Mac. Well then, now

You have confider'd of my speeches? know
That it was he, in the times paft, which held you
So under fortune, which you thought had been
Our innocent felf; this I made good to you

In our laft conf'rence, paft in probation with you:
How you were born in hand, how croft; the inftruments,
Who wrought with them: and all things else that might
To half a foul, and to a notion craz'd,

Say, Thus did Banquo.

1 Mur. True, you made it known.

Mach. I did fo; and went further, which is now Our point of second meeting. Do you

find

Your patience fo predominant in your nature,
That you can let this go? are you fo gospell'd,
To pray for this good man and for his iffue,
Whofe heavy hand hath bow'd you to the grave,
And beggar'd yours for ever?

1 Mur. We are men, my Liege.

Macb. Ay, in the catalogue ye go for men,
As hounds, and greyhounds, mungrels, fpaniels, curs,
Showghes, water-rugs, and demy-wolves are clep'd
All by the name of dogs; the valued file
Diftinguishes the swift, the flow, the subtle,
The house-keeper, 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 fo of men...
Now, if you have a station in the file,
And not in the worst rank of manhood, fay it;
And I will put the business in your bofoms,
Whose execution takes your enemy off;
Grapples you to the heart and love of us,
Who wear our health but fickly in his life,
Which in his death were perfect.

2 Mur. I am one,

Whom the vile blows and buffets of the world
Have fo incens'd, that I am reckless what
I do, to fpite the world.

I Mur. And I another,

So weary with difafters, tugg'd with fortune,
That I would fet my life on any chance,
To mend it, or be rid on't.

Mach. Both of you

Know Banquo was your enemy.

Mur. True, my Lord.

Mach. So is he mine: and in fuch bloody diftance,
That every minute of his being thrufts

Against my near'ft of life; and though I could
With bare-fac'd power fweep him from my fight,
And bid my will avouch it; yet I must not,
For certain friends that are both his and mine,
Whofe loves I may not drop; but wail his fall
Whom I my self ftruck down: and thence it is,
That I to your affiftance do make love,
Masking the business from the common eye
For fundry weighty reasons.

2 Mur. We fhall, my Lord, Perform what you command us.

I Mur. Though our lives

[moft

Mach. Your fpirits fhine through you. In this hour, at I will advise you where to plant your felves, Acquaint you with the perfect fpy o' th' time, The moment on't, for't must be done to-night, And fomething from the palace: (always thought That I require a clearness) and with him, (To leave no rubs nor botches in the work) Fleance his fon that keeps him company, (Whofe abfence is no lefs material to me, Than is his father's) muft embrace the fate Of that dark hour. Refolve your felves a-party I'll come to you anon.

Mur. We are refolv'd.

Macb. I'll call upon you ftraight; abide within.

It is concluded; Banquo, thy foul's flight,
If it find heav'n, must find it out to-night.

SCENE III.

Enter Lady Macbeth, and a Servant.

Lady. Is Banque gone from Court?

[Exeunt

Seza

Ser. Ay, Madam, but returns again to-night.

Lady. Say to the King, I would attend his leisure,

For a few words.

Ser. Madam, I will,

Lady. Nought's had, all's spent,
Where our defire is got without content :
'Tis better to be that which we destroy,
Than by deftruction dwell in doubtful joy.
Enter Macbeth.

How now, my Lord, why do you keep alone,
Of forrieft fancies your companions making?
Ufing those thoughts, which should indeed have dy'd
With them they think on? things without remedy
Should be without regard; what's done, is done.

Macb. We have scotch'd the fnake, not kill'd it,
She'll close, and be her felf; whilft our poor malice
Remains in danger of her former tooth.

But let both worlds disjoint, and all things fuffer,
Ere we will eat our meal in fear, and fleep
In the affliction of thefe terrible dreams,
That shake us nightly.
(Whom we, to gain our
Than on the torture of
In reftlefs ecftafie.-

Better be with the dead,

place, have fent to peace,)
the mind to lye
Duncan is in his grave;

After life's fitful fever, he fleeps well;

Treafon has done his worft; nor fteel nor poifon,
Malice domeftick, foreign levy, nothing
Can touch him further.

Lady. Come on;

Gentle my Lord, fleek o'er your rugged looks,
Be bright and jovial 'mong your guests to-night.

Macb. So fhall I, love; and fo I pray be you;
Let your remembrance ftill apply to Banquo.
Prefent him eminence, both with eye and tongue :
Unfafe the while, that we muft lave our honours
In these fo flatt'ring ftreams, and make our faces
Vizards t' our hearts, difguifing what they are.
Lady. You must leave this.

[Exit,

Macb. Oh! full of fcorpions is my mind, dear wife.

Thou know'ft that Banque and his Fleance livc,

Lady

Lady. But in them nature's copy's not eternal.
Macb. There's comfort yet, they are affailable;
Then be thou jocund. Ere the bat hath flown
His cloyfter'd flight, ere to black Hecat's fummons
The fhard-born beetle with his drowfie hums

Hath rung night's yawning peal, there shall be done
A deed of dreadful note.

Lady. What's to be done?

Macb. Be innocent of the knowledge, deareft chuck,
'Till thou applaud the deed: come, feeling 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 drowze,
Whiles night's black agents to their prey do rowze.
Thou marvell'ft at my words; but hold thee ftill;
Things bad begun, make ftrong themselves by ill :
So pr'ythee go with me.

[Exeunt. SCENE IV. A Park, the Cafle at a difiance. Enter three Murtherers.

1 Mur. But who did bid thee join with us? 3 Mur. Macbeth.

2 Mur. He needs not our miftruft, fince he delivers

Our offices, and what we have to do,

To the direction just.

1 Mur. Then stand with us.

Speaking to the firft.

The weft yet glimmers with fome ftreaks of day:
Now fpurs the lated traveller apace,

To gain the timely inn, and near approaches
The fubject of our watch.

3 Mur. Hark, I hear horfes.

Banquo within. Give light there, ho! 2 Mur. Then it is he: the reft

about.

That are within the note of expectation,
Already are i' th' Court.
1 Mur. His horfes go
3 Mur. Almoft a mile;
VoI, VIII.

K

But

But he does ufually, fo all men do,

From hence to th' palace gate make it their walk.
Enter Banquo and Fleance, with a torch.

2 Mur. A light, a light.

3 Mur. 'Tis he.

1 Mur. Stand to't.

Ban. It will be rain to-night.

1 Mur. Let it come down.

[They affault Banquo.

Ban. Oh treachery! Fly, Fleance, fly, fly, fly,

Thou may'st revenge. Oh flave! [Dies. Fleance efcapes.

3 Mur. Who did ftrike out the light?

I Mur. Was't not the way?

3 Mur. There's but one down; the fon Is fied.

2 Mur. We've loft beft half of our affair.

1 Mur. Well, let's away, and fay how much is done.

[Exeunt. SCENE V. A Room of State in the Caftle. A Banquet prepared. Enter Macbeth, Lady Macbeth, Roffe, Lenox, Lords, and Attendants.

Mach. You know your own degrees, fit down: And firft and laft, the hearty welcome.

Lords. Thanks to your Majefty.

Mach. Our felf will mingle with society,

And play the humble hoft:

Our hoftefs keeps her state, but in best time

We will require her welcome.

[They fit.

Lady. Pronounce it for me, Sir, to all our friends.

For my heart speaks, they're welcome.

Enter the firft Murtherer.

Mach. See they encounter thee with their heart's thanks, Both fides are even: here I'll fit i'th' midft;

Be large in mirth, anon we'll drink a measure

The table round

-There's blood upon thy face.

[To the Murtherer afide at the door.

Mur. 'Tis Banquo's then.

Mach. 'Tis better thee without, than him within. Is he dispatch'd?

Mur. My Lord, his throat is cut, I did that for him. Macb. Thou art the best of cut-throats; yet he's good,

That