So Len. What a haste looks through his eyes! should he look That seems to speak things strange. Ross. God save the king! Dun. Whence camest thou, worthy thane? Where the Norweyan banners flout the sky Assisted by that most disloyal traitor The thane of Cawdor, began a dismal conflict; Point against point rebellious, arm 'gainst arm, Dun. Ross. Great happiness! That now Sweno, the Norways' king, craves composition; Nor would we deign him burial of his men Till he disbursed at Saint Colme's inch Ten thousand dollars to our general use. Dun. No more that thane of Cawdor shall deceive 50 60 parisons' is literally 'comparisons (on equal terms) between their two selves.' 61. Saint Colme's inch; the island of Inchcolm off the coast of Fife, once occupied by St. Columba, the first teacher of Christianity to the Picts. Our bosom interest: go pronounce his present death, And with his former title greet Macbeth. Ross. I'll see it done. Dun. What he hath lost noble Macbeth hath won. [Exeunt. SCENE III. A heath near Forres. Thunder. Enter the three Witches. First Witch. Where hast thou been, sister? Third Witch. Sister, where thou? First Witch. A sailor's wife had chestnuts in her lap, And munch'd, and munch'd, and munch'd:'Give me,' quoth I: 'Aroint thee, witch!' the rump-fed ronyon cries. Her husband's to Aleppo gone, master o' the Tiger: But in a sieve I'll thither sail, And, like a rat without a tail, I'll do, I'll do, and I'll do. Sec. Witch. I'll give thee a wind. First Witch. Thou 'rt kind. Third Witch. And I another. First Witch. I myself have all the other, All the quarters that they know 6. Aroint thee, 'begone!' Still in provincial use in the form 'rynt ye,' with the same sense. 6. rump-fed, probably equivalent to 'pampered' rather than to 'offal-fed.' 6. ronyon, a term of abuse. ΤΟ 9. A witch might assume any animal form, minus the tail. 10. I'll do; i.e. like a rat, gnaw a hole in the ship's bottom. 17. shipman's card, the circular card, marked with the points of the compass, for the steersman's use. I will drain him dry as hay: Sec. Witch. Show me, show me. First Witch. Here I have a pilot's thumb, Wreck'd as homeward he did come. Third Witch. A drum, a drum! Macbeth doth come. [Drum within. All. The weird sisters, hand in hand, Posters of the sea and land, Thus do go about, about: Thrice to thine and thrice to mine And thrice again, to make up nine. Peace! the charm's wound up. Enter MACBETH and BANQUO. Macb. So foul and fair a day I have not seen. these So wither'd and so wild in their attire, What are That look not like the inhabitants o' the earth, 21. forbid, excommunicated. 33. Posters, messengers. 38. 'On one of those days when sunshine and storm struggle for the mastery,' Macbeth stands at the critical moment of his fortunes. His 20 30 40 surroundings harmonise with the Fair is foul, and foul is fair. That man may question? You seem to under stand me, By each at once her choppy finger laying Upon her skinny lips: you should be women, Macb. Speak, if you can: what are you? First Witch. All hail, Macbeth! hail to thee, thane of Glamis ! Sec. Witch. All hail, Macbeth! hail to thee, thane of Cawdor! Third Witch. All hail, Macbeth, that shalt be king hereafter ! Ban. Good sir, why do you start; and seem to fear Things that do sound so fair? I' the name of truth, Are ye fantastical, or that indeed Which outwardly ye show? My noble partner That he seems rapt withal: to me you speak not. And say which grain will grow and which will not, First Witch. Hail! Sec. Witch. Hail! Third Witch. Hail! First Witch. Lesser than Macbeth, and greater. Sec. Witch. Not so happy, yet much happier. Third Witch. Thou shalt get kings, though thou be none: So all hail, Macbeth and Banquo! First Witch. Banquo and Macbeth, all hail! 53. fantastical, creations of fancy. 50 60 Mach. Stay, you imperfect speakers, tell me more: By Sinel's death I know I am thane of Glamis; No more than to be Cawdor. Say from whence you. 70 Ban. The earth hath bubbles, as the water has, And these are of them. Whither are they vanish'd? 80 Mach. Into the air; and what seem'd corporal melted As breath into the wind. Would they had stay'd! Ban. Were such things here as we do speak about? Or have we eaten on the insane root That takes the reason prisoner? Mach. Your children shall be kings. Ban. You shall be king. Macb. And thane of Cawdor too: went it not so? Who's here? Enter Ross and ANGUS. Ross. The king hath happily received, Macbeth, Which should be thine or his silenced with that, 90 84. insane, producing insanity. Either hemlock or henbane is referred to. |