Make war with mankind.

Old M. 'Tis said, they eat each other.

39

Rosse. They did so; to the amazement of mine eyes,

That look'd upon't. Here comes the good Macduff:

Enter MACduff.

How goes the world, sir, now?
Macd. Why, see you not?

Rosse. Is't known, who did this more than bloody deed?

Macd. Those that Macbeth hath slain.
Rosse. Alas, the day!

What good could they pretend?

Macd. They were suborn'd:

Malcolm, and Donalbain, the king's two sons, Are stol'n away and fled; which puts upon them

Suspicion of the deed.

Rosse. 'Gainst nature still:

Thriftlefs ambition, that wilt ravin up

Thine own life's means!

like,

Then 'tis most

The sovereignty will fall upon Macbeth.

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

To be invested.

Rosse. Where is Duncan's 'body?

Macd. Carried to Colmes-kill;

1

The sacred storehouse of his predecessors,

And guardian of their bones.

Rosse. Will you to Scone?

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

Rosse. Well, I will thither.

Macd. Well, may you see things well done

there : adieu!

-

Lest our old robes sit easier than our new!

Rosse. Farewel, father.

Old M. God's benison go with you; and with those

That would make good of bad, and friends of [Exeunt.]

foes!

Ban. Thou hast it now, King, Cawdor, Glamis, all,

As the weird women promis'd; and, I fear, Thou playd'st most foully for't: yet it was said,

It should not stand in thy posterity;

But that myself should be the root, and father Of many kings: If there come truth from them,

(As upon thee, Macbeth, their speeches shine,) Why, by the verities on thee made good, May they not be my oracles as well,

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

Senet sounded. Enter MACBETH, as King; Lady MACBETH, as Queen; LENOX, RossE, Lords, Ladies and Attendants.

Macb. Here's our chief guest.

Lady M. If he had been forgotten, It had been as a gap in our great feast, And all things unbecoming.

Macb. To-night we hold a solemn supper,

sir,

And I'll request your presence.

Ban. Lay your highness'.

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

For ever knit.

Macb. Ride you this afternoon?

Ban. Ay, my good lord..

Macb. We should have else desir'd your good advice

(Which still hath been both grave and prospe

rous)

In this day's council; but we'll talk to-morrow. Is't far you ride?

Ban. As far, my lord, as will fill up the

time

"Twixt this and supper: go not my horse the better,

I must become a borrower of the night,
For a dark hour, or twain.

Macb. Fail not our feast.
Ban. My lord, I will not.

Macb. We hear, our bloody cousins are bestow'd

In England, and in Ireland; not confessing
Their cruel parricide, filling their hearers
With strange invention: But of that to-morrow;
When, therewithal, we shall have cause of

state,

Craving us jointly. Hie you to horse: Adieu, Till you return at night. Goes Fleance with you?

Ban. Ay, my good lord: our time does call

upon us.

Macb. I wish your horses swift, and sure of foot;

And so I do commend you to their backs.
Farewel.

[Exit BANQUO.]

Let every man be master of his time

Till seven at night; to make society

The sweeter welcome, we will keep ourself Till supper-time alone: while then, God be with you.

[Exeunt Lady MACBETH, Lords, Ladies, etc.] Sirrah, a word with you: Attend those men our pleasure?

Atten. They are, my lord, without the palace gate.

Macb. Bring them before us.[Exit Atten.] To be thus, is nothing;

But to be safely 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 dauntlefs temper of his mind,
He hath a wisdom that doth guide his valour
To act in safety. There is none, but he,
Whose being I do fear: and, under him,
My genius is rebuk'd; as, it is said,

Mark Antony's was by Caesar. He chid the sisters,

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 head they plac'd a fruitless crown,
And put a barren scepter
barren scepter in my gripe,
Thence to be wrench'd with an unlineal hand,
No son of mine succeeding. If it be so,
For Banquo's issue have I fil'd my mind;
For them the gracious Duncan have I murder'd;
Put rancours in the vessel of my peace
Only for them; and mine eternal jewel
Given to the common enemy of man,

To make them kings, the seed of Banquo

kings!

Rather than so, come, fate, into the list,

And champion me to the utterance!

there?

Re-enter Attendant, with two Murderers.

Who's

Now go to the door, and stay there till we

call.

[Exit Attendant.]

Was it not yesterday we spoke together?

Mur. It was, so please your highness.
Macb. Well then, now

Have you consider'd of my speeches? Know,
That it was he, in the times past, which held

you

So under fortune; which, you thought, had

been

Our innocent self: this I made good to you
In our last conference, past in probation with

you;

How you were borne in hand; how crost; the instruments;

Who wrought with them; and all things else, that might,

To half a soul, and to a notion craz'd,
Say, thus did Banquo.

1. Mur. You made it known to us.

Macb. I did so; and went further, which is

now

Our point of second meeting. Do you find Your patience so predominant in your nature, That you can let this go? Are you so gospell'd, To pray for this good man, and for his issue, Whose heavy hand hath bow'd you to the grave,

And beggar'd yours for ever?

1. Mur. We are men, my liege.