Hours dreadful, and things strange; but this sore night

Hath trifled former knowings.

Rosse. Ah, good father,

330

Thou seest, the heavens, as troubled with man's act,
Threaten his bloody stage: by the clock, 'tis day,
And yet dark night strangles the travelling lamp:
Is it night's predominance, or the day's shame,
That darkness does the face of earth intomb,

When living light should kiss it?

Old M. 'Tis unnatural,

Even like the deed that's done. On Tuesday last,

A faulcon, tow'ring in her pride of place,

Was by a mousing owl hawk'd at, and kill'd.

340

Rosse. And Duncan's horses (a thing most strange,

and certain),

Beauteous and swift, the minions of their race,

Turn'd wild in nature, broke their stalls, flung out,
Contending 'gainst obedience, as they would
Make war with mankind.

Old M. 'Tis said, they eat each other.

Rosse. They did so; to the amazement of mine

Rosse. Is't known, who did this more than bloody

1,

Macd. Those that Macbeth hath slain.

Rosse. Alas, the day!

What good could they pretend?

Maed. They were suborn'd:

Malcolm and Donalbain, the king's two sons,
Are stol'n away and fled: which puts upon them
Suspicion of the deed.

Rosse. 'Gainst nature stilb:

Thriftless ambition, that will ravin up
Thine own life's means!-Then 'tis most like,
The sovereignty will fall upon Macbeth.

:

Macd. He is already nam'd; and gone to Scone, To be invested.

Rosse. Where is Duncan's body?

Macd. Carried to Colmes-kill;

The sacred store-house of his predecessors,

And guardian of their bones.

Rosse. Will you to Scone?

Macd. No, cousin, I'll to Fife.

Rosse. Well, I will thither.

370

Macd. Well, may you see things well done there;

-adieu!

Lest our old robes sit easier than our new!

Rosse. Farewel, father.

:

Old M. God's benison go with you; and with those

That would make good of bad, and friends of foes!

[Exeunt.

ACT ACT III. SCENE 1. له

Enter BANQUο.

Thou hast it now; King, Cawdor, Glamis, all,
As the weird women promis'd; and, I fear,
Thou playd'st most foully for't: yet it was said,
It should not stand in thy posterity;

:

But that myself should be the root, and father
Of many kings: if there come truth from them,
(As upon thee, Macbeth, their speeches shine)
Why, by the verities on thee made good,

May they not be my oracles as well,

And set me up in hope? but, hush; no more..

10

Senet sounded. Enter MACBETH as King; Lady MAC-. BETH, LENOX, ROSSE, Lords, and Attendants.

Mac. Here's our chief guest.

Lady. If he had been forgotten,
It had been as a gap in our great feast,
And all things unbecoming.

Mac. To-night we hold a solemn supper, sir,
And I'll request your presence.

Ban. Lay your highness'

Command upon me; to the which, my duties

Are with a most indissoluble tye

For ever knit.

Mac. Ride you this afternoon?

Ban. Ay, my good lord.

20

Mac. We should have else desir'd your good advice

i

(Which still hath been both grave and prosperous)
In this day's council; but we'll take to-morrow.
Is't far you ride?

Ban. As far, my lord, as will fill up the time
'Twixt this and supper: go not my horse the better,
I must become a borrower of the night,
For a dark hour or twain.

Mac. Fail not our feast.

Ban. My lord, I will not.

1

30

Mac. We hear our bloody cousins are bestow'd
In England, and in Ireland; not confessing
Their cruel parricide, filling their hearers
With strange invention: but of that to-morrow;
When, therewithal, we shall have cause of state,
Craving us jointly. Hie you to horse: Adieu,
Till you return at night. Goes Fleance with you?
Ban. Ay, my good lord: our time does call upon us.
Mac. I wish your horses swift and sure of foot;

And so I do commend you to their backs.
Farewel.

Let every man be master of his time

'Till seven at night; to make society

42

[Exit BANQUO.

The sweeter welcome, we will keep ourself.

'Till supper-time alone: while then, God be with you. [Exeunt Lady MACBETH, and Lords.

Sirrah, a word with you: attend those men our plea

Ser. They are, my lord, without the palace-gate.
Mac. Bring them before us. To be thus is no-

But to be safely thus.-Our fears in Banquo

Stick deep; and in his royalty of nature

Reigns that, which would be fear'd: 'tis much he dares;
And, to that dauntless temper of his mind,

He hath a wisdom that doth guide his valour

To act in safety. There is none, but he,

Whose being I do fear; and, under him,

My genius is rebuk'd; as, it is said,

60

Mark Antony's was by Cæsar. He chid the sisters,
When first they put the name of king upon me,
And bade them speak to him; then, prophet-like,
They hail'd him father to a line of kings:
Upon my head they plac'd a fruitless crown,
And put a barren sceptre in my gripe,
Thence to be wrench'd with an unlineal hand,
No son of mine succeeding. If it be so,
For Banquo's issue have I fil'd my mind;
For them the gracious Duncan have I murder'd;

Put rancours in the vessel of my peace

Only for them; and mine eternal jewel

70

Given to the common enemy of man,

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?

Re-enter Servant, with two Murderers.

Now go to the door, and stay there till we call.

[Exit Servan.

Was it not yesterday we spoke together?

Mur. It was, so please your highness.