MACB. Bring them before us.

thus, is nothing;

[Exit ATTEN.] To be

But to be fafely 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 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 fisters,
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

And

head they plac'd a fruitless crown,

put a barren fceptre in my gripe,

Thence to be wrench'd with an unlineal hand,
No fon of mine fucceeding. If it be fo,
For Banquo's iffue have I fil'd my mind;
For them the gracious Duncan have I murder'd;
Put rancours in the veffel of my peace
Only for them; and mine eternal jewel
Given to the common enemy of man,

To make them kings, the feed of Banquo kings!
Rather than fo, come, fate, into the lift,

And champion me to the utterance!________Who's there?__
Re-enter Attendant, with two MURDERERS.

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

[Exit Attendant.

Was it not yesterday we spoke together?

1 MUR. It was, fo please your highness. MACB. Well then, now

Have

you confider'd of my fpeeches? Know,

That it was he, in the times past, which held

you So under fortune; which, you thought, had been Our innocent felf: this I made good to you

In our last conference; pafs'd in probation with you, How you were borne in hand; how crofs'd; the inftru

ments;

Who wrought with them; and all things elfe, that might, To half a foul, and to a notion craz'd,

Say, Thus did Banquo.

I MUR. You made it known to us.

MACB. I did fo; and went further, which is now
Our point of second meeting. Do you find
Your patience fo predominant in your nature,
That you can let this go? Are you fo gospell'd,
Το pray for this good man, and for his issue,
Whofe heavy hand hath bow'd you to the grave,
And beggar'd yours for ever?

1 MUR. We are men, my liege.

MACB. Ay, in the catalogue ye go for men;
As hounds, and greyhounds, mungrels, fpaniels, curs,
Shoughs, water-rugs, and demi-wolves, are cleped
All by the name of dogs: the valued file
Diftinguishes the swift, the flow, the fubtle,
The house-keeper, the hunter, every one
According to the gift which bounteous nature
Hath in him clos'd; whereby he does receive
Particular addition, from the bill

That writes them all alike: and fo of men.
Now, if you have a station in the file,

And not in the worst rank of manhood, fay it;
And I will put that business in your bofoms,
Whose execution takes your enemy off;

Grapples you to the heart and love of us,

Who wear our health but fickly in his life,
Which in his death were perfect.

2 MUR. I am one, my liege,

Whom the vile blows and buffets of the world

Have fo incens'd, that I am reckless what
I do, to fpite the world.

I MUR. And I another,

So weary with difafters, tugg'd with fortune,
That I would fet my life on any chance,
To mend it, or be rid on't.

MACB. Both of you

Know, Banquo was your enemy.

2 MUR. True, my lord.

MACB. So is he mine: and in fuch bloody distance, That every minute of his being thrusts

Against my near'st of life: And though I could
With bare-fac'd power sweep him from my fight,
And bid my will avouch it; yet I must not,
For certain friends that are both his and mine,
Whose loves I may not drop, but wail his fall
Whom I myself struck down: and thence it is,
That I to your affistance do make love;
Masking the business from the common eye,
For fundry weighty reasons.

2 MUR. We fhall, my lord,

Perform what you command us.

1 MUR. Though our lives

MACB. Your fpirits fhine through you. Within this hour, at moft,

I will advise you where to plant yourselves.
Acquaint you with the perfect spy o'the time,
The moment on't; for't must be done to-night,
And something from the palace; always thought,

That I require a clearness: And with him,
(To leave no rubs, nor botches, in the work,)
Fleance his fon, that keeps him company,
Whofe abfence is no lefs material to me

Than is his father's, must embrace the fate
Of that dark hour. Refolve yourselves apart;
I'll come to you anon.

MUR. We are refolv'd, my lord.

MACB. I'll call upon you straight; abide within.

It is concluded:

-Banquo, thy foul's flight,

If it find heaven, muft find it out to-night.

SCENE II. The fame. Another Room.

Enter Lady MACBETH, and a SERVANT.

[Exeunt.

LADY M. Is Banquo gone from court?
SERV. Ay, madam; but returns again to-night.

LADY M. Say to the king, I would attend his leifure

For a few words.

SERV. Madam, I will.

LADY M. Nought's had, all's spent,

Where our defire is got without content :

'Tis fafer to be that which we destroy,
Than, by deftruction, dwell in doubtful joy,
Enter MACBETH.

[Exit

How now, my lord? why do you keep alone,
Of forriest fancies your companions making?
Ufing those thoughts, which should indeed have died
With them they think on? Things without remedy,
Should be without regard: what's done, is done.

MACB. We have fcotch'd the fnake, not kill'd it;
She'll close, and be herself; whilft our poor malice
Remains in danger of her former tooth.

But let

The frame of things disjoint, both the worlds fuffer,
Ere we will eat our meal in fear, and sleep

In the affliction of these terrible dreams,

That shake us nightly: Better be with the dead,
Whom we, to gain our place, have sent to peace,
Than on the torture of the mind to lie
In restless ecftacy. Duncan is in his
After life's fitful fever, he fleeps well;
Treafon has done his worst: nor fteel, nor poison,
Malice domeftick, foreign levy, nothing,

Can touch him further!

LADY M. Come on;

grave;

Gentle my lord, fleek o'er your rugged looks;
Be bright and jovial 'mong your guests to-night.
MACB. So fhall I, love; and fo, I pray, be you:

Let

your remembrance apply to Banquo;

Present him eminence, both with eye and tongue :
Unfafe the while, that we

Muft lave our honours in these flattering ftreams;
And make our faces vizards to our hearts,
Difguifing what they are.

LADY M. You must leave this.

MACB. O, full of scorpions is my mind, dear wife! Thou know'st, that Banquo, and his Fleance, lives. LADY M. But in them nature's copy's not eterne. MACB. There's comfort yet, they are affailable; Then be thou jocund: Ere the bat hath flown His cloister'd flight; ere, to black Hecate's fummons, The fhard-borne beetle, with his drowsy hums, Hath

rung night's yawning peal, there shall be done A deed of dreadful note.

LADY M. What's to be done?

MACB. Be innocent of the knowledge, deareft chuck,