Now spurs the lated traveller apace,
To gain the timely inn; and near approaches
The subject of our watch.

3 Mur.

Ban.

2 Mur.

[Within.] Give us a light there, ho!

Hark! I hear horses.

Then it is he; the rest

His horses go about.

That are within the note of expectation*,
Already are i'the court.

1 Mur.

3 Mur. Almost a mile: but he does usually, So all men do, from hence to the palace gate Make it their walk.

Enter Banquo and Fleance, a servant with a torch preceding them.

Let it come down. [Assaults Banquo.

Ban. O treachery! Fly, good Fleance, fly, fly,

fly;

Thou may'st revenge. O slave!

[Dies. Fleance and Servant escape.

3 Mur. Who did strike 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 lost best half of our affair.

1 Mur. Well, let's away, and say how much is

done.

[Exeunt.

* i. e. They who are set down in the list of guests, and expected to supper.

SCENE IV.

A room of state in the palace.

A banquet prepared. Enter Macbeth, Lady Macbeth, Rosse, Lenox, 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.

Macb. 'Tis better thee without, than he within. Is he despatch'd?

Mur. My lord, his throat is cut; that I did for

him.

་ ་

Macb. Thou art the best o'the cut-throats: Yet

he's good,

That did the like for Fleance: if thou didst it,

Thou art the nonpareil.

Mur.

Fleance is 'scap'd.

Most royal sir,

Macb. Then comes my fit again: I had else been

perfect;

* Continues in her chair of state.

Whole as the marble, founded as the rock ;
As broad, and general, as the casing air:

But now, I am cabin'd, cribb'd, confin'd, bound in
To saucy doubts and fears. But Banquo's safe?
Mur. Ay, my good lord: safe in a ditch he bides,
With twenty trenched gashes on his head ;
The least a death to nature.

Macb.

Thanks for that:

There the grown serpent lies; the worm, that's fled, Hath nature that in time will venom breed,

No teeth for the present.-Get thee gone; to-mor

row

[Exit Murderer.

We'll hear, ourselves again.
Lady M.
My royal lord,
You do not give the cheer: the feast is sold,
That is not often vouch'd, while 'tis a making,

'Tis given with welcome: To feed, were best at

home;

From thence, the sauce to meat is ceremony;
Meeting were bare without it.

Macb.

Now, good digestion wait on appetite,

And health on both!

Len.

May it please your highness sit? [The Ghost of Banquo rises, and sits in Macbeth's place.

Macb. Here had we now our country's honour roof'd,

Were the grac'd person of our Banquo present;
Who may I rather challenge for unkindness,

Than pity for mischance!

Rosse.

His absence, sir,

Lays blame upon his promise. Please it your high

ness

To grace us with your royal company?

Macb. The table's full.

Len.

Mach. Where?

Len.

Here's a place reserv'd, sir.

Here, my lord. What is't that

moves your highness?

Macb. Which of you have done this?

Lords.

What, my good lord? Macb. Thou canst not say, I did it: never shake Thy gory locks at me.

Rosse. Gentlemen, rise; his highness is not well. Lady M. Sit, worthy friends :-my lord is often thus,

And hath been from his youth: 'pray you, keep seat;

The fit is momentary; upon a thought*

He will again be well: If much you note him,
You shall offend him, and extend his passion† ;
Feed, and regard him not.-Are you a man?

Macb. Ay, and a bold one, that dare look on that Which might appal the devil.

Lady M. O proper stuff! This is the very painting of your fear : This is the air-drawn dagger, which, you said, Led you to Duncan. O, these flaws ‡, and starts (Impostors to true fear,) would well become A woman's story, at a winter's fire,

Authoriz'd by her grandam. Shame itself! Why do you make such faces? When all's done, You look but on a stool.

Macb. Pr'ythee, see there! behold! look! lo! how say you?——

Why, what care I? If thou canst nod, speak too.—
If charnel-houses, and our graves, must send
Those that we bury, back, our monuments
Shall be the maws of kites.

[Ghost disappears.

What! quite unmann'd in folly?

Macb. If I stand here, I saw him.

Lady M.

Lady M.

Fye, for shame!

Macb. Blood hath been shed ere now, i'the olden

time,

Ere human statute purg'd the gentle weal;
Ay, and since too, murders have been perform'd
Too terrible for the ear: the times have been,

* As quick as thought.

Sudden gusts.

+ Prolong his suffering.

That, when the brains were out, the man would die,
And there an end; but now, they rise again,
With twenty mortal murders on their crowns,
And push us from our stools: This is more strange
Than such a murder is.

Lady M.
My worthy lord,
Your noble friends do lack you.
Mach.

I do forget :

Do not muse* at me, my most worthy friends;
I have a strange infirmity, which is nothing

To those that know me. Come, love and health to

all;

Then I'll sit down :--Give me some wine, fill

I drink to the general joy of the whole table,

Ghost rises.

And to our dear friend Banquo, whom we miss ; Would he were here! to all, and him, we thirst, And all to allt.

Lords.

Our duties, and the pledge. Macb. Avaunt! and quit my sight! Let the earth hide thee!

Thy bones are marrowless, thy blood is cold;
Thou hast no speculation in those eyes

Which thou dost glare with!

Lady M.

Think of this, good peers,

But as a thing of custom: 'tis no other;
Only it spoils the pleasure of the time.
Macb. What man dare, I dare:

Approach thou like the rugged Russian bear,
The arm'd rhinoceros, or the Hyrcan tiger,
Take any shape but that, and my firm nerves
Shall never tremble: Or, be alive again,
And dare me to the desert with thy sword;
If trembling I inhibit thee, protest me
The baby of a girl. Hence, horrible shadow !
[Ghost disappears.

* Wonder.

i. e. All good wishes to all.

Forbid.