Internet Shakespeare Editions

Toolbox




Jump to line
Through Line Number
Help on texts
About this text
Print this page

About this text

  • Title: Macbeth (Folio 1, 1623)
  • Editor: Anthony Dawson

    • ISBN: 978-1-55058-528-5

    Copyright Anthony Dawson. This text may be freely used for educational, non-profit purposes; for all other uses contact the Editor.
    Author: William Shakespeare
    Editor: Anthony Dawson
    Not Peer Reviewed

    Macbeth (Folio 1, 1623)

    The Tragedie of Macbeth. 139
    To th'amazement of mine eyes that look'd vpon't.
    Enter Macduffe.
    950Heere comes the good Macduffe.
    How goes the world Sir, now?
    Macd. Why see you not?
    Ross. Is't known who did this more then bloody deed?
    Macd. Those that Macbeth hath slaine.
    955Ross. Alas the day,
    What good could they pretend?
    Macd. They were subborned,
    Malcolme, and Donalbaine the Kings two Sonnes
    Are stolne away and fled, which puts vpon them
    960Suspition of the deed.
    Rosse. 'Gainst Nature still,
    Thriftlesse Ambition, that will rauen vp
    Thine owne liues meanes: Then 'tis most like,
    The Soueraignty will fall vpon Macbeth.
    965Macd. He is already nam'd, and gone to Scone
    To be inuested.
    Rosse. Where is Duncans body?
    Macd. Carried to Colmekill,
    The Sacred Store-house of his Predecessors,
    970And Guardian of their Bones.
    Rosse. Will you to Scone?
    Macd. No Cosin, Ile to Fife.
    Rosse. Well, I will thither.
    Macd. Well may you see things wel done there: Adieu
    975Least our old Robes sit easier then our new.
    Rosse. Farewell, Father.
    Old M. Gods benyson go with you, and with those
    That would make good of bad, and Friends of Foes.
    Exeunt omnes


    980 Actus Tertius. Scena Prima.


    Enter Banquo.
    Banq. Thou hast it now, King, Cawdor, Glamis, all,
    As the weyard Women promis'd, and I feare
    Thou playd'st most fowly for't: yet it was saide
    985It should not stand in thy Posterity,
    But that my selfe should be the Roote, and Father
    Of many Kings. If there come truth from them,
    As vpon thee Macbeth, their Speeches shine,
    Why by the verities on thee made good,
    990May they not be my Oracles as well,
    And set me vp in hope. But hush, no more.

    Senit sounded. Enter Macbeth as King, Lady Lenox,
    Rosse, Lords, and Attendants.

    Macb. Heere's our chiefe Guest.
    995La. If he had beene forgotten,
    It had bene as a gap in our great Feast,
    And all-thing vnbecomming.
    Macb. To night we hold a solemne Supper sir,
    And Ile request your presence.
    1000Banq. Let your Highnesse
    Command vpon me, to the which my duties
    Are with a most indissoluble tye
    For euer knit.
    Macb. Ride you this afternoone?
    1005Ban. I, my good Lord.
    Macb. We should haue else desir'd your good aduice

    (Which still hath been both graue, and prosperous)
    In this dayes Councell: but wee'le take to morrow.
    Is't farre you ride?
    1010Ban. As farre, my Lord, as will fill vp the time
    'Twixt this, and Supper. Goe not my Horse the better,
    I must become a borrower of the Night,
    For a darke houre, or twaine.
    Macb. Faile not our Feast.
    1015Ban. My Lord, I will not.
    Macb. We heare our bloody Cozens are bestow'd
    In England, and in Ireland, not confessing
    Their cruell Parricide, filling their hearers
    With strange inuention. But of that to morrow,
    1020When therewithall, we shall haue cause of State,
    Crauing vs ioyntly. Hye you to Horse:
    Adieu, till you returne at Night.
    Goes Fleance with you?
    Ban. I, my good Lord: our time does call vpon's.
    1025Macb. I wish your Horses swift, and sure of foot:
    And so I doe commend you to their backs.
    Farwell. Exit Banquo.
    Let euery man be master of his time,
    Till seuen at Night, to make societie
    1030The sweeter welcome:
    We will keepe our selfe till Supper time alone:
    While then, God be with you. Exeunt Lords.
    Sirrha, a word with you: Attend those men
    Our pleasure?
    1035Seruant. They are, my Lord, without the Pallace
    Gate.
    Macb. Bring them before vs. Exit Seruant.
    To be thus, is nothing, but to be safely thus:
    Our feares in Banquo sticke deepe,
    1040And in his Royaltie of Nature reignes that
    Which would be fear'd. 'Tis much he dares,
    And to that dauntlesse temper of his Minde,
    He hath a Wisdome, that doth guide his Valour,
    To act in safetie. There is none but he,
    1045Whose being I doe feare: and vnder him,
    My Genius is rebuk'd, as it is said
    Mark Anthonies was by Caesar. He chid the Sisters,
    When first they put the Name of King vpon me,
    And bad them speake to him. Then Prophet-like,
    1050They hayl'd him Father to a Line of Kings.
    Vpon my Head they plac'd a fruitlesse Crowne,
    And put a barren Scepter in my Gripe,
    Thence to be wrencht with an vnlineall Hand,
    No Sonne of mine succeeding: if't be so,
    1055For Banquo's Issue haue I fil'd my Minde,
    For them, the gracious Duncan haue I murther'd,
    Put Rancours in the Vessell of my Peace
    Onely for them, and mine eternall Iewell
    Giuen to the common Enemie of Man,
    1060To make them Kings, the Seedes of Banquo Kings.
    Rather then so, come Fate into the Lyst,
    And champion me to th'vtterance.
    Who's there?

    Enter Seruant, and two Murtherers.

    1065Now goe to the Doore, and stay there till we call.
    Exit Seruant.
    Was it not yesterday we spoke together?
    Murth. It was, so please your Highnesse.
    Macb. Well then,
    1070Now haue you consider'd of my speeches:
    Know,
    About
    Contact us
    Content quality
    Site guide
    © Internet Shakespeare Editions
    Copyright details
    Privacy policy
    This site is supported by:
    University of Victoria
    Friends of the ISE
    SSHRC