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Macbeth (Folio 1, 1623)

Author: William Shakespeare
Editor: Anthony Dawson
Not Peer Reviewed
144
The Tragedie of Macbeth.
Nose of Turke, and Tartars lips:
Finger of Birth-strangled Babe,
Ditch-deliuer'd by a Drab,
Make the Grewell thicke, and slab.
1560Adde thereto a Tigers Chawdron,
For th' Ingredience of our Cawdron.
All. Double, double, toyle and trouble,
Fire burne, and Cauldron bubble.
2 Coole it with a Baboones blood,
1565Then the Charme is firme and good.

Enter Hecat, and the other three Witches.

Hec. O well done: I commend your paines,
And euery one shall share i'th' gaines:
And now about the Cauldron sing
1570Like Elues and Fairies in a Ring,
Inchanting all that you put in.
Musicke and a Song. Blacke Spirits, &c.
2 By the pricking of my Thumbes,
Something wicked this way comes:
1575Open Lockes, who euer knockes.
Enter Macbeth.
Macb. How now you secret, black, & midnight Hags?
What is't you do?
All. A deed without a name.
1580Macb. I coniure you, by that which you Professe,
(How ere you come to know it) answer me:
Though you vntye the Windes, and let them fight
Against the Churches: Though the yesty Waues
Confound and swallow Nauigation vp:
1585Though bladed Corne be lodg'd, & Trees blown downe,
Though Castles topple on their Warders heads:
Though Pallaces, and Pyramids do slope
Their heads to their Foundations: Though the treasure
Of Natures Germaine, tumble altogether,
1590Euen till destruction sicken: Answer me
To what I aske you.
1 Speake.
2 Demand.
3 Wee'l answer.
15951 Say, if th'hadst rather heare it from our mouthes,
Or from our Masters.
Macb. Call 'em: let me see 'em.
1 Powre in Sowes blood, that hath eaten
Her nine Farrow: Greaze that's sweaten
1600From the Murderers Gibbet, throw
Into the Flame.
All. Come high or low:
Thy Selfe and Office deaftly show.
Thunder.
1. Apparation, an Armed Head.
1605Macb. Tell me, thou vnknowne power.
1 He knowes thy thought:
Heare his speech, but say thou nought.
1 Appar. Macbeth, Macbeth, Macbeth:
Beware Macduffe,
1610Beware the Thane of Fife: dismisse me. Enough.
He Descends.
Macb. What ere thou art, for thy good caution, thanks
Thou hast harp'd my feare aright. But one word more.
1 He will not be commanded: heere's another
1615More potent then the first.
Thunder.
2 Apparition, a Bloody Childe.
2 Appar. Macbeth, Macbeth, Macbeth.
Macb. Had I three eares, Il'd heare thee.
Appar. Be bloody, bold, & resolute:

1620Laugh to scorne
The powre of man: For none of woman borne
Shall harme Macbeth.
Descends.
Mac. Then liue Macduffe: what need I feare of thee?
But yet Ile make assurance: double sure,
1625And take a Bond of Fate: thou shalt not liue,
That I may tell pale-hearted Feare, it lies;
And sleepe in spight of Thunder.
Thunder
3 Apparation, a Childe Crowned, with a Tree in his hand.
What is this, that rises like the issue of a King,
1630And weares vpon his Baby-brow, the round
And top of Soueraignty?
All. Listen, but speake not too't.
3 Appar. Be Lyon metled, proud, and take no care:
Who chafes, who frets, or where Conspirers are:
1635Macbeth shall neuer vanquish'd be, vntill
Great Byrnam Wood, to high Dunsmane Hill
Shall come against him.
Descend.
Macb. That will neuer bee:
Who can impresse the Forrest, bid the Tree
1640Vnfixe his earth-bound Root? Sweet boadments, good:
Rebellious dead, rise neuer till the Wood
Of Byrnan rise, and our high plac'd Macbeth
Shall liue the Lease of Nature, pay his breath
To time, and mortall Custome. Yet my Hart
1645Throbs to know one thing: Tell me, if your Art
Can tell so much: Shall Banquo's issue euer
Reigne in this Kingdome?
All. Seeke to know no more.
Macb. I will be satisfied. Deny me this,
1650And an eternall Curse fall on you: Let me know.
Why sinkes that Caldron? & what noise is this?
Hoboyes
1 Shew.
2 Shew.
3 Shew.
1655All. Shew his Eyes, and greeue his Hart,
Come like shadowes, so depart.
A shew of eight Kings, and Banquo last, with a glasse
in his hand.
Macb. Thou art too like the Spirit of Banquo: Down:
1660Thy Crowne do's seare mine Eye-bals. And thy haire
Thou other Gold-bound-brow, is like the first:
A third, is like the former. Filthy Hagges,
Why do you shew me this? --- A fourth? Start eyes!
What will the Line stretch out to'th' cracke of Doome?
1665Another yet? A seauenth? Ile see no more:
And yet the eight appeares, who beares a glasse,
Which shewes me many more: and some I see,
That two-fold Balles, and trebble Scepters carry.
Horrible sight: Now I see 'tis true,
1670For the Blood-bolter'd Banquo smiles vpon me,
And points at them for his. What? is this so?
1 I Sir, all this is so. But why
Stands Macbeth thus amazedly?
Come Sisters, cheere we vp his sprights,
1675And shew the best of our delights.
Ile Charme the Ayre to giue a sound,
While you performe your Antique round:
That this great King may kindly say,
Our duties, did his welcome pay.
Musicke.
1680
The Witches Dance, and vanish.
Macb. Where are they? Gone?
Let this pernitious houre,
Stand aye accursed in the Kalender.
Come in, without there.
Enter Lenox.
1685Lenox. What's your Graces will.
Nn
Macb.