Macbeth

ACT 1

Scene 1

Thunder and Lightning. Enter three Witches.

FIRST WITCH

When shall we three meet again?
In thunder, lightning, or in rain?

SECOND WITCH

When the hurly-burly’s done,
When the battle’s lost and won.

THIRD WITCH

55That will be ere the set of sun.

FIRST WITCH

Where the place?

SECOND WITCH

Upon the heath.

THIRD WITCH

There to meet with Macbeth.

FIRST WITCH

I come, Graymalkin.

SECOND WITCH

1010Paddock calls.

THIRD WITCH

Anon.

ALL

Fair is foul, and foul is fair;
Hover through the fog and filthy air.

They exit.

Scene 2

Alarum within. Enter King Duncan, Malcolm,
Donalbain, Lennox, with Attendants, meeting a bleeding
Captain.

DUNCAN

What bloody man is that? He can report,
15As seemeth by his plight, of the revolt
The newest state.

MALCOLM

This is the sergeant
5Who, like a good and hardy soldier, fought
’Gainst my captivity.—Hail, brave friend!
20Say to the King the knowledge of the broil
As thou didst leave it.

CAPTAIN

Doubtful it stood,
10As two spent swimmers that do cling together
And choke their art. The merciless Macdonwald
25(Worthy to be a rebel, for to that
The multiplying villainies of nature
Do swarm upon him) from the Western Isles
15Of kerns and gallowglasses is supplied;
And Fortune, on his damnèd quarrel smiling,
30Showed like a rebel’s whore. But all’s too weak;
For brave Macbeth (well he deserves that name),
Disdaining Fortune, with his brandished steel,
20Which smoked with bloody execution,
Like Valor’s minion, carved out his passage
35Till he faced the slave;
Which ne’er shook hands, nor bade farewell to him,
Till he unseamed him from the nave to th’ chops,
25And fixed his head upon our battlements.

DUNCAN

O valiant cousin, worthy gentleman!

CAPTAIN

40As whence the sun ’gins his reflection
Shipwracking storms and direful thunders break,
So from that spring whence comfort seemed to
30come
Discomfort swells. Mark, King of Scotland, mark:
45No sooner justice had, with valor armed,
Compelled these skipping kerns to trust their heels,
But the Norweyan lord, surveying vantage,
35With furbished arms and new supplies of men,
Began a fresh assault.

DUNCAN

50Dismayed not this our captains, Macbeth and
Banquo?

CAPTAIN

Yes, as sparrows eagles, or the hare the lion.
40If I say sooth, I must report they were
As cannons overcharged with double cracks,
55So they doubly redoubled strokes upon the foe.
Except they meant to bathe in reeking wounds
Or memorize another Golgotha,
45I cannot tell—
But I am faint. My gashes cry for help.

DUNCAN

60So well thy words become thee as thy wounds:
They smack of honor both.—Go, get him surgeons.
The Captain is led off by Attendants.

Enter Ross and Angus.

Who comes here?

MALCOLM

50The worthy Thane of Ross.

LENNOX

What a haste looks through his eyes!
65So should he look that seems to speak things
strange.

ROSS

God save the King.

DUNCAN

55Whence cam’st thou, worthy thane?

ROSS

From Fife, great king,
70Where the Norweyan banners flout the sky
And fan our people cold.
Norway himself, with terrible numbers,
60Assisted by that most disloyal traitor,
The Thane of Cawdor, began a dismal conflict,
75Till that Bellona’s bridegroom, lapped in proof,
Confronted him with self-comparisons,
Point against point, rebellious arm ’gainst arm,
65Curbing his lavish spirit. And to conclude,
The victory fell on us.

DUNCAN

80Great happiness!

ROSS

That now Sweno,
The Norways’ king, craves composition.
70Nor would we deign him burial of his men
Till he disbursèd at Saint Colme’s Inch
85Ten thousand dollars to our general use.

DUNCAN

No more that Thane of Cawdor shall deceive
Our bosom interest. Go, pronounce his present
75death,
And with his former title greet Macbeth.

ROSS

90I’ll see it done.

DUNCAN

What he hath lost, noble Macbeth hath won.

They exit.

Scene 3

Thunder. Enter the three Witches.

FIRST WITCH

Where hast thou been, sister?

SECOND WITCH

Killing swine.

THIRD WITCH

Sister, where thou?

FIRST WITCH

95A sailor’s wife had chestnuts in her lap
5And munched and munched and munched. “Give
me,” quoth I.
“Aroint thee, witch,” the rump-fed runnion cries.
Her husband’s to Aleppo gone, master o’ th’ ;
100But in a sieve I’ll thither sail,
10And, like a rat without a tail,
I’ll do, I’ll do, and I’ll do.

SECOND WITCH

I’ll give thee a wind.

FIRST WITCH

Th’ art kind.

THIRD WITCH

105And I another.

FIRST WITCH

15I myself have all the other,
And the very ports they blow;
All the quarters that they know
I’ th’ shipman’s card.
110I’ll drain him dry as hay.
20Sleep shall neither night nor day
Hang upon his penthouse lid.
He shall live a man forbid.
Weary sev’nnights, nine times nine,
115Shall he dwindle, peak, and pine.
25Though his bark cannot be lost,
Yet it shall be tempest-tossed.
Look what I have.

SECOND WITCH

Show me, show me.

FIRST WITCH

120Here I have a pilot’s thumb,
30Wracked as homeward he did come.

Drum within.

THIRD WITCH

A drum, a drum!
Macbeth doth come.

ALL , dancing in a circle

The Weïrd Sisters, hand in hand,
125Posters of the sea and land,
35Thus do go about, about,
Thrice to thine and thrice to mine
And thrice again, to make up nine.
Peace, the charm’s wound up.

Enter Macbeth and Banquo.

MACBETH

130So foul and fair a day I have not seen.

BANQUO

40How far is ’t called to Forres?—What are these,
So withered, and so wild in their attire,
That look not like th’ inhabitants o’ th’ Earth
And yet are on ’t?—Live you? Or are you aught
135That man may question? You seem to understand
45me
By each at once her choppy finger laying
Upon her skinny lips. You should be women,
And yet your beards forbid me to interpret
140That you are so.

MACBETH

50Speak if you can. What are you?

FIRST WITCH

All hail, Macbeth! Hail to thee, Thane of Glamis!

SECOND WITCH

All hail, Macbeth! Hail to thee, Thane of Cawdor!

THIRD WITCH

All hail, Macbeth, that shalt be king hereafter!

BANQUO

145Good sir, why do you start and seem to fear
55Things that do sound so fair?—I’ th’ name of truth,
Are you fantastical, or that indeed
Which outwardly you show? My noble partner
You greet with present grace and great prediction
150Of noble having and of royal hope,
60That he seems rapt withal. To me you speak not.
If you can look into the seeds of time
And say which grain will grow and which will not,
Speak, then, to me, who neither beg nor fear
155Your favors nor your hate.

FIRST WITCH

65Hail!

SECOND WITCH

Hail!

THIRD WITCH

Hail!

FIRST WITCH

Lesser than Macbeth and greater.

SECOND WITCH

160Not so happy, yet much happier.

THIRD WITCH

70Thou shalt get kings, though thou be none.
So all hail, Macbeth and Banquo!

FIRST WITCH

Banquo and Macbeth, all hail!

MACBETH

Stay, you imperfect speakers. Tell me more.
165By Sinel’s death I know I am Thane of Glamis.
75But how of Cawdor? The Thane of Cawdor lives
A prosperous gentleman, and to be king
Stands not within the prospect of belief,
No more than to be Cawdor. Say from whence
170You owe this strange intelligence or why
80Upon this blasted heath you stop our way
With such prophetic greeting. Speak, I charge you.

Witches vanish.

BANQUO

The earth hath bubbles, as the water has,
And these are of them. Whither are they vanished?

MACBETH

175Into the air, and what seemed corporal melted,
85As breath into the wind. Would they had stayed!

BANQUO

Were such things here as we do speak about?
Or have we eaten on the insane root
That takes the reason prisoner?

MACBETH

180Your children shall be kings.

BANQUO

90You shall be king.

MACBETH

And Thane of Cawdor too. Went it not so?

BANQUO

To th’ selfsame tune and words.—Who’s here?

Enter Ross and Angus.

ROSS

The King hath happily received, Macbeth,
185The news of thy success, and, when he reads
95Thy personal venture in the rebels’ fight,
His wonders and his praises do contend
Which should be thine or his. Silenced with that,
In viewing o’er the rest o’ th’ selfsame day
190He finds thee in the stout Norweyan ranks,
100Nothing afeard of what thyself didst make,
Strange images of death. As thick as tale
Came post with post, and every one did bear
Thy praises in his kingdom’s great defense,
195And poured them down before him.

ANGUS

105We are sent
To give thee from our royal master thanks,
Only to herald thee into his sight,
Not pay thee.

ROSS

200And for an earnest of a greater honor,
110He bade me, from him, call thee Thane of Cawdor,
In which addition, hail, most worthy thane,
For it is thine.

BANQUO

What, can the devil speak true?

MACBETH

205The Thane of Cawdor lives. Why do you dress me
115In borrowed robes?

ANGUS

Who was the Thane lives yet,
But under heavy judgment bears that life
Which he deserves to lose. Whether he was
210combined
120With those of Norway, or did line the rebel
With hidden help and vantage, or that with both
He labored in his country’s wrack, I know not;
But treasons capital, confessed and proved,
215Have overthrown him.

MACBETH , aside

125Glamis and Thane of Cawdor!
The greatest is behind. To Ross and Angus. Thanks
for your pains.
Aside to Banquo. Do you not hope your children
220shall be kings,
130When those that gave the Thane of Cawdor to me
Promised no less to them?

BANQUO

That, trusted home,
Might yet enkindle you unto the crown,
225Besides the Thane of Cawdor. But ’tis strange.
135And oftentimes, to win us to our harm,
The instruments of darkness tell us truths,
Win us with honest trifles, to betray ’s
In deepest consequence.—
230Cousins, a word, I pray you.They step aside.

MACBETH , aside

140Two truths are told
As happy prologues to the swelling act
Of the imperial theme.—I thank you, gentlemen.
Aside. This supernatural soliciting
235Cannot be ill, cannot be good. If ill,
145Why hath it given me earnest of success
Commencing in a truth? I am Thane of Cawdor.
If good, why do I yield to that suggestion
Whose horrid image doth unfix my hair
240And make my seated heart knock at my ribs
150Against the use of nature? Present fears
Are less than horrible imaginings.
My thought, whose murder yet is but fantastical,
Shakes so my single state of man
245That function is smothered in surmise,
155And nothing is but what is not.

BANQUO

Look how our partner’s rapt.

MACBETH , aside

If chance will have me king, why, chance may
crown me
250Without my stir.

BANQUO

160New honors come upon him,
Like our strange garments, cleave not to their mold
But with the aid of use.

MACBETH , aside

Come what come may,
255Time and the hour runs through the roughest day.

BANQUO

165Worthy Macbeth, we stay upon your leisure.

MACBETH

Give me your favor. My dull brain was wrought
With things forgotten. Kind gentlemen, your pains
Are registered where every day I turn
260The leaf to read them. Let us toward the King.
170Aside to Banquo. Think upon what hath chanced,
and at more time,
The interim having weighed it, let us speak
Our free hearts each to other.

BANQUO

265Very gladly.

MACBETH

175Till then, enough.—Come, friends.

They exit.

Scene 4

Flourish. Enter King Duncan, Lennox, Malcolm,
Donalbain, and Attendants.

DUNCAN

Is execution done on Cawdor? Are not
Those in commission yet returned?

MALCOLM

My liege,
270They are not yet come back. But I have spoke
5With one that saw him die, who did report
That very frankly he confessed his treasons,
Implored your Highness’ pardon, and set forth
A deep repentance. Nothing in his life
275Became him like the leaving it. He died
10As one that had been studied in his death
To throw away the dearest thing he owed
As ’twere a careless trifle.

DUNCAN

There’s no art
280To find the mind’s construction in the face.
15He was a gentleman on whom I built
An absolute trust.

Enter Macbeth, Banquo, Ross, and Angus.

O worthiest cousin,
The sin of my ingratitude even now
285Was heavy on me. Thou art so far before
20That swiftest wing of recompense is slow
To overtake thee. Would thou hadst less deserved,
That the proportion both of thanks and payment
Might have been mine! Only I have left to say,
290More is thy due than more than all can pay.

MACBETH

25The service and the loyalty I owe
In doing it pays itself. Your Highness’ part
Is to receive our duties, and our duties
Are to your throne and state children and servants,
295Which do but what they should by doing everything
30Safe toward your love and honor.

DUNCAN

Welcome hither.
I have begun to plant thee and will labor
To make thee full of growing.—Noble Banquo,
300That hast no less deserved nor must be known
35No less to have done so, let me enfold thee
And hold thee to my heart.

BANQUO

There, if I grow,
The harvest is your own.

DUNCAN

305My plenteous joys,
40Wanton in fullness, seek to hide themselves
In drops of sorrow.—Sons, kinsmen, thanes,
And you whose places are the nearest, know
We will establish our estate upon
310Our eldest, Malcolm, whom we name hereafter
45The Prince of Cumberland; which honor must
Not unaccompanied invest him only,
But signs of nobleness, like stars, shall shine
On all deservers.—From hence to Inverness
315And bind us further to you.

MACBETH

50The rest is labor which is not used for you.
I’ll be myself the harbinger and make joyful
The hearing of my wife with your approach.
So humbly take my leave.

DUNCAN

320My worthy Cawdor.

MACBETH , aside

55The Prince of Cumberland! That is a step
On which I must fall down or else o’erleap,
For in my way it lies. Stars, hide your fires;
Let not light see my black and deep desires.
325The eye wink at the hand, yet let that be
60Which the eye fears, when it is done, to see.

He exits.

DUNCAN

True, worthy Banquo. He is full so valiant,
And in his commendations I am fed:
It is a banquet to me.—Let’s after him,
330Whose care is gone before to bid us welcome.
65It is a peerless kinsman.

Flourish. They exit.

Scene 5

Enter Macbeth’s Wife, alone, with a letter.

LADY MACBETH , reading the letter

They met me in the
day of success, and I have learned by the perfect’st
report they have more in them than mortal knowledge.
335When I burned in desire to question them further, they
5made themselves air, into which they vanished.
Whiles I stood rapt in the wonder of it came missives
from the King, who all-hailed me “Thane of Cawdor,”
by which title, before, these Weïrd Sisters saluted me
340and referred me to the coming on of time with “Hail,
10king that shalt be.” This have I thought good to deliver
thee, my dearest partner of greatness, that thou
might’st not lose the dues of rejoicing by being ignorant
of what greatness is promised thee. Lay it to thy
345heart, and farewell.
15Glamis thou art, and Cawdor, and shalt be
What thou art promised. Yet do I fear thy nature;
It is too full o’ th’ milk of human kindness
To catch the nearest way. Thou wouldst be great,
350Art not without ambition, but without
20The illness should attend it. What thou wouldst
highly,
That wouldst thou holily; wouldst not play false
And yet wouldst wrongly win. Thou ’dst have, great
355Glamis,
25That which cries “Thus thou must do,” if thou have
it,
And that which rather thou dost fear to do,
Than wishest should be undone. Hie thee hither,
360That I may pour my spirits in thine ear
30And chastise with the valor of my tongue
All that impedes thee from the golden round,
Which fate and metaphysical aid doth seem
To have thee crowned withal.
Enter Messenger.

365What is your tidings?

MESSENGER

35The King comes here tonight.

LADY MACBETH

Thou ’rt mad to say it.
Is not thy master with him, who, were ’t so,
Would have informed for preparation?

MESSENGER

370So please you, it is true. Our thane is coming.
40One of my fellows had the speed of him,
Who, almost dead for breath, had scarcely more
Than would make up his message.

LADY MACBETH

Give him tending.
375He brings great news.Messenger exits.
45The raven himself is hoarse
That croaks the fatal entrance of Duncan
Under my battlements. Come, you spirits
That tend on mortal thoughts, unsex me here,
380And fill me from the crown to the toe top-full
50Of direst cruelty. Make thick my blood.
Stop up th’ access and passage to remorse,
That no compunctious visitings of nature
Shake my fell purpose, nor keep peace between
385Th’ effect and it. Come to my woman’s breasts
55And take my milk for gall, you murd’ring ministers,
Wherever in your sightless substances
You wait on nature’s mischief. Come, thick night,
And pall thee in the dunnest smoke of hell,
390That my keen knife see not the wound it makes,
60Nor heaven peep through the blanket of the dark
To cry “Hold, hold!”

Enter Macbeth.

Great Glamis, worthy Cawdor,
Greater than both by the all-hail hereafter!
395Thy letters have transported me beyond
65This ignorant present, and I feel now
The future in the instant.

MACBETH

My dearest love,
Duncan comes here tonight.

LADY MACBETH

400And when goes hence?

MACBETH

70Tomorrow, as he purposes.

LADY MACBETH

O, never
Shall sun that morrow see!
Your face, my thane, is as a book where men
405May read strange matters. To beguile the time,
75Look like the time. Bear welcome in your eye,
Your hand, your tongue. Look like th’ innocent
flower,
But be the serpent under ’t. He that’s coming
410Must be provided for; and you shall put
80This night’s great business into my dispatch,
Which shall to all our nights and days to come
Give solely sovereign sway and masterdom.

MACBETH

We will speak further.

LADY MACBETH

415Only look up clear.
85To alter favor ever is to fear.
Leave all the rest to me.

They exit.

Scene 6

Hautboys and Torches. Enter King Duncan, Malcolm,
Donalbain, Banquo, Lennox, Macduff, Ross, Angus, and
Attendants.

DUNCAN

This castle hath a pleasant seat. The air
Nimbly and sweetly recommends itself
420Unto our gentle senses.

BANQUO

This guest of summer,
5The temple-haunting martlet, does approve,
By his loved mansionry, that the heaven’s breath
Smells wooingly here. No jutty, frieze,
425Buttress, nor coign of vantage, but this bird
Hath made his pendant bed and procreant cradle.
10Where they most breed and haunt, I have
observed,
The air is delicate.

Enter Lady Macbeth.

DUNCAN

430See, see our honored hostess!—
The love that follows us sometime is our trouble,
15Which still we thank as love. Herein I teach you
How you shall bid God ’ild us for your pains
And thank us for your trouble.

LADY MACBETH

435All our service,
In every point twice done and then done double,
20Were poor and single business to contend
Against those honors deep and broad wherewith
Your Majesty loads our house. For those of old,
440And the late dignities heaped up to them,
We rest your hermits.

DUNCAN

25Where’s the Thane of Cawdor?
We coursed him at the heels and had a purpose
To be his purveyor; but he rides well,
445And his great love, sharp as his spur, hath helped
him
30To his home before us. Fair and noble hostess,
We are your guest tonight.

LADY MACBETH

Your servants ever
450Have theirs, themselves, and what is theirs in compt
To make their audit at your Highness’ pleasure,
35Still to return your own.

DUNCAN

Give me your hand.
Taking her hand.
Conduct me to mine host. We love him highly
455And shall continue our graces towards him.
By your leave, hostess.

They exit.

Scene 7

Hautboys. Torches. Enter a Sewer and divers Servants
with dishes and service over the stage. Then enter
Macbeth.

MACBETH

If it were done when ’tis done, then ’twere well
It were done quickly. If th’ assassination
Could trammel up the consequence and catch
460With his surcease success, that but this blow
5Might be the be-all and the end-all here,
But here, upon this bank and shoal of time,
We’d jump the life to come. But in these cases
We still have judgment here, that we but teach
465Bloody instructions, which, being taught, return
10To plague th’ inventor. This even-handed justice
Commends th’ ingredience of our poisoned chalice
To our own lips. He’s here in double trust:
First, as I am his kinsman and his subject,
470Strong both against the deed; then, as his host,
15Who should against his murderer shut the door,
Not bear the knife myself. Besides, this Duncan
Hath borne his faculties so meek, hath been
So clear in his great office, that his virtues
475Will plead like angels, trumpet-tongued, against
20The deep damnation of his taking-off;
And pity, like a naked newborn babe
Striding the blast, or heaven’s cherubin horsed
Upon the sightless couriers of the air,
480Shall blow the horrid deed in every eye,
25That tears shall drown the wind. I have no spur
To prick the sides of my intent, but only
Vaulting ambition, which o’erleaps itself
And falls on th’ other—

Enter Lady Macbeth.

485How now, what news?

LADY MACBETH

30He has almost supped. Why have you left the
chamber?

MACBETH

Hath he asked for me?

LADY MACBETH

Know you not he has?

MACBETH

490We will proceed no further in this business.
35He hath honored me of late, and I have bought
Golden opinions from all sorts of people,
Which would be worn now in their newest gloss,
Not cast aside so soon.

LADY MACBETH

495Was the hope drunk
40Wherein you dressed yourself? Hath it slept since?
And wakes it now, to look so green and pale
At what it did so freely? From this time
Such I account thy love. Art thou afeard
500To be the same in thine own act and valor
45As thou art in desire? Wouldst thou have that
Which thou esteem’st the ornament of life
And live a coward in thine own esteem,
Letting “I dare not” wait upon “I would,”
505Like the poor cat i’ th’ adage?

MACBETH

50Prithee, peace.
I dare do all that may become a man.
Who dares do more is none.

LADY MACBETH

What beast was ’t,
510then,
55That made you break this enterprise to me?
When you durst do it, then you were a man;
And to be more than what you were, you would
Be so much more the man. Nor time nor place
515Did then adhere, and yet you would make both.
60They have made themselves, and that their fitness
now
Does unmake you. I have given suck, and know
How tender ’tis to love the babe that milks me.
520I would, while it was smiling in my face,
65Have plucked my nipple from his boneless gums
And dashed the brains out, had I so sworn as you
Have done to this.

MACBETH

If we should fail—

LADY MACBETH

525We fail?
70But screw your courage to the sticking place
And we’ll not fail. When Duncan is asleep
(Whereto the rather shall his day’s hard journey
Soundly invite him), his two chamberlains
530Will I with wine and wassail so convince
75That memory, the warder of the brain,
Shall be a fume, and the receipt of reason
A limbeck only. When in swinish sleep
Their drenchèd natures lies as in a death,
535What cannot you and I perform upon
80Th’ unguarded Duncan? What not put upon
His spongy officers, who shall bear the guilt
Of our great quell?

MACBETH

Bring forth men-children only,
540For thy undaunted mettle should compose
85Nothing but males. Will it not be received,
When we have marked with blood those sleepy two
Of his own chamber and used their very daggers,
That they have done ’t?

LADY MACBETH

545Who dares receive it other,
90As we shall make our griefs and clamor roar
Upon his death?

MACBETH

I am settled and bend up
Each corporal agent to this terrible feat.
550Away, and mock the time with fairest show.
95False face must hide what the false heart doth
know.

They exit.

ACT 2

Scene 1

Enter Banquo, and Fleance with a torch before him.

BANQUO

How goes the night, boy?

FLEANCE

The moon is down. I have not heard the clock.

BANQUO

555And she goes down at twelve.

FLEANCE

I take ’t ’tis later, sir.

BANQUO

5Hold, take my sword.He gives his sword to Fleance.
There’s husbandry in heaven;
Their candles are all out. Take thee that too.
560A heavy summons lies like lead upon me,
And yet I would not sleep. Merciful powers,
10Restrain in me the cursèd thoughts that nature
Gives way to in repose.

Enter Macbeth, and a Servant with a torch.

Give me my sword.—Who’s
565there?

MACBETH

A friend.

BANQUO

15What, sir, not yet at rest? The King’s abed.
He hath been in unusual pleasure, and
Sent forth great largess to your offices.
570This diamond he greets your wife withal,
By the name of most kind hostess, and shut up
20In measureless content.

He gives Macbeth a jewel.

MACBETH

Being unprepared,
Our will became the servant to defect,
575Which else should free have wrought.

BANQUO

All’s well.
25I dreamt last night of the three Weïrd Sisters.
To you they have showed some truth.

MACBETH

I think not of
580them.
Yet, when we can entreat an hour to serve,
30We would spend it in some words upon that
business,
If you would grant the time.

BANQUO

585At your kind’st leisure.

MACBETH

If you shall cleave to my consent, when ’tis,
35It shall make honor for you.

BANQUO

So I lose none
In seeking to augment it, but still keep
590My bosom franchised and allegiance clear,
I shall be counseled.

MACBETH

40Good repose the while.

BANQUO

Thanks, sir. The like to you.

Banquo and Fleance exit.

MACBETH

Go bid thy mistress, when my drink is ready,
595She strike upon the bell. Get thee to bed.
Servant exits.
Is this a dagger which I see before me,
45The handle toward my hand? Come, let me clutch
thee.
I have thee not, and yet I see thee still.
600Art thou not, fatal vision, sensible
To feeling as to sight? Or art thou but
50A dagger of the mind, a false creation
Proceeding from the heat-oppressèd brain?
I see thee yet, in form as palpable
605As this which now I draw.He draws his dagger.
Thou marshal’st me the way that I was going,
55And such an instrument I was to use.
Mine eyes are made the fools o’ th’ other senses
Or else worth all the rest. I see thee still,
610And, on thy blade and dudgeon, gouts of blood,
Which was not so before. There’s no such thing.
60It is the bloody business which informs
Thus to mine eyes. Now o’er the one-half world
Nature seems dead, and wicked dreams abuse
615The curtained sleep. Witchcraft celebrates
Pale Hecate’s off’rings, and withered murder,
65Alarumed by his sentinel, the wolf,
Whose howl’s his watch, thus with his stealthy pace,
With Tarquin’s ravishing strides, towards his
620design
Moves like a ghost. Thou sure and firm-set earth,
70Hear not my steps, which way they walk, for fear
Thy very stones prate of my whereabouts
And take the present horror from the time,
625Which now suits with it. Whiles I threat, he lives.
Words to the heat of deeds too cold breath gives.
A bell rings.
75I go, and it is done. The bell invites me.
Hear it not, Duncan, for it is a knell
That summons thee to heaven or to hell.

He exits.

Scene 2

Enter Lady Macbeth.

LADY MACBETH

630That which hath made them drunk hath made me
bold.
What hath quenched them hath given me fire.
Hark!—Peace.
5It was the owl that shrieked, the fatal bellman,
635Which gives the stern’st good-night. He is about it.
The doors are open, and the surfeited grooms
Do mock their charge with snores. I have drugged
their possets,
10That death and nature do contend about them
640Whether they live or die.

MACBETH , within

Who’s there? what, ho!

LADY MACBETH

Alack, I am afraid they have awaked,
And ’tis not done. Th’ attempt and not the deed
15Confounds us. Hark!—I laid their daggers ready;
645He could not miss ’em. Had he not resembled
My father as he slept, I had done ’t.

Enter Macbeth with bloody daggers.

My husband?

MACBETH

I have done the deed. Didst thou not hear a noise?

LADY MACBETH

20I heard the owl scream and the crickets cry.
650Did not you speak?

MACBETH

When?

LADY MACBETH

Now.

MACBETH

As I descended?

LADY MACBETH

25Ay.

MACBETH

655Hark!—Who lies i’ th’ second chamber?

LADY MACBETH

Donalbain.

MACBETH

This is a sorry sight.

LADY MACBETH

A foolish thought, to say a sorry sight.

MACBETH

30There’s one did laugh in ’s sleep, and one cried
660“Murder!”
That they did wake each other. I stood and heard
them.
But they did say their prayers and addressed them
35Again to sleep.

LADY MACBETH

665There are two lodged together.

MACBETH

One cried “God bless us” and “Amen” the other,
As they had seen me with these hangman’s hands,
List’ning their fear. I could not say “Amen”
40When they did say “God bless us.”

LADY MACBETH

670Consider it not so deeply.

MACBETH

But wherefore could not I pronounce “Amen”?
I had most need of blessing, and “Amen”
Stuck in my throat.

LADY MACBETH

45These deeds must not be thought
675After these ways; so, it will make us mad.

MACBETH

Methought I heard a voice cry “Sleep no more!
Macbeth does murder sleep”—the innocent sleep,
Sleep that knits up the raveled sleave of care,
50The death of each day’s life, sore labor’s bath,
680Balm of hurt minds, great nature’s second course,
Chief nourisher in life’s feast.

LADY MACBETH

What do you mean?

MACBETH

Still it cried “Sleep no more!” to all the house.
55“Glamis hath murdered sleep, and therefore
685Cawdor
Shall sleep no more. Macbeth shall sleep no more.”

LADY MACBETH

Who was it that thus cried? Why, worthy thane,
You do unbend your noble strength to think
60So brainsickly of things. Go get some water
690And wash this filthy witness from your hand.—
Why did you bring these daggers from the place?
They must lie there. Go, carry them and smear
The sleepy grooms with blood.

MACBETH

65I’ll go no more.
695I am afraid to think what I have done.
Look on ’t again I dare not.

LADY MACBETH

Infirm of purpose!
Give me the daggers. The sleeping and the dead
70Are but as pictures. ’Tis the eye of childhood
700That fears a painted devil. If he do bleed,
I’ll gild the faces of the grooms withal,
For it must seem their guilt.

She exits with the daggers. Knock within.

MACBETH

Whence is that
75knocking?
705How is ’t with me when every noise appalls me?
What hands are here! Ha, they pluck out mine eyes.
Will all great Neptune’s ocean wash this blood
Clean from my hand? No, this my hand will rather
80The multitudinous seas incarnadine,
710Making the green one red.

Enter Lady Macbeth.

LADY MACBETH

My hands are of your color, but I shame
To wear a heart so white.Knock.
I hear a knocking
85At the south entry. Retire we to our chamber.
715A little water clears us of this deed.
How easy is it, then! Your constancy
Hath left you unattended.Knock.
Hark, more knocking.
90Get on your nightgown, lest occasion call us
720And show us to be watchers. Be not lost
So poorly in your thoughts.

MACBETH

To know my deed ’twere best not know myself.
Knock.
Wake Duncan with thy knocking. I would thou
95couldst.

They exit.

Scene 3

Knocking within. Enter a Porter.

PORTER

725Here’s a knocking indeed! If a man were
porter of hell gate, he should have old turning the
key. (Knock.) Knock, knock, knock! Who’s there, i’
th’ name of Beelzebub? Here’s a farmer that hanged
5himself on th’ expectation of plenty. Come in time!
730Have napkins enough about you; here you’ll sweat
for ’t. (Knock.) Knock, knock! Who’s there, in th’
other devil’s name? Faith, here’s an equivocator
that could swear in both the scales against either
10scale, who committed treason enough for God’s
735sake yet could not equivocate to heaven. O, come in,
equivocator. (Knock.) Knock, knock, knock! Who’s
there? Faith, here’s an English tailor come hither for
stealing out of a French hose. Come in, tailor. Here
15you may roast your goose. (Knock.) Knock, knock!
740Never at quiet.—What are you?—But this place is
too cold for hell. I’ll devil-porter it no further. I had
thought to have let in some of all professions that go
the primrose way to th’ everlasting bonfire. (Knock.)
20Anon, anon!

The Porter opens the door to Macduff and Lennox.

745I pray you, remember the porter.

MACDUFF

Was it so late, friend, ere you went to bed
That you do lie so late?

PORTER

Faith, sir, we were carousing till the second
25cock, and drink, sir, is a great provoker of three
750things.

MACDUFF

What three things does drink especially
provoke?

PORTER

Marry, sir, nose-painting, sleep, and urine.
30Lechery, sir, it provokes and unprovokes. It provokes
755the desire, but it takes away the performance.
Therefore much drink may be said to be an
equivocator with lechery. It makes him, and it
mars him; it sets him on, and it takes him off; it
35persuades him and disheartens him; makes him
760stand to and not stand to; in conclusion, equivocates
him in a sleep and, giving him the lie, leaves
him.

MACDUFF

I believe drink gave thee the lie last night.

PORTER

40That it did, sir, i’ th’ very throat on me; but I
765requited him for his lie, and, I think, being too
strong for him, though he took up my legs sometime,
yet I made a shift to cast him.

MACDUFF

Is thy master stirring?

Enter Macbeth.

45Our knocking has awaked him. Here he comes.

Porter exits.

LENNOX

770Good morrow, noble sir.

MACBETH

Good morrow, both.

MACDUFF

Is the King stirring, worthy thane?

MACBETH

Not yet.

MACDUFF

50He did command me to call timely on him.
775I have almost slipped the hour.

MACBETH

I’ll bring you to him.

MACDUFF

I know this is a joyful trouble to you,
But yet ’tis one.

MACBETH

55The labor we delight in physics pain.
780This is the door.

MACDUFF

I’ll make so bold to call,
For ’tis my limited service.

Macduff exits.

LENNOX

Goes the King hence today?

MACBETH

60He does. He did appoint so.

LENNOX

785The night has been unruly. Where we lay,
Our chimneys were blown down and, as they say,
Lamentings heard i’ th’ air, strange screams of
death,
65And prophesying, with accents terrible,
790Of dire combustion and confused events
New hatched to th’ woeful time. The obscure bird
Clamored the livelong night. Some say the Earth
Was feverous and did shake.

MACBETH

70’Twas a rough night.

LENNOX

795My young remembrance cannot parallel
A fellow to it.

Enter Macduff.

MACDUFF

O horror, horror, horror!
Tongue nor heart cannot conceive nor name thee!

MACBETH AND LENNOX

75What’s the matter?

MACDUFF

800Confusion now hath made his masterpiece.
Most sacrilegious murder hath broke ope
The Lord’s anointed temple and stole thence
The life o’ th’ building.

MACBETH

80What is ’t you say? The life?

LENNOX

805Mean you his Majesty?

MACDUFF

Approach the chamber and destroy your sight
With a new Gorgon. Do not bid me speak.
See and then speak yourselves.
Macbeth and Lennox exit.
85Awake, awake!
810Ring the alarum bell.—Murder and treason!
Banquo and Donalbain, Malcolm, awake!
Shake off this downy sleep, death’s counterfeit,
And look on death itself. Up, up, and see
90The great doom’s image. Malcolm, Banquo,
815As from your graves rise up and walk like sprites
To countenance this horror.—Ring the bell.

Bell rings.Enter Lady Macbeth.

LADY MACBETH

What’s the business,
That such a hideous trumpet calls to parley
95The sleepers of the house? Speak, speak!

MACDUFF

820O gentle lady,
’Tis not for you to hear what I can speak.
The repetition in a woman’s ear
Would murder as it fell.

Enter Banquo.

100O Banquo, Banquo,
825Our royal master’s murdered.

LADY MACBETH

Woe, alas!
What, in our house?

BANQUO

Too cruel anywhere.—
105Dear Duff, I prithee, contradict thyself
830And say it is not so.

Enter Macbeth, Lennox, and Ross.

MACBETH

Had I but died an hour before this chance,
I had lived a blessèd time; for from this instant
There’s nothing serious in mortality.
110All is but toys. Renown and grace is dead.
835The wine of life is drawn, and the mere lees
Is left this vault to brag of.

Enter Malcolm and Donalbain.

DONALBAIN

What is amiss?

MACBETH

You are, and do not know ’t.
115The spring, the head, the fountain of your blood
840Is stopped; the very source of it is stopped.

MACDUFF

Your royal father’s murdered.

MALCOLM

O, by whom?

LENNOX

Those of his chamber, as it seemed, had done ’t.
120Their hands and faces were all badged with blood.
845So were their daggers, which unwiped we found
Upon their pillows. They stared and were distracted.
No man’s life was to be trusted with them.

MACBETH

O, yet I do repent me of my fury,
125That I did kill them.

MACDUFF

850Wherefore did you so?

MACBETH

Who can be wise, amazed, temp’rate, and furious,
Loyal, and neutral, in a moment? No man.
Th’ expedition of my violent love
130Outrun the pauser, reason. Here lay Duncan,
855His silver skin laced with his golden blood,
And his gashed stabs looked like a breach in nature
For ruin’s wasteful entrance; there the murderers,
Steeped in the colors of their trade, their daggers
135Unmannerly breeched with gore. Who could refrain
860That had a heart to love, and in that heart
Courage to make ’s love known?

LADY MACBETH

Help me hence, ho!

MACDUFF

Look to the lady.

MALCOLM , aside to Donalbain

140Why do we hold our
865tongues,
That most may claim this argument for ours?

DONALBAIN , aside to Malcolm

What should be spoken here, where our fate,
Hid in an auger hole, may rush and seize us?
145Let’s away. Our tears are not yet brewed.

MALCOLM , aside to Donalbain

870Nor our strong sorrow upon the foot of motion.

BANQUO

Look to the lady.
Lady Macbeth is assisted to leave.
And when we have our naked frailties hid,
That suffer in exposure, let us meet
150And question this most bloody piece of work
875To know it further. Fears and scruples shake us.
In the great hand of God I stand, and thence
Against the undivulged pretense I fight
Of treasonous malice.

MACDUFF

155And so do I.

ALL

880So all.

MACBETH

Let’s briefly put on manly readiness
And meet i’ th’ hall together.

ALL

Well contented.

All but Malcolm and Donalbain exit.

MALCOLM

160What will you do? Let’s not consort with them.
885To show an unfelt sorrow is an office
Which the false man does easy. I’ll to England.

DONALBAIN

To Ireland I. Our separated fortune
Shall keep us both the safer. Where we are,
165There’s daggers in men’s smiles. The near in blood,
890The nearer bloody.

MALCOLM

This murderous shaft that’s shot
Hath not yet lighted, and our safest way
Is to avoid the aim. Therefore to horse,
170And let us not be dainty of leave-taking
895But shift away. There’s warrant in that theft
Which steals itself when there’s no mercy left.

They exit.

Scene 4

Enter Ross with an Old Man.

OLD MAN

Threescore and ten I can remember well,
Within the volume of which time I have seen
Hours dreadful and things strange, but this sore
900night
5Hath trifled former knowings.

ROSS

Ha, good father,
Thou seest the heavens, as troubled with man’s act,
Threatens his bloody stage. By th’ clock ’tis day,
905And yet dark night strangles the traveling lamp.
10Is ’t night’s predominance or the day’s shame
That darkness does the face of earth entomb
When living light should kiss it?

OLD MAN

’Tis unnatural,
910Even like the deed that’s done. On Tuesday last
15A falcon, tow’ring in her pride of place,
Was by a mousing owl hawked at and killed.

ROSS

And Duncan’s horses (a thing most strange and
certain),
915Beauteous and swift, the minions of their race,
20Turned wild in nature, broke their stalls, flung out,
Contending ’gainst obedience, as they would
Make war with mankind.

OLD MAN

’Tis said they eat each
920other.

ROSS

25They did so, to th’ amazement of mine eyes
That looked upon ’t.

Enter Macduff.

Here comes the good
Macduff.—
925How goes the world, sir, now?

MACDUFF

30Why, see you not?

ROSS

Is ’t known who did this more than bloody deed?

MACDUFF

Those that Macbeth hath slain.

ROSS

Alas the day,
930What good could they pretend?

MACDUFF

35They were suborned.
Malcolm and Donalbain, the King’s two sons,
Are stol’n away and fled, which puts upon them
Suspicion of the deed.

ROSS

935’Gainst nature still!
40Thriftless ambition, that will ravin up
Thine own lives’ means. Then ’tis most like
The sovereignty will fall upon Macbeth.

MACDUFF

He is already named and gone to Scone
940To be invested.

ROSS

45Where is Duncan’s body?

MACDUFF

Carried to Colmekill,
The sacred storehouse of his predecessors
And guardian of their bones.

ROSS

945Will you to Scone?

MACDUFF

50No, cousin, I’ll to Fife.

ROSS

Well, I will thither.

MACDUFF

Well, may you see things well done there. Adieu,
Lest our old robes sit easier than our new.

ROSS

950Farewell, father.

OLD MAN

55God’s benison go with you and with those
That would make good of bad and friends of foes.

All exit.

ACT 3

Scene 1

Enter Banquo.

BANQUO

Thou hast it now—king, Cawdor, Glamis, all
As the Weïrd Women promised, and I fear
955Thou played’st most foully for ’t. Yet it was said
It should not stand in thy posterity,
5But that myself should be the root and father
Of many kings. If there come truth from them
(As upon thee, Macbeth, their speeches shine)
960Why, by the verities on thee made good,
May they not be my oracles as well,
10And set me up in hope? But hush, no more.

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

MACBETH

Here’s our chief guest.

LADY MACBETH

If he had been forgotten,
965It had been as a gap in our great feast
And all-thing unbecoming.

MACBETH

15Tonight we hold a solemn supper, sir,
And I’ll request your presence.

BANQUO

Let your Highness
970Command upon me, to the which my duties
Are with a most indissoluble tie
20Forever knit.

MACBETH

Ride you this afternoon?

BANQUO

Ay, my good lord.

MACBETH

975We should have else desired your good advice
(Which still hath been both grave and prosperous)
25In this day’s council, but we’ll take tomorrow.
Is ’t far you ride?

BANQUO

As far, my lord, as will fill up the time
980’Twixt this and supper. Go not my horse the better,
I must become a borrower of the night
30For a dark hour or twain.

MACBETH

Fail not our feast.

BANQUO

My lord, I will not.

MACBETH

985We hear our bloody cousins are bestowed
In England and in Ireland, not confessing
35Their cruel parricide, filling their hearers
With strange invention. But of that tomorrow,
When therewithal we shall have cause of state
990Craving us jointly. Hie you to horse. Adieu,
Till you return at night. Goes Fleance with you?

BANQUO

40Ay, my good lord. Our time does call upon ’s.

MACBETH

I wish your horses swift and sure of foot,
And so I do commend you to their backs.
995Farewell.Banquo exits.
Let every man be master of his time
45Till seven at night. To make society
The sweeter welcome, we will keep ourself
Till suppertime alone. While then, God be with you.
Lords and all but Macbeth and a Servant exit.
1000Sirrah, a word with you. Attend those men
Our pleasure?

SERVANT

50They are, my lord, without the palace gate.

MACBETH

Bring them before us.Servant exits.
To be thus is nothing,
1005But to be safely thus. Our fears in Banquo
Stick deep, and in his royalty of nature
55Reigns that which would be feared. ’Tis much he
dares,
And to that dauntless temper of his mind
1010He hath a wisdom that doth guide his valor
To act in safety. There is none but he
60Whose being I do fear; and under him
My genius is rebuked, as it is said
Mark Antony’s was by Caesar. He chid the sisters
1015When first they put the name of king upon me
And bade them speak to him. Then, prophet-like,
65They hailed him father to a line of kings.
Upon my head they placed a fruitless crown
And put a barren scepter in my grip,
1020Thence to be wrenched with an unlineal hand,
No son of mine succeeding. If ’t be so,
70For Banquo’s issue have I filed my mind;
For them the gracious Duncan have I murdered,
Put rancors in the vessel of my peace
1025Only for them, and mine eternal jewel
Given to the common enemy of man
75To make them kings, the seeds of Banquo kings.
Rather than so, come fate into the list,
And champion me to th’ utterance.—Who’s there?

Enter Servant and two Murderers.

1030To the Servant. Now go to the door, and stay there
till we call.Servant exits.
80Was it not yesterday we spoke together?

MURDERERS

It was, so please your Highness.

MACBETH

Well then, now
1035Have you considered of my speeches? Know
That it was he, in the times past, which held you
85So under fortune, which you thought had been
Our innocent self. This I made good to you
In our last conference, passed in probation with you
1040How you were borne in hand, how crossed, the
instruments,
90Who wrought with them, and all things else that
might
To half a soul and to a notion crazed
1045Say “Thus did Banquo.”

FIRST MURDERER

You made it known to us.

MACBETH

95I did so, and went further, which is now
Our point of second meeting. Do you find
Your patience so predominant in your nature
1050That you can let this go? Are you so gospeled
To pray for this good man and for his issue,
100Whose heavy hand hath bowed you to the grave
And beggared yours forever?

FIRST MURDERER

We are men, my liege.

MACBETH

1055Ay, in the catalogue you go for men,
As hounds and greyhounds, mongrels, spaniels,
105curs,
Shoughs, water-rugs, and demi-wolves are clept
All by the name of dogs. The valued file
1060Distinguishes the swift, the slow, the subtle,
The housekeeper, the hunter, every one
110According to the gift which bounteous nature
Hath in him closed; whereby he does receive
Particular addition, from the bill
1065That writes them all alike. And so of men.
Now, if you have a station in the file,
115Not i’ th’ worst rank of manhood, say ’t,
And I will put that business in your bosoms
Whose execution takes your enemy off,
1070Grapples you to the heart and love of us,
Who wear our health but sickly in his life,
120Which in his death were perfect.

SECOND MURDERER

I am one, my liege,
Whom the vile blows and buffets of the world
1075Hath so incensed that I am reckless what
I do to spite the world.

FIRST MURDERER

125And I another
So weary with disasters, tugged with fortune,
That I would set my life on any chance,
1080To mend it or be rid on ’t.

MACBETH

Both of you
130Know Banquo was your enemy.

MURDERERS

True, my lord.

MACBETH

So is he mine, and in such bloody distance
1085That every minute of his being thrusts
Against my near’st of life. And though I could
135With barefaced 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,
1090Whose loves I may not drop, but wail his fall
Who I myself struck down. And thence it is
140That I to your assistance do make love,
Masking the business from the common eye
For sundry weighty reasons.

SECOND MURDERER

1095We shall, my lord,
Perform what you command us.

FIRST MURDERER

145Though our lives—

MACBETH

Your spirits shine through you. Within this hour at
most
1100I will advise you where to plant yourselves,
Acquaint you with the perfect spy o’ th’ time,
150The moment on ’t, for ’t must be done tonight
And something from the palace; always thought
That I require a clearness. And with him
1105(To leave no rubs nor botches in the work)
Fleance, his son, that keeps him company,
155Whose absence is no less material to me
Than is his father’s, must embrace the fate
Of that dark hour. Resolve yourselves apart.
1110I’ll come to you anon.

MURDERERS

We are resolved, my lord.

MACBETH

160I’ll call upon you straight. Abide within.
Murderers exit.
It is concluded. Banquo, thy soul’s flight,
If it find heaven, must find it out tonight.

He exits.

Scene 2

Enter Macbeth’s Lady and a Servant.

LADY MACBETH

1115Is Banquo gone from court?

SERVANT

Ay, madam, but returns again tonight.

LADY MACBETH

Say to the King I would attend his leisure
For a few words.

SERVANT

5Madam, I will.He exits.

LADY MACBETH

1120Naught’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.

10How now, my lord, why do you keep alone,
1125Of 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.

MACBETH

15We have scorched the snake, not killed it.
1130She’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,
20Ere we will eat our meal in fear, and sleep
1135In 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
25In restless ecstasy. Duncan is in his grave.
1140After 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 MACBETH

30Come on, gentle my lord,
1145Sleek o’er your rugged looks. Be bright and jovial
Among your guests tonight.

MACBETH

So shall I, love,
And so I pray be you. Let your remembrance
35Apply to Banquo; present him eminence
1150Both with eye and tongue: unsafe the while that we
Must lave our honors in these flattering streams
And make our faces vizards to our hearts,
Disguising what they are.

LADY MACBETH

40You must leave this.

MACBETH

1155O, full of scorpions is my mind, dear wife!
Thou know’st that Banquo and his Fleance lives.

LADY MACBETH

But in them nature’s copy’s not eterne.

MACBETH

There’s comfort yet; they are assailable.
45Then be thou jocund. Ere the bat hath flown
1160His cloistered 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 MACBETH

50What’s to be done?

MACBETH

1165Be 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
55Cancel and tear to pieces that great bond
1170Which 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
60rouse.—
1175Thou marvel’st at my words, but hold thee still.
Things bad begun make strong themselves by ill.
So prithee go with me.

They exit.

Scene 3

Enter three Murderers.

FIRST MURDERER

But who did bid thee join with us?

THIRD MURDERER

Macbeth.

SECOND MURDERER , to the First Murderer

1180He needs not our mistrust, since he delivers
Our offices and what we have to do
5To the direction just.

FIRST MURDERER

Then stand with us.—
The west yet glimmers with some streaks of day.
1185Now spurs the lated traveler apace
To gain the timely inn, and near approaches
10The subject of our watch.

THIRD MURDERER

Hark, I hear horses.

BANQUO , within

Give us a light there, ho!

SECOND MURDERER

1190Then ’tis he. The rest
That are within the note of expectation
15Already are i’ th’ court.

FIRST MURDERER

His horses go about.

THIRD MURDERER

Almost a mile; but he does usually
1195(So all men do) from hence to th’ palace gate
Make it their walk.

Enter Banquo and Fleance, with a torch.

SECOND MURDERER

20A light, a light!

THIRD MURDERER

’Tis he.

FIRST MURDERER

Stand to ’t.

BANQUO , to Fleance

1200It will be rain tonight.

FIRST MURDERER

Let it come down!

The three Murderers attack.

BANQUO

25O treachery! Fly, good Fleance, fly, fly, fly!
Thou mayst revenge—O slave!

He dies. Fleance exits.

THIRD MURDERER

Who did strike out the light?

FIRST MURDERER

1205Was ’t not the way?

THIRD MURDERER

There’s but one down. The son is
30fled.

SECOND MURDERER

We have lost best half of our
affair.

FIRST MURDERER

1210Well, let’s away and say how much is done.

They exit.

Scene 4

Banquet prepared. Enter Macbeth, Lady Macbeth,
Ross, Lennox, Lords, and Attendants.

MACBETH

You know your own degrees; sit down. At first
And last, the hearty welcome.

They sit.

LORDS

Thanks to your Majesty.

MACBETH

Ourself will mingle with society
51215And play the humble host.
Our hostess keeps her state, but in best time
We will require her welcome.

LADY MACBETH

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

Enter First Murderer to the door.

MACBETH

101220See, 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. He approaches the Murderer. There’s
blood upon thy face.

MURDERER

151225’Tis Banquo’s then.

MACBETH

’Tis better thee without than he within.
Is he dispatched?

MURDERER

My lord, his throat is cut. That I did for him.

MACBETH

Thou art the best o’ th’ cutthroats,
201230Yet he’s good that did the like for Fleance.
If thou didst it, thou art the nonpareil.

MURDERER

Most royal sir, Fleance is ’scaped.

MACBETH , aside

Then comes my fit again. I had else been perfect,
Whole as the marble, founded as the rock,
251235As broad and general as the casing air.
But now I am cabined, cribbed, confined, bound in
To saucy doubts and fears.—But Banquo’s safe?

MURDERER

Ay, my good lord. Safe in a ditch he bides,
With twenty trenchèd gashes on his head,
301240The least a death to nature.

MACBETH

Thanks 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
351245We’ll hear ourselves again.

Murderer exits.

LADY MACBETH

My royal lord,
You do not give the cheer. The feast is sold
That is not often vouched, while ’tis a-making,
’Tis given with welcome. To feed were best at home;
401250From thence, the sauce to meat is ceremony;
Meeting were bare without it.

Enter the Ghost of Banquo, and sits in Macbeth’s place.

MACBETH , to Lady Macbeth

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

LENNOX

451255May ’t please your Highness sit.

MACBETH

Here had we now our country’s honor roofed,
Were the graced person of our Banquo present,
Who may I rather challenge for unkindness
Than pity for mischance.

ROSS

501260His absence, sir,
Lays blame upon his promise. Please ’t your
Highness
To grace us with your royal company?

MACBETH

The table’s full.

LENNOX

551265Here is a place reserved, sir.

MACBETH

Where?

LENNOX

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

MACBETH

Which of you have done this?

LORDS

601270What, my good lord?

MACBETH , to the Ghost

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

ROSS

Gentlemen, rise. His Highness is not well.

LADY MACBETH

Sit, worthy friends. My lord is often thus
651275And 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.Drawing Macbeth aside.
701280Are you a man?

MACBETH

Ay, and a bold one, that dare look on that
Which might appall the devil.

LADY MACBETH

O, proper stuff!
This is the very painting of your fear.
751285This 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,
Authorized by her grandam. Shame itself!
801290Why do you make such faces? When all’s done,
You look but on a stool.

MACBETH

Prithee, see there. Behold, look! To the Ghost. Lo,
how say you?
Why, what care I? If thou canst nod, speak too.—
851295If charnel houses and our graves must send
Those that we bury back, our monuments
Shall be the maws of kites.

Ghost exits.

LADY MACBETH

What, quite unmanned in folly?

MACBETH

If I stand here, I saw him.

LADY MACBETH

901300Fie, for shame!

MACBETH

Blood hath been shed ere now, i’ th’ olden time,
Ere humane statute purged the gentle weal;
Ay, and since too, murders have been performed
Too terrible for the ear. The time has been
951305That, 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 MACBETH

1001310My worthy lord,
Your noble friends do lack you.

MACBETH

I do forget.—
Do not muse at me, my most worthy friends.
I have a strange infirmity, which is nothing
1051315To those that know me. Come, love and health to
all.
Then I’ll sit down.—Give me some wine. Fill full.

Enter Ghost.

I drink to th’ general joy o’ th’ whole table
And to our dear friend Banquo, whom we miss.
1101320Would he were here! To all, and him we thirst,
And all to all.

LORDS

Our duties, and the pledge.

They raise their drinking cups.

MACBETH , to the Ghost

Avaunt, and quit my sight! Let the earth hide thee.
Thy bones are marrowless; thy blood is cold;
1151325Thou hast no speculation in those eyes
Which thou dost glare with.

LADY MACBETH

Think of this, good
peers,
But as a thing of custom. ’Tis no other;
1201330Only it spoils the pleasure of the time.

MACBETH , to the Ghost

What man dare, I dare.
Approach thou like the rugged Russian bear,
The armed rhinoceros, or th’ Hyrcan tiger;
Take any shape but that, and my firm nerves
1251335Shall 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 exits.
1301340Why so, being gone,
I am a man again.—Pray you sit still.

LADY MACBETH

You have displaced the mirth, broke the good
meeting
With most admired disorder.

MACBETH

1351345Can 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
1401350And keep the natural ruby of your cheeks
When mine is blanched with fear.

ROSS

What sights, my
lord?

LADY MACBETH

I pray you, speak not. He grows worse and worse.
1451355Question enrages him. At once, good night.
Stand not upon the order of your going,
But go at once.

LENNOX

Good night, and better health
Attend his Majesty.

LADY MACBETH

1501360A kind good night to all.

Lords and all but Macbeth and Lady Macbeth exit.

MACBETH

It will have blood, they say; blood will have blood.
Stones have been known to move, and trees to
speak.
Augurs and understood relations have
1551365By maggot pies and choughs and rooks brought
forth
The secret’st man of blood.—What is the night?

LADY MACBETH

Almost at odds with morning, which is which.

MACBETH

How say’st thou that Macduff denies his person
1601370At our great bidding?

LADY MACBETH

Did you send to him, sir?

MACBETH

I 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
1651375(And betimes I will) to the Weïrd 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
Stepped in so far that, should I wade no more,
1701380Returning 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 scanned.

LADY MACBETH

You lack the season of all natures, sleep.

MACBETH

Come, we’ll to sleep. My strange and self-abuse
1751385Is the initiate fear that wants hard use.
We are yet but young in deed.

They exit.

Scene 5

Thunder. Enter the three Witches, meeting Hecate.

FIRST WITCH

Why, how now, Hecate? You look angerly.

HECATE

Have I not reason, beldams as you are?
Saucy and overbold, how did you dare
1390To trade and traffic with Macbeth
5In riddles and affairs of death,
And I, the mistress of your charms,
The close contriver of all harms,
Was never called to bear my part
1395Or show the glory of our art?
10And 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.
1400But make amends now. Get you gone,
15And at the pit of Acheron
Meet me i’ th’ morning. Thither he
Will come to know his destiny.
Your vessels and your spells provide,
1405Your charms and everything beside.
20I 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
1410There hangs a vap’rous drop profound.
25I’ll catch it ere it come to ground,
And that, distilled by magic sleights,
Shall raise such artificial sprites
As by the strength of their illusion
1415Shall draw him on to his confusion.
30He 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 a song.
1420Hark! I am called. My little spirit, see,
35Sits in a foggy cloud and stays for me.

Hecate exits.Sing within etc.

FIRST WITCH

Come, let’s make haste. She’ll soon be back again.

They exit.

Scene 6

Enter Lennox and another Lord.

LENNOX

My former speeches have but hit your thoughts,
Which can interpret farther. Only I say
1425Things have been strangely borne. The gracious
Duncan
5Was pitied of Macbeth; marry, he was dead.
And the right valiant Banquo walked too late,
Whom you may say, if ’t please you, Fleance killed,
1430For Fleance fled. Men must not walk too late.
Who cannot want the thought how monstrous
10It was for Malcolm and for Donalbain
To kill their gracious father? Damnèd fact,
How it did grieve Macbeth! Did he not straight
1435In pious rage the two delinquents tear
That were the slaves of drink and thralls of sleep?
15Was not that nobly done? Ay, and wisely, too,
For ’twould have angered any heart alive
To hear the men deny ’t. So that I say
1440He has borne all things well. And I do think
That had he Duncan’s sons under his key
20(As, an ’t please heaven, he shall not) they should
find
What ’twere to kill a father. So should Fleance.
1445But peace. For from broad words, and ’cause he
failed
25His presence at the tyrant’s feast, I hear
Macduff lives in disgrace. Sir, can you tell
Where he bestows himself?

LORD

1450The son of Duncan
(From whom this tyrant holds the due of birth)
30Lives in the English court and is received
Of the most pious Edward with such grace
That the malevolence of fortune nothing
1455Takes from his high respect. Thither Macduff
Is gone to pray the holy king upon his aid
35To wake Northumberland and warlike Siward
That, by the help of these (with Him above
To ratify the work), we may again
1460Give to our tables meat, sleep to our nights,
Free from our feasts and banquets bloody knives,
40Do faithful homage, and receive free honors,
All which we pine for now. And this report
Hath so exasperate the King that he
1465Prepares for some attempt of war.

LENNOX

Sent he to Macduff?

LORD

45He 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
1470That clogs me with this answer.”

LENNOX

And that well might
50Advise him to a caution t’ hold what distance
His wisdom can provide. Some holy angel
Fly to the court of England and unfold
1475His message ere he come, that a swift blessing
May soon return to this our suffering country
55Under a hand accursed.

LORD

I’ll send my prayers with him.

They exit.

ACT 4

Scene 1

Thunder. Enter the three Witches.

FIRST WITCH

Thrice the brinded cat hath mewed.

SECOND WITCH

1480Thrice, and once the hedge-pig whined.

THIRD WITCH

Harpier cries “’Tis time, ’tis time!”

FIRST WITCH

Round about the cauldron go;
5In the poisoned entrails throw.
Toad, that under cold stone
1485Days and nights has thirty-one
Sweltered venom sleeping got,
Boil thou first i’ th’ charmèd pot.

The Witches circle the cauldron.

ALL

10Double, double toil and trouble;
Fire burn, and cauldron bubble.

SECOND WITCH

1490Fillet of a fenny snake
In the cauldron boil and bake.
Eye of newt and toe of frog,
15Wool of bat and tongue of dog,
Adder’s fork and blindworm’s sting,
1495Lizard’s leg and howlet’s wing,
For a charm of powerful trouble,
Like a hell-broth boil and bubble.

ALL

20Double, double toil and trouble;
Fire burn, and cauldron bubble.

THIRD WITCH

1500Scale of dragon, tooth of wolf,
Witch’s mummy, maw and gulf
Of the ravined salt-sea shark,
25Root of hemlock digged i’ th’ dark,
Liver of blaspheming Jew,
1505Gall of goat and slips of yew
Slivered in the moon’s eclipse,
Nose of Turk and Tartar’s lips,
30Finger of birth-strangled babe
Ditch-delivered by a drab,
1510Make the gruel thick and slab.
Add thereto a tiger’s chaudron
For th’ ingredience of our cauldron.

ALL

35Double, double toil and trouble;
Fire burn, and cauldron bubble.

SECOND WITCH

1515Cool it with a baboon’s blood.
Then the charm is firm and good.

Enter Hecate to the other three Witches.

HECATE

O, well done! I commend your pains,
40And everyone shall share i’ th’ gains.
And now about the cauldron sing
1520Like elves and fairies in a ring,
Enchanting all that you put in.

Music and a song: etc. Hecate exits.

SECOND WITCH

By the pricking of my thumbs,
45Something wicked this way comes.
Open, locks,
1525Whoever knocks.

Enter Macbeth.

MACBETH

How now, you secret, black, and midnight hags?
What is ’t you do?

ALL

50A deed without a name.

MACBETH

I conjure you by that which you profess
1530(Howe’er you come to know it), answer me.
Though you untie the winds and let them fight
Against the churches, though the yeasty waves
55Confound and swallow navigation up,
Though bladed corn be lodged and trees blown
1535down,
Though castles topple on their warders’ heads,
Though palaces and pyramids do slope
60Their heads to their foundations, though the
treasure
1540Of nature’s germens tumble all together
Even till destruction sicken, answer me
To what I ask you.

FIRST WITCH

65Speak.

SECOND WITCH

Demand.

THIRD WITCH

1545We’ll answer.

FIRST WITCH

Say if th’ hadst rather hear it from our mouths
Or from our masters’.

MACBETH

70Call ’em. Let me see ’em.

FIRST WITCH

Pour in sow’s blood that hath eaten
1550Her nine farrow; grease that’s sweaten
From the murderers’ gibbet throw
Into the flame.

ALL

75Come high or low;
Thyself and office deftly show.

Thunder. First Apparition, an Armed Head.

MACBETH

1555Tell me, thou unknown power—

FIRST WITCH

He knows thy
thought.
80Hear his speech but say thou naught.

FIRST APPARITION

Macbeth! Macbeth! Macbeth! Beware Macduff!
1560Beware the Thane of Fife! Dismiss me. Enough.

He descends.

MACBETH

Whate’er thou art, for thy good caution, thanks.
Thou hast harped my fear aright. But one word
85more—

FIRST WITCH

He will not be commanded. Here’s another
1565More potent than the first.

Thunder. Second Apparition, a Bloody Child.

SECOND APPARITION

Macbeth! Macbeth! Macbeth!—

MACBETH

Had I three ears, I’d hear thee.

SECOND APPARITION

90Be bloody, bold, and resolute. Laugh to scorn
The power of man, for none of woman born
1570Shall harm Macbeth.

He descends.

MACBETH

Then live, Macduff; what need I fear of thee?
But yet I’ll make assurance double sure
95And take a bond of fate. Thou shalt not live,
That I may tell pale-hearted fear it lies,
1575And sleep in spite of thunder.
Thunder. Third Apparition, a Child Crowned, with a tree
in his hand.

What is this
That rises like the issue of a king
100And wears upon his baby brow the round
And top of sovereignty?

ALL

1580Listen but speak not to ’t.

THIRD APPARITION

Be lion-mettled, proud, and take no care
Who chafes, who frets, or where conspirers are.
105Macbeth shall never vanquished be until
Great Birnam Wood to high Dunsinane Hill
1585Shall come against him.

He descends.

MACBETH

That will never be.
Who can impress the forest, bid the tree
110Unfix his earthbound root? Sweet bodements, good!
Rebellious dead, rise never till the Wood
1590Of Birnam rise, and our high-placed Macbeth
Shall live the lease of nature, pay his breath
To time and mortal custom. Yet my heart
115Throbs to know one thing. Tell me, if your art
Can tell so much: shall Banquo’s issue ever
1595Reign in this kingdom?

ALL

Seek to know no more.

MACBETH

I will be satisfied. Deny me this,
120And an eternal curse fall on you! Let me know!
Cauldron sinks. Hautboys.
Why sinks that cauldron? And what noise is this?

FIRST WITCH

1600Show.

SECOND WITCH

Show.

THIRD WITCH

Show.

ALL

125Show his eyes and grieve his heart.
Come like shadows; so depart.

A show of eight kings, the eighth king with a glass in
his hand, and Banquo last.

MACBETH

1605Thou art 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.
130A third is like the former.—Filthy hags,
Why do you show me this?—A fourth? Start, eyes!
1610What, 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
135Which shows me many more, and some I see
That twofold balls and treble scepters carry.
1615Horrible sight! Now I see ’tis true,
For the blood-boltered Banquo smiles upon me
And points at them for his.
The Apparitions disappear.
140What, is this so?

FIRST WITCH

Ay, sir, all this is so. But why
1620Stands Macbeth thus amazedly?
Come, sisters, cheer we up his sprites
And show the best of our delights.
145I’ll charm the air to give a sound
While you perform your antic round,
1625That this great king may kindly say
Our duties did his welcome pay.

Music. The Witches dance and vanish.

MACBETH

Where are they? Gone? Let this pernicious hour
150Stand aye accursèd in the calendar!—
Come in, without there.

Enter Lennox.

LENNOX

1630What’s your Grace’s will?

MACBETH

Saw you the Weïrd Sisters?

LENNOX

No, my lord.

MACBETH

155Came they not by you?

LENNOX

No, indeed, my lord.

MACBETH

1635Infected 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?

LENNOX

160’Tis two or three, my lord, that bring you word
Macduff is fled to England.

MACBETH

1640Fled to England?

LENNOX

Ay, my good lord.

MACBETH , aside

Time, thou anticipat’st my dread exploits.
165The flighty purpose never is o’ertook
Unless the deed go with it. From this moment
1645The 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
170done:
The castle of Macduff I will surprise,
1650Seize 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;
175This deed I’ll do before this purpose cool.
But no more sights!—Where are these gentlemen?
1655Come bring me where they are.

They exit.

Scene 2

Enter Macduff’s Wife, her Son, and Ross.

LADY MACDUFF

What had he done to make him fly the land?

ROSS

You must have patience, madam.

LADY MACDUFF

He had none.
His flight was madness. When our actions do not,
51660Our fears do make us traitors.

ROSS

You know not
Whether it was his wisdom or his fear.

LADY MACDUFF

Wisdom? To leave his wife, to leave his babes,
His mansion and his titles in a place
101665From 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,
151670As little is the wisdom, where the flight
So runs against all reason.

ROSS

My dearest coz,
I pray you school yourself. But for your husband,
He is noble, wise, judicious, and best knows
201675The 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 rumor
From what we fear, yet know not what we fear,
251680But 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,
301685Blessing upon you.

LADY MACDUFF

Fathered he is, and yet he’s fatherless.

ROSS

I am so much a fool, should I stay longer
It would be my disgrace and your discomfort.
I take my leave at once.

Ross exits.

LADY MACDUFF

351690Sirrah, your father’s dead.
And what will you do now? How will you live?

SON

As birds do, mother.

LADY MACDUFF

What, with worms and flies?

SON

With what I get, I mean; and so do they.

LADY MACDUFF

401695Poor bird, thou ’dst never fear the net nor lime,
The pitfall nor the gin.

SON

Why should I, mother? Poor birds they are not set
for.
My father is not dead, for all your saying.

LADY MACDUFF

451700Yes, he is dead. How wilt thou do for a father?

SON

Nay, how will you do for a husband?

LADY MACDUFF

Why, I can buy me twenty at any market.

SON

Then you’ll buy ’em to sell again.

LADY MACDUFF

Thou speak’st with all thy wit,
501705And yet, i’ faith, with wit enough for thee.

SON

Was my father a traitor, mother?

LADY MACDUFF

Ay, that he was.

SON

What is a traitor?

LADY MACDUFF

Why, one that swears and lies.

SON

551710And be all traitors that do so?

LADY MACDUFF

Every one that does so is a traitor
and must be hanged.

SON

And must they all be hanged that swear and lie?

LADY MACDUFF

Every one.

SON

601715Who must hang them?

LADY MACDUFF

Why, the honest men.

SON

Then the liars and swearers are fools, for there
are liars and swearers enough to beat the honest
men and hang up them.

LADY MACDUFF

651720Now God help thee, poor monkey! But
how wilt thou do for a father?

SON

If he were dead, you’d weep for him. If you would
not, it were a good sign that I should quickly have a
new father.

LADY MACDUFF

701725Poor prattler, how thou talk’st!

Enter a Messenger.

MESSENGER

Bless you, fair dame. I am not to you known,
Though in your state of honor I am perfect.
I doubt some danger does approach you nearly.
If you will take a homely man’s advice,
751730Be 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!
801735I dare abide no longer.

Messenger exits.

LADY MACDUFF

Whither 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
851740Accounted dangerous folly. Why then, alas,
Do I put up that womanly defense
To say I have done no harm?

Enter Murderers.

What are these faces?

MURDERER

Where is your husband?

LADY MACDUFF

901745I hope in no place so unsanctified
Where such as thou mayst find him.

MURDERER

He’s a traitor.

SON

Thou liest, thou shag-eared villain!

MURDERER

What, you egg?
951750Stabbing him. Young fry of treachery!

SON

He has killed
me, mother.
Run away, I pray you.

Lady Macduff exits, crying “Murder!” followed by the
Murderers bearing the Son’s body.

Scene 3

Enter Malcolm and Macduff.

MALCOLM

Let us seek out some desolate shade and there
1755Weep our sad bosoms empty.

MACDUFF

Let us rather
Hold fast the mortal sword and, like good men,
5Bestride our downfall’n birthdom. Each new morn
New widows howl, new orphans cry, new sorrows
1760Strike heaven on the face, that it resounds
As if it felt with Scotland, and yelled out
Like syllable of dolor.

MALCOLM

10What I believe, I’ll wail;
What know, believe; and what I can redress,
1765As 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,
15Was once thought honest. You have loved him well.
He hath not touched you yet. I am young, but
1770something
You may deserve of him through me, and wisdom
To offer up a weak, poor, innocent lamb
20T’ appease an angry god.

MACDUFF

I am not treacherous.

MALCOLM

1775But Macbeth is.
A good and virtuous nature may recoil
In an imperial charge. But I shall crave your
25pardon.
That which you are, my thoughts cannot transpose.
1780Angels are bright still, though the brightest fell.
Though all things foul would wear the brows of
grace,
30Yet grace must still look so.

MACDUFF

I have lost my hopes.

MALCOLM

1785Perchance 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,
35Without leave-taking? I pray you,
Let not my jealousies be your dishonors,
1790But mine own safeties. You may be rightly just,
Whatever I shall think.

MACDUFF

Bleed, bleed, poor country!
40Great tyranny, lay thou thy basis sure,
For goodness dare not check thee. Wear thou thy
1795wrongs;
The title is affeered.—Fare thee well, lord.
I would not be the villain that thou think’st
45For the whole space that’s in the tyrant’s grasp,
And the rich East to boot.

MALCOLM

1800Be not offended.
I speak not as in absolute fear of you.
I think our country sinks beneath the yoke.
50It weeps, it bleeds, and each new day a gash
Is added to her wounds. I think withal
1805There would be hands uplifted in my right;
And here from gracious England have I offer
Of goodly thousands. But, for all this,
55When I shall tread upon the tyrant’s head
Or wear it on my sword, yet my poor country
1810Shall have more vices than it had before,
More suffer, and more sundry ways than ever,
By him that shall succeed.

MACDUFF

60What should he be?

MALCOLM

It is myself I mean, in whom I know
1815All the particulars of vice so grafted
That, when they shall be opened, black Macbeth
Will seem as pure as snow, and the poor state
65Esteem him as a lamb, being compared
With my confineless harms.

MACDUFF

1820Not in the legions
Of horrid hell can come a devil more damned
In evils to top Macbeth.

MALCOLM

70I grant him bloody,
Luxurious, avaricious, false, deceitful,
1825Sudden, malicious, smacking of every sin
That has a name. But there’s no bottom, none,
In my voluptuousness. Your wives, your daughters,
75Your matrons, and your maids could not fill up
The cistern of my lust, and my desire
1830All continent impediments would o’erbear
That did oppose my will. Better Macbeth
Than such an one to reign.

MACDUFF

80Boundless intemperance
In nature is a tyranny. It hath been
1835Th’ untimely emptying of the happy throne
And fall of many kings. But fear not yet
To take upon you what is yours. You may
85Convey your pleasures in a spacious plenty
And yet seem cold—the time you may so hoodwink.
1840We have willing dames enough. There cannot be
That vulture in you to devour so many
As will to greatness dedicate themselves,
90Finding it so inclined.

MALCOLM

With this there grows
1845In my most ill-composed affection such
A stanchless avarice that, were I king,
I should cut off the nobles for their lands,
95Desire his jewels, and this other’s house;
And my more-having would be as a sauce
1850To make me hunger more, that I should forge
Quarrels unjust against the good and loyal,
Destroying them for wealth.

MACDUFF

100This avarice
Sticks deeper, grows with more pernicious root
1855Than 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
105Of your mere own. All these are portable,
With other graces weighed.

MALCOLM

1860But I have none. The king-becoming graces,
As justice, verity, temp’rance, stableness,
Bounty, perseverance, mercy, lowliness,
110Devotion, patience, courage, fortitude,
I have no relish of them but abound
1865In the division of each several crime,
Acting it many ways. Nay, had I power, I should
Pour the sweet milk of concord into hell,
115Uproar the universal peace, confound
All unity on earth.

MACDUFF

1870O Scotland, Scotland!

MALCOLM

If such a one be fit to govern, speak.
I am as I have spoken.

MACDUFF

120Fit to govern?
No, not to live.—O nation miserable,
1875With an untitled tyrant bloody-sceptered,
When shalt thou see thy wholesome days again,
Since that the truest issue of thy throne
125By his own interdiction stands accursed
And does blaspheme his breed?—Thy royal father
1880Was 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.
130These evils thou repeat’st upon thyself
Hath banished me from Scotland.—O my breast,
1885Thy hope ends here!

MALCOLM

Macduff, this noble passion,
Child of integrity, hath from my soul
135Wiped the black scruples, reconciled my thoughts
To thy good truth and honor. Devilish Macbeth
1890By many of these trains hath sought to win me
Into his power, and modest wisdom plucks me
From overcredulous haste. But God above
140Deal between thee and me, for even now
I put myself to thy direction and
1895Unspeak mine own detraction, here abjure
The taints and blames I laid upon myself
For strangers to my nature. I am yet
145Unknown to woman, never was forsworn,
Scarcely have coveted what was mine own,
1900At 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
150Was this upon myself. What I am truly
Is thine and my poor country’s to command—
1905Whither indeed, before thy here-approach,
Old Siward with ten thousand warlike men,
Already at a point, was setting forth.
155Now we’ll together, and the chance of goodness
Be like our warranted quarrel. Why are you silent?

MACDUFF

1910Such welcome and unwelcome things at once
’Tis hard to reconcile.

Enter a Doctor.

MALCOLM

Well, more anon.—
160Comes the King forth,
160I pray you?

DOCTOR

Ay, sir. There are a crew of wretched souls
1915That stay his cure. Their malady convinces
The great assay of art, but at his touch
(Such sanctity hath heaven given his hand)
165They presently amend.

MALCOLM

I thank you, doctor.

Doctor exits.

MACDUFF

1920What’s the disease he means?

MALCOLM

’Tis called the evil:
A most miraculous work in this good king,
170Which often since my here-remain in England
I have seen him do. How he solicits heaven
1925Himself best knows, but strangely visited people
All swoll’n and ulcerous, pitiful to the eye,
The mere despair of surgery, he cures,
175Hanging a golden stamp about their necks,
Put on with holy prayers; and, ’tis spoken,
1930To the succeeding royalty he leaves
The healing benediction. With this strange virtue,
He hath a heavenly gift of prophecy,
180And sundry blessings hang about his throne
That speak him full of grace.

Enter Ross.

MACDUFF

1935See who comes here.

MALCOLM

My countryman, but yet I know him not.

MACDUFF

My ever-gentle cousin, welcome hither.

MALCOLM

185I know him now.—Good God betimes remove
The means that makes us strangers!

ROSS

1940Sir, amen.

MACDUFF

Stands Scotland where it did?

ROSS

Alas, poor country,
190Almost afraid to know itself. It cannot
Be called our mother, but our grave, where nothing
1945But who knows nothing is once seen to smile;
Where sighs and groans and shrieks that rent the air
Are made, not marked; where violent sorrow seems
195A modern ecstasy. The dead man’s knell
Is there scarce asked for who, and good men’s lives
1950Expire before the flowers in their caps,
Dying or ere they sicken.

MACDUFF

O relation too nice and yet too true!

MALCOLM

200What’s the newest grief?

ROSS

That of an hour’s age doth hiss the speaker.
1955Each minute teems a new one.

MACDUFF

How does my wife?

ROSS

Why, well.

MACDUFF

205And all my children?

ROSS

Well too.

MACDUFF

1960The tyrant has not battered at their peace?

ROSS

No, they were well at peace when I did leave ’em.

MACDUFF

Be not a niggard of your speech. How goes ’t?

ROSS

210When I came hither to transport the tidings
Which I have heavily borne, there ran a rumor
1965Of many worthy fellows that were out;
Which was to my belief witnessed the rather
For that I saw the tyrant’s power afoot.
215Now is the time of help. Your eye in Scotland
Would create soldiers, make our women fight
1970To doff their dire distresses.

MALCOLM

Be ’t their comfort
We are coming thither. Gracious England hath
220Lent us good Siward and ten thousand men;
An older and a better soldier none
1975That Christendom gives out.

ROSS

Would I could answer
This comfort with the like. But I have words
225That would be howled out in the desert air,
Where hearing should not latch them.

MACDUFF

1980What concern
they—
The general cause, or is it a fee-grief
230Due to some single breast?

ROSS

No mind that’s honest
1985But in it shares some woe, though the main part
Pertains to you alone.

MACDUFF

If it be mine,
235Keep it not from me. Quickly let me have it.

ROSS

Let not your ears despise my tongue forever,
1990Which shall possess them with the heaviest sound
That ever yet they heard.

MACDUFF

Hum! I guess at it.

ROSS

240Your castle is surprised, your wife and babes
Savagely slaughtered. To relate the manner
1995Were on the quarry of these murdered deer
To add the death of you.

MALCOLM

Merciful heaven!—
245What, man, ne’er pull your hat upon your brows.
Give sorrow words. The grief that does not speak
2000Whispers the o’erfraught heart and bids it break.

MACDUFF

My children too?

ROSS

Wife, children, servants, all that could be found.

MACDUFF

250And I must be from thence? My wife killed too?

ROSS

I have said.

MALCOLM

2005Be comforted.
Let’s make us med’cines of our great revenge
To cure this deadly grief.

MACDUFF

255He has no children. All my pretty ones?
Did you say “all”? O hell-kite! All?
2010What, all my pretty chickens and their dam
At one fell swoop?

MALCOLM

Dispute it like a man.

MACDUFF

260I shall do so,
But I must also feel it as a man.
2015I cannot but remember such things were
That were most precious to me. Did heaven look on
And would not take their part? Sinful Macduff,
265They were all struck for thee! Naught that I am,
Not for their own demerits, but for mine,
2020Fell slaughter on their souls. Heaven rest them now.

MALCOLM

Be this the whetstone of your sword. Let grief
Convert to anger. Blunt not the heart; enrage it.

MACDUFF

270O, I could play the woman with mine eyes
And braggart with my tongue! But, gentle heavens,
2025Cut short all intermission! Front to front
Bring thou this fiend of Scotland and myself.
Within my sword’s length set him. If he ’scape,
275Heaven forgive him too.

MALCOLM

This tune goes manly.
2030Come, 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
280Put on their instruments. Receive what cheer you
may.
2035The night is long that never finds the day.

They exit.

ACT 5

Scene 1

Enter a Doctor of Physic and a Waiting-Gentlewoman.

DOCTOR

I have two nights watched with you but can
perceive no truth in your report. When was it she
last walked?

GENTLEWOMAN

Since his Majesty went into the field, I
52040have seen her rise from her bed, throw her nightgown
upon her, unlock her closet, take forth paper,
fold it, write upon ’t, read it, afterwards seal it, and
again return to bed; yet all this while in a most fast
sleep.

DOCTOR

102045A great perturbation in nature, to receive at
once the benefit of sleep and do the effects of
watching. In this slumb’ry agitation, besides her
walking and other actual performances, what at any
time have you heard her say?

GENTLEWOMAN

152050That, sir, which I will not report after
her.

DOCTOR

You may to me, and ’tis most meet you
should.

GENTLEWOMAN

Neither to you nor anyone, having no
202055witness to confirm my speech.

Enter Lady Macbeth with a taper.

Lo you, here she comes. This is her very guise and,
upon my life, fast asleep. Observe her; stand close.

DOCTOR

How came she by that light?

GENTLEWOMAN

Why, it stood by her. She has light by
252060her continually. ’Tis her command.

DOCTOR

You see her eyes are open.

GENTLEWOMAN

Ay, but their sense are shut.

DOCTOR

What is it she does now? Look how she rubs
her hands.

GENTLEWOMAN

302065It is an accustomed action with her to
seem thus washing her hands. I have known her
continue in this a quarter of an hour.

LADY MACBETH

Yet here’s a spot.

DOCTOR

Hark, she speaks. I will set down what comes
352070from her, to satisfy my remembrance the more
strongly.

LADY MACBETH

Out, damned spot, out, I say! One. Two.
Why then, ’tis time to do ’t. Hell is murky. Fie, my
lord, fie, a soldier and afeard? What need we fear
402075who knows it, when none can call our power to
account? Yet who would have thought the old man
to have had so much blood in him?

DOCTOR

Do you mark that?

LADY MACBETH

The Thane of Fife had a wife. Where is
452080she now? What, will these hands ne’er be clean? No
more o’ that, my lord, no more o’ that. You mar all
with this starting.

DOCTOR

Go to, go to. You have known what you should
not.

GENTLEWOMAN

502085She has spoke what she should not,
I am sure of that. Heaven knows what she has
known.

LADY MACBETH

Here’s the smell of the blood still. All
the perfumes of Arabia will not sweeten this little
552090hand. O, O, O!

DOCTOR

What a sigh is there! The heart is sorely
charged.

GENTLEWOMAN

I would not have such a heart in my
bosom for the dignity of the whole body.

DOCTOR

602095Well, well, well.

GENTLEWOMAN

Pray God it be, sir.

DOCTOR

This disease is beyond my practice. Yet I have
known those which have walked in their sleep,
who have died holily in their beds.

LADY MACBETH

652100Wash your hands. Put on your nightgown.
Look not so pale. I tell you yet again, Banquo’s
buried; he cannot come out on ’s grave.

DOCTOR

Even so?

LADY MACBETH

To bed, to bed. There’s knocking at the
702105gate. Come, come, come, come. Give me your
hand. What’s done cannot be undone. To bed, to
bed, to bed.

Lady Macbeth exits.

DOCTOR

Will she go now to bed?

GENTLEWOMAN

Directly.

DOCTOR

752110Foul whisp’rings are abroad. Unnatural deeds
Do breed unnatural troubles. Infected minds
To their deaf pillows will discharge their secrets.
More needs she the divine than the physician.
God, God forgive us all. Look after her.
802115Remove from her the means of all annoyance
And still keep eyes upon her. So, good night.
My mind she has mated, and amazed my sight.
I think but dare not speak.

GENTLEWOMAN

Good night, good doctor.

They exit.

Scene 2

Drum and Colors. Enter Menteith, Caithness, Angus,
Lennox, and Soldiers.

MENTEITH

2120The English power is near, led on by Malcolm,
His uncle Siward, and the good Macduff.
Revenges burn in them, for their dear causes
Would to the bleeding and the grim alarm
5Excite the mortified man.

ANGUS

2125Near Birnam Wood
Shall we well meet them. That way are they coming.

CAITHNESS

Who knows if Donalbain be with his brother?

LENNOX

For certain, sir, he is not. I have a file
10Of all the gentry. There is Siward’s son
2130And many unrough youths that even now
Protest their first of manhood.

MENTEITH

What does the tyrant?

CAITHNESS

Great Dunsinane he strongly fortifies.
15Some say he’s mad; others that lesser hate him
2135Do call it valiant fury. But for certain
He cannot buckle his distempered cause
Within the belt of rule.

ANGUS

Now does he feel
20His secret murders sticking on his hands.
2140Now minutely revolts upbraid his faith-breach.
Those he commands move only in command,
Nothing in love. Now does he feel his title
Hang loose about him, like a giant’s robe
25Upon a dwarfish thief.

MENTEITH

2145Who, then, shall blame
His pestered senses to recoil and start
When all that is within him does condemn
Itself for being there?

CAITHNESS

30Well, march we on
2150To give obedience where ’tis truly owed.
Meet we the med’cine of the sickly weal,
And with him pour we in our country’s purge
Each drop of us.

LENNOX

35Or so much as it needs
2155To dew the sovereign flower and drown the weeds.
Make we our march towards Birnam.

They exit marching.

Scene 3

Enter Macbeth, the Doctor, and Attendants.

MACBETH

Bring me no more reports. Let them fly all.
Till Birnam Wood remove to Dunsinane
I cannot taint with fear. What’s the boy Malcolm?
2160Was he not born of woman? The spirits that know
5All mortal consequences have pronounced me thus:
“Fear not, Macbeth. No man that’s born of woman
Shall e’er have power upon thee.” Then fly, false
thanes,
2165And mingle with the English epicures.
10The mind I sway by and the heart I bear
Shall never sag with doubt nor shake with fear.

Enter Servant.

The devil damn thee black, thou cream-faced loon!
Where got’st thou that goose-look?

SERVANT

2170There is ten thousand—

MACBETH

15Geese, villain?

SERVANT

Soldiers, sir.

MACBETH

Go prick thy face and over-red thy fear,
Thou lily-livered boy. What soldiers, patch?
2175Death of thy soul! Those linen cheeks of thine
20Are counselors to fear. What soldiers, whey-face?

SERVANT

The English force, so please you.

MACBETH

Take thy face hence.Servant exits.
Seyton!—I am sick at heart
2180When I behold—Seyton, I say!—This push
25Will cheer me ever or disseat me now.
I have lived long enough. My way of life
Is fall’n into the sere, the yellow leaf,
And that which should accompany old age,
2185As honor, love, obedience, troops of friends,
30I must not look to have, but in their stead
Curses, not loud but deep, mouth-honor, breath
Which the poor heart would fain deny and dare
not.—
2190Seyton!

Enter Seyton.

SEYTON

35What’s your gracious pleasure?

MACBETH

What news more?

SEYTON

All is confirmed, my lord, which was reported.

MACBETH

I’ll fight till from my bones my flesh be hacked.
2195Give me my armor.

SEYTON

40’Tis not needed yet.

MACBETH

I’ll put it on.
Send out more horses. Skirr the country round.
Hang those that talk of fear. Give me mine
2200armor.—
45How does your patient, doctor?

DOCTOR

Not so sick, my lord,
As she is troubled with thick-coming fancies
That keep her from her rest.

MACBETH

2205Cure her of that.
50Canst thou not minister to a mind diseased,
Pluck from the memory a rooted sorrow,
Raze out the written troubles of the brain,
And with some sweet oblivious antidote
2210Cleanse the stuffed bosom of that perilous stuff
55Which weighs upon the heart?

DOCTOR

Therein the patient
Must minister to himself.

MACBETH

Throw physic to the dogs. I’ll none of it.—
2215Come, put mine armor on. Give me my staff.
Attendants begin to arm him.
60Seyton, send out.—Doctor, the thanes fly from
me.—
Come, sir, dispatch.—If thou couldst, doctor, cast
The water of my land, find her disease,
2220And purge it to a sound and pristine health,
65I would applaud thee to the very echo
That should applaud again.—Pull ’t off, I say.—
What rhubarb, senna, or what purgative drug
Would scour these English hence? Hear’st thou of
2225them?

DOCTOR

70Ay, my good lord. Your royal preparation
Makes us hear something.

MACBETH

Bring it after me.—
I will not be afraid of death and bane
2230Till Birnam Forest come to Dunsinane.

DOCTOR , aside

75Were I from Dunsinane away and clear,
Profit again should hardly draw me here.

They exit.

Scene 4

Drum and Colors. Enter Malcolm, Siward, Macduff,
Siward’s son, Menteith, Caithness, Angus, and Soldiers,
marching.

MALCOLM

Cousins, I hope the days are near at hand
That chambers will be safe.

MENTEITH

2235We doubt it nothing.

SIWARD

What wood is this before us?

MENTEITH

5The Wood of Birnam.

MALCOLM

Let every soldier hew him down a bough
And bear ’t before him. Thereby shall we shadow
2240The numbers of our host and make discovery
Err in report of us.

SOLDIER

10It shall be done.

SIWARD

We learn no other but the confident tyrant
Keeps still in Dunsinane and will endure
2245Our setting down before ’t.

MALCOLM

’Tis his main hope;
15For, where there is advantage to be given,
Both more and less have given him the revolt,
And none serve with him but constrainèd things
2250Whose hearts are absent too.

MACDUFF

Let our just censures
20Attend the true event, and put we on
Industrious soldiership.

SIWARD

The time approaches
2255That will with due decision make us know
What we shall say we have and what we owe.
25Thoughts speculative their unsure hopes relate,
But certain issue strokes must arbitrate;
Towards which, advance the war.

They exit marching.

Scene 5

Enter Macbeth, Seyton, and Soldiers, with Drum and
Colors.

MACBETH

2260Hang out our banners on the outward walls.
The cry is still “They come!” Our castle’s strength
Will laugh a siege to scorn. Here let them lie
Till famine and the ague eat them up.
5Were they not forced with those that should be
2265ours,
We might have met them dareful, beard to beard,
And beat them backward home.
A cry within of women.
What is that noise?

SEYTON

10It is the cry of women, my good lord.

He exits.

MACBETH

2270I have almost forgot the taste of fears.
The time has been my senses would have cooled
To hear a night-shriek, and my fell of hair
Would at a dismal treatise rouse and stir
15As life were in ’t. I have supped full with horrors.
2275Direness, familiar to my slaughterous thoughts,
Cannot once start me.

Enter Seyton.

Wherefore was that cry?

SEYTON

The Queen, my lord, is dead.

MACBETH

20She should have died hereafter.
2280There would have been a time for such a word.
Tomorrow and tomorrow and tomorrow
Creeps in this petty pace from day to day
To the last syllable of recorded time,
25And all our yesterdays have lighted fools
2285The way to dusty death. Out, out, brief candle!
Life’s but a walking shadow, a poor player
That struts and frets his hour upon the stage
And then is heard no more. It is a tale
30Told by an idiot, full of sound and fury,
2290Signifying nothing.

Enter a Messenger.

Thou com’st to use thy tongue: thy story quickly.

MESSENGER

Gracious my lord,
I should report that which I say I saw,
35But know not how to do ’t.

MACBETH

2295Well, say, sir.

MESSENGER

As I did stand my watch upon the hill,
I looked toward Birnam, and anon methought
The Wood began to move.

MACBETH

40Liar and slave!

MESSENGER

2300Let me endure your wrath if ’t be not so.
Within this three mile may you see it coming.
I say, a moving grove.

MACBETH

If thou speak’st false,
45Upon the next tree shall thou hang alive
2305Till famine cling thee. If thy speech be sooth,
I care not if thou dost for me as much.—
I pull in resolution and begin
To doubt th’ equivocation of the fiend,
50That lies like truth. “Fear not till Birnam Wood
2310Do come to Dunsinane,” and now a wood
Comes toward Dunsinane.—Arm, arm, and out!—
If this which he avouches does appear,
There is nor flying hence nor tarrying here.
55I ’gin to be aweary of the sun
2315And wish th’ estate o’ th’ world were now
undone.—
Ring the alarum bell!—Blow wind, come wrack,
At least we’ll die with harness on our back.

They exit.

Scene 6

Drum and Colors. Enter Malcolm, Siward, Macduff, and
their army, with boughs.

MALCOLM

Now near enough. Your leafy screens throw down
2320And show like those you are.—You, worthy uncle,
Shall with my cousin, your right noble son,
Lead our first battle. Worthy Macduff and we
5Shall take upon ’s what else remains to do,
According to our order.

SIWARD

2325Fare you well.
Do we but find the tyrant’s power tonight,
Let us be beaten if we cannot fight.

MACDUFF

10Make all our trumpets speak; give them all breath,
Those clamorous harbingers of blood and death.

They exit.Alarums continued.

Scene 7

Enter Macbeth.

MACBETH

2330They have tied me to a stake. I cannot fly,
But, bear-like, I must fight the course. What’s he
That was not born of woman? Such a one
Am I to fear, or none.

Enter young Siward.

YOUNG SIWARD

5What is thy name?

MACBETH

2335Thou ’lt be afraid to hear it.

YOUNG SIWARD

No, though thou call’st thyself a hotter name
Than any is in hell.

MACBETH

My name’s Macbeth.

YOUNG SIWARD

10The devil himself could not pronounce a title
2340More hateful to mine ear.

MACBETH

No, nor more fearful.

YOUNG SIWARD

Thou liest, abhorrèd tyrant. With my sword
I’ll prove the lie thou speak’st.

They fight, and young Siward is slain.

MACBETH

15Thou wast born of
2345woman.
But swords I smile at, weapons laugh to scorn,
Brandished by man that’s of a woman born.

He exits.Alarums. Enter Macduff.

MACDUFF

That way the noise is. Tyrant, show thy face!
20If thou beest slain, and with no stroke of mine,
2350My wife and children’s ghosts will haunt me still.
I cannot strike at wretched kerns, whose arms
Are hired to bear their staves. Either thou, Macbeth,
Or else my sword with an unbattered edge
25I sheathe again undeeded. There thou shouldst be;
2355By this great clatter, one of greatest note
Seems bruited. Let me find him, Fortune,
And more I beg not.He exits. Alarums.

Enter Malcolm and Siward.

SIWARD

This way, my lord. The castle’s gently rendered.
30The tyrant’s people on both sides do fight,
2360The noble thanes do bravely in the war,
The day almost itself professes yours,
And little is to do.

MALCOLM

We have met with foes
35That strike beside us.

SIWARD

2365Enter, sir, the castle.

They exit. Alarum.

Scene 8

Enter Macbeth.

MACBETH

Why should I play the Roman fool and die
On mine own sword? Whiles I see lives, the gashes
Do better upon them.

Enter Macduff.

MACDUFF

Turn, hellhound, turn!

MACBETH

52370Of all men else I have avoided thee.
But get thee back. My soul is too much charged
With blood of thine already.

MACDUFF

I have no words;
My voice is in my sword, thou bloodier villain
102375Than terms can give thee out.

Fight. Alarum.

MACBETH

Thou losest labor.
As easy mayst thou the intrenchant air
With thy keen sword impress as make me bleed.
Let fall thy blade on vulnerable crests;
152380I bear a charmèd life, which must not yield
To one of woman born.

MACDUFF

Despair thy charm,
And let the angel whom thou still hast served
Tell thee Macduff was from his mother’s womb
202385Untimely ripped.

MACBETH

Accursèd be that tongue that tells me so,
For it hath cowed my better part of man!
And be these juggling fiends no more believed
That palter with us in a double sense,
252390That keep the word of promise to our ear
And break it to our hope. I’ll not fight with thee.

MACDUFF

Then yield thee, coward,
And live to be the show and gaze o’ th’ time.
We’ll have thee, as our rarer monsters are,
302395Painted upon a pole, and underwrit
“Here may you see the tyrant.”

MACBETH

I will not yield
To kiss the ground before young Malcolm’s feet
And to be baited with the rabble’s curse.
352400Though Birnam Wood be come to Dunsinane
And thou opposed, being of no woman born,
Yet I will try the last. Before my body
I throw my warlike shield. Lay on, Macduff,
And damned be him that first cries “Hold! Enough!”

They exit fighting. Alarums.They enter fighting, and Macbeth is slain. Macduff
exits carrying off Macbeth’s body. Retreat and flourish.
Enter, with Drum and Colors, Malcolm, Siward, Ross,
Thanes, and Soldiers.

MALCOLM

402405I would the friends we miss were safe arrived.

SIWARD

Some must go off; and yet by these I see
So great a day as this is cheaply bought.

MALCOLM

Macduff is missing, and your noble son.

ROSS

Your son, my lord, has paid a soldier’s debt.
452410He only lived but till he was a man,
The which no sooner had his prowess confirmed
In the unshrinking station where he fought,
But like a man he died.

SIWARD

Then he is dead?

ROSS

502415Ay, and brought off the field. Your cause of sorrow
Must not be measured by his worth, for then
It hath no end.

SIWARD

Had he his hurts before?

ROSS

Ay, on the front.

SIWARD

552420Why then, God’s soldier be he!
Had I as many sons as I have hairs,
I would not wish them to a fairer death;
And so his knell is knolled.

MALCOLM

He’s worth more sorrow, and that I’ll spend for
602425him.

SIWARD

He’s worth no more.
They say he parted well and paid his score,
And so, God be with him. Here comes newer
comfort.

Enter Macduff with Macbeth’s head.

MACDUFF

652430Hail, King! for so thou art. Behold where stands
Th’ usurper’s cursèd head. The time is free.
I see thee compassed with thy kingdom’s pearl,
That speak my salutation in their minds,
Whose voices I desire aloud with mine.
702435Hail, King of Scotland!

ALL

Hail, King of Scotland!

Flourish.

MALCOLM

We shall not spend a large expense of time
Before we reckon with your several loves
And make us even with you. My thanes and
752440kinsmen,
Henceforth be earls, the first that ever Scotland
In such an honor named. What’s more to do,
Which would be planted newly with the time,
As calling home our exiled friends abroad
802445That fled the snares of watchful tyranny,
Producing forth the cruel ministers
Of this dead butcher and his fiend-like queen
(Who, as ’tis thought, by self and violent hands,
Took off her life)—this, and what needful else
852450That calls upon us, by the grace of grace,
We will perform in measure, time, and place.
So thanks to all at once and to each one,
Whom we invite to see us crowned at Scone.

Flourish. All exit.