Let every man be master of his time

Till seven at night; to make society

40

The sweeter welcome, we will keep ourself

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

Sirrah, a word with you: attend those men our pleasure?
Attend. They are, my lord, without the palace gate.

[Exeunt LADY MACBETH, Lords, Ladies, &c.

Macb. Bring them before us. [Exit Attendant.]-To be thus,

is nothing;

45

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

50

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,

55

And bade them speak to him; then, prophet-like,
They hail'd him father to a line of kings:
Upon my head they plac'd a fruitless crown,
And put a barren sceptre 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;

60

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 common 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 !-Who's there ?—

65

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?
First Mur. It was, so please your highness.
Macb.

Well then, now

Have you consider'd of my speeches? Know,
That it was he, in the times past, which held you
So under fortune; which, you thought, had been
Our innocent self: this I made good to you

In our last conference; pass'd in probation with you,
How you were borne in hand, how cross'd, the instruments,
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 Mur.

70

75

80

You made it known to us.

Macb. I did so; and went further, which is now
Qur point of second meeting. Do you find
Your patience so predominant in your nature,
That you can let this go? Are you so gospell'd,
To pray for this good man, and for his issue,
Whose heavy hand hath bow'd you to the grave,
And beggar'd yours for ever?

First Mur.

We are men, my liege.
Macb. Ay, in the catalogue ye go for men ;

As hounds, and greyhounds, mongrels, spaniels, curs,
Shoughs, water-rugs, and demi-wolves, are cleped
All by the name of dogs: the valued file
Distinguishes the swift, the slow, the subtle,
The housekeeper, the hunter, every one
According to the gift which bounteous nature
Hath in him clos'd; whereby he does receive
Particular addition, from the bill

That writes them all alike: and so of men.
Now, if you have a station in the file,

Not in the worst rank of manhood, say it;
And I will put that business in your bosoms
Whose execution takes your enemy off;
Grapples you to the heart and love of us,
Who wear our health but sickly in his life,
Which in his death were perfect.

Second Mur.

100

Whom the vile blows and buffets of the world

Have so incens'd, that I am reckless what

I do to spite the world.

So weary with disasters, tugg'd with fortune,
That I would set my life on any chance,

To mend it, or be rid on 't.

True, my lord.

Know Banquo was your enemy.

Second Mur.

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
With barefac'd power sweep him from my sight,
And bid my will avouch it, yet I must not,
For certain friends that are both his and mine,
Whose loves I may not drop, but wail his fall
Whom I myself struck down: and thence it is
That I to your assistance do make love;
Masking the business from the common eye,
For sundry weighty reasons.

Second Mur.

Perform what you command us.

First Mur.

110

115

120

We shall, my lord,

Though our lives

Within this hour at

125

Macb. Your spirits shine through you.

most,

I will advise you where to plant yourselves.
Acquaint you with the perfect spy o' the time,
The moment on't; for 't must be done to-night,

And something from the palace; always thought
That I require a clearness: and with him
(To leave no rubs nor botches in the work),
Fleance his son, that keeps him company,
Whose absence is no less material to me

Than is his father's, must embrace the fate
Of that dark hour. Resolve yourselves apart;
I'll come to you anon.

Second Mur.

We are resolv'd, my lord. Macb. I'll call upon you straight; abide within.

It is concluded:-Banquo, thy soul's flight,
If it find heaven, must find it out to-night.

130

135

[Exeunt Murderers.

139

[Exit.

SCENE II.-The same. Another Room in the Palace.

Enter LADY MACBETH and a Servant.

Lady M. Is Banquo gone from court?

Serv. Ay, madam, but returns again to-night.

Lady M. Say to the king, I would attend his leisure For a few words.

Serv.

Lady M.

Madam, I will.

[Exit.

Nought's had, all's spent,

5

Where our desire is got without content :

'Tis safer to be that which we destroy,
Than, by destruction, dwell in doubtful joy.

Enter MACBETH.

How now, my lord? why do you keep alone,

Of sorriest fancies your companions making?

Using those thoughts which should indeed have died

10

With them they think on? Things without all remedy
Should be without regard: what's done is done.

Macb. We have scotch'd the snake, not kill'd it;

She'll close, and be herself; whilst our poor malice

Remains in danger of her former tooth.

15

But let the frame of things disjoint, both the worlds suffer,
Ere we will eat our meal in fear, and sleep

In the affliction of these terrible dreams,

That shake us nightly: better be with the dead,
Whom we, to gain our peace, have sent to peace,
Than on the torture of the mind to lie

In restless ecstasy. Duncan is in his grave;
After life's fitful fever he sleeps well;

Treason has done his worst: nor steel, nor poison,
Malice domestic, foreign levy, nothing,

Can touch him further.

Lady M. Come on;

Gentle my lord, sleek o'er your rugged looks;
Be bright and jovial 'mong your guests to-night.

Macb. So shall I, love; and so, I pray, be you:
Let your remembrance apply to Banquo;
Present him eminence, both with eye and tongue:
Unsafe the while, that we

Must lave our honours in these flattering streams;
And make our faces vizards to our hearts,

Disguising what they are.

Lady M.

You must leave this.

Macb. O, full of scorpions is my mind, dear wife! Thou know'st that Banquo, and his Fleance, lives.

Lady M. But in them nature's copy's not eterne. Macb. There's comfort yet; they are assailable; Then be thou jocund: ere the bat hath flown

40

His cloister'd flight; ere, to black Hecate's summons,
The shard-borne beetle, with his drowsy hums,
Hath rung night's yawning peal, there shall be done
A deed of dreadful note.

Lady M.

What's to be done?

45

Macb. Be innocent of the knowledge, dearest chuck,