For in my way it lies. Stars, hide your fires! Dun. True, worthy Banquo; he is full so valiant; And in his commendations I am fed; [Exit. [Flourish. Exeunt. SCENE V. - Inverness. A Room in Macbeth's Castle. Lady M. "They met me in the day of success; and I have learned by the perfectest report, they have more in them than mortal knowledge. When I burned in desire to question them further, they made themselves air, into which they vanished. Whiles I stood rapt in the wonder of it, came missives fron, the king, who all hailed me, 'Thane of Cawdor;' by which title, before, these weird sisters saluted me, and referred me to the coming on of time, with 'Hail, king that shalt be!' This have I thought good to deliver thee, my dearest partner of greatness; that thou mightest not lose the dues of rejoicing, by being ignorant of what greatness is promised thee. Lay it to thy heart, and farewell." Glamis thou art, and Cawdor; and shalt be The illness should attend it. What thou wouldst highly, Enter an Attendant. Attend. The king comes here to-night. Lady M. Thou'rt mad to say it: Is not thy master with him? who, wer 't so, Attend. So please you, it is true; our thane is coming: One of my fellows had the speed of him; (1) All that impedes thee, &c., i.e. all that hinders you from getting the golden round (diadem) which fate and metaphysical (supernatural) aid seem to have bestowed on you. Who, almost dead for breath, had scarcely more Lady M. Give him tending, [Exit Attendant. He brings great news. The raven himself is hoarse That croaks the fatal entrance of Duncan You wait on nature's mischief! Come, thick night, Enter MACВЕТН. Greater than both, by the all-hail hereafter! Thy letters have transported me beyond This ignorant present, and I feel now The future in the instant. Your face, my thane, is as a book, where men This night's great business into my despatch; (1) Mortal here means deadly, murderous. (2) Nature's mischief is mischief done to nature, any violation of nature's order wickedly perpetrated. (3) Pall thee, i.e. wrap thyself in a pall. Lady M. Only look up clear; [Exeunt. To alter favour ever is to fear: SCENE VI.-The same. Before the Castle. Hautboys. Servants of Macbeth attending. Enter DUNCAN, MALCOLM, DONALBAIN, BANQUO, LENOX, MACDUFF, Rosse, Angus, and Attendants. Dun. This castle hath a pleasant seat; the air Nimbly and sweetly recommends itself Unto our gentle senses. Ban. This guest of summer, The temple-haunting martlet, does approve, Buttress, nor coigne of vantage, but this bird The air is delicate. Dun. Enter LADY MACBETH. See, see! our honour'd hostess! The love that follows us sometime is our trouble, Lady M. All our service In every point twice done, and then done double, And the late dignities heap'd up to them, We rest your hermits.2 Dun. Where's the thane of Cawdor? We cours'd him at the heels, and had a purpose To be his purveyor : but he rides well; And his great love, sharp as his spur, hath holp him To his home before us: Fair and noble hostess, We are your guest to-night. Lady M. Your servants ever Have theirs, themselves, and what is theirs, in compt, (1) God yield us. To bid any one God yield him, is the same as God reward him. (2) We rest your hermits. Hermits is here used for beadsmen; persons bound to pray for their benefactor. (3) To be his purveyor, -to anticipate him; to get before him and prepare for him. To make their audit at your highness' pleasure, Still to return your own. Dun. Give me your hand : Conduct me to mine host; we love him highly, And shall continue our graces towards him. By your leave, hostess. [Exeunt. SCENE VII. --- The same. A Room in the Castle. Hautboys and torches. Enter, and pass over the stage, a Sewer, and divers Servants with dishes and service. Then enter Macbeth. Mach. If it were done, when 't is done, then 't were well It were done quickly: If the assassination Could trammel up the consequence, and catch, With his surcease, success; that but this blow Might be the be-all and the end-all, here, But here, upon this bank and shoal of time, We'd jump the life to come. But in these cases, We still have judgment here; that we but teach Bloody instructions, which, being taught, return To plague the inventor: This even-handed justice Commends the ingredients of our poison'd chalice To our own lips. He's here in double trust: First, as I am his kinsman and his subject, Strong both against the deed: then, as his host, Who should against his murtherer shut the door, Not bear the knife myself. Besides, this Duncan Hath borne his faculties so meek,1 hath been So clear in his great office, that his virtues Will plead like angels, trumpet-tongued, against The deep damnation of his taking-off: And pity, like a naked new-born babe, Striding the blast, or heaven's cherubim, hors'd Upon the sightless couriers of the air,2 Shall blow the horrid deed in every eye, That tears shall drown the wind. I have no spur To prick the sides of my intent, but only Vaulting ambition, which o'erleaps itself, And falls on the other.----How now, what news? Enter LADY MACBETH. Lady M. He has almost supp'd: why have you left the chamber? (1) Hath borne his faculties so meck, i.e. hath exercised his office, as king, so meekly and gently. (2) The sightless couriers of the air. By this are meant the unseen (sightless) winds of the air. Macb. Hath he ask'd for me? Know you not he has ? Lady M. Lady M. Like the poor cat i' the adage?1 Macb. Prithee, peace : I dare do all that may become a man; What beast was't then, Lady M. Macb. Lady M. If we should fail, But screw your courage to the sticking place, We fail. (1) We find the adage in Heywood's Proverbs, 1566 :-"The cat would eat fish and would not wet her feet." (2) Some editors propose cohere instead of adhere, and affirm that it means "did then suit, fit." (3) Will I with wine and wassel so convince, i.e. I will so overpower them with wine and strong drink. |