Thunder. Enter the three Witches.

First Witch. Thrice the brinded cat hath mew'd.

Second Witch. Thrice; and once the hedge-pig whin'd.

Third Witch. Harpier cries :-'tis time, 'tis time.

First Witch. Round about the caldron go;

In the poison'd entrails throw. Toad, that under the cold stone, Days and nights hast thirty-one Swelter'd venom sleeping got, Boil thou first i' the charmed pot. All. Double, double, toil and trouble; Fire, burn; and, caldron, bubble.

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Second Witch. Fillet of a fenny snake,
In the caldron boil and bake:
Eye of newt, and toe of frog,
Wool of bat, and tongue of dog,
Adder's fork, and blind-worm's sting,
Lizard's leg, and owlet's wing,
For a charm of powerful trouble;
Like a hell-broth boil and bubble.
All. Double, double, toil and trouble;
Fire, burn; and, caldron, bubble.

Third Witch. Scale of dragon, tooth of wolf;
Witches' mummy; maw and gulf,
Of the ravin'd salt-sea shark;

Root of hemlock, digg'd i' the dark;
Liver of blaspheming Jew;
Gall of goat, and slips of yew
Sliver'd in the moon's eclipse;
Nose of Turk, and Tartar's lips;
Make the gruel thick and slab;
Add thereto a tiger's chaudron,
For the ingredients of our caldron.

Fire, burn; and, caldron, bubble.

All. Double, double, toil and trouble;

Second Witch. Cool it with a baboon's blood,
Then the charm is firm and good.

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Enter HECATE.

Hcc. O, well done! I commend your pains;
And every one shall share i' the gains,

And now about the caldron sing,
Like elves and fairies in a ring,

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Enchanting all that you put in.

[Music and a Song, 'Black spirits,' &c.

Second Witch. By the pricking of my thumbs,

Something wicked this way comes :

Open, locks, whoever knocks.

Enter MACBETH.

Macb. How now, you secret, black, and midnight hags,

What is 't you do?

Macb. I conjure you, by that which you profess (Howe'er you come to know it), answer me : Though you untie the winds, and let them fight Against the churches; though the yesty waves Confound and swallow navigation up;

Though bladed corn be lodg'd, and trees blown down;

Though castles topple on their warders' heads ;

Though palaces and pyramids do slope

Their heads to their foundations; though the treasure
Of nature's germins tumble all together,

Even till destruction sicken-answer me

First Witch. Say, if thou'dst rather hear it from our mouths, Or from our masters'?

Macb.

Call them, let me see them.

First Witch. Pour in sow's blood, that hath eaten

Her nine farrow; grease, that's sweaten

From the murderer's gibbet, throw

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Thyself and office deftly shew!

Thunder. An Apparition of an armed Head rises.
Macb. Tell me, thou unknown power-
First Witch.

Hear his speech, but say thou nought.

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He knows thy thought;

[Descends.

App. Macbeth! Macbeth! Macbeth! beware Macduff; Beware the Thane of Fife.-Dismiss me :-enough.

Macb. Whate'er thou art, for thy good caution, thanks; Thou hast harp'd my fear aright :-but one word more :— First Witch. He will not be commanded: here's another, More potent than the first.

Thunder. An Apparition of a bloody Child rises.
Macbeth! Macbeth! Macbeth!--

App.
Macb. Had I three ears, I'd hear thee.

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App. Be bloody, bold, and resolute; laugh to scorn The power of man, for none of woman born

[Descends.

Shall harm Macbeth.

Macb. Then live, Macduff: what need I fear of thee?

But yet I'll make assurance double sure,

And take a bond of fate: thou shalt not live ;

That I may tell pale-hearted fear it lies,

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And sleep in spite of thunder.-What is this,

Thunder. An Apparition of a Child crowned, with a Tree in his Hand, rises.

That rises like the issue of a king;

And wears upon his baby brow the round

And top of sovereignty?

All.

Listen, but speak not to't.

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App. Be lion-mettled, proud; and take no care
Who chafes, who frets, or where conspirers are:
Macbeth shall never vanquish'd be, until

Great Birnam wood to high Dunsinane Hill
Shall come against him.

Macb.

[Descends.

That will never be ;

Who can impress the forest; bid the tree

Unfix his earth-bound root? sweet bodements! good!

Rebellion's head, rise never, till the wood

Of Birnam rise, and our high-plac'd Macbeth

Shall live the lease of nature, pay his breath

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To time and mortal custom.-Yet my heart
Throbs to know one thing: tell me (if your art
Can tell so much), shall Banquo's issue ever
Reign in this kingdom?

All.

Seek to know no more.

Macb. I will be satisfied: deny me this,

And an eternal curse fall on you! Let me know :—
Why sinks that caldron ? and what noise is this?

First Witch. Shew!

Second Witch. Shew!

Third Witch. Shew!

All. Shew his eyes, and grieve his heart;

[Hautboys.

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Come like shadows, so depart!

Eight Kings appear, and pass over the Stage in order; the last with a Glass in his hand; BANQUO following.

Macb. Thou art too like the spirit of Banquo; down!

Thy crown does sear mine eyeballs :-and thy hair,
Thou other gold-bound brow, is like the first :-
A third is like the former.-Filthy hags!

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Why do you shew me this ?—A fourth ?-Start, eyes!

What! will the line stretch out to the crack of doom?
Another yet?-A seventh ?—I'll see no more :-
And yet the eighth appears, who bears a glass
Which shews me many more; and some I see,
That twofold balls and treble sceptres carry:
Horrible sight!-Now, I see, 'tis true;

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For the blood-bolter'd Banquo smiles upon me,
And points at them for his.-What, is this so?

First Witch. Ay, sir, all this is so :—but why
Stands Macbeth thus amazedly?

Come, sisters, cheer we up his sprites,

And shew the best of our delights;

I'll charm the air to give a sound,
While you perform your antic round:

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