Reading Help THE TRAGEDY OF MACBETH
Re-enter Ghost. `
` `
` MACBETH. Avaunt, and quit my sight! Let the earth hide thee! `
` Thy bones are marrowless, thy blood is cold; `
` Thou hast no speculation in those eyes `
` Which thou dost glare with. `
` LADY MACBETH. Think of this, good peers, `
` But as a thing of custom. 'Tis no other, `
` Only it spoils the pleasure of the time. `
` MACBETH. What man dare, I dare. `
` Approach thou like the rugged Russian bear, `
` The arm'd rhinoceros, or the Hyrcan tiger; `
` Take any shape but that, and my firm nerves `
` Shall never tremble. Or be alive again, `
` And dare me to the desert with thy sword. `
` If trembling I inhabit then, protest me `
` The baby of a girl. Hence, horrible shadow! `
` Unreal mockery, hence! Exit Ghost. `
` Why, so, being gone, `
` I am a man again. Pray you sit still. `
` LADY MACBETH. You have displaced the mirth, broke the good `
` meeting, `
` With most admired disorder. `
` MACBETH. Can such things be, `
` And overcome us like a summer's cloud, `
` Without our special wonder? You make me strange `
` Even to the disposition that I owe `
` When now I think you can behold such sights `
` And keep the natural ruby of your cheeks `
` When mine is blanch'd with fear. `
` ROSS. What sights, my lord? `
` LADY MACBETH. I pray you, speak not; he grows worse and worse; `
` Question enrages him. At once, good night. `
` Stand not upon the order of your going, `
` But go at once. `
` LENNOX. Good night, and better health `
` Attend his Majesty! `
` LADY MACBETH. A kind good night to all! `
` Exeunt all but Macbeth and Lady Macbeth. `
` MACBETH. will have blood; they say blood will have blood. `
` Stones have been known to move and trees to speak; `
` Augures and understood relations have `
` By maggot pies and choughs and rooks brought forth `
` The secret'st man of blood. What is the night? `
` LADY MACBETH. Almost at odds with morning, which is which. `
` MACBETH. How say'st thou, that Macduff denies his person `
` At our great bidding? `
` LADY MACBETH. Did you send to him, sir? `
` MACBETH. I hear it by the way, but I will send. `
` There's not a one of them but in his house `
` I keep a servant feed. I will tomorrow, `
` And betimes I will, to the weird sisters. `
` More shall they speak; for now I am bent to know, `
` By the worst means, the worst. For mine own good `
` All causes shall give way. I am in blood `
` Stepp'd in so far that, should I wade no more, `
` Returning were as tedious as go o'er. `
` Strange things I have in head that will to hand, `
` Which must be acted ere they may be scann'd. `
` LADY MACBETH. You lack the season of all natures, sleep. `
` MACBETH. Come, we'll to sleep. My strange and self-abuse `
` Is the initiate fear that wants hard use. `
` We are yet but young in deed. Exeunt. `
` `
` `
` `
` `
` SCENE V. `
` A heath. Thunder. `
` `
` Enter the three Witches, meeting Hecate. `
` `
` FIRST WITCH. Why, how now, Hecate? You look angerly. `
` HECATE. Have I not reason, beldams as you are, `
` Saucy and overbold? How did you dare `
` To trade and traffic with Macbeth `
` In riddles and affairs of death, `
` And I, the mistress of your charms, `
` The close contriver of all harms, `
` Was never call'd to bear my part, `
` Or show the glory of our art? `
` And, which is worse, all you have done `
` Hath been but for a wayward son, `
` Spiteful and wrathful, who, as others do, `
` Loves for his own ends, not for you. `
` But make amends now. Get you gone, `
` And at the pit of Acheron `
` Meet me i' the morning. Thither he `
` Will come to know his destiny. `
` Your vessels and your spells provide, `
` Your charms and everything beside. `
` I am for the air; this night I'll spend `
` Unto a dismal and a fatal end. `
` Great business must be wrought ere noon: `
` Upon the corner of the moon `
` There hangs a vaporous drop profound; `
` I'll catch it ere it come to ground. `
` And that distill'd by magic sleights `
` Shall raise such artificial sprites `
` As by the strength of their illusion `
` Shall draw him on to his confusion. `
` He shall spurn fate, scorn death, and bear `
` His hopes 'bove wisdom, grace, and fear. `
` And you all know security `
` Is mortals' chiefest enemy. `
` Music and a song within, `
` "Come away, come away." `
` Hark! I am call'd; my little spirit, see, `
` Sits in a foggy cloud and stays for me. Exit. `
` FIRST WITCH. Come, let's make haste; she'll soon be back again. `
` Exeunt. `
` `
` `
` `
` `
` SCENE VI. `
` Forres. The palace. `
` `
` Enter Lennox and another Lord. `
` `
` LENNOX. My former speeches have but hit your thoughts, `
` Which can interpret farther; only I say `
` Thing's 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't please you, Fleance kill'd, `
` For Fleance fled. Men must not walk too late. `
` Who cannot want the thought, how monstrous `
` It was for Malcolm and for Donalbain `
` To kill their gracious father? Damned fact! `
` 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? `
` Was not that nobly done? Ay, and wisely too, `
` For 'twould have anger'd any heart alive `
` To hear the men deny't. So that, I say, `
` He has borne all things well; and I do think `
` That, had he Duncan's sons under his key- `
` As, an't please heaven, he shall not -they should find `
` What 'twere to kill a father; so should Fleance. `
` But, peace! For from broad words, and 'cause he fail'd `
` His presence at the tyrant's feast, I hear, `
` Macduff lives in disgrace. Sir, can you tell `
` Where he bestows himself? `
` LORD. The son of Duncan, `
` From whom this tyrant holds the due of birth, `
` Lives in the English court and is received `
` Of the most pious Edward with such grace `
` That the malevolence of fortune nothing `
` Takes from his high respect. Thither Macduff `
` Is gone to pray the holy King, upon his aid `
` To wake Northumberland and warlike Siward; `
` That by the help of these, with Him above `
` To ratify the work, we may again `
` Give to our tables meat, sleep to our nights, `
` Free from our feasts and banquets bloody knives, `
` Do faithful homage, and receive free honors- `
` All which we pine for now. And this report `
` Hath so exasperate the King that he `
` Prepares for some attempt of war. `
` LENNOX. Sent he to Macduff? `
` LORD. He did, and with an absolute "Sir, not I," `
` The cloudy messenger turns me his back, `
` And hums, as who should say, "You'll rue the time `
` That clogs me with this answer." `
` LENNOX. And that well might `
` Advise him to a caution, to hold what distance `
` His wisdom can provide. Some holy angel `
` Fly to the court of England and unfold `
` His message ere he come, that a swift blessing `
` May soon return to this our suffering country `
` Under a hand accursed! `
` LORD. I'll send my prayers with him. `
` Exeunt. `
` `
` `
` `
` `
` <<THIS ELECTRONIC VERSION OF THE COMPLETE WORKS OF WILLIAM `
` SHAKESPEARE IS COPYRIGHT 1990-1993 BY WORLD LIBRARY, INC., AND IS `
` PROVIDED BY PROJECT GUTENBERG ETEXT OF CARNEGIE MELLON UNIVERSITY `
` WITH PERMISSION. ELECTRONIC AND MACHINE READABLE COPIES MAY BE `
` DISTRIBUTED SO LONG AS SUCH COPIES (1) ARE FOR YOUR OR OTHERS `
` PERSONAL USE ONLY, AND (2) ARE NOT DISTRIBUTED OR USED `
` COMMERCIALLY. PROHIBITED COMMERCIAL DISTRIBUTION INCLUDES BY ANY `
` SERVICE THAT CHARGES FOR DOWNLOAD TIME OR FOR MEMBERSHIP.>> `
` `
` `
` `
` ACT IV. SCENE I. `
` A cavern. In the middle, a boiling cauldron. Thunder. `
` `
` Enter the three Witches. `
` FIRST WITCH. Thrice the brinded cat hath mew'd. `
` SECOND WITCH. Thrice and once the hedge-pig whined. `
` THIRD WITCH. Harpier cries, "'Tis time, 'tis time." `
` FIRST WITCH. Round about the cauldron go; `
` In the poison'd entrails throw. `
` Toad, that under cold stone `
` Days and nights has thirty-one `
` Swelter'd venom sleeping got, `
`
` `
` MACBETH. Avaunt, and quit my sight! Let the earth hide thee! `
` Thy bones are marrowless, thy blood is cold; `
` Thou hast no speculation in those eyes `
` Which thou dost glare with. `
` LADY MACBETH. Think of this, good peers, `
` But as a thing of custom. 'Tis no other, `
` Only it spoils the pleasure of the time. `
` MACBETH. What man dare, I dare. `
` Approach thou like the rugged Russian bear, `
` The arm'd rhinoceros, or the Hyrcan tiger; `
` Take any shape but that, and my firm nerves `
` Shall never tremble. Or be alive again, `
` And dare me to the desert with thy sword. `
` If trembling I inhabit then, protest me `
` The baby of a girl. Hence, horrible shadow! `
` Unreal mockery, hence! Exit Ghost. `
` Why, so, being gone, `
` I am a man again. Pray you sit still. `
` LADY MACBETH. You have displaced the mirth, broke the good `
` meeting, `
` With most admired disorder. `
` MACBETH. Can such things be, `
` And overcome us like a summer's cloud, `
` Without our special wonder? You make me strange `
` Even to the disposition that I owe `
` When now I think you can behold such sights `
` And keep the natural ruby of your cheeks `
` When mine is blanch'd with fear. `
` ROSS. What sights, my lord? `
` LADY MACBETH. I pray you, speak not; he grows worse and worse; `
` Question enrages him. At once, good night. `
` Stand not upon the order of your going, `
` But go at once. `
` LENNOX. Good night, and better health `
` Attend his Majesty! `
` LADY MACBETH. A kind good night to all! `
` Exeunt all but Macbeth and Lady Macbeth. `
` MACBETH. will have blood; they say blood will have blood. `
` Stones have been known to move and trees to speak; `
` Augures and understood relations have `
` By maggot pies and choughs and rooks brought forth `
` The secret'st man of blood. What is the night? `
` LADY MACBETH. Almost at odds with morning, which is which. `
` MACBETH. How say'st thou, that Macduff denies his person `
` At our great bidding? `
` LADY MACBETH. Did you send to him, sir? `
` MACBETH. I hear it by the way, but I will send. `
` There's not a one of them but in his house `
` I keep a servant feed. I will tomorrow, `
` And betimes I will, to the weird sisters. `
` More shall they speak; for now I am bent to know, `
` By the worst means, the worst. For mine own good `
` All causes shall give way. I am in blood `
` Stepp'd in so far that, should I wade no more, `
` Returning were as tedious as go o'er. `
` Strange things I have in head that will to hand, `
` Which must be acted ere they may be scann'd. `
` LADY MACBETH. You lack the season of all natures, sleep. `
` MACBETH. Come, we'll to sleep. My strange and self-abuse `
` Is the initiate fear that wants hard use. `
` We are yet but young in deed. Exeunt. `
` `
` `
` `
` `
` SCENE V. `
` A heath. Thunder. `
` `
` Enter the three Witches, meeting Hecate. `
` `
` FIRST WITCH. Why, how now, Hecate? You look angerly. `
` HECATE. Have I not reason, beldams as you are, `
` Saucy and overbold? How did you dare `
` To trade and traffic with Macbeth `
` In riddles and affairs of death, `
` And I, the mistress of your charms, `
` The close contriver of all harms, `
` Was never call'd to bear my part, `
` Or show the glory of our art? `
` And, which is worse, all you have done `
` Hath been but for a wayward son, `
` Spiteful and wrathful, who, as others do, `
` Loves for his own ends, not for you. `
` But make amends now. Get you gone, `
` And at the pit of Acheron `
` Meet me i' the morning. Thither he `
` Will come to know his destiny. `
` Your vessels and your spells provide, `
` Your charms and everything beside. `
` I am for the air; this night I'll spend `
` Unto a dismal and a fatal end. `
` Great business must be wrought ere noon: `
` Upon the corner of the moon `
` There hangs a vaporous drop profound; `
` I'll catch it ere it come to ground. `
` And that distill'd by magic sleights `
` Shall raise such artificial sprites `
` As by the strength of their illusion `
` Shall draw him on to his confusion. `
` He shall spurn fate, scorn death, and bear `
` His hopes 'bove wisdom, grace, and fear. `
` And you all know security `
` Is mortals' chiefest enemy. `
` Music and a song within, `
` "Come away, come away." `
` Hark! I am call'd; my little spirit, see, `
` Sits in a foggy cloud and stays for me. Exit. `
` FIRST WITCH. Come, let's make haste; she'll soon be back again. `
` Exeunt. `
` `
` `
` `
` `
` SCENE VI. `
` Forres. The palace. `
` `
` Enter Lennox and another Lord. `
` `
` LENNOX. My former speeches have but hit your thoughts, `
` Which can interpret farther; only I say `
` Thing's 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't please you, Fleance kill'd, `
` For Fleance fled. Men must not walk too late. `
` Who cannot want the thought, how monstrous `
` It was for Malcolm and for Donalbain `
` To kill their gracious father? Damned fact! `
` 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? `
` Was not that nobly done? Ay, and wisely too, `
` For 'twould have anger'd any heart alive `
` To hear the men deny't. So that, I say, `
` He has borne all things well; and I do think `
` That, had he Duncan's sons under his key- `
` As, an't please heaven, he shall not -they should find `
` What 'twere to kill a father; so should Fleance. `
` But, peace! For from broad words, and 'cause he fail'd `
` His presence at the tyrant's feast, I hear, `
` Macduff lives in disgrace. Sir, can you tell `
` Where he bestows himself? `
` LORD. The son of Duncan, `
` From whom this tyrant holds the due of birth, `
` Lives in the English court and is received `
` Of the most pious Edward with such grace `
` That the malevolence of fortune nothing `
` Takes from his high respect. Thither Macduff `
` Is gone to pray the holy King, upon his aid `
` To wake Northumberland and warlike Siward; `
` That by the help of these, with Him above `
` To ratify the work, we may again `
` Give to our tables meat, sleep to our nights, `
` Free from our feasts and banquets bloody knives, `
` Do faithful homage, and receive free honors- `
` All which we pine for now. And this report `
` Hath so exasperate the King that he `
` Prepares for some attempt of war. `
` LENNOX. Sent he to Macduff? `
` LORD. He did, and with an absolute "Sir, not I," `
` The cloudy messenger turns me his back, `
` And hums, as who should say, "You'll rue the time `
` That clogs me with this answer." `
` LENNOX. And that well might `
` Advise him to a caution, to hold what distance `
` His wisdom can provide. Some holy angel `
` Fly to the court of England and unfold `
` His message ere he come, that a swift blessing `
` May soon return to this our suffering country `
` Under a hand accursed! `
` LORD. I'll send my prayers with him. `
` Exeunt. `
` `
` `
` `
` `
` <<THIS ELECTRONIC VERSION OF THE COMPLETE WORKS OF WILLIAM `
` SHAKESPEARE IS COPYRIGHT 1990-1993 BY WORLD LIBRARY, INC., AND IS `
` PROVIDED BY PROJECT GUTENBERG ETEXT OF CARNEGIE MELLON UNIVERSITY `
` WITH PERMISSION. ELECTRONIC AND MACHINE READABLE COPIES MAY BE `
` DISTRIBUTED SO LONG AS SUCH COPIES (1) ARE FOR YOUR OR OTHERS `
` PERSONAL USE ONLY, AND (2) ARE NOT DISTRIBUTED OR USED `
` COMMERCIALLY. PROHIBITED COMMERCIAL DISTRIBUTION INCLUDES BY ANY `
` SERVICE THAT CHARGES FOR DOWNLOAD TIME OR FOR MEMBERSHIP.>> `
` `
` `
` `
` ACT IV. SCENE I. `
` A cavern. In the middle, a boiling cauldron. Thunder. `
` `
` Enter the three Witches. `
` FIRST WITCH. Thrice the brinded cat hath mew'd. `
` SECOND WITCH. Thrice and once the hedge-pig whined. `
` THIRD WITCH. Harpier cries, "'Tis time, 'tis time." `
` FIRST WITCH. Round about the cauldron go; `
` In the poison'd entrails throw. `
` Toad, that under cold stone `
` Days and nights has thirty-one `
` Swelter'd venom sleeping got, `
`