And in his commendations I am fed; [Flourish of Trumpets and Drums.-Exeunt, R. SCENE V.- Macbeth's Castle at Inverness. Enter LADY MACBETH, R., reading a Letter. Lady M.-" They met me in the day of success; and I have learned by the perfectest report, they have more in them than mortal knowledge. When I burned in desire to question them farther, they made 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 weird sisters saluted me, and referred me to the coming on of time, with, Hail, king that shalt be! This have I thought good to deliver thee, my dearest partner of greatness, that thou mightest not lose the dues of rejoicing, by being ignorant of what greatness is promised thee. Lay it to thy heart, and farewell." Glamis thou art, and Cawdor; and shalt be What thou art promised! - Yet do 1 fear thy nature: It is too full o' the milk of human kindness, To catch the nearest way. Thou would'st be great; Art not without ambition: but without The illness should attend it. What thou would'st highly, That would'st thou holily; would'st not play false, And yet would'st wrongly win: thou'dst have, great Gla mis, That which cries, "Thus thou must do, if thou have it;" Enter SEYTON, L. What is your tidings ? Sey. The King comes here to-night. Lady M. Thou'rt mad to say it! Sey. So please you, it is true: our Thane is coming: One of my fellows had the speed of him; Who, almost dead for breath, had scarcely more Than would make up his message. Lady M. Give him tending一 [Exit Seyton, I.. He brings great news. You wait on nature's mischief! Come, thick night, Enter MACBETH, L. Great Glamis! worthy Cawdor! Mach. My dearest love, Lady M. And when goes hence ? Shall sun that morrow see! Your face, my Thane, is as a book, where men Your hand, your tongue; look like the innocent flower, This night's great business into my dispatch; Lady M. Only look up clear; To alter favour ever is to fear: Leave all the rest to me. [Excunt, R. SCENE VI. The Gates of Inverness Castle. Flourish of Trumpets and Drums. Enter KING DUNCAN, BANQUO, MALCOLM, DONALBAIN, King. This castle hath a pleasant seat; the air Ban. This guest of summer, Enter LADY MACBETH, SEYTON, and two LADIES, from the Castle Gates. King. See, see! our honoured hostess! The love that follows us sometimes is our trouble, Lady M. All our service In every point twice done, and then done double, And the late dignities heaped up to them, We rest your hermits. * A kind of swallow † Coigne, (Fr.) a corner King. Where's the Thane of Cawdor? We are your guest to-night. Lady M. Your servants ever Have theirs, themselves, and what is theirs, in compt,* King. Give me your hand; Conduct ine to mine host; we love him highly, [Flourish of Trumpets and Drums.-Exeunt through the Castle Gates. SCENE VII. - Macbeth's Castle at Inverness. Enter MACBETH, R. Mach. If it 'were done, when 'tis done, then 'twere well, It were done quickly. If the assassination So clear in his great office, that his virtues * Account." † Intercept. † Extinction. I have no spur To prick the sides of my intent, but only Vaulting ambition, which o'erleaps itself, And falls on the other side-How now! what news ? Enter LADY MACBETH, R. Lady M. He has almost supped: why have you left the chamber? Mach. Hath he asked for me? Mach. We will proceed no further in this business: Which should be worn now in their newest gloss, Lady M. Was the hope drunk Mach. 'Pr'ythee, peace: [Crossing, L. Lady M. What beast was it, then, That made you break the 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 than man. Nor time, nor place, Did then adhere, and yet you would make both : They 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 : I would, while it was smiling in my face, Have plucked my nipple from his boneless gums, And dashed the brains out, had I so sworn As you have done to this! |