May rush, and seize us? Let's away; our tears

And when we have our naked frailties hid,
That suffer in exposure, let us meet,

And question this most bloody piece of work,

To know it further. Fears and scruples shake us :
In the great hand of God I stand; and thence
Against the undivulg'd pretence I fight

Of treasonous malice.

Macd.

All.

And so do I.

So all.

Macb. Let's briefly put on manly readiness, And meet i' the hall together.

All.

Well contented.

[Exeunt all but MALCOLM and DonalBain.

Mal. What will you do? Let's not consort with them :

To shew an unfelt sorrow is an office

Which the false man does easy: I'll to England.

Don. To Ireland, I; our separated fortune

Shall keep us both the safer: where we are,
There's daggers in men's smiles: the near in blood,
The nearer bloody.

Mal.
This murderous shaft that's shot
Hath not yet lighted; 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.

[Exeunt.

SCENE IV.-Without the Castle.

Enter Ross and an Old Man.

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.

Ross.

Ah, good father,

Thou see'st, the heavens, as troubled with man's act,
Threaten his bloody stage: by the clock, 'tis day,
And yet dark night strangles the travelling lamp:
Is 't night's predominance, or the day's shame,
That darkness does the face of earth intomb,
When living light should kiss it?

Old M.

'Tis unnatural,

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

A falcon, towering in her pride of place,

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

Ross. 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,

Contending 'gainst obedience, as they would

Make war with mankind.

Old M.

'Tis said, they eat each other."

Ross. They did so—to the amazement of mine eyes, That look'd upon 't.-Here comes the good Macduff.

Enter MACDUFF.

Why, see you not?

How goes the world, sir, now?

Macd.

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

Ross.

What good could they pretend?

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.

Ross.

'Gainst nature still :

Thriftless ambition, that wilt ravin up7

Thine own life's means !-Then 'tis most like
The sovereignty will fall upon Macbeth.

Macd. He is already nam'd; and gone to Scone

To be invested.

Ross.

Where is Duncan's body?

Macd. Carried to Colme-kill; 8

The sacred storehouse of his predecessors,

And guardian of their bones.

Ross.

Will you to Scone?

Well, I will thither.

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

Ross.

Macd. Well, may you see things well done there :-adieuLest our old robes sit easier than our new!

Ross. Farewell, father.

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

[Exeunt.

Enter BANQUO.

Ban. 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),
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.

Sennet sounded. Enter MACBETH, as King; LADY MACBETH, as Queen; LENNOX, Ross, Lords, Ladies, 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.

Let your highness

Command upon me; to the which, my duties

Are with a most indissoluble tie

For ever knit.

Macb.

Ban.

Ride you this afternoon ?

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.
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.

Ban. My lord, I will not.

Fail not our feast.

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, therewithal, 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.