crow Which keeps me pale !—Light thickens; and the (Exeunt. SCENE JII. The same. A Park or Lawn, with a Gate leading to the Palace. Enter three Murderers. 1 Mur. But who did bid thee join with us? 3 Mur. Macbeth. 2 Mur. He needs not our mistrust; since he de livers Then stand with us. Hark! I hear horses. Then it is he; the rest That are within the note of expectation, Already are i’ the court. 1 Mur. His horses go about. 3 Mur. Almost a mile ; but he does usually, So all men do, from hence to the palace gate Make it their walk. a 1 i. e. they who are set down in the list of guests, and expected to supper. Enter BANQUO and FLEANCE, a Servant with a torch preceding them. 2 Mur. A light, a light! 'Tis he. Let it come down. [Assaults BANQUO. Ban. O, treachery! Fly, good Fleance, fly, fly, Thou mayst revenge. Oslave! [Dies. FLEANCE and Servant escape. 3 Mur. Who did strike out the light ? 1 Mur. Was't not the way? 3 Mur. There's but one down; the son is fled. 2 Mur. We have lost best half of our affair. 1 1 Mur. Well, let's away, and say how much is done. fly; SCENE IV. A Room of State in the Palace. A Banquet prepared. Enter MACBETH, LADY MACBETH, ROSSE, LENOX, Lords, and Attendants. first 2 And last, the hearty welcome. Thanks to your majesty. 1 Fleance, after the assassination of his father, fled into Wales, where, by the daughter of the prince of that country, he had a son named 'Walter, who afterwards became lord high steward of Scotland, and from thence assumed the name of sir Walter Steward. From him, in a direct line, king James I. was descended; in compliment to whom, Shakspeare has chosen to describe Banquo, who was equally concerned with Macbeth in the murder of Duncan, as innocent of that crime. 2 « At first and last.” Johnson, with great plausibility, proposes to read, “To first and last.” 1 Our hostess keeps her state;1 but, in best time, Lady M. Pronounce it for me, sir, to all our friends; For my heart speaks, they are welcome. Enter first Murderer, to the door. thanks. Mur. 'Tis Banquo's, then. Macb. 'Tis better thee without, than he within.2 Is he despatched ? Mur. My lord, his throat is cut; that I did for him. he's good, Most royal sir, perfect; Whole as the marble, founded as the rock ; As broad and general as the casing air : But now, I am cabined, cribbed, confined, bound in To saucy doubts and fears. But Banquo's safe? Mur. Ay, my good lord ; safe in a ditch he bides, With twenty trenched gashes on his head; The least a death to nature. Macb. Thanks for that. There the grown serpent lies; the worm, that's fled, Hath nature that in time will venom breed, 1 “ Keeps her state,” continues in her chair of state. A state was a royal chair with a canopy over it. 2 « 'Tis better thee without, than he within ;” that is, I am better pleased that the blood of Banquo should be on thy face than he in this room. 3 «With twenty trenched gashes on his head;" from the French trancher, to cut. 1 a No teeth for the present.-Get thee gone; to-morrow We'll hear ourselves again. [Exit Murderer. Lady M. My royal lord, You do not give the cheer: the feast is sold, That is not often vouched while 'tis a making, 'Tis given with welcome. To feed were best at home; From thence, the sauce to meat is ceremony; Meeting were bare without it. Macb. Sweet remembrancer! Now, good digestion wait on appetite, And health on both ! Len. May it please your highness, sit ? [The ghost of BANQUO rises, and sits in MACBETH's place. Macb. Here had we now our country's honor roofed, Were the graced person of our Banquo present; Who may I rather challenge for unkindness, Than pity for mischance ! Rosse. His absence, sir, Macb. The table's full. Here's a place reserved, sir. Macb. Where? Len. Here, my good lord. What is't that moves your highness? Macb. Which of you have done this? Lords. What, my good lord ? Macb. Thou canst not say, I did it: never shake Thy gory locks at me. Rosse. Gentlemen, rise ; his highness is not well. Lady M. Sit, worthy friends.—My lord is often thus, And hath been from his youth: ’pray you, keep seat; The fit is momentary; upon a thought He will again be well. If much you note him, You shall offend him, and extend his passion ; Feed, and regard him not.—Are you a man? 1 That which is not given cheerfully cannot be called a gift; it is something that must be paid for. 2 i. e. prolong his suffering, make his fit longer a Macb. Ay, and a bold one, that dare look on that O proper stuff! make such faces? When all's done, You look but on a stool. Macb. Pr’ythee, see there! behold! look! lo! how say you? Lady M. Why, what care I ? If thou canst nod, speak too.— What! quite unmanned in folly ? Macb. If I stand here, I saw him. Fie, for shame! Macb. Blood hath been shed ere now, i'the olden time, Ere human statute purged the general” weal; Ay, and since, too, murders have been performed Too terrible for the ear. The times have been, That, when the brains were out, the man would die, And there an end: but now, they rise again, With twenty mortal murders on their crowns, And push us from our stools. This is more strange Than such a murder is. Lady M. My worthy lord, Your noble friends do lack you. . Macb. I do forget.Do not muse at me, my most worthy friends; I have a strange infirmity, which is nothing To those that know me. Come, love and health to all; 1 This was a form of elliptic expression, commonly used even at this day, in the phrase “ this is nothing to them,” i. e. in comparison to them. 2 The folio reads gentle. |
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