2. Mur. He needs not our mistrust; since he delivers Our offices, and what we have to do, To the direction just. 1. Mur. Then stand with us. The west yet glimmers with some streaks of day; To gain the timely inn; and near approaches 3. Mur. Hark, I hear horses. Ban. [within.] Give us a light there, ho! Then it is he; the rest, That are within the note of expectation 183), Already are i' the court. I. Mur. His horses go about, 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. Ban. Ö, 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 18*)? 3. Mur. There's but one down; the son is fled. that some conversation has passed between them before their present entry on the stage. Malone. The third murderer enters only to tell them where they should place themselves. Steevens. 182) lated i. e. belated, benighted. Steevens. 183) the note of expectation, i. e. they who are set down in the list of guests, and expected to supper. Steevens. 184) i. e. the best means we could take to evade discovery. Steevens. SCENE IV. A Room of state in the Palace. A banquet prepared. Enter Macbeth, Lady Macbeth, Rosse, Mach. You know your own degrees, sit down: at first, Lords. Thanks to your Majesty. Macb. Ourself will mingle with society, And play the humble host: Our hostess keeps her state 186); but, in best time For Lady M. Pronounce it for me, Sir, to all our friends; my heart speaks, they are welcome. Enter first Murderer, to the door. Macb. See, they encounter thee with their hearts' thanks. Be large in mirth; anon, we'll drink a measure Macb. 'Tis better thee without, than he within 187). Is he dispatch'd? Mur. My lord, his throat is cut; that I did for him. Mach. Thou art the best o' the cut-throats. Yet he's good, That did the like for Fleance: if thou did'st it, Thou art the nonpareil. Mur. Fleance is 'scap'd. Most royal Sir, Macb. Then comes my fit again: I had else been perfect; 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 185) I believe the true reading is: To first and last the hearty welcome. All of whatever degree, from the highest to the lowest, may be assured that their visit is well received. Johnson. 186) keeps her state etc., i. e. continues in her chair of state at the head of the table. Steevens. 187) Johnson liest: than him within, und dann wäre der Sinn: Besser, dafs Banquo's Blut aufserlich auf deinem Gesicht, als innerlich in seinem Körper ist. 1 100 Mur. Ay, my good lord: safe in a ditch he bides, With twenty trenched 1) 'gashes on his head; The least a death to nature. Mach. Thank's for that. There the grown serpent lies; the worm 189) that's fled, No teeth for the present. We'll hear ourselves again. Lady M. Get thee gone; to-morrow [Exit Murderer.] My royal lord, You do not give the cheer: the feast is sold 19°), "Tis given with welcome. To feed, were best at home; Meeting were bare without it. Sweet remembrancer! Macb. 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; Whom may I rather challenge for unkindness, Than pity for mischance! Rosse. His absence, Sir, Lays blame upon his promise. Please it your highness To grace us with your royal company? Macb. The table's full. Len. Here is a place reserv'd, Sir. Mach. Where? Len. Here, my lord. What is't that moves your highness? What, my good lord? Mach. Which of you have done this? Mach. Thou canst not say, I did it never shake Rosse. Gentlemen, rise; his highness is not well. 188) trancher, to cut. Fr. Steevens. 189) the worm. This term in our author's time was applied to all of the serpent kind. Malone. 199) The meaning is that which is not given cheer. fully, cannot be called a gift, it is something that must be paid for. Johnson. Lady M. Sir, worthy friend: my lord is often thus, He will again be well. If much you note him, Are you a man? You shall offend him, and extend his passion 192); one, that dare look on that, O proper stuff! This is the air-drawn dagger, which, you said, Authoriz'd by her grandam. Shame itself! Why, do you make such faces? You look but on a stool. Macb. When all's done, Pr'ythee, see there! behold! look! lo! how say Why, what care I? if thou canst nod, speak too. Lady M. What! quite unmann'd in folly? Macb. If I stand here, I saw him. Fie, for shame!, the olden time, Macb. Blood hath been shed ere now, 191) upon a thought, i. e. as speedily as thought can be exerted. Steevens. 192) extend his passion i. e. prolong his suffering; make his fit longer. Johnson. 193) O these become i. e. these flaws and starts, as they are indications of your needless fears, are the imitators or impostors only of those which arise from a fear well gounded. Warburton. Flaws are sudden gusts. Johnson. Impostors to true fear, mean impostors when compared with true fear. Such is the force of the preposition to in this place. M. Mason. 194) The gentle weal, is the peaceable community, the state made quiet and safe by hu man statutes. Johnson. And there an end; but now, they rise again, And push us from our stools. This is more strange Lady M. My worthy lord, I do forget: Your noble friends do lack you, Mach, Do not muse 195) at me, my most worthy friends; To those that know me. Then I'll sit down. Come, love and health to all; [Ghost rises.] And to our dear friend Banquo, whom we miss; Would he were here! to all, and him, we thirst 196), Lords, Our duties, and the pledge, Mach, 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; Macb. What man dare, I dare: [Ghost disappears.] Unreal mockery 199); hence! Why, so; 195) To muse, anciently signified to wonder, to be in amaze. Steevens. 196 We thirst, I suppose, means we desire to drink, M. Mason. : 197) i. e. all good wishes to all such as he hed named above, love, health and joy. Warburton. 198) 10 inhibit s to forbid. Steevens. 199) Unreal mockery i. e. un substantial pageant. Steevens. |