When now I think you can behold such sights, Rosse. What sights, my lord? Lady M. I pray you, speak not; he grows worse Question enrages him: at once, good night:- But go at once. Attend his majesty! Lady M. Good night, and better health A kind good night to all! Macb. It will have blood; they say, blood will have blood: Stones have been known to move, and trees to speak; 3 Augurs, and understood relations, have By magot-pies, and choughs, and rooks, brought forth The secret'st man of blood.-What is the night? Lady M. Almost at odds with morning, which is which. Macb. How say'st thou, that Macduff denies his person, At our great bidding?1 these words thus:-You prove to me that I am a stranger even to my own disposition, when I perceive that the very object which steals the colour from my cheek, permits it to remain in yours. In other words, -You prove to me how false an opinion I have hitherto maintained of my own courage, when yours, on the trial, is found to exceed it. 3 Augurs, and understood relations, &c.] Perhaps we should read, auguries, i. e. prognostications by means of omens and prodigies. These, together with the connection of effects with causes, being understood, (says he,) have been instrumental in divulging the most secret murders. Magot-pie is the original name of the bird; Magot being the familiar appellation given to pies, of which the modern mag is the abbreviation. 4 How say'st thou, &c.] i. e. What do you think of this circum Lady M. Did you send to him, sir? More shall they speak; for now I am bent to know, Stept in so far, that, should I wade no more, Strange things I have in head, that will to hand; Macb. Come, we'll to sleep: My strange and Is the initiate fear, that wants hard use :- [Exeunt. stance, that Macduff denies to come at our great bidding? What do you infer from thence? What is your opinion of the matter? The circumstance on which this question is founded, took its rise from the old history. Macbeth sent to Macduff to assist in building the castle of Dunsinane. Macduff sent workmen, &c. but did not choose to trust his person in the tyrant's power. From that time he resolved on his death. STEEVENS. 5 be scann'd.] To scan is to examine nicely. 6 You lack the season of all natures, sleep.] i. e. you stand in need of the time or season of sleep, which all natures require. 1 SCENE V. The Heath. Thunder. Enter HECATE, meeting the three Witches. 1 Witch. Why, how now, Hecate? you look Hec. Have I not reason, beldams, as you are, In riddles, and affairs of death; And, which is worse, all you have done Spiteful, and wrathful; who, as others do, But make amends now: Get you gone, Meet me i'the morning; thither he Great business must be wrought ere noon: There hangs a vaporous drop profound ;7 7 vaporous drop profound;] This vaporous drop seems to have been meant for the same as the virus lunare of the ancients, being a foam which the moon was supposed to have shed on particular herbs, or other objects, when strongly solicited by enchantment. 8 I'll catch it ere it come to ground: Is mortal's chiefest enemy. SONG. [Within.] Come away, come away, &c. Hark, I am call'd; my little spirit, see, Sits in a foggy cloud, and stays for me. [Exit. 1 Witch. Come, let's make haste: she'll soon be back again. [Exeunt. SCENE VI. Fores. A Room in the Palace. Enter LENOX, and another Lord. Len. My former speeches have but hit your thoughts, Which can interpret further: only, I say, Things have been strangely borne: The gracious Duncan Was pitied of Macbeth:-marry, he was dead:And the right-valiant Banquo walk'd too late; Whom, you may say, if it please you, Fleance kill'd, For Fleance fled. Men must not walk too late. slights,] Arts; subtle practices. How it did grieve Macbeth! did he not straight, In pious rage, the two delinquents tear, That were the slaves of drink, and thralls of sleep? (As, an't please heaven, he shall not,) they should find What 'twere to kill a father; so should Fleance. His presence at the tyrant's feast, I hear, Lord. The son of Duncan, To wake Northumberland, and warlike Siward: Give to our tables meat, sleep to our nights; 2 Prepares for some attempt of war. 9 Free from our feasts and banquets bloody knives;] The construction is-Free our feasts and banquets from bloody knives. 1 and receive free honours,] Free may be either honours freely bestowed, not purchased by crimes; or honours without slavery, without dread of a tyrant. JOHNSON. 2 the king,] i. e. Macbeth. |