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The Tragedy of Macbeth by William Shakespeare SCENE III. A heath near Forres. Sergeant: Doubtful it stood; But brave Macbeth, with his brandish'd steel, which smoked with bloody execution, faced the slave--that rebel, the merciless Macdonwald. He unseam'd him from the nave to the chaps, and fix'd his head upon our battlements. Thunder and lightning. Enter three Witches First Witch: When shall we three meet again, in thunder, lightning, or in rain? Second Witch: Killing swine. First Witch: Look what I have… Sergeant: Mark, king of Scotland: No sooner had these kerns turned on their heels, but new arms and supplies of men began a fresh assault. Sergeant: No; they were as cannons overcharged, doubling strokes upon the foe, wreaking havoc on their enemy. Exit Sergeant, attended Drum within Third Witch: A drum, a drum! Macbeth doth come. Enter MACBETH and BANQUO MACBETH: So foul and fair a day I have not seen. BANQUO: What are these so wither'd and so wild in their attire? Third Witch: That will be ere the set of sun. Who comes here? First Witch: Where the place? Second Witch: Upon the heath. Third Witch: Show me, show me! First Witch: …a human thumb! DUNCAN: Dismay'd not this our captains, Macbeth and Banquo? DUNCAN: Go get him surgeons. Second Witch: When the hurlyburly's done, when the battle's lost and won. First Witch: Where hast thou been, sister? DUNCAN: Valiant cousin! ACT I SCENE I. A desert place. Thunder. Enter the three Witches MACBETH: Speak, if you can: what are you? Enter ROSS Third Witch: There to meet with Macbeth. MALCOLM: The worthy thane of Ross. ALL: Fair is foul, and foul is fair: Hover through the fog and filthy air. ROSS: God save the king! First Witch: All hail, Macbeth! Hail to thee, thane of Glamis! Second Witch: All hail, Macbeth! Hail to thee, thane of Cawdor! DUNCAN: Whence camest thou, worthy thane? Exeunt SCENE II. A camp near Forres. ROSS: From Fife, great king; a dismal conflict, but the victory fell on us. Third Witch: All hail, Macbeth! Thou shalt be king hereafter! Alarum within. Enter DUNCAN, MALCOLM, DONALBAIN, LENNOX, meeting a bleeding Sergeant DUNCAN: No more shall the thane of Cawdor deceive us. Go pronounce his present execution, and with his former title greet Macbeth. BANQUO: I' the name of truth, are ye fantastical? My partner you greet with prediction of royal hope: to me you speak not. If you can look into the seeds of time, speak then to me. DUNCAN: What bloody man is that? Can he report of the revolt? ROSS: I'll see it done. First Witch: Hail! MALCOLM: Hail, brave friend! Say to the king the knowledge of the fight as you left it. Second Witch: Hail! Exeunt 1 Third Witch: Hail! ANGUS: He who was the thane lives; but under heavy judgment. His treason is confess'd and proved. First Witch: Lesser than Macbeth, and greater. Second Witch: Not so happy, yet much happier. Third Witch: Thou shalt get kings, though thou be none: So all hail, Macbeth and Banquo! MACBETH: Do you not now hope your children shall be kings? BANQUO: ‘Tis strange: but the instruments of darkness tell us truths to betray us in deepest consequence. Cousins, a word, I pray you. First Witch: Banquo and Macbeth, all hail! MACBETH: Stay, tell me more: I know I am thane of Glamis; but how of Cawdor? The thane of Cawdor lives, and to be king stands not within belief. Say from whence you claim this strange knowledge? Speak, I charge you. Witches vanish BANQUO: Whither are they vanish'd? MACBETH: Into the air; as breath into the wind. BANQUO: Were such things ever here? MACBETH: Your children shall be kings. MACBETH: Two truths are told, as happy prologues to the imperial theme. Gentlemen, let us toward the king. MACBETH: I'll be myself the messenger and tell my wife of your approach; so humbly take my leave. [Aside] The 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. Exit Flourish. Exeunt SCENE V. Inverness. Macbeth's castle. Enter LADY MACBETH, reading a letter Exeunt SCENE IV. Forres. The palace. Flourish. Enter DUNCAN, MALCOLM, DONALBAIN, LENNOX DUNCAN: Is execution done on Cawdor? MALCOLM: My liege, I have spoken with one that saw him die: He confess'd his treason and implored your highness' pardon. LADY MACBETH: ‘These three met me on the day of success: and they have more in them than mortal knowledge. When I desired to question them further, they vanished. Then came messengers from the king, who hailed me 'Thane of Cawdor;' by which title, these weird sisters had saluted me before, and referred to me with 'Hail, king that shalt be!' This have I thought to inform thee that thou might rejoice in what is promised thee. Lay it to thy heart.' BANQUO: To the word. Enter MACBETH, BANQUO, ROSS, and ANGUS Glamis thou art, and Cawdor; and shalt be what thou art promised: yet do I fear thy nature; it is too full o' the milk of human kindness. Hie thee hither, that I may pour my spirits in thine ear; and with my tongue remove all that impedes thee from the royal station which fate doth seem to have thee crown'd withal. Enter ROSS and ANGUS Worthiest Macbeth! More is thy due than I can pay. Enter a Messenger MACBETH: The service and the loyalty I owe, in doing it, pays itself. What tidings? BANQUO: You shall be king. MACBETH: And thane of Cawdor too: went it not so? ROSS: Macbeth, the king has happily received the news of thy success. ANGUS: We are sent to give thee from our royal master thanks. ROSS: And he bade me call thee thane of Cawdor. Hail, most worthy thane! MACBETH: But the thane of Cawdor lives. DUNCAN: He was a man on whom I built an absolute trust. Messenger: The king comes here to-night. DUNCAN: Welcome hither: I will labour to make thee great. Noble Banquo, that deserve no less, let me hold thee to my heart. My joys; sons, kinsmen, thanes, know we will establish our kingdom upon our eldest, Malcolm, whom we name hereafter The Prince of Cumberland; honour him as you would I. From hence to Inverness. 2 LADY MACBETH: Is not my husband with him? Messenger: Our thane is coming: I ran ahead to give you his message. LADY MACBETH: You bring great news. Exit Messenger Enter LADY MACBETH Duncan, under my battlements. Come, you spirits that tend on mortal thoughts, unsex me here, and fill me from the crown to the toe top-full of direst cruelty! Make thick my blood; stop up the access and passage to remorse, that no compunctious visitings of nature shake my fell purpose! Come to my woman's breasts, and take my milk for gall, you murdering ministers! Come, thick night, and pall thee in the dunnest smoke of hell, that my keen knife see not the wound it makes! Our honour'd hostess! We thank thee with love for your trouble. LADY MACBETH: All our service were poor compared against those honours your majesty loads our house. DUNCAN: Where is Macbeth? He rides well; and his great love hath helped him to his home before us. Noble hostess, we are your guests to-night. Enter MACBETH LADY MACBETH: Was the hope drunk wherein you dress'd yourself? Hath it slept since? Art thou afeard to be the same in act as thou art in desire? MACBETH: Prithee, peace: I dare do all that any man would; no more. LADY MACBETH: What beast was't, then, that made you break this news to me? And, to be more than what you were, you would be so much more the man. I know how tender 'tis to love the babe that milks me: I would, while it was smiling in my face, have dash'd his brains out, had I so sworn as you have done to this. LADY MACBETH: Your servants ever. Great Glamis! Worthy Cawdor! Greater than both, by the all-hail hereafter! Thy letters have transported me beyond this present, and I feel now the future in the instant. MACBETH: If we should fail? DUNCAN: Conduct me to mine host: we love him highly, and shall continue our graces towards him. Exeunt MACBETH: My dearest love, Duncan comes here tonight. LADY MACBETH: And when goes hence? SCENE VII. Macbeth's castle. Enter Servants with dishes and service, and pass over the stage. Then enter MACBETH MACBETH: To-morrow, as he purposes. LADY MACBETH: O, never shall sun that morrow see! Your face, my thane, is as a book where men may read strange matters; bear welcome in your eye, your hand, your tongue: look like the innocent flower, but be the serpent under't. He that's coming must be provided for: and you shall put this night's great business into my hands. Only look clear of conscience; leave all the rest to me. MACBETH: If it were done when 'tis done, then 'twere well it were done quickly: that this blow might be the be-all and the end-all here, we would jump the life to come. But he's here in double trust; first, as I am his kinsman and his subject, strong both against the deed; then, as his host, who should against his murderer shut the door, not bear the knife myself. LADY MACBETH: We fail! But find your courage and we'll not fail. When Duncan is asleep, his two guards will I with wine so convince that their memories shall be a fume; when in swinish sleep they lie, what cannot you and I perform upon the unguarded Duncan? What not put upon his officers, who shall bear the guilt of our great deed? MACBETH: Bring forth men-children only; for thy mettle should breed nothing but males. I am settled. Away, and mock the time with fairest show: false face must hide what the false heart doth know. Exeunt ACT II Enter LADY MACBETH SCENE I. Court of Macbeth's castle. Exeunt How now! What news? Enter BANQUO, and FLEANCE bearing a torch before him SCENE VI. Before Macbeth's castle. LADY MACBETH: Why have you left the chamber? Hautboys and torches. Enter DUNCAN, MALCOLM, DONALBAIN, BANQUO, LENNOX, ROSS, ANGUS MACBETH: We will proceed no further in this business: he hath honour'd me of late; and I have golden opinions from all sorts of people, which should be worn now in their newest gloss, not cast aside so soon. DUNCAN: This castle hath a pleasant air; sweet unto our gentle senses. 3 BANQUO: How goes the night, son? FLEANCE: I take't, 'tis late, father. BANQUO: Take my sword. There's strangeness in the heavens; their candles are all out. A heavy summons lies like lead upon me, and yet I cannot sleep. Enter MACBETH, and a Servant with a torch Enter LADY MACBETH Who's there? LADY MACBETH: That which hath made them drunk hath made me bold. The guards snore: I have drugg'd them well. MACBETH: To know my deed, 'twere best not know myself. BANQUO: What, sir, not yet at rest? The king's a-bed: All's well. I dreamt last night of the three weird sisters: they have show'd some truth to you. Enter MACBETH Knocking within My husband! Wake Duncan with thy knocking! I would thou couldst! MACBETH: I think not of them: yet--if you would grant the time… MACBETH: I have done the deed. This is a sorry sight. Exeunt Looking on his hands SCENE III. The same. LADY MACBETH: A foolish thought, to say a sorry sight. Go get some water, and wash this filthy witness from your hand. Why did you bring these daggers? They must lie there: go carry them; and smear the sleepy guards with blood. Knocking within. Enter a Porter MACBETH: A friend. BANQUO: At your kind'st leisure. MACBETH: Good repose the while! BANQUO: Thanks, sir: the like to you! Exeunt BANQUO and FLEANCE More knocking! Get on your nightgown, be not lost so poorly in your thoughts. MACBETH: Go bid thy mistress, when my drink is ready, she strike the bell. MACBETH: I'll go no more: look on't again I dare not. Exit Servant LADY MACBETH: Infirm of purpose! If he still bleeds, I'll paint the faces of the guards with his blood; for it must seem they are guilty. Is this a dagger which I see before me, the handle toward my hand? Art thou a dagger of the mind, a false creation? Thou show'st me the way that I was going; and such an instrument I was to use, and on thy blade gouts of blood. There's no such thing: it is the bloody business which informs thus to mine eyes. Thou earth, hear not my steps, for fear thy very stones prate of my whereabouts. A bell rings I go, the bell invites me, and it is done; Hear it not, Duncan; for it summons thee to heaven or to hell. SCENE II. The same. Knocking within Knock, knock, knock! Who's there, i' the name of Beelzebub the devil? Knocking within Knock, knock; never at quiet! This place is too cold for hell. Anon, anon! Exit. Knocking within MACBETH: Whence is that knocking? How is't, when every noise appals me? Will it take the ocean to wash this blood clean from my hand? Opens the gate Re-enter LADY MACBETH MACDUFF: Was it so late, friend, before you went to bed, that you still sleep? Enter MACDUFF and LENNOX LADY MACBETH: My hands are of your colour. Knocking within Exit Porter: Here's a knocking indeed! I hear a knocking at the south entry: let’s retire to our chamber; a little water clears us of this deed. Porter: 'Faith sir, we were carousing all night: and drink, sir, is a great provoker of three things: lust, sleep, and urine. Lust, sir, it provokes the desire, but it takes away the performance: it makes him, and it mars him; makes him stand to, and not stand to. MACDUFF: Is thy master stirring? Knocking within 4 Enter MACBETH Our knocking has awoken him; here he comes. Awake, awake! Ring the alarum-bell. Murder and treason! Banquo and Donalbain! Malcolm! Awake! Shake off sleep, and look on death! LENNOX: Good morrow, noble sir. Bell rings daggers soaked with gore: who could refrain, that had any loyalty in his heart? LADY MACBETH: Help me! MACDUFF: Look to the lady. MACBETH: Good morrow, both. MACDUFF: Is the king stirring? He commanded me to timely call on him: I have almost slipp'd the hour. MACBETH: There is the door. MACDUFF: I'll make so bold to call. Enter LADY MACBETH LADY MACBETH: What's the business that such a hideous trumpet calls? Speak! MACDUFF: Lady, 'tis not for you to hear what I speak. Enter BANQUO MALCOLM: [to DONALBAIN] Why do we hold our tongues? DONALBAIN: [Aside to MALCOLM] What should we say, when we could be killed as well? Let’s away! BANQUO: Look to the lady. LADY MACBETH is carried out Exeuntit MACDUFF Banquo, Banquo, our royal master's murder'd! LADY MACBETH: Murdered? What, in our house? And when we can, let us meet and question this most bloody piece of work, to know it further. BANQUO: Macduff, I prithee, say it is not so. Exeunt all but Malcolm and Donalbain. Re-enter MACBETH and LENNOX, with ROSS MALCOLM: What will you do? Let's not consort with them: I'll to England. Exit: Offstage: “My King? Art thou awake?” LENNOX: Does the king leave here to-day? MACBETH: He does. LENNOX: The night has been unruly: where we slept, we heard lamentings i' the air and strange screams of death. MACBETH: 'Twas a rough night. Enter MALCOLM and DONALBAIN DONALBAIN: What is amiss? MACDUFF: Your royal father’s murder'd. Re-enter MACDUFF MALCOLM: By whom? MACDUFF: Horror, horror! I cannot conceive or name thee! MACBETH/ LENNOX: What's the matter? MACDUFF: Confusion, most sacrilegious murder! Exeunt MACBETH and LENNOX MALCOLM: Ay, our safest way is to avoid the aim. Let’s away. LENNOX: Those of his chamber, it seems, have done't: their hands and faces were covered with blood; so were their daggers. Exeunt MACBETH: O, I do repent that in my fury, I killed them. Enter ROSS and MACDUFF MACDUFF: Why did you so? ROSS: How goes the world, sir, now? Is't known who did this more than bloody deed? LENNOX: Mean you his majesty? MACDUFF: Approach the chamber! Do not bid me speak; see, and then speak yourselves. DONALBAIN: To Ireland, I; our separated fortune shall keep us both the safer: where we are, there's daggers in men's smiles. MACBETH: Who can be calm and furious, loyal and neutral, in a moment? No man: here lay Duncan, covered in his own blood; there, the murderers, their 5 SCENE IV. Outside Macbeth's castle. MACDUFF: Those that Macbeth has killed. ROSS: What could they have hoped to gain by killing the king? MACDUFF: They were bribed: Malcolm and Donalbain, the king's two sons, have fled; which puts upon them suspicion of the deed. BANQUO: Ay, my good lord. An hour or two. Was it not yesterday we spoke together? MACBETH: Fail not our feast. First Murderer: It was, so please your highness. ROSS: Then 'tis most likely the crown will fall upon Macbeth. BANQUO: My lord, I will not. MACBETH: Well then, have you consider'd our conversation? Both of you know Banquo was your enemy. Are you so goodly to this man that you can let this go? MACBETH: Goes Fleance with you? MACDUFF: He is already named, and gone to Scone to be crowned. ROSS: Will you follow after him? BANQUO: Ay, my good lord. MACBETH: I wish your horses swift and sure of foot; farewell. MACDUFF: No, I'll to Fife. That it was Baquo who he in times past who crossed you, held you down, spoke ill of you, and all things else that you would then know, ‘Thus did Banquo.’? Exit BANQUO ROSS: Well, I will follow him. MACDUFF: May you see things well done there. ROSS: Farewell. , whose heavy hand has lowered you and yours forever? Let every man be master of his time. Exeunt all but MACBETH, and an attendant Second Murderer: You made it known to us. Sir, a word with you: have the men I sent for arrived? MACBETH: I did so, which brings us now to the point of our second meeting. Are you so patient in your nature ACT III ATTENDANT: They are outside the palace gate, my lord First Murderer: We are men, my liege. SCENE I. Forres. The palace. MACBETH: Bring them before us. Enter BANQUO Exit Attendant BANQUO: You have it now, Macbeth: king, Cawdor, Glamis, all as the weird sisters promised, and, I fear, you play'd most foully for't: yet it was said the throne would not be your sons’, but that myself should be the father of many kings. If there come truth from them--as upon thee, Macbeth, their speeches shine--why, may they not be my oracles as well, and set me up in hope? But hush! No more. To be thus is nothing; but to be safely thus. I fear Banquo. 'Tis much he dares; and he has a wisdom that guides his valour to act in safety. There is none but he I do fear. When first the sisters put the name of king upon me, he bade them speak to him: then prophet-like they hail'd him father to a line of kings: upon my head they placed a fruitless crown, and put a barren sceptre in my grip, no son of mine succeeding. If 't be so, for Banquo's sons have I murder’d Duncan, risked all to make them kings, the seed of Banquo kings! Rather than so, come fate into the list. And champion me to the utterance! Who's there! Exeunt MACBETH: Ay, ye go for men; as hounds and greyhounds, mongrels, spaniels, curs, and wolves, all go by the name of dogs. Both Murderers: True, my lord. Sennet sounded. Enter MACBETH, as king, LADY MACBETH, as queen, LENNOX, ROSS, Lords, Ladies, and Attendants MACBETH: Here's our chief guest. To-night we hold a solemn supper sir, and I'll request your presence. Ride you this afternoon? MACBETH: So is he mine; and every minute of his being endangers my own life: and thence it is, that I ask your assistance, masking the business from the common eye. Second Murderer: We shall, my lord, perform what you command us. MACBETH: It must be done to-night, and away from the palace. And to leave no botches in the work-Fleance his son must share the same fate. Resolve yourselves. Re-enter Attendant, with two Murderers Both Murderers: We are resolved, my lord. Exit Attendant MACBETH: I'll call upon you straight. 6 Exeunt Murderers Second Murderer: A light, a light! There's blood on thy face. It is done, Banquo, if you would find heaven, you must find it to-night. Enter BANQUO, and FLEANCE with a torch First Murderer: 'Tis Banquo's then; his throat is cut. MACBETH: If you have done the same for Fleance... 'Tis he. SCENE II. The palace. First Murderer: Stand to't. Enter LADY MACBETH BANQUO: It will be rain to-night. LADY MACBETH: How now, my lord! Why do you keep alone, in desperate thought? What's done is done. MACBETH: We have provoked the snake, not kill'd it: we eat our meals in fear and sleep with these terrible dreams that shake us nightly: better to be with the dead. Duncan is in his grave; he sleeps well; nothing can touch him further. LADY MACBETH: Come on; gentle my lord, sleek o'er your rugged looks; be bright and jovial among your guests to-night. First Murderer: Let it come down. They set upon BANQUO BANQUO: O, treachery! Fly, good Fleance, fly, fly, fly! So thou mayst revenge! First Murderer: Sir, Fleance is 'scaped. MACBETH: I had else been perfect! But Banquo's dead? First Murderer: Ay, my lord: in a ditch with twenty gashes on his head. MACBETH: Thanks for that: get thee gone: tomorrow we'll speak again. Exit Murderer Dies. FLEANCE escapes LADY MACBETH: My royal lord, show cheer! First Murderer: The son is fled. LENNOX: May't please your highness sit. MACBETH: So shall I, love; and so, I pray, be you: that we may disguise what we are. LADY MACBETH: You must leave this. MACBETH: Full of scorpions is my mind, dear wife! Thou know'st that Banquo and his son Fleance lives. Second Murderer: We have failed half of our affair. First Murderer: Well, let's away, and say how much is done. The GHOST OF BANQUO enters, and sits in MACBETH's place Exeunt ROSS: Please't your highness to grace us with your royal company. SCENE IV. The same. Hall in the palace. MACBETH: The table's full. A banquet prepared. Enter MACBETH, LADY MACBETH, ROSS, LENNOX, Lords, and Attendants LENNOX: Here is a place reserved, sir. LADY MACBETH: What's to be done? MACBETH: Be innocent of the knowledge, dearest chick, till thou applaud the deed. Prithee, go with me. MACBETH: Which of you have done this? Exeunt MACBETH: You know your own ranks; sit down: and welcome. LENNOX: What, my good lord? SCENE III. A park near the palace. Guests: Thanks, your majesty. MACBETH: Thou canst not say I did it: never shake thy gory locks at me. Enter Murderers First Murderer appears at the door First Murderer: The subject of our watch approaches. MACBETH: Be large in mirth; soon we'll drink a measure the table round. ROSS: Gentlemen, rise: his highness is not well. BANQUO: [Within] Give us a light there! Approaching the door 7 LADY MACBETH: Sit, worthy friends: my lord is often thus, the fit is momentary; he will be well: if much you note him, you shall offend him: eat, and regard him not. Are you a man? Why do you make such faces? MACBETH: It will have blood; they say, blood will have blood. What say'st thou, that Macduff denies our bidding? GHOST OF BANQUO vanishes LADY MACBETH: Did you send to him? MACBETH: If I stand here, I saw him. LADY MACBETH: Fie, for shame! MACBETH: The times have been that a man would die, and there an end; but now they rise again. LADY MACBETH: My worthy lord, your friends miss you. MACBETH: I only hear of it; but I will send. I will tomorrow, to the weird sisters speak; I must know the worst. Strange things I have in my head. LADY MACBETH: You lack sleep. MACBETH: Come, we'll to sleep. Lords: To all! Enter MACBETH MACBETH: How now, you secret, black, and midnight hags! I conjure you, howe'er you come to know it, answer me what I ask you. First Witch: Speak. Second Witch: Demand. Third Witch: We'll answer. Exeunt MACBETH: Do not muse at me, my most worthy friends. Come, love and health to all. Give me some wine; I drink to the whole table, and to our dear friend Banquo, whom we miss; would he were here! To all! Second Witch: By the pricking of my thumbs, something wicked this way comes. Thunder. ACT IV SCENE I. A cavern. In the middle, a boiling cauldron. First Witch: Macbeth! Macbeth! Macbeth! Beware Macduff; beware the thane of Fife. MACBETH: Thou hast hit my fear aright. Re-enter GHOST OF BANQUO MACBETH: Out! And quit my sight! Let the earth hide thee!! Hence, horrible shadow! Hence! GHOST OF BANQUO vanishes Can such things be? You behold such sights, and keep calm, while I am white with fear. ROSS: What sights, my lord? LADY MACBETH: I pray you, speak not; he grows worse; at once, good night: stand not upon ceremony, but go at once. LENNOX: Good night; and better health attend his majesty! LADY MACBETH: A kind good night to all! Thunder. Enter the three Witches First Witch: Round about the cauldron go; In the poison'd entrails throw. Swelter'd venom sleeping got, Boil thou first i' the charmed pot. ALL: Double, double toil and trouble; Fire burn, and cauldron bubble. Second Witch: Fillet of a fenny snake, In the cauldron boil and bake; Eye of newt and toe of frog, Wool of bat and tongue of dog, Thunder. Second Witch: Macbeth! Macbeth! Macbeth! Be bloody, bold, and resolute; laugh at the power of man, for none of woman born shall harm Macbeth. MACBETH: Then live, Macduff: what need I fear of thee? Yet I'll make assurance: thou shalt not live; that I may sleep in spite of thunder. Thunder. ALL: Double, double toil and trouble; Fire burn and cauldron bubble. Third Witch: Adder's fork and blind-worm's sting, Lizard's leg and owlet's wing, For a charm of powerful trouble, Like a hell-broth boil and bubble. ALL: Double, double toil and trouble; Fire burn and cauldron bubble. Exeunt all but MACBETH and LADY MACBETH 8 Third Witch: Macbeth! Macbeth! Macbeth!Be proud; and take no care where conspirers are: Macbeth Thou shall never be vanquish'd until Great Birnam wood comes to high Dunsinane hill. MACBETH: That will never be. Who can bid the tree--nay, the forest, unfix his root? Sweet prophecy! Good! Yet my heart throbs to know one thing: tell me, shall Banquo's issue ever reign over this kingdom? ALL: Seek to know no more. Enter MALCOLM and MACDUFF ROSS: You know not whether it was wisdom or fear. MACBETH: I will be satisfied: deny me this, and an eternal curse fall on you! Let me know. LADY MACDUFF: Wisdom! To leave his wife, his babes, his mansion and his titles? He loves us not. MALCOLM: Our country sinks beneath the yoke; it weeps, it bleeds; and each new day a gash is added to her wounds. This tyrant was once thought honest. First Witch: Ay, sir, all this is so. MACBETH: Where are they? Gone? 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. My lord, Macduff is fled to England. ROSS: I pray you, your husband is noble, wise, judicious. I dare not speak much further; but cruel are the times. I take my leave of you. Blessing upon you! LADY MACDUFF: Father'd he is, and yet he's fatherless. Son: Was my father a traitor, mother? ROSS: If you will take my advice, be not found here; go, with your little ones. I cannot stay longer. Heaven preserve you! I take my leave at once. Enter ROSS MACDUFF: My cousin, welcome. ROSS: Sir. MALCOLM: What's the newest grief? ROSS: I have words that pertain to you alone, Macduff. Exit MACDUFF: Quickly let me have it. MACBETH: Fled to England! LADY MACDUFF: Whither should I fly? I have done no harm. LENNOX: Ay, my good lord. Enter Murderers MACBETH: Time has anticipated my dread plans. The castle of Macduff I will surprise; seize upon Fife; give the edge o' the sword to his wife, his children, and all his line. Where are these gentlemen? Come, bring me where they are. MACDUFF: Your father was a saintly king, fear not to take what is yours. ROSS: Your castle is surprised; your wife and babes savagely slaughter'd. MACDUFF: My children? First Murderer: Where is your husband? LADY MACDUFF: I hope no place where you may find him. First Murderer: He's a traitor. ROSS: Wife, children, servants, all that could be found. MACDUFF: My wife kill'd too? All my pretty ones? Did you say all? At one fell swoop? Exeunt MALCOLM: Dispute it like a man. Revenge will cure this deadly grief. Son: You lie, villain! SCENE II. Fife. Macduff's castle. Stabbing him Enter LADY MACDUFF, her Son, and ROSS Dies LADY MACDUFF: What had he done, to make him flee the land? ROSS: You must have patience, madam. LADY MACDUFF: He had none: his flight was madness: our fears do make us traitors. Exit LADY MACDUFF, crying 'Murder!' Exeunt Murderers, following her SCENE III. England. Before the King's palace. 9 MACDUFF: I shall do so; but I must also feel it as a man. They were most precious to me. Did heaven look on, and would not take their part? They were all struck for me! Heaven rest them now! Bring this fiend of Scotland to me; within my sword's length set him! MALCOLM: Come, go we to Macbeth; our power is ready. You, worthy Macduff, shall lead our battle. Exeunt SCENE III. Dunsinane. A room in the castle. ACT V Enter MACBETH and Attendant SCENE I. Dunsinane. Ante-room in the castle. MACBETH: Bring me no more reports; fly all! Till Birnam forest moves here to Dunsinane, I shall not fear. The sisters have pronounced thus: 'Fear not, Macbeth; no man that's born of woman shall e'er have power upon thee.' Was Malcolm not born of woman? Enter LADY MACBETH, with a taper LADY MACBETH: Yet here's a spot. Out, damned spot! Out, I say!--One: two: why, then, 'tis time to do't. Fie, my lord! A soldier, and afraid? Yet who would have thought the old man to have had so much blood in him. The thane of Fife had a wife: where is she now?-What, will these hands ne'er be clean? Wash your hands, put on your nightgown; look not so pale.--I tell you yet again, Banquo's buried. To bed, to bed! There's knocking at the gate: come, come, give me your hand. What's done cannot be undone. Drum and colours. Enter MALCOLM, MACDUFF, ANGUS, LENNOX, ROSS, and Soldiers, marching MACDUFF: The forest of Birnam. Let every soldier cut him down a branch and carry it before him: thereby shall we hide our numbers from Macbeth. Soldiers: It shall be done. Exeunt, marching Enter a Servant SCENE V. Dunsinane. Within the castle. Why dost thou have that pale look? Enter MACBETH, ATTENDANT, and Soldiers, with drum and colours Servant: There is ten thousand--soldiers, sir. MACBETH: Lily-liver'd boy. What soldiers, coward? MACBETH: Hang out our banners on the outward walls; let them come: our castle's strength will not be breached. Servant: The English force, sir. Exit SCENE II. The country near Dunsinane. Drum and colours. Enter ROSS, ANGUS, LENNOX, and Soldiers A cry of women within MACBETH: Take thy face hence. What is that noise? Exit Servant ATTENDANT: It is the cry of women, my good lord. Enter Attendant Enter Servant ROSS: The English power is near, led on by Malcolm and the good Macduff: revenge burns in them. ANGUS: Near Birnam wood shall we meet them. MACBETH: What news more? MACBETH: Wherefore was that cry? ATTENDANT: All is confirm'd, my lord, which was reported. ROSS: What does Macbeth? MACBETH: I'll fight till my flesh be hack'd from my bones. Give me my armour. LENNOX: Great Dunsinane he strongly fortifies: some say he's mad. ATTENDANT: 'Tis not needed yet. ANGUS: Those he commands move only in command, nothing in love. LENNOX: We shall give obedience where 'tis truly owed: to Malcolm. We march towards Birnam. MACBETH: I'll put it on. Send out more horses; scour the country round; hang those that talk of fear. I will not be afraid of death till Birnam Forest come to Dunsinane. Servant: The queen, my lord, is dead. MACBETH: She should have died hereafter; there would have been a time for such a word. To-morrow, and to-morrow, and to-morrow, creeps in this petty pace from day to day to the last syllable of recorded time, and all our yesterdays have lighted fools the 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 told by an idiot, full of sound and fury, signifying nothing. Exeunt Enter a Messenger Exeunt, marching SCENE IV. Country near Birnam wood. 10 Messenger: Gracious my lord, I must report that which I saw, but know not how to do it. MACBETH: I cannot fly, I must fight the course. What's he that was not born of woman? I am to fear no one. MACBETH: Accursed be that tongue that tells me so! These fiends be no more believed, that palter with us in a double sense; I'll not fight with thee. Enter ROSS and ANGUS MACDUFF: Then yield, coward, and live to be the show and gaze o' the time: we'll have thee, as our rarer monsters are, painted on a pole, and underwrit, 'Here may you see the tyrant.' MACBETH: Well, say, sir. Messenger: As I look'd toward Birnam forest, methought, the trees began to move. MACBETH: Liar and slave! Messenger: Yourself may you see it coming; I say, a moving forest. MACBETH: If thou speak'st false, upon the next tree shalt thou hang. 'Fear not, till Birnam wood do come to Dunsinane:' Ring the alarum-bell! Blow, wind! Come, wrack! At least we'll die with honor. ROSS: The devil himself. They fight and ROSS and ANGUS are slain MACBETH: Thou wast born of woman. Alarums. Enter MACDUFF MACDUFF: Tyrant, show thy face! My wife and children's ghosts haunt me still. Exeunt SCENE VIII. Another part of the field. SCENE VI. Dunsinane. Before the castle. Turn, hell-hound, turn! Drum and colours. Enter MALCOLM, MACDUFF, and their Army, with boughs MACBETH: Of all men else I have avoided thee: but get thee back; my soul is too much charged with blood of thine already. MALCOLM: Now throw down your branches. You, worthy Macduff, shall lead our battle. MACDUFF: Make all our trumpets speak, those harbingers of blood and death. MACDUFF: I have no words: my voice is in my sword: thou bloodier villain than terms can give thee out! Flourish. Enter, with drum and colours, MALCOLM, LENNOX, the other Thanes, and Soldiers Enter MACDUFF, with MACBETH's head MACDUFF: Hail, king! For so thou art: behold the usurper's cursed head: the time is free: Hail, King of Scotland! ALL: Hail, King of Scotland! Flourish Exeunt Alarums. Enter MACBETH Fighting. Macbeth is slain. LENNOX: So great a day as this is cheaply bought. They fight SCENE VII. Another part of the field. MACBETH: I will not yield, to kiss the ground before young Malcolm's feet, though Birnam wood be come to Dunsinane, and thou being of no woman born, yet I will try the last. Lay on, Macduff, and damn'd be him that first cries, 'Hold, enough!' MACBETH: Let fall thy blade on some other man. I bear a charmed life, which must not yield, to one of woman born. MACDUFF: Despair thy charm; And let the devil whom thou serve know, Macduff was from his mother's womb untimely ripp'd. 11 MALCOLM: My thanes and kinsmen, henceforth be earls, the first that ever Scotland in such an honour named. By the grace of Grace, so ends the reign of this dead butcher and his fiend-like queen. Flourish. Drum. Exeunt