William Shakespeare: The Complete Works 2nd Edition (443 page)
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Authors: William Shakespeare
Tags: #Drama, #Literary Criticism, #Shakespeare
BOOK: William Shakespeare: The Complete Works 2nd Edition
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LENNOX
May’t please your highness sit?
MACBETH
Here had we now our country’s honour roofed
Were the graced person of our Banquo present,
Who may I rather challenge for unkindness
Than pity for mischance.
Were the graced person of our Banquo present,
Who may I rather challenge for unkindness
Than pity for mischance.
ROSS
His absence, sir,
Lays blame upon his promise. Please’t your highness
To grace us with your royal company?
To grace us with your royal company?
MACBETH
The table’s full.
LENNOX
Here is a place reserved, sir.
MACBETH Where?
LENNOX
Here, my good lord. What is’t that moves your
highness?
highness?
MACBETH
Which of you have done this?
LORDS
What, my good lord?
MACBETH (to the
Ghost)
Ghost)
Thou canst not say I did it. Never shake
Thy gory locks at me.
Thy gory locks at me.
ROSS (rising)
Gentlemen, rise. His highness is not well.
LADY MACBETH
(rising)
(rising)
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.
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.
She speaks
apart
with Macbeth
Are you a man?
MACBETH
Ay, and a bold one, that dare look on that
Which might appal the devil.
Which might appal the devil.
LADY MACBETH
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
Authorized by her grandam. Shame itself,
Why do you make such faces? When all’s done
You look but on a stool.
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
Authorized by her grandam. Shame itself,
Why do you make such faces? When all’s done
You look but on a stool.
MACBETH
Prithee 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.
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.
Exit Ghost
LADY MACBETH
What, quite unmanned in folly?
MACBETH
If I stand here, I saw him.
LADY MACBETH
Fie, for shame!
MACBETH
Blood hath been shed ere now, i’th’ olden time,
Ere human statute purged the gentle weal;
Ay, and since, too, murders have been performed
Too terrible for the ear. The time has been
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.
Ere human statute purged the gentle weal;
Ay, and since, too, murders have been performed
Too terrible for the ear. The time has been
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 MACBETH
(aloud)
(aloud)
My worthy lord,
Your noble friends do lack you.
MACBETH
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.
(To
an attendant)
Give me some wine. Fill full.
Enter Ghost
I have a strange infirmity which is nothing
To those that know me. Come, love and health to all,
Then I’ll sit down.
(To
an attendant)
Give me some wine. Fill full.
Enter Ghost
I drink to th’ general joy of th’whole table,
And to our dear friend Banquo, whom we miss.
Would he were here. To all and him we thirst,
And all to all.
And to our dear friend Banquo, whom we miss.
Would he were here. To all and him we thirst,
And all to all.
LORDS
Our duties, and the pledge.
They drink
MACBETH (seeing the Ghost)
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.
Thy bones are marrowless, thy blood is cold.
Thou hast no speculation in those eyes
Which thou dost glare with.
LADY MACBETH
Think of this, good peers,
But as a thing of custom. ’Tis no other;
Only it spoils the pleasure of the time.
Only it spoils the pleasure of the time.
MACBETH What man dare, I dare.
Approach thou like the rugged Russian bear,
The armed rhinoceros, or th‘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 inhabit then, protest me
The baby of a girl. Hence, horrible shadow,
Unreal mock’ry, hence!
The armed rhinoceros, or th‘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 inhabit then, protest me
The baby of a girl. Hence, horrible shadow,
Unreal mock’ry, hence!
Exit Ghost
Why so, being gone,
I am a man again. Pray you sit still.
LADY MACBETH
You have displaced the mirth, broke the good meeting
With most admired disorder.
With most admired disorder.
MACBETH
Can such things be
And overcome us like a summer’s cloud,
Without our special wonder? You make me strange
Even to the disposition that I owe,
When now I think you can behold such sights
And keep the natural ruby of your cheeks
When mine is blanched with fear.
Without our special wonder? You make me strange
Even to the disposition that I owe,
When now I think you can behold such sights
And keep the natural ruby of your cheeks
When mine is blanched with fear.
Ross
What sights, my lord?
LADY MACBETH
I pray you, speak not. He grows worse and worse. 116
Question enrages him. At once, good night.
Stand not upon the order of your going,
But go at once.
Question enrages him. At once, good night.
Stand not upon the order of your going,
But go at once.
LENNOX
Good night, and better health
Attend his majesty.
LADY MACBETH
A kind good-night to all.
Exeunt Lords
MACBETH
It will have blood, they say. Blood will have blood.
Stones have been known to move, and trees to speak,
Augurs and understood relations have
By maggot-pies and choughs and rooks brought forth
The secret’st man of blood. What is the night?
Stones have been known to move, and trees to speak,
Augurs and understood relations have
By maggot-pies and choughs and rooks brought forth
The secret’st man of blood. What is the night?
LADY MACBETH
Almost at odds with morning, which is which.
MACBETH
How sayst thou that Macduff denies his person
At our great bidding?
At our great bidding?
LADY MACBETH
Did you send to him, sir?
MACBETH
I hear it by the way, but I will send.
There’s not a one of them but in his house
I keep a servant fee’d. I will tomorrow,
And betimes I will, to the weird sisters.
More shall they speak, for now I am bent to know
By the worst means the worst. For mine own good
All causes shall give way. I am in blood
Stepped in so far that, should I wade no more,
Returning were as tedious as go o’er.
Strange things I have in head that will to hand,
Which must be acted ere they may be scanned.
There’s not a one of them but in his house
I keep a servant fee’d. I will tomorrow,
And betimes I will, to the weird sisters.
More shall they speak, for now I am bent to know
By the worst means the worst. For mine own good
All causes shall give way. I am in blood
Stepped in so far that, should I wade no more,
Returning were as tedious as go o’er.
Strange things I have in head that will to hand,
Which must be acted ere they may be scanned.
LADY MACBETH
You lack the season of all natures, sleep.
MACBETH
Come, we’ll to sleep. My strange and self-abuse
Is the initiate fear that wants hard use.
We are yet but young in deed. Exeunt
3.5Is the initiate fear that wants hard use.
We are yet but young in deed. Exeunt
Thunder. Enter the three Witches meeting Hecate
FIRST WITCH
Why, how now, Hecate? You look angerly.
HECATE
Have I not reason, beldams as you are?
Saucy and over-bold, how did you dare
To trade and traffic with Macbeth
In riddles and affairs of death,
And I, the mistress of your charms,
The close contriver of all harms,
Was never called to bear my part
Or show the glory of our art?—
And, which is worse, all you have done 10
Hath been but for a wayward son,
Spiteful and wrathful, who, as others do,
Loves for his own ends, not for you.
But make amends now. Get you gone,
And at the pit of Acheron
Meet me i‘th’ morning. Thither he
Will come to know his destiny.
Your vessels and your spells provide,
Your charms and everything beside.
I am for th’air. This night I’ll spend
Unto a dismal and a fatal end.
Great business must be wrought ere noon.
Upon the corner of the moon
There hangs a vap‘rous drop profound.
I’ll catch it ere it come to ground,
And that, distilled by magic sleights,
Shall raise such artificial sprites
As by the strength of their illusion
Shall draw him on to his confusion.
He shall spurn fate, scorn death, and bear
His hopes ’bove wisdom, grace, and fear;
And you all know security
Is mortals’ chiefest enemy.
Saucy and over-bold, how did you dare
To trade and traffic with Macbeth
In riddles and affairs of death,
And I, the mistress of your charms,
The close contriver of all harms,
Was never called to bear my part
Or show the glory of our art?—
And, which is worse, all you have done 10
Hath been but for a wayward son,
Spiteful and wrathful, who, as others do,
Loves for his own ends, not for you.
But make amends now. Get you gone,
And at the pit of Acheron
Meet me i‘th’ morning. Thither he
Will come to know his destiny.
Your vessels and your spells provide,
Your charms and everything beside.
I am for th’air. This night I’ll spend
Unto a dismal and a fatal end.
Great business must be wrought ere noon.
Upon the corner of the moon
There hangs a vap‘rous drop profound.
I’ll catch it ere it come to ground,
And that, distilled by magic sleights,
Shall raise such artificial sprites
As by the strength of their illusion
Shall draw him on to his confusion.
He shall spurn fate, scorn death, and bear
His hopes ’bove wisdom, grace, and fear;
And you all know security
Is mortals’ chiefest enemy.
SPIRITS (
singing dispersedly within
)
singing dispersedly within
)
Come away, come away.
Hecate, Hecate, come away.
Hecate, Hecate, come away.
HECATE
Hark, I am called! My little spirit, see,
Sits in a foggy cloud and stays for me.
Sits in a foggy cloud and stays for me.
The Song
SPIRITS ⌈
within
⌉
within
⌉
Come away, come away,
Hecate, Hecate, come away.
HECATE
I come, I come, I come, I come,
With all the speed I may,
With all the speed I may.
Where’s Stadlin?
SPIRIT ⌈
within
⌉
within
⌉
Here.
HECATE
Where’s Puckle?
ANOTHER SPIRIT ⌈
within
⌉
within
⌉
Here.
OTHER SPIRITS ⌈
within
⌉
within
⌉
And Hoppo, too, and Hellwain, too,
We lack but you, we lack but you.
Come away, make up the count.
HECATE
I will but ’noint, and then I mount.
⌈
Spirits appear above.
⌉
A Spirit like a Cat descends
SPIRITS ⌈
above
⌉
above
⌉
There’s one comes down to fetch his dues,
A kiss, a coll, a sip of blood,
And why thou stay’st so long I muse, I muse,
Since the air’s so sweet and good.
HECATE
O, art thou come? What news, what news?
SPIRIT LIKE A CAT
All goes still to our delight. Either come, or else refuse, refuse.
HECATE Now I am furnished for the flight.
She ascends with the spirit and sings
Now I go, now I fly,
Malkin my sweet spirit and I.
She ascends with the spirit and sings
Now I go, now I fly,
Malkin my sweet spirit and I.
⌈SPIRITS
and
HECATE⌉
and
HECATE⌉
O what a dainty pleasure ‘tis
To ride in the air
When the moon shines fair,
And sing, and dance, and toy, and kiss.
Over woods, high rocks and mountains,
Over seas and misty fountains,
Over steeples, towers and turrets,
We fly by night ’mongst troops of spirits.
No ring of bells to our ears sounds,
No howls of wolves, no yelps of hounds.
No, not the noise of waters-breach
Or cannons’ throat our height can reach.
Over woods, high rocks and mountains,
Over seas and misty fountains,
Over steeples, towers and turrets,
We fly by night ’mongst troops of spirits.
No ring of bells to our ears sounds,
No howls of wolves, no yelps of hounds.
No, not the noise of waters-breach
Or cannons’ throat our height can reach.
SPIRITS ⌈
abovel
⌉
abovel
⌉
No ring of bells to our ears sounds,
No howls of wolves, no yelps of hounds.
No, not the noise of waters-breach
Or cannons’ throat our height can reach.
No howls of wolves, no yelps of hounds.
No, not the noise of waters-breach
Or cannons’ throat our height can reach.
Exeunt into the heavens the
Spirit like a Cat and Hecate
FIRST WITCH
Come, let’s make haste. She’ll soon be back again.
Exeunt
3.6Enter Lennox and another Lord
LENNOX
My former speeches have but hit your thoughts,
Which can interpret farther. Only I say
Things have been strangely borne. The gracious
Duncan
Which can interpret farther. Only I say
Things have been strangely borne. The gracious
Duncan
Was pitied of Macbeth: marry, he was dead;
And the right valiant Banquo walked too late,
Whom you may say, if’t please you, Fleance killed,
For Fleance fled: men must not walk too late.
Who cannot want the thought how monstrous
It was for Malcolm and for Donalbain
To kill their gracious father? Damned fact,
How it did grieve Macbeth! Did he not straight
In pious rage the two delinquents tear,
That were the slaves of drink, and thralls of sleep?
Was not that nobly done? Ay, and wisely too,
For ‘twould have angered any heart alive
To hear the men deny’t. So that I say
He has borne all things well, and I do think
That had he Duncan’s sons under his key—
As, an’t please heaven, he shall not—they should find
What ’twere to kill a father. So should Fleance.
But peace, for from broad words, and ’cause he failed
His presence at the tyrant’s feast, I hear
Macduff lives in disgrace. Sir, can you tell
Where he bestows himself?
And the right valiant Banquo walked too late,
Whom you may say, if’t please you, Fleance killed,
For Fleance fled: men must not walk too late.
Who cannot want the thought how monstrous
It was for Malcolm and for Donalbain
To kill their gracious father? Damned fact,
How it did grieve Macbeth! Did he not straight
In pious rage the two delinquents tear,
That were the slaves of drink, and thralls of sleep?
Was not that nobly done? Ay, and wisely too,
For ‘twould have angered any heart alive
To hear the men deny’t. So that I say
He has borne all things well, and I do think
That had he Duncan’s sons under his key—
As, an’t please heaven, he shall not—they should find
What ’twere to kill a father. So should Fleance.
But peace, for from broad words, and ’cause he failed
His presence at the tyrant’s feast, I hear
Macduff lives in disgrace. Sir, can you tell
Where he bestows himself?
LORD
The son of Duncan
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