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To make them Kings, the Seeds of Banquo Kings:
Rather than fo, come Fate into the Lift,
And Champion me to th' utterance-
Who's there?

Enter Servant, and two Murtherers.

Now go to the Door, and ftay there 'till we call.

Was it not yesterday we spoke together?
Mur. It was, fo please your Highness.
Macb. Well then,

[Exit Servant.

Now you have confider'd of my Speeches? know
That it was he, in the times paft, which held you
So under Fortune, which you thought had been
Our innocent felf, this I made good to you,

In our laft Conference, paft in probation with you:
How you were born in Hand, how croft, the Inftruments,
Who wrought with them: And all things else that might
To half a Soul, and to a Notion craz❜d,

Say, thus did Banquo.

I Mur. You made it known to us.

Macb. I did fo; and went further, which is now
Out point of fecond meeting. Do you find
Your patience fo predominant in your Nature,
That you can let this go? Are you fo Gospell'd
To pray for this good Man, and for his Iue,
Whofe heavy Hand hath bow'd you to the Grave,
And beggar'd yours for ever?

I Mur. We are Men, my Liege.

Macb. Ay, in the Catalogue ye go for Men,
As Hounds, and Greyhounds, Mungrels, Spaniels, Curs,
Showghes, Water-Rugs, and Demy-Wolves are clipt
All by the Name of Dogs; the valued file
Diftinguishes the fwift, the flow, the fubtle,
The Houfe-Keeper, the Hunter, every one
According to the Gift, which bounteous Nature
Hath in him clos'd? whereby he does receive
Particular addition, from the Bill,

That

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That writes them all alike: and fo of Men.
Now, if you have a ftation in the file,

And not in the worst rank of Manhood, fay it;
And I will put the bufinefs in your Bofoms,
Whofe Execution ta es your Enemy off;
Grapples you to the Heart, and love of us,
Who wear our Health but fickly in his Life,
Which in his Death were perfect.

2 Mur. I am one, my Liege,

Whom the vile Blows and Buffets of the World
Have fo incens'd that I am reckless what

I do, to fpite the World.

I Mur. And I another,

So weary with Difafters, tugg'd with Fortune,
That I would fet my Life on any Chance,
To mend it, or be rid on't.

Macb. Both of you

Know Banguo was your Enemy.
Mur. True, my Lord.

Macb.So is he mine: and in fuch bloody distance,
That every Minute of his being, thrufts

Against my near'ft of Life; and though I could
With bare-fac'd Power fweep him from my fight
And bid my will avouch it; yet I must not,
For certain Friends that are both his, and mine,.
Whofe loves I may not drop, but wail his fall,
Who I my self ftruck down and thence it is
That I to your affiftance do make love,
Masking the bufinefs from the common Eye,
For fundry weighty Reafons.

2 Mur. We hall, my Lord,

Perform what you command us.

I Mur. Though our Lives

Mach, Your Spirits fhine through you.
Within this Hour, at moft,

I will advise you where to plant your felves,
Acquaint you with the perfect Spy o'th' time,
The moment on't, for't must be done to Night,
And fomething from the Palace: always thought,
That I require a cleárnefs; and with him,
To leave no Rubs nor Botches in the Work;
VOL. V.

S

Fleance,

Fleance, his Son, that keeps him company,
Whofe abfence is no lefs material to me,
Than is his Father's, muft embrace the fate
Of that dark Hour. Refolve your felves a-part,
I'll come to you anon.

Mur. We are refolv'd, my Lord.

Mach. I'll call upon you straight; abide within,
It is concluded; Banquo, thy Soul's flight.
If it find Heav'n, muft find it out to Night.
Enter Lady Macbeth, and a Servant.

Lady. Is Banquo gone from Court?

Serv. Ay, Madam, but returns again to Night.

[Exeunt.

Lady. Say to the King, I would attend his leifure,

For a few words.

Serv, Madam, I will.

Lady. Nought's had, all's spent,

Where our defire is got without content: 'Tis fafer, to be that which we destroy,

Than by deftruction dwell in doubtful joy.

Enter Macbeth.

[Exit.

How now, my Lord, why do you keep alone?
Of forrieft Fancies your Compainions making,
Ufing thofe Thoughts, which should indeed have dy'd
With them they think on; things without all remedy
Should be without regard; what's done, is done

Mach. We have fcorch'd the Snake, not kill'd it:
She'll close, and be her felf, whilft our poor Malice
Remains in danger of her former Tooth.

But let the frame of things disjoint,

Both the Worlds fuffer,

E'er we will eat our Meal in fear, and fleep
In the affliction of these terrible Dreams,

That shake us Nightly

Better be with the dead, Whom we, to gain our place, have fent to peace, Than on the torture of the Mind to lie

In reftlefs ecftafie. Duncan is in his Grave;

After Life's fitful Fever, he fleeps well,
Treafon has done his worft; nor Steel nor Poifon,
Malice Domestick, Foreign Levy, nothing
Can touch him further.

Lady. Come on;

Gentle

Gentle, my Lord, fleep o'er your rugged Looks,
Be bright and jovial 'mong your Guefts to Night.
Macb. So fhall I, Love, and fo I pray be you;
Let your remembrance ftill apply to Banquo,
Prefent him Eminence, both with Eye and Tongue:
Unfafe the while, that we muft lave our Honours
In these fo flattering ftreams,

And make our Faces Vizards to our Hearts,
Difguifing what they are.

Lady. You must leave this.

Macb. O, full of Scorpions is my Mind, dear Wife! Thou know'ft, that Banquo and his Fleance lives. Lady. But in them, Nature's Copy's not eterne. Macb. There's comfort yet, they are affailable, Then be thou jocund: e'er the Bat hath flown His Cloyfter'd flight, e'er to black Hecat's Summons The fhard-born Beetle, with his drowfie hums, Hath rung Night's yawning Peal, there fhall be done A deed of dreadful note.

Lady. What's to be done?

Macb. Be inocent of the Knowledge, deareft Chuck, 'Till thou applaud the deed: Come, fealing Night, Skarf up the tender Eye of pitiful Day,

And with thy bloody and invifible Hand
Cancel and tear to pieces that great Bond,

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Which keeps me pale. Light thickens, and the Crow
Makes Wing to th'Rooky Wood:

Good things of Day begin to droop and drowze,
Whiles Night's black Agents to their Preys do rowze.
Thou marvell'ft at my words; but hold the fill;
Things bad begun, make strong themselves by ill :
So prithee go with me.
[Exeunt.

SCENE II.

SCENE A Park, the Caftle at a Ditance.
Enter three Murtherers.

I Mur. But who did bid thee join with us?

3 Mur. Macbeth.

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2 Mur. He needs not our miftruft, fince he delivers Our Offices, and what we have to do,

To the dire&ion juft.

1 Mur. Then ftand with us.

The Weft yet glimmers with fome ftreaks of Day.
Now fpurs the latest Traveller apace,

To gain the timely Inn, and near approaches
The fubject of our Watch.

3 Mur. Hark, I hear Horfes.

Banquo within. Give us a Light there, ho.
2 Mur. Then 'tis he:

The reft, that are within the note of expectation,
Already are i'th' Court.

1 Mur. His Horfes go about.

3 Mur. Almost a Mile: but he does usually, So all Men do, from hence to th' Palace Gate, Make it their walk.

Enter Banquo and Fleance, with a Torch.

2 Mur. A Light, a Light.

3 Mur. 'Tis he.

I Mur. Stand to't.

Ban. It will be rain to Night.

[They fall upon Banquo and kill him; in the fcuffle Fleance escapes.

I Mur. Let it come down.

Ban. O, Treachery!

Fly, good Fleance, Ay, Ay, Ay,

Thou may't revenge. O Slave!

3 Mur. Who did ftrike out the Light? 1 Mur. Was't not the way?

3 Mur.There's but one down; the Son is fled. 2 Mur. We have loft

Beft half of our Affair.

[Dies.

1 Mur. Well, let's away, and fay how much is done. [Exeunt.

SCENE III. A Room of State.

A Banquet prepar'd. Enter Macbeth, Lady, Roffe, Lenox,
Lords, and Attendants.

Mach. You know your own Degrees, fit down:

At first and last, the hearty welcome.

Lords. Thanks to your Majefty.

Macb. Our felf will mingle with Society,

And

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