A third is like the former. Filthy hags,
Why do you show me this?—A fourth? Start, eyes!
What, will the line stretch out to th’ crack of doom?
Another yet? A seventh? I’ll see no more—
And yet the eighth appears, who bears a glass
Which shows me many more; and some I see
That twofold balls and treble sceptres carry.
Horrible sight! Now I see ’tis true,
For the blood-baltered Banquo smiles upon me,
And points at them for his.
Exeunt kings and Banquo
What, is this so?
⌈HECATE⌉
Ay, sir, all this is so. But why
Stands Macbeth thus amazedly?
Come, sisters, cheer we up his sprites,
And show the best of our delights.
I’ll charm the air to give a sound
While you perform your antic round,
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
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)
Time, thou anticipat‘st my dread exploits.
The flighty purpose never is o’ertook
Unless the deed go with it. From this moment
The very firstlings of my heart shall be
The firstlings of my hand. And even now,
To crown my thoughts with acts, be it thought and
done: 165
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
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
4.2 Enter 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.
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 place
From whence himself does fly? He loves us not,
He wants the natural touch, for the poor wren,
The most diminutive of birds, will fight,
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.
Ross
My dearest coz,
I pray you school yourself. But for your husband,
He is noble, wise, judicious, and best knows
The fits o’th’ season. I dare not speak much further,
But cruel are the times when we are traitors
And do not know ourselves; when we hold rumour
From what we fear, yet know not what we fear,
But float upon a wild and violent sea
Each way and none. I take my leave of you;
Shall not be long but I’ll be here again.
Things at the worst will cease, or else climb upward
To what they were before. 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
It would be my disgrace and your discomfort.
I take my leave at once.
Exit
LADY MACDUFF
Sirrah, your father’s dead,
And what will you do now? How will you live?
MACDUFF’S SON
As birds do, mother.
LADY MACDUFF What, with worms and flies?
MACDUFF’S SON
With what I get, I mean, and so do they.
LADY MACDUFF
Poor bird, thou’dst never fear the net nor lime,
The pitfall nor the gin.
MACDUFF’S 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?
MACDUFF’S SON Nay, how will you do for a husband?
LADY MACDUFF Why, I can buy me twenty at any market.
MACDUFF’S SON Then you’ll buy ’em to sell again.
LADY MACDUFF Thou speak‘st with all thy wit, and yet, i’faith, with wit enough for thee.
MACDUFF’S SON Was my father a traitor, mother?
LADY MACDUFF Ay, that he was.
MACDUFF’S SON What is a traitor?
LADY MACDUFF Why, one that swears and lies.
MACDUFF’S SON And be all traitors that do so?
LADY MACDUFF Everyone that does so is a traitor, and must be hanged.
MACDUFF’S SON And must they all be hanged that swear and lie?
LADY MACDUFF Every one.
MACDUFF’S SON Who must hang them?
LADY MACDUFF Why, the honest men.
MACDUFF’S SON Then the liars and swearers are fools, for there are liars and swearers enough to beat the honest men and hang up them.
LADY MACDUFF Now God help thee, poor monkey! But how wilt thou do for a father?
MACDUFF’S 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,