In this day's council; but we'll take to-morrow. Ban. As far, my lord, as will fill up the time 'Twixt this and supper; go not my horse the better, I must become a borrower of the night, For a dark hour, or twain. Macb. Ban. My lord, I will not. Fail not our feast. Macb. We hear, our bloody cousins are bestowed With strange invention; but of that to-morrow; us. Macb. I wish your horses swift and sure of foot; And so I do commend you to their backs. Farewell. Let every man be master of his time Till seven at night; to make society [Exit BANQUO. The sweeter welcome, we will keep ourself Till supper-time alone: while then, God be with you. [Exeunt LADY MACBETH, Lords, Ladies, &c. Sirrah, a word with you. Attend those men Our pleasure? Atten. They are, my lord, without the palace-gate. Macb. Bring them before us. [Exit Atten.] To be thus is nothing; But to be safely thus.-Our fears in Banquo Stick deep; and in his royalty of nature Reigns that, which would be feared. "Tis much he dares; And, to that dauntless temper of his mind, He hath a wisdom that doth guide his valor Mark Antony's was by Cæsar. He chid the sisters, When first they put the name of king upon me, Only for them; and mine eternal jewel To make them kings; the seed of Banquo kings! And champion me to the utterance! 2 -Who's there? Re-enter Attendant, with two Murderers. Now go to the door, and stay there till we call. [Exit Attendant. Well then, now Was it not yesterday we spoke together? Who wrought with them; and all things else, that might, To half a soul, and to a notion crazed, Say, Thus did Banquo. 1 For defiled. 2 "To the utterance." This phrase, which is found in writers who preceded Shakspeare, is borrowed from the French; se battre a l'outrance, to fight desperately or to extremity, even to death. 3 i. e. "passed in proving to you." 4 To bear in hand is to delude by encouraging hope and holding out fair prospects, without any intention of performance. 1 Mur. You made it known to us. Macb. I did so; and went further, which is now Our point of second meeting. Do you find Your patience so predominant in your nature, That you can let this go? Are you so gospelled1 Το pray for that good man, and for his issue, Whose heavy hand has bowed you to the grave, And beggared yours forever? ;) 1 Mur. That writes them all alike: and so of men. 2 Mur. I am one, my liege, Whom the vile blows and buffets of the world I do, to spite the world. So 1 Mur. And I another, weary with disasters, tugged with fortune, 1 i. e. "are you so obedient to the precept of the gospel, which teaches us to pray for those who despitefully use us?" 2 Shoughs are probably what we now call shocks; dogs bred between wolves and dogs. 3 Cleped, called. 4 The valued file is the descriptive list wherein their value and peculiar qualities are set down. 5 Particular addition, title, description. That I would set my life on any chance, Macb. Both of you True, my lord. Know, Banquo was your enemy. 2 Mur. Macb. So is he mine; and in such bloody distance, That every minute of his being thrusts Against my near'st of life. And though I could 2 Mur. Perform what you command us. 1 Mur. We shall, my lord, Though our lives Macb. Your spirits shine through you. Within this hour, at most, I will advise you where to plant yourselves; 2 Mur. If it find heaven, must find it out to-night. [Exeunt. 1 i. e. the exact time when you may look out or lie in wait for him. 2 "Always remembering that I must stand clear of suspicion." SCENE II. The same. Another Room. Enter LADY MACBETH and a Servant. Lady M. Is Banquo gone from court? Lady M. Say to the king, I would attend his leisure For a few words. Serv. Madam, I will. [Exit. Nought's had, all's spent, Where our desire is got without content. Enter MACBEth. How now, my lord! why do you keep alone, Macb. We have scotched the snake, not killed it; She'll close, and be herself; whilst our poor malice Remains in danger of her former tooth. But let the frame of things disjoint, Both the worlds suffer, Ere we will eat our meal in fear, and sleep That shake us nightly. Better be with the dead, In restless ecstasy.3 Duncan is in his grave; Treason has done his worst; nor steel, nor poison, 1 Sorriest, most melancholy. 2 The first folio reads peace; the second folio place. 3 Ecstasy, in its general sense, signifies any violent emotion or alienation of the mind. The old dictionaries render it a trance, a dampe, a crampe. |