Macbeth

earth-bound root? Sweet bodements! good!
Rebellion’s head, rise never till the wood
Of Birnam rise, and our high-placed Macbeth
Shall live the lease of nature, pay his breath
To time and mortal custom. Yet my heart
Throbs to know one thing: tell me, if your art
Can tell so much: shall Banquo’s issue ever
Reign in this kingdom? All Seek to know no more. Macbeth

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

First Witch Show! Second Witch Show! Third Witch Show! All

Show his eyes, and grieve his heart;
Come like shadows, so depart!

A show of Eight Kings, the last with a glass in his hand; Banquo’s Ghost following. Macbeth

Thou art too like the spirit of Banquo; down!
Thy crown does sear mine eye-balls. And thy hair,
Thou other gold-bound brow, is like the first.
A third is like the former. Filthy hags!
Why do you show me this? A fourth! Start, eyes!
What, will the line stretch out to the crack of doom?
Another yet! A seventh! I’ll see no more:
And yet the eighth appears, who bears a glass
Which shows me many more; and some I see
That two-fold balls and treble scepters carry:
Horrible sight! Now, I see, ’tis true;
For the blood-bolter’d Banquo smiles upon me,
And points at them for his. Apparitions vanish. What, is this so?

First Witch

Ay, sir, all this is so: but why
Stands Macbeth thus amazedly?
Come, sisters, cheer we up his sprites,
And show the best of our delights:
I’ll charm the air to give a sound,
While you perform your antic round;
That this great king may kindly say,
Our duties did his welcome pay. Music. The Witches dance, and then vanish, with Hecate.

Macbeth

Where are they? Gone? Let this pernicious hour
Stand aye accursed in the calendar!
Come in, without there!

Enter Lennox. Lennox What’s your grace’s will? Macbeth Saw you the weird sisters? Lennox No, my lord. Macbeth Came they not by you? Lennox No, indeed, my lord. Macbeth

Infected be the air whereon they ride;
And damn’d all those that trust them! I did hear
The galloping of horse: who was’t came by?

Lennox

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

Macbeth Fled to England! Lennox Ay, my good lord. Macbeth

Time, thou anticipatest my dread exploits:
The flighty purpose never is o’ertook
Unless the deed go with it: from this moment
The very firstlings of my heart shall be
The firstlings of my hand. And even now,
To crown my thoughts with acts, be it thought and done:
The castle of Macduff I will surprise;
Seize upon Fife; give to the edge o’ the sword
His wife, his babes, and all unfortunate souls
That trace him in his line. No boasting like a fool;
This deed I’ll do before this purpose cool.
But no more sights!⁠—Where are these gentlemen?
Come, bring me where they are. Exeunt.

Scene II

Fife. Macduff’s castle.

	Enter Lady Macduff, 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, Our 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 From whence himself does fly? He loves us not; He wants the natural touch: for the poor wren, The most diminutive of birds, will fight, Her young ones in her nest, against the owl. All is the fear and nothing is the love; As little is the wisdom, where the flight So runs against all reason.
Ross	My dearest coz, I pray you, school yourself: but for your husband, He is noble, wise, judicious, and best knows The fits o’ the season. I dare not speak much further; But cruel are the times, when we are traitors And do not know ourselves, when we hold rumour From what we fear, yet know not what we fear, But float upon a wild and violent sea Each way and move. I take my leave of you: Shall not be long but I’ll be here again: Things at the worst will cease, or else climb upward To what they were before. My pretty cousin, Blessing upon you!
Lady Macduff	Father’d 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. Exit.
Lady Macduff	Sirrah, 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	Poor bird! thou’ldst 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	Yes, 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; and 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	And 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	Who must hang them?
Lady Macduff	Why, the honest men.
Son	Then the liars and swearers are fools, for there are liars and swearers enow to beat the honest men and hang up them.
Lady Macduff	Now, 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	Poor prattler, how thou talk’st!
	Enter a Messenger.
Messenger	Bless you, fair dame! I am not to you known, Though in your state of