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Unsafe the while, that we

Must lave our honors in these flattering streams,

And make our faces vizards to our hearts,

Disguising what they are.

LADY MACBETH.

You must leave this.

MACBETH.

O, full of scorpions is my mind, dear wife!

Thou know'st that Banquo and his Fleance lives.

LADY MACBETH.

But in them nature's copy's not eterne.

MACBETH.

There's comfort yet; they are assailable.

Then be thou jocund. Ere the bat hath flown

His cloister'd flight, ere to black Hecate's summons

The shard-borne beetle with his drowsy hums

Hath rung night's yawning peal, there shall be done

A deed of dreadful note.

LADY MACBETH.

What's to be done?

MACBETH.

Be innocent of the knowledge, dearest chuck,

Till thou applaud the deed. Come, seeling night,

Scarf up the tender eye of pitiful day,

And with thy bloody and invisible hand

Cancel and tear to pieces that great bond

Which keeps me pale! Light thickens, and the crow

Makes wing to the rooky wood;

Good things of day begin to droop and drowse,

Whiles night's black agents to their preys do rouse.

Thou marvel'st at my words, but hold thee still:

Things bad begun make strong themselves by ill.

So, prithee, go with me. Exeunt.

SCENE III. A park near the palace.

Enter three Murtherers.

FIRST MURTHERER. But who did bid thee join with us?

THIRD MURTHERER.

Macbeth.

SECOND MURTHERER.

He needs not our mistrust, since he delivers

Our offices and what we have to do

To the direction just.

FIRST MURTHERER.

Then stand with us.

The west yet glimmers with some streaks of day;

Now spurs the lated traveler apace

To gain the timely inn, and near approaches

The subject of our watch.

THIRD MURTHERER.

Hark! I hear horses.

BANQUO.

[Within.] Give us a light there, ho!

SECOND MURTHERER.

Then 'tis he; the rest

That are within the note of expectation

Already are i' the court.

FIRST MURTHERER.

His horses go about.

THIRD MURTHERER.

Almost a mile, but he does usually-

So all men do -from hence to the palace gate

Make it their walk.

SECOND MURTHERER.

A light, a light!

Enter Banquo, and Fleance with a torch.

THIRD MURTHERER. 'Tis he.

FIRST MURTHERER.

Stand to't.

BANQUO.

It will be rain tonight.

FIRST MURTHERER.

Let it come down.

They set upon Banquo.

BANQUO.

O, treachery! Fly, good Fleance, fly, fly, fly!

Thou mayst revenge. O slave! Dies. Fleance escapes.

THIRD MURTHERER.

Who did strike out the light?

FIRST MURTHERER.

Wast not the way?

THIRD MURTHERER.

There's but one down; the son is fled.

SECOND MURTHERER.

We have lost

Best half of our affair.

FIRST MURTHERER.

Well, let's away and say how much is done.

Exeunt.

SCENE IV. A Hall in the palace. A banquet prepared.

Enter Macbeth, Lady Macbeth, Ross, Lennox, Lords, and Attendants.

MACBETH. You know your own degrees; sit down. At first

And last the hearty welcome.

LORDS.

Thanks to your Majesty.

MACBETH.

Ourself will mingle with society

And play the humble host.

Our hostess keeps her state, but in best time

We will require her welcome.

LADY MACBETH.

Pronounce it for me, sir, to all our friends,

For my heart speaks they are welcome.

Enter first Murtherer to the door.

MACBETH. See, they encounter thee with their hearts' thanks.

Both sides are even; here I'll sit i' the midst.

Be large in mirth; anon we'll drink a measure

The table round. [Approaches the door.] There's blood upon thy face.

MURTHERER.

'Tis Banquo's then.

MACBETH.

'Tis better thee without than he within.

Is he dispatch'd?

MURTHERER.

My lord, his throat is cut; that I did for him.

MACBETH.

Thou art the best o' the cut-throats! Yet he's good

That did the like for Fleance. If thou didst it,

Thou art the nonpareil.

MURTHERER.

Most royal sir,

Fleance is 'scaped.

MACBETH.

[Aside.] Then comes my fit again. I had else been perfect,

Whole as the marble, founded as the rock,

As broad and general as the casing air;

But now I am cabin'd, cribb'd, confin'd, bound in

To saucy doubts and fears