is the love; As little is the wisdom, where the flight So runs against all reason.
ROSSMy dearest coz, I pray you, school yourself: but, for your husband, He is noble, wise, judicious, and best knows The fits o’ th’ season. I dare not speak much further: But cruel are the times, when we are traitors, And do not know ourselves; when we hold rumour From what we fear, yet know not what we fear, But float upon a wild and violent sea Each way and move—I take my leave of you: Shall not be long but I’ll be here again. Things at the worst will cease, or else climb upward To what they were before.—My pretty cousin, Blessing upon you!
LADY MACDUFFFather’d he is, and yet he’s fatherless.
ROSSI am so much a fool, should I stay longer, It would be my disgrace and your discomfort: I take my leave at once.
Exit
LADY MACDUFFSirrah, your father’s dead. And what will you do now? How will you live?
SONAs birds do, mother.
LADY MACDUFFWhat, with worms and flies?
SONWith what I get, I mean; and so do they.
LADY MACDUFFPoor bird! thou’dst never fear the net nor lime, The pit-fall nor the gin.
SONWhy should I, mother? Poor birds they are not set for. My father is not dead, for all your saying.
LADY MACDUFFYes, he is dead: how wilt thou do for a father?
SONNay, how will you do for a husband?
LADY MACDUFFWhy, I can buy me twenty at any market.
SONThen you’ll buy ’em to sell again.
LADY MACDUFFThou speak’st with all thy wit; And yet, i’ faith, with wit enough for thee.
SONWas my father a traitor, mother?
LADY MACDUFFAy, that he was.
SONWhat is a traitor?
LADY MACDUFFWhy, one that swears and lies.
SONAnd be all traitors that do so?
LADY MACDUFFEvery one that does so is a traitor, and must be hanged.
SONAnd must they all be hanged that swear and lie?
LADY MACDUFFEvery one.
SONWho must hang them?
LADY MACDUFFWhy, the honest men.
SONThen the liars and swearers are fools: for there are liars and swearers enow to beat the honest men and hang up them.
LADY MACDUFFNow, God help thee, poor monkey! But how wilt thou do for a father?
SONIf he were dead, you’ld weep for him: if you would not, it were a good sign that I should quickly have a new father.
LADY MACDUFFPoor prattler, how thou talk’st!
Enter a Messenger
MESSENGERBless you, fair dame! I am not to you known, Though in your state of honour I am perfect. I doubt some danger does approach you nearly: If you will take a homely man’s advice, Be not found here; hence, with your little ones. To fright you thus, methinks, I am too savage; To do worse to you were fell cruelty, Which is too nigh your person. Heaven preserve you! I dare abide no longer.
Exit
LADY MACDUFFWhither should I fly? I have done no harm. But I remember now I am in this earthly world, where to do harm Is often laudable; to do good sometime Accounted dangerous folly: why then, alas, Do I put up that womanly defence, To say I have done no harm? What are these faces?
Enter Murderers
FIRST MURDERERWhere is your husband?
LADY MACDUFFI hope, in no place so unsanctified Where such as thou mayst find him.
FIRST MURDERERHe’s a traitor.
SONThou liest, thou shag-ear’d villain!
FIRST MURDERERWhat, you egg!
Stabbing him
Young fry of treachery!
SONHe has kill’d me, mother: Run away, I pray you!
Dies. Exit Lady Macduff, crying “Murder!” and pursued by the Murderers
Enter Malcolm and Macduff
MALCOLMLet us seek out some desolate shade and there Weep our sad bosoms empty.
MACDUFFLet us rather Hold fast the mortal sword, and, like good men, Bestride our down-fall’n birthdom. Each new morn New widows howl, new orphans cry; new sorrows Strike heaven on the face, that it resounds As if it felt with Scotland, and yell’d out Like syllable of dolour.
MALCOLMWhat I believe, I’ll wail; What know, believe; and what I can redress, As I shall find the time to friend, I will. What you have spoke, it may be so, perchance. This tyrant, whose sole name blisters our tongues, Was once thought honest: you have loved him well; He hath not touch’d you yet. I am young; but something You may deserve of him through me; and wisdom To offer up a weak, poor, innocent lamb To appease an angry god.
MACDUFFI am not treacherous.
MALCOLMBut Macbeth is. A good and virtuous nature may recoil In an imperial charge. But I shall crave your pardon. That which you are, my thoughts cannot transpose. Angels are bright still, though the brightest fell: Though all things foul would wear the brows of grace, Yet grace must still look so.
MACDUFFI have lost my hopes.
MALCOLMPerchance even there where I did find my doubts. Why in that rawness left you wife and child, Those precious motives, those strong knots of love, Without leave-taking?—I pray you, Let not my jealousies be your dishonours, But mine own safeties. You may be rightly just, Whatever I shall think.
MACDUFFBleed, bleed, poor country! Great tyranny, lay thou thy basis sure, For goodness dare not check thee! wear thou thy wrongs; The title is affeer’d.—Fare thee well, lord: I would not be the villain that thou think’st For the whole space that’s in the tyrant’s grasp And the rich East to boot.
MALCOLMBe not offended: I speak not as in absolute fear of you. I think our country sinks beneath the yoke; It weeps, it bleeds; and each new day a gash Is added to her wounds. I think, withal, There would be hands uplifted in my right; And here, from gracious England, have I offer Of goodly thousands: but, for all this, When I shall tread upon the tyrant’s head, Or wear it on my sword, yet my poor country Shall have more vices than it had before, More suffer, and more sundry ways than ever, By him that shall succeed.
MACDUFFWhat should he be?
MALCOLMIt is myself I mean; in whom I know All the particulars of vice so grafted That, when they shall be open’d, black Macbeth Will seem as pure as snow; and the poor state Esteem him as a lamb, being compar’d With my confineless harms.
MACDUFFNot in the legions Of horrid hell can come a devil more damn’d In evils to top Macbeth.
MALCOLMI grant him bloody, Luxurious, avaricious, false, deceitful, Sudden, malicious, smacking of every sin That has a name: but there’s no bottom, none, In my voluptuousness: your wives, your daughters, Your matrons, and your maids, could not fill up The cistern of my lust; and my desire All continent impediments would o’erbear, That did oppose my will: better Macbeth Than such an one to reign.
MACDUFFBoundless intemperance In nature is a tyranny; it hath been Th’ untimely emptying of the happy throne, And fall of many kings. But fear not yet To take upon you what is yours: you may Convey your pleasures in a spacious plenty, And yet seem cold—the time you may so hoodwink. We have willing dames enough; there cannot be That vulture in you, to devour so many As will to greatness dedicate themselves, Finding it so inclin’d.
MALCOLMWith this there grows In my most ill-compos’d affection such A staunchless avarice, that, were I king, I should cut off the nobles for their lands; Desire his jewels, and this other’s house: And my more-having would be as a sauce To make me hunger more; that I should forge Quarrels unjust against the good and loyal, Destroying them for wealth.
MACDUFFThis avarice Sticks deeper; grows with more pernicious root Than summer-seeming lust; and it hath been The sword of our slain kings: yet do not fear; Scotland hath foisons to fill up your will, Of your mere own. All these are portable, With other graces weigh’d.
MALCOLMBut I have none: the king-becoming graces, As justice, verity, temp’rance, stableness, Bounty, perseverance, mercy, lowliness, Devotion, patience, courage, fortitude, I have no relish of them; but abound In the division of each several crime, Acting it many ways. Nay, had I power, I should Pour the sweet milk of concord into hell, Uproar the universal peace, confound All unity on earth.
MACDUFFO Scotland, Scotland!
MALCOLMIf such a one be fit to govern, speak: I am as I have spoken.
MACDUFFFit to govern? No, not to live.—O nation miserable, With an untitled tyrant bloody-scepter’d, When shalt thou see thy wholesome days again, Since that the truest issue of thy throne By his own interdiction stands accus’d, And does blaspheme his breed? Thy royal father Was a most sainted king. The queen that bore thee, Oft’ner upon her knees than on her feet, Died every day she lived. Fare thee well! These evils thou repeat’st upon thyself Have banish’d me from Scotland.—O my breast, Thy hope ends here!
MALCOLMMacduff, this noble passion, Child of integrity, hath from my soul Wiped the black scruples, reconcil’d my thoughts To thy good truth and honour. Devilish Macbeth By many of these trains hath sought to win me Into his power, and modest wisdom plucks me From over-credulous haste: but God above Deal between thee and me! for even now I put myself to thy direction, and Unspeak mine own detraction; here abjure The taints and blames I laid upon myself, For strangers to my nature. I am yet Unknown to woman; never was forsworn; Scarcely have coveted what was mine own; At no time broke my faith; would not betray The devil to his fellow; and delight No less in truth than life: my first false speaking Was this upon myself. What I am truly, Is thine and my poor country’s to command: Whither, indeed, before thy here-approach, Old Siward, with ten thousand warlike men, Already at a point, was setting forth. Now we’ll together, and the chance of goodness Be like our warranted quarrel. Why are you silent?
MACDUFFSuch welcome and unwelcome things at once ’Tis hard to reconcile.
Enter a Doctor
MALCOLMWell; more anon.—Comes the King forth, I pray you?
DOCTORAy, sir. There are a crew of wretched souls That stay his cure: their malady convinces The great assay of art; but at his touch, Such sanctity hath heaven given his hand, They presently amend.
MALCOLMI thank you, doctor.
Exit Doctor
MACDUFFWhat’s the disease he means?
MALCOLM’Tis call’d the evil: A most miraculous work in this good king; Which often, since my here-remain in England, I have seen him do. How he solicits heaven, Himself best knows, but strangely-visited people, All swoln and ulcerous, pitiful to the eye, The mere despair of surgery, he cures; Hanging a golden stamp about their necks, Put on with holy prayers: and ’tis spoken, To the succeeding royalty he leaves The healing benediction. With this strange virtue, He hath a heavenly gift of prophecy; And sundry blessings hang about his throne, That speak him full of grace.
Enter Ross
MACDUFFSee, who comes here?
MALCOLMMy countryman; but yet I know him not.
MACDUFFMy ever-gentle cousin, welcome hither.
MALCOLMI know him now. Good God, betimes remove The means that makes us strangers!
ROSSSir, amen.
MACDUFFStands Scotland where it did?
ROSSAlas, poor country, Almost afraid to know itself! It cannot Be call’d our mother, but our grave, where nothing, But who knows nothing, is once seen to smile; Where sighs, and groans, and shrieks, that rent the air, Are made, not mark’d; where violent sorrow seems A modern ecstasy. The dead man’s knell Is there scarce ask’d for who; and good men’s lives Expire before the flowers in their caps, Dying or ere they sicken.
MACDUFFO, relation Too nice, and yet too true!
MALCOLMWhat’s the newest grief?
ROSSThat of an hour’s age doth hiss the speaker; Each minute teems a new one.
MACDUFFHow does my wife?
ROSSWhy, well.
MACDUFFAnd all my children?
ROSSWell too.
MACDUFFThe tyrant has not batter’d at their peace?
ROSSNo; they were well at peace when I did leave ’em.
MACDUFFBe not a niggard of your speech: how goes’t?
ROSSWhen I came hither to transport the tidings, Which I have heavily borne, there ran a rumour Of many worthy fellows that were out; Which was to my belief witness’d the rather, For that I saw the tyrant’s power afoot. Now is the time of help. Your eye in Scotland Would create soldiers, make our women fight, To doff their dire distresses.
MALCOLMBe’t their comfort We are coming thither. Gracious England hath Lent us good Siward and ten thousand men; An older and a better soldier none That Christendom gives out.
ROSSWould I could answer This comfort with the like! But I have words That would be howl’d out in the desert air, Where hearing should not latch them.
MACDUFFWhat concern they? The general cause? or is it a fee-grief Due to some single breast?
ROSSNo mind that’s honest But in it shares some woe, though the main part Pertains to you alone.
MACDUFFIf it be mine, Keep it not from me, quickly let me have it.
ROSSLet not your ears despise my tongue for ever, Which shall possess them with the heaviest sound That ever yet they heard.
MACDUFFHumh! I guess at it.
ROSSYour castle is surpris’d; your wife and babes Savagely slaughter’d. To relate the manner Were, on the quarry of these murder’d deer, To add the death of you.
MALCOLMMerciful heaven!— What, man! ne’er pull your hat upon your brows. Give sorrow words. The grief that does not speak Whispers the o’er-fraught heart, and bids it break.
MACDUFFMy children too?
ROSSWife, children, servants, all That could be found.
MACDUFFAnd I must be from thence! My wife kill’d too?
ROSSI have said.
MALCOLMBe comforted: Let’s make us med’cines of our great revenge, To cure this deadly grief.
MACDUFFHe has no children.—All my pretty ones? Did you say all?—O hell-kite!—All? What, all my pretty chickens and their dam At one fell swoop?
MALCOLMDispute it like a man.
MACDUFFI shall do so; But I must also feel it as a man: I cannot but remember such things were, That were most precious to me.—Did heaven look on, And would not take their part? Sinful Macduff, They were all struck for thee! Naught that I am, Not for their own demerits, but for mine, Fell slaughter on their souls: heaven rest them now!
MALCOLMBe this the whetstone of your sword. Let grief Convert to anger; blunt not the heart, enrage it.
MACDUFFO, I could play the woman with mine eyes, And braggart with my tongue!—But, gentle heavens, Cut short all intermission; front to front, Bring thou this fiend of Scotland and myself; Within my sword’s length set him; if he ’scape, Heaven forgive him too!
MALCOLMThis tune goes manly. Come, go we to the King. Our power is ready; Our lack is nothing but our leave. Macbeth Is ripe for shaking, and the powers above Put on their instruments. Receive what cheer you may; The night is long that never finds the day.
Exeunt
