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That rises like the issue of a king,

And wears upon his baby brow the round

And top of sovereignty ?

The Three Witches.

Listen, but speak not to 't.

App.

Be lion-mettled, proud; and take no care
Who chafes, who frets, or where conspirers are :
Macbeth shall never vanquished be, until
Great Birnam wood to high Dunsinane hill

Shall come against him.

That will never be:

Macbeth.

[Descends.- Thunder.

Who can impress the forest; bid the tree

Unfix his earth-bound root? Sweet bodements! good!

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 ?

The Three Witches.

[They rise and go to R.

Seek to know no more.

Macbeth.

I will be satisfied: deny me this,

And an eternal curse fall on you!

[Macbeth descends from rocks. The cauldron sinks.

Thunder and discordant sounds, shrieks, etc.; are heard.

Let me know:

Why sinks that cauldron, and what noise is this?

Show!

First Witch.

[Passing from R. to L.

МАСВЕТΗ.

Second Witch.

Show!

[The same.

Third Witch.

Show!

[The same.

The Three Witches.

Show his eyes, and grieve his heart;

Come like shadows, so depart!

[Eight kings appear, and pass over in order, the last with a glass in his hand; Banquo following.

Macbeth.

[As they pass.

Thou art too like the spirit of Banquo; down!
Thy crown does sear mine eye-balls:-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 the 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;

Horrible sight!- Now, I see, 't is true;

[The Witches vanish as Banquo appears.

For the blood-boltered Banquo smiles upon me,

And points at them for his. - What! is this so ?

Where are they? Gone? - Let this pernicious hour

Stand aye accursed in the calendar!

Come in, without there!

[Enter Seyton, above.

Sey.

What's your grace's will?

Macbeth.

Saw you the weird sisters ?

Sey.

No, my lord.

Macbeth,

Came they not by you ?

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Infected be the air whereon they ride;

And damned all those that trust them! - I did hear

The galloping of horse: who was 't came by ?

Sey.

'T is two or three, my lord, that bring you word Macduff is fled to England.

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Time, 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 the edge o' the 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.

Scene Second.-A WOOD IN ENGLAND.

[Scene closes,

[Enter Malcolm and Macduff,

Mal.

Let us seek out some desolate shade, and there
Weep our sad bosoms empty.

Let us rather

МАСВЕТН.

Macduff.

Hold fast the mortal sword; and, like good men,
Bestride our down-fallen 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 yelled out

Like syllable of dolour.

What I believe, I'll wail;

Mal.

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 touched you yet.

I am young; but something

You may discern of him through me; and wisdom
To offer up a weak, poor, innocent lamb

To appease an angry god.

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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.

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Perchance 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

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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.

Macduff.

Bleed, bleed, poor country!

Great tyranny, lay thou thy basis sure,

For goodness dare not check thee! wear thou thy wrongs,

The title is affeered. - 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.

Be not offended:

Mal.

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.

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It is myself I mean: in whom I know

All the particulars of vice so grafted,
That, when they shall be opened, black Macbeth
Will seem as pure as snow; and the poor state
Esteem him as a lamb, being compared
With my confineless harms.

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