Upon the foot of motion.

Ban. Look to the lady :

And when we have our naked frailties hid,
That fuffer in expofure, let us meet,

And question this moft bloody piece of work,

To know it further. Fears and fcruples fhake us : In the great hand of God I ftand; and, thence, Against the undivulg'd pretence I fight

Of treasonous malice.

Macb. And fo do I.

All. So all.

Macb. Let's briefly put on manly readiness, And meet i' the hall together.

All. Well contented.

[Exeunt.

Mal. What will you do? Let's not confort with

them :

To fhew an unfelt forrow, is an office

Which the falfe man does eafy: I'll to England.
Don. To Ireland, I; our feparated fortune
Shall keep us both the fafer; where we are,
There's daggers in men's fmiles: the near in blood,
The nearer bloody.

Mal. This murd'rous fhaft that's shot,
Hath not yet lighted; and our safest way
Is, to avoid the aim. Therefore, to horse ;
And let us not be dainty of leave-taking,
But fhift away: there's warrant in that theft
Which fteals itself, when there's no mercy left.

SCENE IV.

Enter Rosse, with an Old Man.

[Exeunt.

Old M. Three fcore and ten I can remember well; Within the volume of which time, I have feen

Hours,

Hours dreadful, and things ftrange: but this fore night Hath trifled former knowings.

Roffe. Ah, good father,

Thou feeft, the heavens, as troubled with man's act,
Threaten his bloody ftage: by the clock, 'tis day,
And yet dark night ftrangles the travelling lamp :
Is it night's predominance, or the day's fhame,
That darkness does the face of earth intomb,
When living light should kiss it ?

Old M. Tis unnatural,

Even like the dead that's done. On Tuesday last,
A faulcon, tow'ring in her pride of place,
Was by a moufing owl hawk'd at, and kill'd.

Roffe. And Duncan's horfes (a thing most strange, and certain,)

Beauteous, and swift, the minions of their race,
Turn'd wild in nature, broke their ftalls, flung out,
Contending 'gainft obedience, as they would
Make war with mankind.

Old M. 'Tis faid they eat each other.

Roffe. They did fo; to the amazement of mine eyes, That look'd upon't. Here comes the good Macduff:

Enter MACDuff.

How goes the world, fir, now?

Macd. Why, fee you not?

Roffe. Is't known who did this more than bloody

deed?

Macd. Thofe that Macbeth hath flain.

Roffe. Alas, the day!

What good could they pretend?

Macd. They were fuborn'd:

Malcolm and Donalbain, the king's two fons,

Are ftol'n away and fled; which puts upon them

Sufpicion

Sufpicion of the deed.

Roffe. 'Gainft nature ftill:

Thriftless ambition, that wilt ravin up

Thine own life's means!-Then, 'tis most like,
The fov'reignty will fall upon Macbeth.

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

Roffe. Where is Duncan's body?

Macd. Carried to Colmes-kill;

The facred ftorehoufe of his predeceffors,
And guardian of their bones.

Roffe. Will you to Scone ?

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

Roffe. Well, I will thither.

Macd. Well, may you fee things well done there; -adieu!

Left our old robes fit easier than our new!

Roffe. 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 III.

SCENE I.

Enter BANQUO.

THOU haft it now, King, Cawdor, Glamis, all, As the weird women promis'd; and, I fear, Thou playd'ft moft foully for't: yet, it was faid, It should not ftand in thy pofterity?

But

But that myself fhould be the root, and father
Of many kings: if there come truth from them
(As upon thee, Macbeth, their fpeeches fhine),
Why, by the verities on thee made good,
May they not be my oracles as well,

And fet me up in hope? But, hush; no more.

Senet founded. Enter MACBETH as King; LADY
MACBETH LENOx, Rosse, Lords, and Attendants.
Macb. 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.

Mach. To-night we hold a folemn fupper, fir,
And i'll request your prefence.

Ban. Lay your highness'

Command upon me; to the which, my duties
Are, with a most indiffoluble tie,

For ever knit.

Macb. Ride you this afternoon?
Ban. Ay, my good lord.

Mach. We should have elfe defir'd your good advice
(Which ftill hath been both grave and profperous)
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 fupper: go not my horfe the better, I must become a borrower of the night,

For a dark hour, or twain.

Macb. Fail not our feaft.

Ban. My lord, I will not.

Macb. We hear our bloody cousins are beflow'd In England, and in Ireland; not confeffing Their cruel parricide, filling their hearers

With ftrange invention: But of that to-morrow; When, therewithal, we shall have cause of state, Craving us jointly. Hie you to a horfe: Adieu, Till you return at night. Goes Fleance with you? Ban. Ay, my good lord: our time does call upon us. Macb. I with your horses swift and fure of foot; And fo I do commend you to their backs.

Farewel.

[Exit BANQUO. Let every man be mafter of his time 'Till feven at night; to make fociety

The fweeter welcome, we will keep ourself 'Till fupper-time alone: while then, God be with you. [Exeunt LADY MACBETH, and Lords. Sirrah, a word with you: Attend thofe men our pleasure ?

Serv. They are, my lord, without the palace gate. Macb. Bring them before us.-To be thus, is no[Exit Servant. But to be fafely thus our fears in Banquo

thing;

Stick deep; and in his royalty of nature

Reigns that, which would be fear'd: 'Tis much he
And, to that dauntlefs temper of his mind, [dares;
He hath a wifdom that doth guide his valour
To act in fafety. There is none but he,
Whofe being I do fear: and, under him,
My genius is rebuk'd; as, it is faid,

Mark Antony's was by Cæfar. He chid the fifters,
When first they put the name of king upon me,
And bade them fpeak 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 fceptre in my gripe,
Thence to be wrench'd by an unlineal hand,
No fon of mine fucceeding. If it be fo,

For