Are with a moll indiflfoluble tye
For ever knit.

Macb Ride you this afternoon ?

Ban. Ay, my good lord.

Macb. We fhould have elfe defir'd
Your good advice (which flill hath been both grave
And profperous) in this day's Council -, but
We'll take to morrow. Is it far you ride?

Ban. As far, my lord, as will fill up the time
'Twixt this and fupper. Go not my horfe the better,
I muft become a borrower of the night
For a dark hour or twain.

Macb. Fail not our feaft.

Ban. My lord, I will not.

Macb. We hear, our bloody Coufins are beftow'd
In England, and in Ireland ; not confefling
Their cruel Parricide, rilling their hearers
With ftrange invention ; but of That to morrow ;
When therewithal we {hall have caufe of State,
Craving us jointly. Hie to horfe : adieu,
Till you return at night. Goes Fleance with you?

Ban. Ay, my good lord ; our time does call upon us.

Macb. 1 wifh your horfcs fwift, and fure of foot :
And fo I do commend you to their backs.
Farewel. [Exit Banquo.

Let ev'ry man be mafter of his time

B b 3 'Till



2 74 Th e Tragedy of M A C B E T H.

'Till feven at night ; to make fociety
The fweeter welcome, we will keep ourfelf
'i ill fupper-time alone : till then, God be with you.
[Exeunt Lady Macbeth, and Lords.

SCENE II.

Manent Macbeth, and a Servant.

Sirrah, a word with you : attend thofe men
Our pleafure?

Ser. They are, my lord, without the Palace- gate.

Macl}. Bring them before us* To be thus, is

nothing ; [Exit ferv.

But to be fafely thus.- Our fears in Banquo
Stick deep ; and in his Royalty of Nature
Reigns That, which would be fear'd. J Tis much he

dares,

And to that dauntlefs temper of his mind,
He hath a wifdom that doth guide his valour
To act in fafety. There is none but he,
"Whofe Being I do fear : and, under him,
My Genius is rebuk'd ; as, it is faid,
Antonfs was by C<efar. He chid the Sifters,
When firft they put the name of King upon me,
And bade them fpeak to him ; then, Prophet-like,
They hail'd him father to a line of Kings.
Upon my head they plac'd a fruitlefs Crown,
And put a barren Scepter in my gripe,
Thence to be wrench'd with an unlineal hand,
No fon of mine fucceeding. If 'tis fo,
* For Banquo's iffue have I 'filed my mind :
For them, the gracious Duncan have I murther'd ;
Put rancours in the veffel of my Peace

2 For Banquo'j iffue have I F i L' D my mind : ] We fhould read,

-'FILED my mind;

j. f . defiled.

Only



The Tragedy ^/MACBETH. 375

Only for them : and mine eternal jewel

Giv'n to the common enemy of man,

To make them Kings : the Seed of Eanquo Kings :

< c 3 Rather than fo, come Fate into the lift,

*' And champion me to th' utterance ! who's there ?

Enter Servant, and two Murtherers.
Go to the door, and ftay there, 'till we call.

[Exit Servant,

Was it not yefterday we fpoke together ?
Mur. It was, fo pleafe your Highnefs.
Macb. Well then, now
You have confider'd of my fpeeches ? know,
That it was he, in the times pad, which held you
So under fortune ; which, you thought, had been
Our innocent felf ; this I made good to you
In our laft conf'rence, pad in probation with you:
How you were borne in hand ; how croft ; the in-

ftruments ;
Who wrought with them : and all things elfe that

might

To half a foul, 4 and to a notion craz*d,
Say, thus did Banquo.

i Mur. True, you made it known.
Macb. I did fo ; and went further, which is now
Our point of fecond meeting. Do you find
Your Patience fo predominant in your nature,
That you can let this go ? are you fo gofpell'd,

3 Rather than fo, come Fate into the lift,

And champion me to th 1 utterance! ] This is exprefled

with great noblenefs and fublimity. The metaphor is taken from
the ancient combat en champ clos : in which there was a marfhal,
who prefided over, and directed all the punctilios of the ceremo-
nial. Fate is called upon to difcharge this Office, and champion
him to th" 1 utterance ; that is, to fight it out to the extremity, which
they called combatre a oultrance. But he ufes the Scotch word,
utterance from oultrance, extremity.

4 and to a notion crazed.] Nation, for the underftanding-

Bb 4 To



376 Ik* Tragedy of M A c B E T rt.

To pray for this good man and for his ifiue,
Whofe heavy hand hath bow'd you to the Grave,
And beggar'd yours for ever ?

1 Mur. We are men, my liege.

Macb. " Ay, in the catalogue ye go for men,
<{ As hounds, and greyhounds, mungrels, fpaniels, curs,
" Showghes, water rugs, and demy- wolves are cleped
* c All by the name of dogs , the valued file
*' Diflinguifhes the fwift, the flow, the fubtle,
" The houfe-keeper, the hunter j every one
" According to the gift which bounteous Nature
" Hath in him clos'd ; whereby he does receive
<c Particular addition, from the bill
*' That writes them all alike : and fo of men.
*' Now, if you have a ftation in the file,
" And not in the worft rank of manhood, fay it ;
And I will put that bufinefs in your bofoms,
"Whofe execution takes your enemy off;
Grapples you to the heart and love of us,
"Who wear our health but fickly in his life,
Which in his death were perfect

2 Mur. I am one,

"Whom the vile blows and buffets of the world
Have fo incens'd, s that I am recklefs what
1 do, to fpite the world.

i Mur. And I another,
* So weary with difaftrous tuggs with fortune,
That I would fet my life on any chance,

To

5 that 1 am recklefs what] i. t. carelefs. Mr. Pope.

6 So votary nuitb DISASTERS, TUOG'D faith for tunt,] We fee

the fpeaker means to lay that he is weary with ftruggiing with
adverfe fortune. But this reading expreffes but half the idea ; viz,.
of a man tugg'd and haled by fortune without making refiftance.
To give the com pleat thought, we mould read,

So iveary with DISASTROUS TUGGS <uiith fortune.
. This is well exprefled, and gives the reafon of his being weary,
i " aufe fortune always hitherto got the better. And that Skake-



The Tragedy of M A c B E T H. 377

To mend it, or be rid on't. %

Macb. Both of you
Know, Banquo was your enemy.

Mur. True, my lord.

Macb. So is he mine : and 7 in fuch bloody diftancc,
That every minute of his Being thrufts
Againft my near'ft of life ; and though I could
With bare-fac'd Power fweep him from my fight,
And bid my Will avouch it ; yet I muft not,
For certain friends that are both his and mine,
Whofe loves I may not drop ; but wail his Fall,
Whom I myfelf ftruck down : and thence it is,
That I to your affiftance do make love,
Masking the bufinefs from the common eye
For fundry weighty reafons.

2 Mur. We mall, my lord,
Perform what you command us.

i Mur. Though our lives -

Macb. Your ipirits mine through you. In this

hour, at molt,

I will advife you where to plant yourfelves ;
Acquaint you with 8 the perfect fpy o' th* time,
The moment on't ; (for't muft be done to night,
And fomething from the Palace : always thought,
That I require a Clearnefs : ) and with him,
(To leave no rubs nor botches in the Work)
Fleance his fon, that keeps him company,
(Whofe abfence is no lefs material to me,
Than is his father's) muft embrace the fate
Of that dark hour. Refolve your felves a- part,

fpear knew how to exprefs this thought, we have an inftance in
The Winter'' s Ta/e,

Let myfelf and Fortune TV o c for the time to comt.
Befides, to be tuggd wtb Fortune, is fcarce Enghjb.

7 in fuck bloody diftance,] Dijtance, for enmity.

8 tic perfeft fpy o tV time,'] i. e. the critical jun&ure.



378 1%* Tragedy of MAC BETH,

I'll come to you "anon.

Mur. We are refolv'd, my lord.

Macb. I'll call upon you ftraight ; abide within.

[Exeunt Murtherers.

It is concluded ; <Banquo, thy Soul's flight,
If it find heav'n, rauft find it out to-night. [Exit.

SCENE III.

Another Apartment in the Palace.

Enter Lady Macbeth, and a Servant.

Lady. T S Banquo gone from Court ?

JL Seru. Ay Madam, but returns again to
night.

Lady. Say to the King, I would attend his leifure
For a few words.

Serv. Madam, I will [Exit.

Lady. Nought's had, all's fpent, ,
Where our define is got without content :
'Tis fafer to be That which we deftroy,
Than by deftru&ion dwell in doubtful joy.

Enter Macbeth.

How now, my lord, why do you keep alone ?
Of forrieft fancies your companions making,
Ufing thofe thoughts, which fhould, indeed, have dy'd
With them they think on ? things without all remedy
Should be without regard ; what's done, is done.
Macb- " We have (a) fcotch'd the fnake, not

kill'd it

" She'll clofe, and be herfelf ; whilft our poor malice
*' Remains in danger of 'her former tooth.
" But let both worlds disjoint, and all things fuffer,
' Ere we will eat our meal in fear, and deep

[ >/rV. Mr. neobald. Vulg. fcorcb'd. ]

" In



TZe Tragedy of MAC BET H. 379

*' In the affliction of thefe terrible Dreams,

" That (hake us nightly. Better be with the Dead,

" (Whom we, to gain our Place, have lent to Peace)

" Than on the torture of the mind to lie

" * In reftlefs ecflafie Duncan is in his Grave ;

* c After life's fitful fever, he deeps well ;

" Treafon has done his worft , nor (lee!, nor poifbn,

" -f Malice domeflic, foreign levy, noihing

" Can touch him further !

Lady. Come on ;

Gentle my lord, fleek o'er your rugged looks ;
Be bright and jovial, 'mong your guefts to night.

Macb. So mall I, Love j and To, I pray, be you ;
Let your remembrance dill apply to Banquo.
9 Prefent him Eminence, both with eye and tongue :
Unfafe the while, that we muft lave our honours
In thefe fo flatt'nng ftreams, and make our faces
Vizors t'our hearts, difguifing what they are !

Lady. You muft leave this.

Macb. O, full of fcorpions is my mind, dear wife!
Thou know'ft, that Ban^uo, and his Fkance^ lives.

Lady. But in them * Nature's copy's not eternal.

Macb. There's comfort yet, they are affiliable ;
Then, be thou jocund. " Ere the Bat hath flown
" His cloyfter'd flight ; ere to black Hecat's fummons
" * The uV.rd-boru beetle with hisdrowfie hums
'* Hath rung night's yawning peal, there fhall be
done

* In rcjllefs ecftafie ] Ecjlafie, for madncfs.
f Malice domejiic ] Malice, for confpiracy.
9 Prefent him Eminence,] i. e. do him the higheft honours.

1 Nature's copy's not eternal.] Eternal, for immortal.

2 The ftiard-born beetle ] / e. The beetle hatched in

clefts of wood. So in Anthony and Cleopatra: They art b:s
fhards, and he their Beetle.

VOL. VI. "A



380 The Tragedy ofMkCZE T H.



" A deed of dreadful note.

Lady. What's to be done ?

Mac. Be innocent of the knowledge, deareft chuck,
'Till thou applaud the Deed: " J come, feeling

Night,

' Skarf up the tender eye of pitiful day,
* And with thy bloody and invifible hand
cc Cancel and tear to pieces that great bond,
" Which keeps me pale. 4 Light thickens, and the

Crow

" Makes wing to th' rooky wood :
" Good things of day begin to droop and drowze,
" Whiles night's black agents to their prey do rowze.
Thou marveH'ft at my words ; but hold thee ftill ;
Things, bad begun, make ftrong themfelves by 111 :
So, pr'y thee, go with me. {Exeunt.

SCENE IV.

Changes to a Park ; the Caftle at a diftance.

Enter three Murtberers.

I Afr.T>UT who did bid thee join with us?

J3 3 Mur. Macbeth.
2 Mur. He needs not our Miftruft, fince he de-

livers
Our offices, and what we have to do,

To

3 come, fealing Night,] Thus the common editions had
it; but the old one, feeling, i. e. blinding j which is right. It
is a term in Falconry.

4 E.IGHT thickens,* ] Either the poet or his edi-
tors were out in their philofophy : for the more light thickens or
condenfes, the brighter it is. i mould think the poet wrote,

. MIGHT thickens.



Th*'



The Tragedy of MACBETH. 381

To the direction juft.

i Mur. Then ftand with us.
The weft yet glimmers with fome ftreaks of day :
Now fpurs the lated traveller apace,
To gain the timely in ; and near approaches
The fubjecl of our watch.

3 Mur. Hark, I hear horfes.

[Banquo within.'] Give us light there, hot

2. Mur. Then it is he : the reft
That are within the note of expectation,
Already are i* th* Court.

1 Mur. His horfes go about.

3 Mur. Almoft a mile : but he does ufually,
("So all men do,) from hence to th' Palace- gate
Make it their Walk.

Enter Banquo and Fleance, with A Torch.

2 Mur. A light, a light.

3 Mur. 'Tis he.

j Mur. Stand to't.

Ban. It will be rain to night.

i Mur. Let it come down. \T"hey affault Banquo.

Ban, Oh, treachery !
Fly, Fleance^ fly, fly, fly,
Thou may 'ft revenge. Oh flave!

[Dies. Fleance efcapes.

.3 Mur. Who did ftrike out the light ?

1 Mur. Was't not the way ?

3 Mur. There's but One down ; the fon
Is fled.

2 Mur. We've loft beft half of our affair.

i Mur. Well, let's away, and fay how much is
done. [Exeunt.

Tho' by thickens, in his licentious Englijb, he might mean, grow*
muddy ; and take his idea from a clear transparent liquor's turn-
ing thick by the infufion of an inky fubilancc into it.

SCENE



382 The Tragedy of MACBETH.

SCENE V.

Changes to a Room of State in the Cajlk.

A Banquet prepaid. Enter Macbeth, Lady, Rofife,
Lenox, Lords, and Attendants.

Macb.\7OU know your own degrees, fit down:
I At firft and laft, the hearty welcome.

Lords. Thanks to your Majefty.

Macb. Our felf will mingle with fociety,
And play the humble Hoft :
Our Hoftefs keeps her State, but in bed time
We will require her welcome. [They fit.

Lady. Pronounce it for me, Sir, to all our friends,
For my heart fpeaks, they're welcome.

Enter firft Murtherer.

Macb. See, they encounter thee with their hearts'

thanks.

Both fides are even : here I'll fit i' th' midft ,
Be large in mirth, anon we'll drink a meafure

The table round There's blood upon thy face.

[To the Murtherer, afide, at the door.
Mur. 'Tis Banquo's then.
Macb. 'Tis better thee without, than he within.
Is he difpatch'd ?
Mur. My lord, his throat is cut, That I did for

him.
Macb. Thou art the bed of cut-throats ; yet he's

good,

That did the like for Fleance : if thou didft it,
Thou art the non-pareil

Mur. Moft royal Sir,
Fleance is fcap'd.

Macb. *' Then comes my Fit again : I had elfe
been perfect i

Whole



The Tragedy of M A c B E T H.

'* Whole as the marble, founded as the rock ;
*' As broad, and gen'ral, as the cafing air :
" But now I'm cabin'd, cribb'd, confin'd, bound in
" To fawcy Doubts and Fears. But Banquo's
fafc?

Mur. Ay, my good lord : fafe in a ditch he bides,
With twenty trenched games on his head j
The lead a death to Nature.

Macb. Thanks for that ;

<c There the grown ferpent lies : the worm, that's fled,
" Hath Nature that in time will venom breed,
'* No teeth for th* prefent. Get thee gone, to morrow
We'll hear't ourfelves again. [Exit Muriherer.

Lady. My royal lord,

You do not give the cheer ; the feaft is fold,
That is not often vouched, while 'tis making
*Tis given with welcome. To feed, were beft at home i
From thence, the fawce to meat is ceremony ;
Meeting were bare without it.

[The Ghoft s/Banquo rife 3^ and fits In Macbeth'* />/.

Macb. Sweet remembrancer!
Now good digeftion wait on appetite,
And health on both!

Len. May't pleafe your Highnefs fit ?

Macb. Here had we now our Country's Honour

roof'd,

Were the grac'd pcrlbn of our Eanquo prefent,
(Whom may I rather challenge for unkindnefs,
Than pity for mifchance ! )

Roffe. His abfcnce, Sir,

Lays blame upon his promife. Pleas't your Highnefs
To grace us with your royal company ?

Macb. The table's full. [Starting.

Len. Here's a place referv'd, Sir.

Macb. Where?

Len. Here, my good lord.
What is't that moves your Highnefs ?

Macb.



384 ?lx Tragedy of M A c B E T H.

Macb. " Which of you have done this?

Lords. What, my good lord?

Macb. " Thoucan'it not fay, I did it: never make
" Thy goary locks at me."

Rojfi. Gentlemen, rife ; his Highnefs is not well.

Lady. Sit worthy friends, my lord is often thus,
And hath been from his youth. Pray you, keep feat.
The Fit is momentary, on a thought
He will again be well. If much you note him,
You fhall offend him, and extend his paffion ;

Feed, and regard him not. Are you a man ?

\fo Macbeth aftde.

Macb. Ay, and a bold one, that dare look on That,
Which might appal the Devil.

Lady. O proper ftuff!

" This is the very Painting of your fear , \Afide.
' This is the air-drawn-dagger, which, you faid,
" Led you to Duncan. 6 Oh, thefe flaws and ftarts
*' (Impoftors to true fear,) would well become
" A woman's flory at a winter's fire,
" Authoriz'd by her grandam. Shame it felf I-
Why do you make fuch faces ? when all's done,
You look but on a ftool.

Macb. Pr'ythee, fee there !
Behold! look! lo! how fay you?

[Pointing to the Ghojl.

*' Why, what care I? if thou can'ft nod, fpeak too.
If Charnel-houfes and our Graves muft fend
Thofe, that we bury, back ; our Monuments
Shall be the maws of kites. [The Ghoft vani/hes.

Lady. What? quite unmann'd in folly ?

Macb. If I (land here, I faw him.

Lady. Fie, for fhame !

6 Ob, tbefe flaws andjlarts

(Impofion to true fear,) ] i. e. thefe flaws and ftarts. as they
are indications of your needleis fears, are the imitators or importers
anl/ of rhofs which arifc from a fear well grounded.

Macb.



The Tragedy of M A c B E T H. 385

Macb. " Blood hath been flied ere now, i* th' olden

time,

* c 7 Ere human Statute purg'd the gen'ral weal ;
" Ay, and fince too, Murthers have been perform'd
" Too terrible for th' ear : the times have been,
That, when the brains were out, the man would die,
And there an end ; but now they rife again
With twenty mortal Murthers on their crowns,
And pufli us from our ftools j this is more firange
Than fuch a murther is.

Lady. My worthy lord^
Your noble friends do lack you.

Macb. I do forget.-

Do not mufe at me, my mod worthy friends,

I have a ftrange Infirmity, which is nothing

To thole that know me. Come, Love and Health

to all !

Then I'll fit down : give me fome wine, fill full
I drink to th' general joy of the whole table,
And to our dear friend Banquo^ whom we mifs *,
Would he were here ! to all, and him, we thirft,
f And all to all.

Lords. Our Duties, and the Pledge.

[The Gboft rifes again.
Macb. Avaunt, and quit my fight! Let the earth

hide thee!

" Thy bones are marrovvlefs, thy blood is cold - 9
** Thou haft no fpeculation in thofe eyes,

7 Ere human Statute purgd the GENTLE weal;] Thus all the
editions: I have reform'd the text, GEN'RAL nusul : And it is a
very fine Ptriphrafit to fignify, ere civil Societies naere injlituted.
For the early murders recorded in Scripture, are here alluded to :
and Macbeth" & apologizing for murder from the antiquity of the
example is very natural. The term he ufes again in Timon,

that his particular to forefend

Smells from the gen'ral-weal.

8 And all to all.] i. e. all good wifhes to all j fach as he had
named above lwe ) health and joy.

VOL VI. C e " Which



386 7fe Tragedy of M A c B E T H.

Which thou doft glare with."

Lady. Think of this, good Peers,
But as a thing of cuftom ; 'tis no other ;
Only it fpoils the pleafure of the time.

Macb. What man dare, I dare :
Approach thou like the rugged Ruffian bear,
The arm'd rhinoceros, or Hyrcanian tyger,
" Take any lhape but That, and my firm nerves
* Shall never tremble : Or, be alive again,
" And dare me to the Defert with thy fword ;
*' 9 If trembling I inhibit, th n proteft me
** The baby of a girl. Hence, terrible fhadow !
" Unreal mock'ry, hence! Why, fo, being gone,

[The Ghojl vanijhes.
I am a man again : pray you fit ft ill. [The Lords rife.

Lady. You have difplac'd the mirth, broke the

good Meeting

With mod admir'd diforder. ' Can't fuch things be,
And overcome us like a Summer's cloud,
Without our fpecial wonder?

Macb. l You make me ftrange
* Ev'n to the difpofition that I owe,

9 If trembling /inhibit,] Inhibit, for refufe.

1 Macb. CAN fitch things be,

And overcome us like a funmers cloud,

Without our /pedal wonder ?~\ Why rot? if they be only like a
fummer's cloud ? The fpeech is given wrong; it is part of the La-
dy's foregoing fpeech ; and, befides that, is a little corrupt. We
ftiould read it thus,

C^^Tfucb things be,

And overcome us like a fitmmer' s cloud,

Without our fpecial wonder ?

i. t. cannot thefe vifions, without fo much wonder and amaze-
ment, be prefented to the dijlurbed imagination in the manner that
air-vifions, in fummer -clouds, are prefented to a wanton one : which
fometimes (hew a lion, a caftle or a promontory ? The thought is
fine, and in character. Overcome is ufed for deceive.

2 Tou make me jlrange

Ev'n to the difpofition that I o-u>e,~\ Which in plain Englijb is
only, Tou make me jufi mad.

" When



The Tragedy of M A c B E T H. 387

<* When now I think, you can behold fuch fights j
'" And keep the natural Ruby of your Cheeks,
" When mine is blanch'd with fear."

Roffe. What fights, my lord ?

Lady. I pray you, fpeak not ; he grows worfe and

worfe ;

Queftion enrages him : at once good night.
Stand not upon the Order of your Going.
Bat go at once.

Len. Goodnight, and better health
Attend his Majefty ! !

Lady. Good night, to all. [Exeunt Lords.

Macb. It will have blood, they fay ; blood will

have blood ;

Stones have been known to move, and trees to fpeak ,
J Augurs, that underftand relations, have
By mag-pies, and by coughs, and rooks brought forth
The iecret'ft man of blood. What is the night ?

Lady. Almoft at odds with morning, which is
which.

Macb. How fay'ft thou, that Macduff denies his

perfon,
At our great bidding ?

Lady. Did you fend to him, Sir ?

Macb. I hear it by the way'; but I will fend:
There's not a (a) 'Cham of them, but in his houfe
I keep a fervant fee'd. I will to morrow

3 Augurs, that under -flood relation?, ] By relations is meant the
relation one thing is fuppofed to bear to another. Theancient footh-
fayers of all denominations pradlifed their art upon the principle of
Analogy. Which analogies were founded in a fuperftitious philo-
fophy arifing out of the nature of ancient idolatry ; which would
require a volume to explain. If Shakefpear meant what I fupppfe
he did by relations, this {hews a very profound knowledge of an-
tiquity. But, after all, in his licentious way, by relations, he might
only mean languages, i. e, the languages of birds.

[(a) Thane. Mr, Theobald. Vulg. one]

C c 2 (Betimes



388 The Tragedy of M A c B E T H.

(Betimes I will) unto tiie weyward fifters :

More mall they fpeak ; for now I'm bent to know,

By the word means, the worft, for mine own good.

All caufes mall give way ; I am in blood

Stept in fo far, that, mould I wade no more,

Returning were as tedious as go o'er :

Strange things I have in head, that will to hand ;

Which muft be afted, ere they may be fcann'd.

Lady. You lack the Seafon of all Natures, Sleep.

Macb. Come, we'll too. fleep ; my ftrange and

felf-abufe

4 Is the initiate fear; that wants hard ufe:
We're yet but young in Deed. [Exeunt.

SCENE VI.

Changes to the Heath.

Thunder. Enter the three Witches , meeting Hecate.

i Witch. \ 1 7 H Y, how now, Hecat\ you look

VV angerly.

Hec. Have I not reafon, Beldams, as you are ?
Saucy, and over-bold ! how did you dare
To trade and traffick with Macbeth,
In riddles ; * and affairs of death ?
And I, the miftrefs of your Charms,
The clofe contriver of all harms,
Was never call'd to bear my part,
Or (hew the glory of our Art ?
And, which is worfe, all you have done
Hath been but for a weyward fon ;

4 /r the initiate fear, that 'wants hard ufe :] Initiate fear, for
that fear which attends thofe who are but newly initiated in ill ;
and hard ufe, for ufe that make hardy. So that the fenfe is, my
extravagant and imaginary vifions arife only from that fear which
beginners in ill are affe&ed with, and which ufe foon overcomes.

5 and affairs of death?] Alluding to their office, as ex-
plained in Note 8. Aft i. Scene 3,

Spightful



The Tragedy ofMACBETH. 389

Spightful and wrathful, who, as others do,

Loves for his own ends, not tor you.

But make amends now ; get you gone,

And at the pit of Acheron

Meet me i' th* morning : thither he

Will come, to know his deftiny ;

Your vefieis and your fpells provide,

Your Charms and every thing befide.

I am for th* Air : this night I'll fpend

Unto a difmal fatal end.

Great bufinefs muft be wrought ere noon :

Upon the corner of the Moon

There hangs a vap'rous drop, profound ;

I'll catch it ere it come to ground i

And that diftill'd by magick flights,

Shall raife fuch artificial fprights,

As, by the ftrength of their illufion,

Shall draw him on to his confufion.

He mall fpurn fate, fcorn death, and bear