That I require a clearness and with him, Than is his father's, must embrace the fate Second Murd. We are resolv'd, my lord. Macb. I'll call upon you straight: abide within. It is concluded! Banquo, thy soul's flight, [Exeunt Murderers. [Exit. If it find heaven, must find it out to-night. SCENE II The Same. Another Room in the Palace. Enter Lady MACBETH and a Servant. Lady M. Is Banquo gone from court? Serv. Ay, madam; but returns again to-night. Lady M. Say to the king, I would attend his leisure For a few words. Serv. Lady M. Madam, I will. [Exit. Nought'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. How now, my lord! why do you keep alone, Of sorriest fancies your companions making? Using those thoughts, which should indeed have died With them they think on? Things without all remedy Mach. We have scotch'd the snake, not kill'd it : Ere we will eat our meal in fear, and sleep That shake us nightly. Better be with the dead, In restless ecstasy. Duncan is in his grave; Treason has done his worst: nor steel, nor poison, Can touch him farther! Lady M. Come on: Gentle my lord, sleck o'er your rugged looks; 9 - SCOTCH'D the snake,] i. e., Wounded it. This word is well illustrated by a passage in Coriolanus, act iv, sc. 5, p. 104, 1 "He scotched him and notched him, like a carbonado." -our PEACE] The second folio poorly substitutes place for peace in the first instance, perhaps by a misprint: "to gain our peace", of course, means security in possession of the throne. Vizards to our hearts, disguising what they are. Macb. O full of scorpions is my mind, dear wife. Lady M. What's to be done? Mach. Be innocent of the knowledge, dearest chuck, And with thy bloody and invisible hand, Which keeps me pale!-Light thickens; and the crow Good things of day begin to droop and drowse, [Exeunt. 2 The SHARD-borne beetle,] Shard is synonymous with scale; and the allusion here is to the scaly wings of the beetle, which bear him through the air. Come, SEELING night,] i. e., Blinding. "Seeling" is a term in falconry, meaning to close the eyes of a hawk, in order to make the bird tractable it is probably the same word as seal-Fr. scellé. : SCENE III. The Same. A Park, with a road leading to the Palace. Enter three Murderers. First Mur. But who did bid thee join with us? Third Mur. Macbeth. Second Mur. He needs not our mistrust; since he de livers Our offices, and what we have to do, To the direction just. First Mur. Then stand with us. The west yet glimmers with some streaks of day: Now spurs the lated traveller apace, To gain the timely inn; and near approaches The subject of our watch. Third Mur. Hark! I hear horses. Then 'tis he: the rest Ban. [Within.] Give us a light there, ho! That are within the note of expectation Already are i' the court. First Mur. His horses go about. Third Mur. Almost a mile; but he does usually, So all men do, from hence to the palace gate Enter BANQUO and FLEANCE, who carries a torch. Ban. It will be rain to-night. First Mur. Let it come down. [Assaults BANQUO. Ban. O, treachery! Fly, good Fleance, fly, fly, fly! Thou mayst revenge.-O slave! [Dies. FLEANCE escapes. Third Mur. Who did strike out the light? First Mur. Third Mur. There's but one down Was 't not the way? the son is fled. Second Mur. We have lost best half of our affair. First Mur. Well, let's away, and say how much is done. SCENE IV-A Room of State in the Palace. [Exeunt. A banquet set out. Enter MACBETH, Lady MACBETH, ROSSE, LENNOX, Lords, and Attendants. Mach. You know your own degrees; sit down: at first And last, the hearty welcome. Lords. Thanks to your majesty. Mach. Ourself will mingle with society, And play the humble host: Our hostess keeps her state; but in best time We will require her welcome. Lady M. Pronounce it for me, sir, to all our friends; For my heart speaks they are welcome. Enter first Murderer, to the door. Macb. See, they encounter thee with their hearts' thanks. Both sides are even: here I'll sit i' the midst. Be large in mirth; anon, we 'll drink a measure The table round.-There's blood upon thy face. Mur. 'Tis Banquo's then. Mach. 'Tis better thee without, than he within. Is he dispatch'd? |