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;
Now spurs the lated 182) traveller apace,

To gain the timely inn; and near approaches
The subject of our watch.

3. Mur.

Hark, I hear horses.

Ban. [within.] Give us a light there, ho!
2. Mur..

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.
2. Mur. We have lost best half of our affair. #
1. Mur. Well, let's away, and say how much is done.
[Exeunt.]

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,
Lenox, Lords and Attendants.

Mach. You know your own degrees, sit down: at first,
And last, the hearty welcome 185).

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
We will require her welcome..

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.
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 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
Το saucy doubts and fears. But Banquo's safe?

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,
Hath nature that in time will venom breed,

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°),
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.

Sweet remembrancer!

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;

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?
Lords.

Mach. Thou canst not say, I did it never shake
Thy gory locks at me.

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,
And hath been from his youth: pray you, keep seat;
The fit is momentary; upon a thought 19)

He will again be well. If much you note him,

Are you a man?

You shall offend him, and extend his passion 192);
Feed, and regard him not.
Mach. Ay, and a bold
Which might appal the devil.
Lady M.

one, that dare look on that,

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 193)
A woman's story, at a winter's fire,

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
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.

Lady M.

What! quite unmann'd in folly?

Macb. If I stand here, I saw him.
Lady M.

Fie, for shame!,

the olden time,

Macb. Blood hath been shed ere now,
Ere human statute purg'd the gentle weal 194);
Ay, and since too, murders have been perform'd
Too terrible for the ear: the times have been
That, when the brains were out, the man would die,`

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,
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,

I do forget:

Your noble friends do lack you,

Mach,

Do not muse 195) at me, my most worthy friends;
I have a strange infirmity, which is nothing

To those that know me.

Then I'll sit down.

Come, love and health to all;
Give me some wine, fill full :
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 196),
And all to all 197),

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;
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 198) thee, protest me,
The baby of a girl, Hence, horrible shadow!

[Ghost disappears.]
being gone,

Unreal mockery 199); hence! Why, so;
I am a man again, Pray you, sit still.

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.