ALL
Double, double toil and trouble,20
Fire burn and cauldron bubble.
THIRD WITCH
Scale of dragon, tooth of wolf,
23 Witch's mummy, maw and gulf 24 Of the ravined salt-sea shark, Root of hemlock digged i' th' dark,
Liver of blaspheming Jew,
Gall of goat, and slips of yew
Slivered in the moon's eclipse,
Nose of Turk, and Tartar's lips,
30 Finger of birth-strangled babe 31 Ditch-delivered by a drab 32 Make the gruel thick and slab.
33 Add thereto a tiger's chawdron For th' ingredience of our cauldron.
ALL
Double, double toil and trouble,
Fire burn and cauldron bubble.
SECOND WITCH
Cool it with a baboon's blood,
38 Then the charm is firm and good.
Enter Hecate and the other three Witches.
HECATE
O, well done! I commend your pains,
40 And every one shall share i' th' gains.
And now about the cauldron sing
Like elves and fairies in a ring,
Enchanting all that you put in.
Music and a song.
HECATE
Black spirits and white,
Red spirits and gray
46 Mingle, mingle, mingle, You that mingle may.
FOURTH WITCH
Tiffin, Tiffin,
Keep it stiff in.
FIFTH WITCH
Firedrake Pucky,50
Make it lucky.
HECATE
Liar Robin,
You must bob in.
CHORUS
Around, around, around, about, about,
All ill come running in, all good keep out.
FOURTH WITCH
Here's the blood of a bat.
HECATE
O put in that, put in that.
FIFTH WITCH
Here's lizard's brain.
HECATE
Put in a grain.
FOURTH WITCH
Here's juice of toad, here's oil of adder,60
That will make the charm grow madder.
FIFTH WITCH
Put in all these, 'twill raise the stench.
HECATE
Nay, here's three ounces of a red-haired wench.
CHORUS
Around, around, around, about, about,
All ill come running in, all good keep out.
[Exeunt Hecate and the three Singers.]
SECOND WITCH
By the pricking of my thumbs,
Something wicked this way comes.
Open locks,
Whoever knocks!
Enter Macbeth.
MACBETH
70 How now, you secret, black, and midnight hags, What is't you do?
ALL A deed without a name.
MACBETH
72 I conjure you by that which you profess, Howe'er you come to know it, answer me.
Though you untie the winds and let them fight
75 Against the churches, though the yeasty waves Confound and swallow navigation up,
77 Though bladed corn be lodged and trees blown down, Though castles topple on their warders' heads,
79 Though palaces and pyramids do slope 80 Their heads to their foundations, though the treasure 81 Of Nature's germens tumble all together 82 Even till destruction sicken, answer me To what I ask you.
FIRST WITCH Speak.
SECOND WITCH Demand.
THIRD WITCH We'll answer.
FIRST WITCH
Say if thou'dst rather hear it from our mouths
85 Or from our masters.
MACBETH Call 'em. Let me see 'em.
FIRST WITCH
Pour in sow's blood, that hath eaten
87 Her nine farrow; grease that's sweaten From the murderer's gibbet throw
Into the flame.
ALL Come, high or low,
Thyself and office deftly show.90
Thunder. First Apparition, an Armed Head.
MACBETH
Tell me, thou unknown power-
FIRST WITCH He knows thy thought: Hear his speech, but say thou nought.
FIRST APPARITION
Macbeth, Macbeth, Macbeth, beware Macduff,
Beware the Thane of Fife. Dismiss me. Enough.
He descends.
MACBETH
Thou hast harped my fear aright. But one word more-96
FIRST WITCH
He will not be commanded. Here's another,
More potent than the first.
Thunder. Second Apparition, a Bloody Child.
SECOND APPARITION
Macbeth, Macbeth, Macbeth-
MACBETH
Had I three ears, I'd hear thee.100
SECOND APPARITION
Be bloody, bold, and resolute. Laugh to scorn
The pow'r of man, for none of woman born
Shall harm Macbeth.
Descends.
MACBETH
Then live, Macduff, what need I fear of thee?
But yet I'll make assurance double sure
And take a bond of fate. Thou shalt not live,106
That I may tell pale-hearted fear it lies
And sleep in spite of thunder.
Thunder. Third Apparition, a Child Crowned, with a tree in his hand.
What is this
That rises like the issue of a king
110 And wears upon his baby brow the round And top of sovereignty?
ALL Listen, but speak not to't.
THIRD APPARITION
Be lion-mettled, proud, and take no care
Who chafes, who frets, or where conspirers are.
Macbeth shall never vanquished be until
Great Birnam Wood to high Dunsinane Hill
Shall come against him. Descends.
MACBETH That will never be.
117 Who can impress the forest, bid the tree 118 Unfix his earthbound root? Sweet bodements, good.
Rebellious dead rise never till the Wood
120 Of Birnam rise, and our high-placed Macbeth 121 Shall live the lease of nature, pay his breath To time and mortal custom. Yet my heart
Throbs to know one thing. Tell me, if your art
124 Can tell so much: Shall Banquo's issue ever Reign in this kingdom?
ALL Seek to know no more.
MACBETH
I will be satisfied. Deny me this,
And an eternal curse fall on you! Let me know.
Why sinks that cauldron? and what noise is this?
Hautboys.
FIRST WITCH Show!
130 SECOND WITCH Show!
THIRD WITCH Show!
ALL
Show his eyes, and grieve his heart,
Come like shadows, so depart.133
A show of eight Kings and Banquo, last [King ] with a
glass in his hand.
MACBETH
Thou art too like the spirit of Banquo. Down!
Thy crown does sear mine eyeballs. And thy hair,
Thou other gold-bound brow, is like the first.
A third is like the former. Filthy hags,
Why do you show me this? A fourth? Start, eyes!138
What, will the line stretch out to th' crack of doom?
Another yet? A seventh? I'll see no more.140
And yet the eighth appears, who bears a glass
Which shows me many more; and some I see
That twofold balls and treble scepters carry.143
Horrible sight! Now I see 'tis true;
For the blood-boltered Banquo smiles upon me145
And points at them for his. What? Is this so?
[Exeunt apparitions.]
FIRST WITCH
Ay, sir, all this is so. But why147
Stands Macbeth thus amazedly?
Come, sisters, cheer we up his sprites149
And show the best
of our delights.150
I'll charm the air to give a sound
While you perform your antic round,152
That this great king may kindly say
Our duties did his welcome pay.
Music. The Witches dance, and vanish.
MACBETH
Where are they? Gone? Let this pernicious hour
Stand aye accursed in the calendar.
Come in, without there!
Enter Lennox.
LENNOX What's your grace's will?
MACBETH
Saw you the weird sisters?
LENNOX No, my lord.
MACBETH
Came they not by you?
LENNOX No indeed, my lord.
MACBETH
160 Infected be the air whereon they ride, And damned all those that trust them! I did hear
The galloping of horse. Who was't came by?
LENNOX
'Tis two or three, my lord, that bring you word
Macduff is fled to England.
MACBETH Fled to England?
LENNOX
Ay, my good lord.
MACBETH [Aside]
166 Time, thou anticipat'st my dread exploits.
167 The flighty purpose never is o'ertook Unless the deed go with it. From this moment
169 The very firstlings of my heart shall be 170 The firstlings of my hand. And even now, To crown my thoughts with acts, be it thought and done: The castle of Macduff I will surprise,
Seize upon Fife, give to th' edge o' th' sword
His wife, his babes, and all unfortunate souls
175 That trace him in his line. No boasting like a fool; This deed I'll do before this purpose cool. But no more sights.
[To Lennox] Where are these gentlemen?
Come, bring me where they are.
Exeunt.
IV.2Enter Macduff's Wife, her Son, and Ross.
LADY MACDUFF
What had he done to make him fly the land?
ROSS
You must have patience, madam.
LADY MACDUFF He had none.
His flight was madness. When our actions do not,
Our fears do make us traitors.4
ROSS You know not
Whether it was his wisdom or his fear.
LADY MACDUFF
Wisdom? To leave his wife, to leave his babes,
His mansion and his titles in a place7
From whence himself does fly? He loves us not,
He wants the natural touch. For the poor wren,9
The most diminutive of birds, will fight,10
Her young ones in her nest, against the owl.
All is the fear and nothing is the love,
As little is the wisdom, where the flight
So runs against all reason.14
ROSS My dearest coz,
I pray you school yourself. But for your husband,15
He is noble, wise, judicious, and best knows16
The fits o' th' season. I dare not speak much further, 18 But cruel are the times when we are traitors 19 And do not know ourselves; when we hold rumor 20 From what we fear, yet know not what we fear, But float upon a wild and violent sea
22 Each way and none. I take my leave of you, Shall not be long but I'll be here again.
24 Things at the worst will cease, or else climb upward To what they were before. [To the Son] My pretty cousin, Blessing upon you.
LADY MACDUFF
Fathered he is, and yet he's fatherless.
ROSS
I am so much a fool, should I stay longer
29 It would be my disgrace and your discomfort.
30 I take my leave at once.
Exit.
LADY MACDUFF
Sirrah, your father's dead;
And what will you do now? How will you live?
SON
As birds do, mother.
LADY MACDUFF What, with worms and flies?
SON
With what I get, I mean; and so do they.
LADY MACDUFF
35 Poor bird, thou'dst never fear the net nor lime, 36 The pitfall nor the gin.
SON
Why should I, mother? Poor birds they are not set for.
My father is not dead for all your saying.
LADY MACDUFF
Yes, he is dead. How wilt thou do for a father?
SON Nay, how will you do for a husband?40
LADY MACDUFF Why, I can buy me twenty at any market.
SON Then you'll buy 'em to sell again.42
LADY MACDUFF
Thou speak'st with all thy wit; and yet, i' faith,43
With wit enough for thee.
SON Was my father a traitor, mother?
LADY MACDUFF Ay, that he was.
SON What is a traitor?
LADY MACDUFF Why, one that swears and lies.48
SON And be all traitors that do so?
LADY MACDUFF Every one that does so is a traitor and must be hanged.50
SON And must they all be hanged that swear and lie?
LADY MACDUFF Every one.
SON Who must hang them?
LADY MACDUFF Why, the honest men.
SON Then the liars and swearers are fools, for there are liars and swearers enow to beat the honest men and57 hang up them.
LADY MACDUFF Now God help thee, poor monkey! But how wilt thou do for a father?60
SON If he were dead, you'd weep for him. If you would not, it were a good sign that I should quickly have a new father.
LADY MACDUFF Poor prattler, how thou talk'st!
Enter a Messenger.
MESSENGER
Bless you, fair dame. I am not to you known,
Though in your state of honor I am perfect.66
I doubt some danger does approach you nearly.67
If you will take a homely man's advice,68
Be not found here. Hence with your little ones.
70 To fright you thus methinks I am too savage; 71 To do worse to you were fell cruelty, 72 Which is too nigh your person. Heaven preserve you!
I dare abide no longer.
Exit.
LADY MACDUFF Whither should I fly?
I have done no harm. But I remember now
I am in this earthly world, where to do harm
Is often laudable, to do good sometime
Accounted dangerous folly. Why then, alas,
Do I put up that womanly defense
To say I have done no harm?
Enter Murderers. What are these faces?
MURDERER
80 Where is your husband?
LADY MACDUFF
I hope in no place so unsanctified
Where such as thou mayst find him.
MURDERER He's a traitor.
SON
83 Thou liest, thou shag-haired villain!
MURDERER What, you egg!
[Stabs him.]
84 Young fry of treachery!
SON He has killed me, mother.
Run away, I pray you!
[Dies.] Exit [Lady Macduff ], crying "Murder"
[pursued by Murderers].
IV.3Enter Malcolm and Macduff.
MALCOLM
Let us seek out some desolate shade, and there
Weep our sad bosoms empty.
MACDUFF Let us rather
Hold fast the mortal sword and, like good men,3
Bestride our downfall birthdom. Each new morn4
New widows howl, new orphans cry, new sorrows
Strike heaven on the face, that it resounds
As if it felt with Scotland and yelled out
Like syllable of dolor.8
MALCOLM What I believe, I'll wail;
What know, believe; and what I can redress,
As I shall find the time to friend, I will.10
What you have spoke, it may be so perchance.
This tyrant, whose sole name blisters our tongues,12
Was once thought honest; you have loved him well;
He hath not touched
you yet. I am young, but something You may deserve of him through me, and wisdom15
To offer up a weak, poor, innocent lamb
T' appease an angry god.
MACDUFF
I am not treacherous.
MALCOLM But Macbeth is.
A good and virtuous nature may recoil19
In an imperial charge. But I shall crave your pardon.20
That which you are, my thoughts cannot transpose:21
Angels are bright still though the brightest fell;22
23 Though all things foul would wear the brows of grace, Yet grace must still look so.
MACDUFF I have lost my hopes.
MALCOLM
Perchance even there where I did find my doubts.
26 Why in that rawness left you wife and child, Those precious motives, those strong knots of love, Without leave-taking? I pray you,
29 Let not my jealousies be your dishonors, 30 But mine own safeties. You may be rightly just Whatever I shall think.
MACDUFF Bleed, bleed, poor country!
32 Great tyranny, lay thou thy basis sure, For goodness dare not check thee; wear thou thy wrongs, 34 The title is affeered! Fare thee well, lord.
I would not be the villain that thou think'st
For the whole space that's in the tyrant's grasp
And the rich East to boot.
MALCOLM Be not offended.
38 I speak not as in absolute fear of you.
I think our country sinks beneath the yoke,
40 It weeps, it bleeds, and each new day a gash 41 Is added to her wounds. I think withal There would be hands uplifted in my right;
43 And here from gracious England have I offer Of goodly thousands. But, for all this,
When I shall tread upon the tyrant's head
Or wear it on my sword, yet my poor country
Shall have more vices than it had before,
More suffer, and more sundry ways than ever,
By him that shall succeed.
MACDUFF What should he be?
MALCOLM
It is myself I mean, in whom I know50
All the particulars of vice so grafted51
That, when they shall be opened, black Macbeth52
Will seem as pure as snow, and the poor state
Esteem him as a lamb, being compared
With my confineless harms.55
MACDUFF Not in the legions
Of horrid hell can come a devil more damned
In evils to top Macbeth.
MALCOLM I grant him bloody,
Luxurious, avaricious, false, deceitful,58
Sudden, malicious, smacking of every sin59
That has a name. But there's no bottom, none,60
In my voluptuousness. Your wives, your daughters,
Your matrons, and your maids could not fill up
The cistern of my lust; and my desire
All continent impediments would o'erbear64
That did oppose my will. Better Macbeth
Than such an one to reign.
MACDUFF Boundless intemperance
In nature is a tyranny. It hath been67
Th' untimely emptying of the happy throne
And fall of many kings. But fear not yet
To take upon you what is yours. You may70
Convey your pleasures in a spacious plenty71
And yet seem cold-the time you may so hoodwink.
We have willing dames enough. There cannot be73
That vulture in you to devour so many
As will to greatness dedicate themselves,
Finding it so inclined.
MALCOLM With this there grows
77 In my most ill-composed affection such 78 A stanchless avarice that, were I king, 79 I should cut off the nobles for their lands, 80 Desire his jewels, and this other's house, And my more-having would be as a sauce