But that myself should be the root, and father May they not be my oracles as well, And set me up in hope? But, hush; no more. Sennet sounded. Enter MACBETH, as king; Lady MAC BETH, as queen; LENNOX, ROSSE, Lords, Ladies, Officers, and Attendants. Macb. 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. Lay your highness' Command upon me; to the which my duties Are with a most indissoluble tie For ever knit. Macb. Ride you this afternoon? Ban. Ay, my good lord. Mach. 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. 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, 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 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 all but MACBETH, and an Attendant. Sirrah, a word with you. Attend those men Our pleasure? Atten. They are, my lord, without the palace gate. 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; And to 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 Cæsar. He chid the sisters, When first they put the name of king upon me, For them the gracious Duncan have I murder'd ; To make them kings,-the seed of Banquo kings! And champion me to the utterance !8-Who's there? Re-enter Attendant, with two Murderers. Now, go to the door; and stay there till we call. [Exit Attendant. Was it not yesterday we spoke together? Well then, now Have you consider'd of my speeches? Know, In our last conference; pass'd in probation with you, —have I FIL'D my mind:] i. e., Defil'd my mind. To file is here used for to defile, by elision of the preposition. 9 the UTTERANCE!] i. e., To extremity; à l'outrance, Fr. How you were borne in hand; how cross'd; the instru ments; Who wrought with them; and all things else, that might, To half a soul, and to a notion craz'd, Say, Thus did Banquo. First Murd You made it known to us. Mach. I did so; and went farther, which is now First Murd. We are men, my liege. Macb. Ay, in the catalogue ye go for men; As hounds, and greyhounds, mongrels, spaniels, curs, All by the name of dogs: the valued file That writes them all alike; and so of men. Second Murd. I am one, my liege, Whom the vile blows and buffets of the world I do, to spite the world. First Murd And I another, So wearied with disasters, tugg'd with fortune, To mend it, or be rid on 't. Macb. Both of you True, my lord. Know Banquo was your enemy. Second Murd. Macb. So is he mine; and in such bloody distance, That every minute of his being thrusts Against my near'st of life: and though I could Second Murd. Perform what you command us. First Murd. We shall, my lord, Though our lives Macb. Your spirits shine through you. Within this hour, at most, I will advise you where to plant yourselves; |