Len. And that well might Advise him to a caution, to hold what distance Lord. My prayers with him! [Exeunt. ACT IV. SCENE I-A dark cave. In the middle, a cauldron boiling. Thunder. Enter the Three Witches. 1 Witch. Thrice the brinded cat hath mew'd. 2 Witch. Thrice; and once the hedge-pig whin'd. 3 Witch. Harper cries :-'Tis time, 'tis time. 1 Witch. Round about the cauldron go; In the poison'd entrails throw.—— Toad, that under coldest stone, Days and nights hast thirty-one Swelter'd venom sleeping got, Boil thou first i'the charmed pot! All. Double, double toil and trouble; Fire, burn; and, cauldron, bubble. 2 Witch, Fillet of a fenny snake, In the cauldron boil and bake : Eye of newt, and toe of frog, Wool of bat, and tongue of dog, Adder's fork, and blind-worm's sting, For a charm of powerful trouble, Like a hell-broth boil and bubble. *This word is employed to signify that the animal was hot and sweating with venom although sleeping under a cold stone. All. Double, double toil and trouble; 3 Witch. Scale of dragon, tooth of wolf; 2 Witch. Cool it with a baboon's blood, Then the charm is firm and good. Enter Hecate, and the other Three Witches. Hec. O, well done! I commend your pains; SONG. Black spirits and white, Mingle, mingle, mingle, You that mingle may. 2 Witch. By the pricking of my thumbs, Something wicked this way comes: Open, locks, whoever knocks. * The throat. + Ravenous. ‡ Entrails. Enter Macbeth. Macb. How now, you secret, black, and midnight hags? What is't you do? All. A deed without a name. Macb. I cónjure you, by that which you profess (Howe'er you come to know it,) answer me : Though you untie the winds, and let them fight Against the churches; though the yesty* waves Confound and swallow navigation up; Though bladed corn be lodg'dt, and trees blown down; Though castles topple on their warders' heads; Though palaces, and pyramids, do slope Their heads to their foundations; though the trea sure Of nature's germins§ tumble all together, 1 Witch. 2 Witch. 3 Witch. Speak. Demand. We'll answer. 1 Witch. Say, if thoud'st rather hear it from our mouths, Or from our masters'? Macb. Call them, let me see them. 1 Witch. Pour in sow's blood, that hath eaten Her nine farrow; grease, that's sweaten From the murderer's gibbet, throw Into the flame. All. Come, high, or low; Thyself, and office, deftly || show. Thunder. An Apparition of an armed Head rises. Macb. Tell me, thou unknown power, 1 Witch. Hear his speech, but say thou nought. * Frothy. He knows thy thought; § Seeds which have begun to sprout. App. Macbeth! Macbeth! Macbeth! beware Macduff; Beware the thane of Fife.-Dismiss me:-Enough. [Descends. Macb. Whate'er thou art, for thy good caution, thanks; Thou hast harp'd* my fear aright :-But one word more: 1 Witch. He will not be commanded: Here's another, More potent than the first. Thunder. An Apparition of a bloody Child rises. App. Macbeth! Macbeth! Macbeth! Macb. Had I three ears, I'd hear thee. App. Be bloody, bold, And resolute laugh to scorn the power of man, For none of woman born shall harm Macbeth. [Descends. Mach. Then live, Macduff; What need I fear of thee? But yet I'll make assurance double sure, And take a bond of fate: thou shalt not live; That I may tell pale-hearted fear, it lies, And sleep in spite of thunder.-What is this, Thunder. An Apparition of a Child crowned, with a Tree in his Hand, rises. That rises like the issue of a king; And wears upon his baby brow the round And top of sovereignty†? All. Listen, but speak not. App. Be lion-mettled, proud; and take no eare Who chafes, who frets, or where conspirers are : Macbeth shall never vanquish'd be, until * Touched on a passion as a harper touches a string. The round is that part of a crown which encircles the head; the top is the ornament which rises above it. |