E

But peace! for from broad words, and 'cause he fail'd
His prefence at the tyrant's feaft, I hear
Macduff lives in difgrace. Sir, can you tell
Where he beftows himself?

Lord. The 7'fon of Duncan,

From whom this tyrant holds the due of birth,
Lives in the English Court and is receiv'd
Of the most pious Edward, with such grace,
That the malevolence of fortune nothing
Takes from his high refpect. Thither Macduff
Is gone to pray the King upon his aid

To wake Northumberland, and warlike Siward;
That by the help of thefe, (with Him above
To ratifie the work,) we may again

Give to our tables meat, fleep to our nights;
Free from our feafts and banquets bloody knives;
Do faithful homage, and receive free honours,
All which we pine for now. And this report
Hath fo exafp'rated the King, that he
Prepares for fome attempt.

Len. Sent he to Macduff?

Lord. He did; and with an abfolute, Sir, not 1,
The cloudy meffenger turns me his back,

And hums; as who fhould fay, you'll fue the tinte
That clogs me with this answer.

Len. And that well might

Advise him to a care to hold what distance
His wifdom can provide. Some holy angel
Fly to the Court of England, and unfold
His meffage ere he come! that a swift blessing
May foon return to this our fuffering country,
Under a hand accurs'd!

Lord. I'll fend my prayers with him.

[Exeunt.

VOL. V.

K k

ACT

ACT IV.
IV.

SCENE I

A dark Cave, in the middle a great Cauldron burning.

Thunder. Enter the three Witches.

I WITCH.

Hrice the brinded cat hath mew'd.

TH

8

2 Witch. 'Twice and once the hedge-pig whind 3 Witch. Harper crys, 'tis time, 'tis time.

1 Witch. Round about the cauldron go,

In the poifon'd entrails throw.

[They march round the Cauldron, and throw in the f veral ingredients as for the preparation of their charm.

Toad, that under the cold ftone,

Days and nights 9'haft' thirty one,
Swelter'd venom fleeping got;
Boil thou firft i'' th' charmed pot.
All. Double, double, toil and trouble;
Fire burn, and cauldron bubble.
2 Witch. Fillet of a fenny fnake,
In the cauldron boil and bake;
Eye of newt, and toe of frog;
Wool of bat, and tongue of dog;
Adder's fork, and blind-worm's fting,
Lizard's leg, and owlet's wing:
For a charm of pow'rful trouble,
Like a hell-broth, boil and bubble.

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

3 Witch. Scale of dragon, tooth of wolf, Witches mummy; maw, and gulf

8 Thrice ...old edit, Theob, emend.

Of

9 has

Of the ravening falt fea-fhark;

Root of hemlock digg'd i' th' dark;
Liver of blafpheming Jew:
Gall of goat, and flips of yew,
Sliver'd in the moon's eclipse;
Nofe of Turk, and Tartar's lips;
Finger of birth-ftrangled babe
Ditch-deliver'd by a drab;
Make the gruel thick, and flab.
Add thereto a tyger's chawdron,
For th' ingredients of our cauldron.

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

2 Witch. Cool it with a baboon's blood, Then the charm is firm and good.

Enter Hecate, and other three Witches. Hec. Oh! well done! I commend your pains, And every one shall share i' th' gains:

And now about the cauldron fing

Like elves and fairies in a ring

Inchanting all that you put in.

Mufick and a Song.

Black Spirits and white,
Blue fpirits and grey,
Mingle, mingle, mingle,
You that mingle may.

2 Witch. By the pricking of my Something wicked this way comes: Open locks, whoever knocks.

thumbs

SCENE II.

Enter Macbeth,

Mach. How now, you fecret black and midnight hags?

What is't you do?

All. A deed without a name.

Kk 2

Mach.

Mach. I conjure you, by that which you profefs,
(Howe'er you come to know it) answer me."
Though you untie the winds, and let them fight
Against the churches; though the yefty waves
Confound and fwallow navigation up;

Though bladed corn be lodg'd, and trees blown down,
Though caftles topple on their warders heads;
Though palaces and pyramids do slope

Their heads to their foundations; though the treasure
Of nature's 'germins' tumble all together,

Ev'n 'till deftruction ficken: anfwer me

To what I ask you.

1 Witch. Speak.

2 Witch. Demand.

3 Witch. We'll answer.

I Witch. Say, if th' had'ft rather hear it from our mouths, Or from our masters?

Mach. Call 'em: let me fee 'em.

I Witch. Pour in fow's blood, that hath eaten
Her nine farrow: greafe that's fweaten
From the murth'rer's gibbet, throw

Into the flame.

All. Come high or low:

Thy felf and office deftly show.

Apparition of an armed Head rifes.

Macb. Tell me, thou unknown power→→→ 1 Witch. He knows thy thought:

Hear his fpeech, but fay thou nought.

[Thunder.

App. Macbeth! Macbeth! Macbeth! beware Macduff!Beware the Thane of Fife-difmifs me-enough.

[Defcends. Mach. What-e'er thou art, for thy good caution thanks. Thou'ft harp'd my fear aright. But one word more1 Witch. He will not be commanded; here's another More potent than the first.

1 germains ... old edit. Theob, emend.

[Thunder.

Appa

Apparition of a bloody Child rifes.

App. Macbeth! Macbeth! Macbeth!
Mach. Had I three ears, I'd hear thee.

App. Be bloody, bold, and refolute; laugh to fcorn; The pow'r of man; for none of woman born

Shall harm Macbeth.

[Defcends. Mach. Then live, Macduff: what need I fear of thee? I'll make affurance double fure,

But yet

And take a bond of fate; thou shalt not live,

That I may tell pale-hearted fear, it lies;

And fleep in fpight of thunder.

[Thunder.

Apparition of a Child crowned, with a tree in his band, rifes.

What is this,

That rifes like the iffue of a King,

And wears upon his baby-brow the round

And top of fovereignty?

All. Liften, but speak not.

App. Be lion-mettled, proud, and take no care,
Who chafes, who frets, or where confpirers are:
Macbeth fhall never vanquifh'd be, untill
Great Birnam wood to Dunfinane's high hill
Shall come against him.

Mach. That will never be:

Who can imprefs the foreft, bid the tree

[Defcends.

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

2

'Rebellion's head, rife never, 'till the wood

Of Birnam rife; and our high-plac'd Macbeth

Shall live the leafe of nature, pay his breath
To time and mortal cuftom. Yet my heart
Throbs to know one thing; Tell me, (if your art
Can tell fo much) fhall Banquo's iffue ever

Reign in this kingdom?

All. Seek to know no more.

[The cauldron finks into the ground. Kk 3

2 Rebellious 3 dead,... old edit. Theob. emend.

Mach.