Shall keep us both the safer; where we are,

There's daggers in men's smiles; the near in blood 146),
The nearer bloody.

Mal.

This murderous shaft that's shot

Hath not yet lighted 17); and our safest way
Is, to avoid the aim. Therefore, to horse;
And let us not be dainty of leave-taking,
But, shift away. There's warrant in that theft,
Which steals itself, when there's no mercy left.

SCENE IV.

Without the Castle.

Enter Rosse and an old Man.

[Exeunt.]

Old. M. Threescore and ten I can remember well;
Within the volume of which time I have seen
Hours dreadful, and things strange; but this sore night
Hath trifled former knowings.

Rosse.

Ah, good father,

Thou seest the heavens, as troubled with man's act,
Threaten this bloody stage: by the clock, 'tis day;
And yet dark night strangles the travelling lamp:
Is it might's predominance, or the day's shame,
That darkness does the face of earth intomb,
When living light should kiss it?

Óld. M.

"Tis unnatural,

Even like the deed that's done. On Tuesday last,

A faulcon, tow'ring in her pride of place 148),

Was by a mousing owl hawk'd at, and kill'd.

Rosse, And Duncan's horses, (a thing most strange and certain,)

Beauteous and swift, the minions of their race,

Turn'd wild in nature, broke their stalls, flung out,

146) Meaning, that he suspected Macbeth to be the murderer; for he was the nearest in blood to the two princes, being the cousin - german of Duncan. Steevens. 147) The shaft is not yet lighted, and though it has done mischief in its flight, we have reason to apprehend still more before it has spent its force and falls to the ground, Steevens. 148) In a place of which she seemed proud; in an elevated situation. Malone.

--

Contending 'gainst obedience, as they would

Make war with mankind.

Old. M.

"Tis said, they eat each other.

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

That look'd upon't 149).

Enter Macduff.

How goes the world, Sir, now?

Macd.

Why, see you not?

Rosse. Is't known, who did this more than bloody deed?
Those that Macbeth hath slain.

Macd.
Rosse.

What good could they pretend 150)?

Macd.

Alas, the day!

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; Thriftless ambition, that wilt ravin up

Thine own life's means! Then 'tis most like,
The sovereignty will fall upon Macbeth 151)?

Macd. He is already nam'd, and gone to Scone,
To be invested,

Rosse

Where is Duncan's body?

Macd. Carried to Colmes-kill 12);

The sacred storehouse of his predecessors,

And guardian of their bones.

Rosse.

Will you to Scone?

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

149) Most of the prodigies just before mentioned are related by Holingshed, as accompanying King Duffe's death; and it is in particular asserted, that horses of singular beauty and swiftness did eat their own flesh. Steevens. 150) pretend, to intend, to design. Steevens. 151) Macbeth by his birth stood next in the succession to the crown, immediately after the sons of Duncan. King Malcolm, Duncan's predecessor, had two daughters, the eldest of whom was the mother of Duncan, the youngest the mother of Macbeth. Holingshed. Steevens. 152) Colmes-hill, or Colm-kill, is the famous lona, one of the western isles. Holingshed scarcely mentions the death of any of the ancient Kings of Scotland, without taking notice of their being buried with their predecessors in Colme-kill. Steevens. It is now called Icolmkill. Kill in the Erse language signifies a burying-place. Malone.

Rosse.

Well, I will thither.

Macd. Well, you may see things well done there;

Lest our old robes sit easier than our new!

Rosse. Father, farewell,

Old M. God's benison go with you, and with those That would make good of bad, and friends of foes!

A CT
ACT

I I I.

[Exeunt.]

Ban.

SCENE I.'

Fores. A Room in the Palace.

Enter Banquo.

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

As the weird women promis'd; and, I fear,
Thou play'dst 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) 153) 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.

Mach. Here's our chief guest.

Lady M.

If he had been forgotten,

It had been as a gap in our great feast,

And all-thing unbecoming.

Macb. To-night we hold a solemn supper, Sir,

And I'll request your presence.

Ban.

Let your highness

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

For ever knit.

153) Shine for prosper. Warburton.

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 prosperous,); In this day's council; but we'll take to-morrow 154). 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 155),
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, therewi.hal, 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 156).
Farewel.

--

Let every man be master of his time

Till seven at night; to make society

The sweeter welcome, we will keep ourself

[Exit Banquo.]

Till supper-time alone: while then, God be with you..

[Exeunt Lady Macbeth, Lords, Ladies etc.

Sirrah, a word: attend those men our pleasure?

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

c.]

Macb. Bring them before us

[Exit Attendant.] 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,

154) To take is to use, to employ. To take time, is a common phrase. We'll take to-morrow i. e. we will make use of to-morrow. Steevens. 155) i. e. if he does not go well. Shakspeare often uses the comparative for the positive end superlative. Steevens. 156) I send or dimiss you, to mount them. Steevens.

And to 157) that dauntless 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-likę,
They bail'd him father to a line of kings;
Upon my head they plac'd a fruitless crown,
And put a 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 cominon 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 158)! who's there?
Re-enter Attendant, with two Murderers:
Now to the door, and stay there, 'till we call.

Was it not yesterday we spoke together?

[Exit Attendant.]

Well then, now.

I. Mur. It was, so please your highness.
Mach.
Have you consider'd of my speeches? Know,
That it was he, in the times past, which held you

157) to i. e. in addition to. Steevens. 158) And champion me to the utterance! This passage will be best explained by translating it into the language from whence the only word of difficulty in it is borrowed. Que la destinée se rende en lice, et qu'elle me donne un défi à l'outrance. A challenge or a combat à l'outrance, to extremity, was a fixed term in the law of arms, used when the combatants engaged with an odium internecinum, an intention to destroy each other, in opposition to trials of skill at festivals, or on other occasions, where the contest was only for reputation or a prize. The sense therefore is: Let fate, that has fore-doom'd the exaltation of the sons of Banquo, enter the lists against me, with the utmost animosity, in defence of its own decrees, which I will endeavour to invalidate, whatever be the danger. Johnson.