ACT I.
Scene I. A desert place.[3668]
Thunder and lightning. Enter three Witches.
When the battle's lost and won.
Scene II. A camp near Forres.[3680]
Alarum within. Enter Duncan, Malcolm, Donalbain, Lennox, with Attendants, meeting a bleeding Sergeant.[3681]
As seemeth by his plight, of the revolt
The newest state.
Who like a good and hardy soldier fought[3683][3684]
'Gainst my captivity. Hail, brave friend![3684][3685] 5
Say to the king the knowledge of the broil[3686]
As thou didst leave it.
As two spent swimmers, that do cling together[3688]
And choke their art. The merciless Macdonwald—[3689]
Worthy to be a rebel, for to that 10
The multiplying villanies of nature[3690]
Do swarm upon him—from the western isles
Of kerns and gallowglasses is supplied;[3691]
[Pg 423] And fortune, on his damned quarrel smiling,[3692]
Show'd like a rebel's whore: but all's too weak:[3693] 15
For brave Macbeth—well he deserves that name—
Disdaining fortune, with his brandish'd steel,[3694]
Which smoked with bloody execution,
Like valour's minion carved out his passage[3695][3696]
Till he faced the slave;[3695][3697] 20
Which ne'er shook hands, nor bade farewell to him,[3698]
Till he unseam'd him from the nave to the chaps,[3699]
And fix'd his head upon our battlements.
Shipwrecking storms and direful thunders break,[3701]
So from that spring whence comfort seem'd to come
Discomfort swells. Mark, king of Scotland, mark:[3702]
No sooner justice had, with valour arm'd,
Compell'd these skipping kerns to trust their heels,[3703] 30
But the Norweyan lord, surveying vantage,
With furbish'd arms and new supplies of men,[3704]
Began a fresh assault.
[Pg 424]
As sparrows eagles, or the hare the lion.[3707] 35
If I say sooth, I must report they were
As cannons overcharged with double cracks;[3708]
So they[3709]
Doubly redoubled strokes upon the foe:[3710]
Except they meant to bathe in reeking wounds,[3711] 40
Or memorize another Golgotha,
I cannot tell—[3712][3713]
But I am faint; my gashes cry for help.[3712]
[Exit Sergeant, attended.
Enter Ross.
That seems to speak things strange.[3718][3719]
[Pg 425]
Where the Norweyan banners flout the sky[3720] 50
And fan our people cold.[3721]
Norway himself, with terrible numbers,[3721][3722]
Assisted by that most disloyal traitor
The thane of Cawdor, began a dismal conflict;[3723]
Till that Bellona's bridegroom, lapp'd in proof, 55
Confronted him with self-comparisons,
Point against point rebellious, arm 'gainst arm,[3724]
Curbing his lavish spirit: and, to conclude,[3725]
The victory fell on us.
Sweno, the Norways' king, craves composition;[3726][3727]
Nor would we deign him burial of his men
Till he disbursed, at Saint Colme's inch,[3728]
Ten thousand dollars to our general use.
Our bosom interest: go pronounce his present death,[3729]
And with his former title greet Macbeth.[3730]
[Pg 426]
[Exeunt.
Scene III. A heath.
Thunder. Enter the three Witches.
And mounch'd, and mounch'd, and mounch'd. 'Give me,' quoth I:[3733] 5
'Aroint thee, witch!' the rump-fed ronyon cries.[3734]
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.[3735] 10
And the very ports they blow,[3737] 15
All the quarters that they know[3738]
I' the shipman's card.[3739]
I will drain him dry as hay:[3740]
Sleep shall neither night nor day
[Pg 427] Hang upon his pent-house lid; 20
He shall live a man forbid:
Weary se'nnights nine times nine[3741]
Shall he dwindle, peak, and pine:
Though his bark cannot be lost,
Yet it shall be tempest-tost. 25
Look what I have.
Wreck'd as homeward he did come. [Drum within.
Macbeth doth come.[3742]
Enter Macbeth and Banquo.[3746]
So wither'd, and so wild in their attire, 40
That look not like the inhabitants o' the earth,[3749]
And yet are on't? Live you? or are you aught
That man may question? You seem to understand me,
By each at once her choppy finger laying
Upon her skinny lips: you should be women, 45
And yet your beards forbid me to interpret
That you are so.
[Pg 428]
Things that do sound so fair? I' the name of truth,[3750]
Are ye fantastical, or that indeed
Which outwardly ye show? My noble partner
You greet with present grace and great prediction 55
Of noble having and of royal hope,
That he seems rapt withal: to me you speak not:[3751]
If you can look into the seeds of time,
And say which grain will grow and which will not,[3752]
Speak then to me, who neither beg nor fear 60
Your favours nor your hate.
So all hail, Macbeth and Banquo![3753]
By Sinel's death I know I am thane of Glamis;[3755]
But how of Cawdor? the thane of Cawdor lives,
A prosperous gentleman; and to be king
Stands not within the prospect of belief,
No more than to be Cawdor. Say from whence 75
You owe this strange intelligence? or why
Upon this blasted heath you stop our way
With such prophetic greeting? Speak, I charge you.[3756]
[Pg 429]
[Witches vanish.
And these are of them: whither are they vanish'd? 80
As breath into the wind. Would they had stay'd![3757]
Or have we eaten on the insane root[3758]
That takes the reason prisoner? 85
Enter Ross and Angus.
The news of thy success: and when he reads 90
Thy personal venture in the rebels' fight,[3761]
His wonders and his praises do contend[3762]
Which should be thine or his: silenced with that,[3762][3763]
In viewing o'er the rest o' the selfsame day,
He finds thee in the stout Norweyan ranks, 95
Nothing afeard of what thyself didst make,[3764]
Strange images of death. As thick as hail[3765][3766]
Came post with post, and every one did bear[3766][3767]
Thy praises in his kingdom's great defence,
And pour'd them down before him.
To give thee, from our royal master, thanks;[3769][3770]
[Pg 430] Only to herald thee into his sight,[3769]
Not pay thee.
He bade me, from him, call thee thane of Cawdor:[3771] 105
In which addition, hail, most worthy thane!
For it is thine.
But under heavy judgement bears that life 110
Which he deserves to lose. Whether he was combined[3774]
With those of Norway, or did line the rebel[3774][3775]
With hidden help and vantage, or that with both[3774][3776]
He labour'd in his country's wreck, I know not;[3774]
But treasons capital, confess'd and proved, 115
Have overthrown him.
The greatest is behind.—Thanks for your pains.—[3778]
Do you not hope your children shall be kings,[3779]
When those that gave the thane of Cawdor to me
Promised no less to them?
Might yet enkindle you unto the crown,
Besides the thane of Cawdor. But 'tis strange:
And oftentimes, to win us to our harm,
The instruments of darkness tell us truths,
[Pg 431] Win us with honest trifles, to betray 's[3781] 125
In deepest consequence.[3782]
Cousins, a word, I pray you.[3782]
As happy prologues to the swelling act
Of the imperial theme.—I thank you, gentlemen.
[Aside] This supernatural soliciting[3784] 130
Cannot be ill; cannot be good: if ill,[3785][3786]
Why hath it given me earnest of success,[3786]
Commencing in a truth? I am thane of Cawdor:[3787]
If good, why do I yield to that suggestion
Whose horrid image doth unfix my hair[3788] 135
And make my seated heart knock at my ribs,
Against the use of nature? Present fears[3789]
Are less than horrible imaginings:
My thought, whose murder yet is but fantastical,[3790]
Shakes so my single state of man that function[3791] 140
Is smother'd in surmise, and nothing is[3791]
But what is not.[3791][3792]
Without my stir.
[Pg 432]
Like our strange garments, cleave not to their mould 145
But with the aid of use.[3794]
Time and the hour runs through the roughest day.
With things forgotten. Kind gentlemen, your pains[3796][3797] 150
Are register'd where every day I turn[3796]
The leaf to read them. Let us toward the king.[3796]
Think upon what hath chanced, and at more time,[3796][3798]
The interim having weigh'd it, let us speak[3799]
Our free hearts each to other.
Scene IV. Forres. The palace.[3801]
Flourish. Enter Duncan, Malcolm, Donalbain, Lennox, and Attendants.[3802]
Those in commission yet return'd?
They are not yet come back. But I have spoke[3804]
[Pg 433] With one that saw him die, who did report[3804]
That very frankly he confess'd his treasons,[3804] 5
Implored your highness' pardon and set forth[3804]
A deep repentance: nothing in his life[3804]
Became him like the leaving it; he died[3804]
As one that had been studied in his death,
To throw away the dearest thing he owed[3805] 10
As 'twere a careless trifle.
To find the mind's construction in the face:
He was a gentleman on whom I built
An absolute trust.
Enter Macbeth, Banquo, Ross, and Angus.
The sin of my ingratitude even now 15
Was heavy on me: thou art so far before[3807]
That swiftest wing of recompense is slow[3808]
To overtake thee. Would thou hadst less deserved,[3809]
That the proportion both of thanks and payment
Might have been mine! only I have left to say,[3810] 20
More is thy due than more than all can pay.[3811]
In doing it, pays itself. Your highness' part[3812]
Is to receive our duties: and our duties[3812]
Are to your throne and state, children and servants;[3812] 25
Which do but what they should, by doing every thing[3812][3813]
Safe toward your love and honour.[3812][3813][3814]
[Pg 434]
I have begun to plant thee, and will labour
To make thee full of growing. Noble Banquo,
That hast no less deserved, nor must be known[3815] 30
No less to have done so: let me infold thee
And hold thee to my heart.
The harvest is your own.
Wanton in fulness, seek to hide themselves
In drops of sorrow. Sons, kinsmen, thanes,[3816] 35
And you whose places are the nearest, know,
We will establish our estate upon
Our eldest, Malcolm, whom we name hereafter
The Prince of Cumberland: which honour must
Not unaccompanied invest him only,[3817] 40
But signs of nobleness, like stars, shall shine
On all deservers. From hence to Inverness,[3818]
And bind us further to you.[3819]
I'll be myself the harbinger, and make joyful[3820] 45
The hearing of my wife with your approach;
So humbly take my leave.
On which I must fall down, or else o'erleap,
For in my way it lies. Stars, hide your fires; 50
Let not light see my black and deep desires:[3822]
[Pg 435] The eye wink at the hand; yet let that be
Which the eye fears, when it is done, to see. [Exit.
Scene V. Inverness. Macbeth's castle.[3826]
Enter Lady Macbeth, reading a letter.[3827]
have learned by the perfectest report, they have more in[3829]
them than mortal knowledge. When I burned in desire to
question them further, they made themselves air, into which
they vanished. Whiles I stood rapt in the wonder of it,[3830] 5
came missives from the king, who all-hailed me "Thane[3831]
of Cawdor;" by which title, before, these weird sisters saluted[3832]
me, and referred me to the coming on of time, with
"Hail, king that shalt be!" This have I thought good to[3833]
deliver thee, my dearest partner of greatness, that thou 10
mightst not lose the dues of rejoicing, by being ignorant[3834]
of what greatness is promised thee. Lay it to thy heart,
[Pg 436] and farewell.'
Glamis thou art, and Cawdor, and shalt be[3835]
What thou art promised: yet do I fear thy nature;[3836] 15
It is too full o' the milk of human kindness[3837]
To catch the nearest way: thou wouldst be great;
Art not without ambition, but without
The illness should attend it: what thou wouldst highly,
That wouldst thou holily; wouldst not play false, 20
And yet wouldst wrongly win: thou'ldst have, great Glamis,[3838][3839]
That which cries 'Thus thou must do, if thou have it;[3838][3839]
And that which rather thou dost fear to do[3839]
Than wishest should be undone.' Hie thee hither,[3839][3840]
That I may pour my spirits in thine ear, 25
And chastise with the valour of my tongue
All that impedes thee from the golden round,[3841]
Which fate and metaphysical aid doth seem[3842]
To have thee crown'd withal.[3843]
Enter a Messenger.[3844]
Is not thy master with him? who, were't so,
Would have inform'd for preparation.
One of my fellows had the speed of him,
Who, almost dead for breath, had scarcely more 35
Than would make up his message.
[Pg 437]
He brings great news. [Exit Messenger.
The raven himself is hoarse[3846]
That croaks the fatal entrance of Duncan
Under my battlements. Come, you spirits[3847]
That tend on mortal thoughts, unsex me here,[3848] 40
And fill me, from the crown to the toe, top-full
Of direst cruelty! make thick my blood,[3849]
Stop up the access and passage to remorse,
That no compunctious visitings of nature
Shake my fell purpose, nor keep peace between[3850] 45
The effect and it! Come to my woman's breasts,[3851]
And take my milk for gall, you murdering ministers,[3852]
Wherever in your sightless substances
You wait on nature's mischief! Come, thick night,
And pall thee in the dunnest smoke of hell, 50
That my keen knife see not the wound it makes,
Nor heaven peep through the blanket of the dark,[3853]
To cry 'Hold, hold!'
Enter Macbeth.
Greater than both, by the all-hail hereafter!
Thy letters have transported me beyond 55
This ignorant present, and I feel now[3855]
The future in the instant.
[Pg 438]
Duncan comes here to-night.
Shall sun that morrow see![3857] 60
Your face, my thane, is as a book where men[3858]
May read strange matters. To beguile the time,[3859]
Look like the time; bear welcome in your eye,
Your hand, your tongue: look like the innocent flower,
But be the serpent under't. He that's coming 65
Must be provided for: and you shall put
This night's great business into my dispatch;
Which shall to all our nights and days to come
Give solely sovereign sway and masterdom.
To alter favour ever is to fear:[3860]
Leave all the rest to me. [Exeunt.
Scene VI. Before Macbeth's castle.[3861]
Hautboys and torches. Enter Duncan, Malcolm, Donalbain, Banquo, Lennox, Macduff, Ross, Angus, and Attendants.[3862]
Nimbly and sweetly recommends itself[3864]
Unto our gentle senses.[3865]
[Pg 439]
The temple-haunting martlet, does approve[3866]
By his loved mansionry that the heaven's breath[3867] 5
Smells wooingly here: no jutty, frieze,[3868][3869]
Buttress, nor coign of vantage, but this bird[3868][3870]
Hath made his pendent bed and procreant cradle:[3868][3871]
Where they most breed and haunt, I have observed[3868][3871][3872]
The air is delicate.[3868]
Enter Lady Macbeth.
The love that follows us sometime is our trouble,[3874]
Which still we thank as love. Herein I teach you[3875]
How you shall bid God'ild us for your pains,[3875][3876]
And thank us for your trouble.
In every point twice done, and then done double, 15
Were poor and single business to contend
Against those honours deep and broad wherewith[3877]
Your majesty loads our house: for those of old,[3877]
And the late dignities heap'd up to them,[3877]
[Pg 440] We rest your hermits.[3877]
We coursed him at the heels, and had a purpose
To be his purveyor: but he rides well,
And his great love, sharp as his spur, hath holp him[3879]
To his home before us. Fair and noble hostess,[3880]
We are your guest to-night.
Have theirs, themselves, and what is theirs, in compt,[3881]
To make their audit at your highness' pleasure,
Still to return your own.
Scene VII. Macbeth's castle.[3884]
Hautboys and torches. Enter a Sewer, and divers Servants with dishes and service and pass over the stage. Then enter Macbeth.[3885]
It were done quickly: if the assassination[3886][3887]
Could trammel up the consequence, and catch,
With his surcease, success; that but this blow[3888]
Might be the be-all and the end-all here,[3889] 5
[Pg 441] But here, upon this bank and shoal of time,[3890]
We'ld jump the life to come. But in these cases
We still have judgement here; that we but teach
Bloody instructions, which being taught return[3891]
To plague the inventor: this even-handed justice[3892][3893] 10
Commends the ingredients of our poison'd chalice[3892][3894]
To our own lips. He's here in double trust:
First, as I am his kinsman and his subject,
Strong both against the deed; then, as his host,
Who should against his murderer shut the door, 15
Not bear the knife myself. Besides, this Duncan
Hath borne his faculties so meek, hath been[3895]
So clear in his great office, that his virtues
Will plead like angels trumpet-tongued against[3896]
The deep damnation of his taking-off; 20
And pity, like a naked new-born babe,
Striding the blast, or heaven's cherubin horsed[3897]
Upon the sightless couriers of the air,[3898]
Shall blow the horrid deed in every eye,
That tears shall drown the wind. I have no spur 25
To prick the sides of my intent, but only
Vaulting ambition, which o'erleaps itself[3899]
And falls on the other.[3900]
Enter Lady Macbeth.[3901]
He hath honour'd me of late; and I have bought
Golden opinions from all sorts of people,[3904]
Which would be worn now in their newest gloss,[3905]
Not cast aside so soon.
Wherein you dress'd yourself? hath it slept since?[3906]
And wakes it now, to look so green and pale
At what it did so freely? From this time[3907]
Such I account thy love. Art thou afeard[3908]
To be the same in thine own act and valour 40
As thou art in desire? Wouldst thou have that[3909]
Which thou esteem'st the ornament of life,
And live a coward in thine own esteem,[3909]
Letting 'I dare not' wait upon 'I would,'
Like the poor cat i' the adage?[3910]
That made you break this enterprise to me?
When you durst do it, then you were a man;
And, to be more than what you were, you would 50
[Pg 443] Be so much more the man. Nor time nor place[3912]
Did then adhere, and yet you would make both:[3913]
They have made themselves, and that their fitness now[3914]
Does unmake you. I have given suck, and know
How tender 'tis to love the babe that milks me: 55
I would, while it was smiling in my face,
Have pluck'd my nipple from his boneless gums,
And dash'd the brains out, had I so sworn as you[3915][3916]
Have done to this.[3915][3917]
But screw your courage to the sticking-place, 60
And we'll not fail. When Duncan is asleep—
Whereto the rather shall his day's hard journey[3918]
Soundly invite him—his two chamberlains
Will I with wine and wassail so convince[3919]
That memory, the warder of the brain, 65
Shall be a fume, and the receipt of reason
A limbec only: when in swinish sleep
Their drenched natures lie as in a death,[3920]
What cannot you and I perform upon
The unguarded Duncan? what not put upon 70
His spongy officers, who shall bear the guilt
Of our great quell?
For thy undaunted mettle should compose[3921]
Nothing but males. Will it not be received,
When we have mark'd with blood those sleepy two 75
Of his own chamber, and used their very daggers,
That they have done't?
[Pg 444]
As we shall make our griefs and clamour roar
Upon his death?
[Exeunt.
FOOTNOTES:
[3668] Act i. Scene i.] Actus Primus. Scæna Prima. Ff.
A desert place.] An open Heath. Rowe. An open place. Theobald. om Ff.
[3669] again] Hanmer. againe? F1 F2. again? F3 F4.
[3670] or] and Hanmer.
[3671] done] over A. Hunter.
[3672] the] om. Pope.
[3673] to meet with Macbeth] I go to meet Macbeth Pope. to meet with great Macbeth Capell. we go to meet Macbeth A. Hunter (Jennens conj.). to meet with—1. Witch. Whom? 2. Witch. Macbeth. Rann (Steevens conj.). to meet and greet Macbeth Jackson conj. to meet with thane Macbeth Nicholson conj.
[3674] I come] I come, I come Pope, putting Grimalkin in a separate line.
[Spirits call in succession. Nicholson conj.
[3675] All. Paddock ... air.] 2. Witch. Padocke calls—anon! All. Fair ... air. Pope. 2. Witch. Paddock calls. 3. Witch. Anon. All. Fair ... air. Grant White (Hunter conj.).
[3676] Paddock ... fair.] Two lines in Pope. One in Ff.
[3677] calls:—anon!] calls—anon— Rowe. calls anon: Ff.
[3678] foul is fair] foul sfair Rowe (ed. 2).
[3679] the] om. Pope.
[Exeunt.] Ff. They rise from the Stage, and fly away. Rowe. Witches vanish. Malone.
[3680] A camp ...] Capell. A Palace. Rowe. The Palace at Forres. Theobald.
[3681] Alarum within] om. Rowe.
Duncan,] Capell. King, Ff.
Sergeant.] Edd. Captaine. Ff. Soldier. Capell.
[3682] Dun.] Capell. King. Ff. (and throughout).
[3683] sergeant Who ... good] serjeant, who Like a right good Hanmer.
[3684] soldier fought 'Gainst] soldier Fought against S. Walker conj., or supposes some words to be lost.
[3685] Hail] Haile F1. Haile: haile F2. Hail, hail F3 F4. Hail, my S. Walker conj.
[3686] the knowledge] thy knowledge Keightley (Collier MS. and S. Walker conj.).
[3687] Doubtful] Doubtful long Pope. Doubtfully Steevens (1793).
it] it had Anon. conj.
stood;] Here Keightley marks a line omitted.
[3688] two] to Warburton.
spent] expert Jennens.
[3689] Macdonwald] F1. Macdonnell F2 F3 F4.
[3690] villanies] F1 F4. Villaines F2 F3.
[3692] damned quarrel] Hanmer (Warburton and Johnson). damned quarry Ff. damped quarry Jackson conj.
[3693] a rebel's] the rebel's Hanmer.
all's too weak] all too weak Pope. all-to-weak Hunter conj.
[3694] Disdaining fortune] Like valour's minion Mitford conj.
[3695] Like ... slave:] As in Ff. Steevens (1793) ends the first line minion. Keightley marks an omission after minion and after slave.
[3696] Like valour's minion] om. Mitford conj.
carved] Rowe (ed. 2). carv'd Ff.
[3697] he] he had Pope.
[3698] Which ne'er] Knight. Which nev'r F1 F2 F3. Which never F4. Who ne'er Pope. And ne'er Capell. When he ne'er Nicholson conj.
Which ... hands] And ne'er slack'd hand Bullock conj.
bade] Steevens (1778). bad F1 F2 F3. bid F4.
[3699] nave] nape Hanmer (Warburton).
chaps] chops Ff.
[3700] 'gins] F1. gins F2 F3 F4. gives Pope.
[3701] Shipwrecking ... break] Burst forth shipwrecking storms and direful thunders Anon. conj.
thunders break,] Pope. thunders: F1. thunders breaking F2 F3 F4. thunders burst, or thunders threat, S. Walker conj.
[3702] Discomfort swells] Discomfort swell'd Pope. Discomforts well'd Johnson (Thirlby conj.). Discomfit well'd Warburton. Discomfort wells Capell.
[3703] kerns] kernes Ff. kermes Johnson.
[3704] furbish'd] furbusht Ff.
[3705] Dismayed ... Banquo?] As in Pope. Prose in Ff.
[3706] captains] captains twain S. Walker conj.
Macbeth] brave Macbeth Hanmer.
[3707] Yes; ... lion.] As in Pope. Two lines, ending eagles ... lyon, in Ff.
[3708] overcharged with] overcharg'd; with Theobald. charg'd with Seymour conj. (reading As ... they as one line).
[3709] So they] As a separate line in Steevens. In Ff So they begins line 39, in Globe ed. ends line 37. Before or after these words Grant White conjectures the rest of a line to be lost. Keightley marks the omission of part of a line before So they.
[3710] Doubly] om. Pope, reading So ... foe as one line.
[3711] reeking] F1 F4. recking F2 F3.
[3712] I ... help.] As in Rowe. Two lines, the first ending faint, in Ff.
[3713] tell—] Rowe. tell: Ff.
[3714] So] As A. Hunter.
[3715] [Exit ...] Exeunt some with the Soldier. Capell. Exit Soldier, attended. Malone. om. Ff.
[3716] Who] But who Pope. Who is't Steevens conj.
here?] here now? Keightley.
Enter Ross.] Steevens (after line 45). Enter Rosse and Angus. Ff (after line 45). Transferred by Dyce to follow strange, line 48.
[3717] a haste] F1. hast F2 F3 F4. haste Rowe.
[3718] So ... strange] As in Hanmer. One line in Ff. Given to Malcolm, Upton conj.
[3719] seems] teems Johnson conj. comes Collier (Collier MS.). seeks or deems Anon. conj.
[3720] flout the] float i' the Becket conj. Did flout the Keightley, reading From ... cold as two lines, the first ending banners.
[3721] And ... himself,] One line, S. Walker conj.
[3722] Norway himself, with] Norway, himself with Theobald.
terrible numbers,] numbers terrible, Pope. terrible numbers, there Keightley.
[3723] began] 'gan Pope.
[3724] point rebellious, arm] Theobald. point, rebellious arme Ff.
[3725] and] om. Pope.
[3726] That ... composition] As in Steevens (1778). Two lines, the first ending king, in Ff.
That now ... the Norway's] Now ... Norway's Pope, reading Now ... composition as one line.
[3727] Sweno] om. Steevens conj., reading That ... composition as one line.
Norways'] Steevens (1778). Norwayes Ff. Norway's Rowe.
[3728] Colme's inch] Colmes ynch F1. Colmes-hill F2 F3 F4. Colmes-kill-isle Pope. Colmkil-isle Hanmer. Colme's hill Capell. Colmes' inch Steevens.
[3729] bosom interest] bosom trust Capell conj. bosom's trust Anon. conj. bisson trust Anon. conj. trusting boson Anon. conj.
go] om. Capell conj.
present] om. Pope.
[3730] greet] F1. great F2 F3 F4. A heath] Capell. The heath. Rowe.
[3731] thou] om. Steevens conj.
[3732] Sister] om. Steevens conj.
[3733] Give ... I:] As in Pope. A separate line in Ff.
[3734] Aroint thee] Aroynt thee F1 F2. Anoynt thee F3 F4. I've rauntree Anon. conj. (Gent. Mag. LIV. p. 731). A rauntree Anon. conj. (Gent. Mag. LV. p. 535). A rown-tree A. Hunter. Aroint the Becket conj.
[3735] and I'll do] and I'll not fail Jackson conj.
[3736] Thou'rt] Capell. Th'art Ff. Thou art Pope.
[3737] very] various Johnson conj.
ports] points Pope.
[3738] know] know, F1. know. F2 F3 F4.
[3739] card.] card to show. Collier (Collier MS.).
[3740] I will] Pope. Ile F1. I'le F2 F3. I'll F4.
[3741] se'nnights] sev'nights Ff. seven-nights Dyce.
[3742] C. Lofft conjectured that the play should begin with this line; Strutt that it should commence with the following line.
[3743] weird] Theobald. weyward Ff. weyard Keightley.
[3744] of] o'er A. Hunter.
[3745] Thrice] Thice F2.
[3746] Banquo.] Banquo, with Soldiers and other Attendants. Rowe. Banquo, journeying; Soldiers, and Others, at a Distance. Capell.
[3747] Scene IV. Pope.
[3748] Forres] Foris Pope. Soris Ff.
[3749] the inhabitants o' the] inhabitants of Pope.
[3750] [To the Witches. Rowe.
[3751] rapt] Pope. wrapt Ff.
[3752] not] rot Porson conj. MS.
[3753] So] om. Pope.
[3754] First Witch.] 1. Ff. 1. 2. Capell.
[3755] Sinel's] Finleg's Ritson conj. Sinane's Beattie conj.
I am] I'm Pope.
[3756] With ... you.] As in Pope. Two lines in Ff.
[3757] Into ... stayed!] As in Capell. Three lines, ending corporall, ... winde ...stay'd, in Ff.
[3758] on] of F4.
[3759] Who's] but who is Hanmer.
[3760] Scene V. Pope.
[3761] venture] 'venture Warburton.
[3762] contend Which ... that,] contend.—Silenced with that which should be thine, not his, Becket conj.
[3763] should] would Pope.
[3764] afeard] afraid F4.
[3765] death. As] Pope. death; as Rowe. death, as Ff.
[3766] thick ... with post] quick as tale, Post follow'd post A. Hunter.
hail Came] Rowe. tale Can Ff. tale, Came Steevens (Johnson conj.). bale Came Becket conj.
[3767] with] on Pope.
[3768] sent] not sent Hunter conj.
[3769] Only ... pay thee.] To herald thee into his sight, not pay thee. Steevens (1793). Only to herald thee into his sight. Mitford conj.
[3770] herald] F4. harrold F1. herald F2F3.
into his] to's or in's S. Walker conj., reading Only ... thee as one line.
[3771] bade] Theobald (ed. 2). bad Ff.
[3772] why ... robes?] As in Capell. One line in Ff.
[3773] borrow'd] Capell. borrowed F1. his borrowed F2F3F4. his borrow'd Pope.
[3774] Whether ... know not] As in Malone. Five lines, ending loose ... Norway ... helpe, ... labour'd ... not, in Ff. Four lines, ending was ... rebel ... both ... not, in Pope.
[3775] those of] om. Pope.
did] F1 and Pope. else did F2F3F4.
[3776] that] om. Pope.
[3777] [Aside] Rowe. om. Ff.
[3778] [To Angus. Rowe.
[3779] [To Banquo. Rowe.
[3780] trusted] thrusted Keightley (Malone conj.).
[3781] betray's] F1F3F4. betrays F2. betray us Rowe (ed. 2).
[3782] In ... you] As in Ff. One line in Capell.
[3783] [To Rosse and Angus. Rowe. talks with Rosse and Angus apart. Capell.] [Aside] Rowe. om. Ff.
[3784] [Aside] Marked first by Capell.
[3785] Cannot ... cannot] Can it ... can it Anon. conj.
cannot be good] can it be good? Jackson conj.
[3786] if ill ... success,] As in Rowe. One line in Ff.
[3787] I am] I'm Pope.
[3788] unfix] upfix Warburton. uplift A. Hunter.
hair] Rowe. heire F1F2F3. heir F4.
[3789] fears] feats Theobald (Warburton). acts A. Hunter.
[3790] whose] where Collier MS.
murder ... fantastical] murther's yet but fantasy Hanmer.
[3791] Shakes ... not.] Arranged as in Pope. Three lines, ending man, ... surmise, ... not, in Ff.
[3792] partner's] F1F4. partners F2F3.
[3793] [Aside] Rowe. om. Ff.
If ... me,] As in Rowe. Two lines in Ff.
[3794] [Aside] Johnson. om. Ff.
[3795] Time and the hour] Time! on!—the hour Johnson conj. Time and the honour Jackson conj. Time's sandy hour Bailey conj.
[3796] Give ... time,] Arranged as in Pope. As seven lines, ending favour ... forgotten ... registred, ... leafe, ... them ... upon ... time, in Ff. Six lines, ending favour:— ... forgotten ... register'd ... them.— ... king ... time, in Knight.
[3797] forgotten] forgot Pope.
[To Rosse and Angus. Johnson.
[3798] [To Banquo. Rowe.
[3799] The] I' th' Steevens conj. In the Keightley.
[3800] Till ... friends] As in Pope. Two lines in Ff.
[3801] Scene IV.] Ff. Scene VI. Pope.
Forres. The palace.] Foris. A Room in the Palace. Capell. A Palace. Rowe.
[3802] Duncan,] Capell. King, Ff.
Malcolm ... Lennox,] Rowe. Lenox, Malcolme, Donalbaine, Ff.
[3803] Dun.] Capell. King. Ff (and throughout).
Is ... not] Arranged as by Capell. The line ends at Cawdor? in Ff.
Cawdor?] Cawdor yet? Pope.
Are] F2 F3 F4. Or F1.
[3804] My liege, ... died] Arranged as by Pope. Seven lines, ending back ... die: ... hee ... pardon, ... repentance: ... him, ... dy'de, in Ff.
[3805] owed] own'd] Warburton (Johnson conj.). had A. Hunter.
[3806] worthiest] my most worthy Hanmer.
[3807] Was] Is A. Hunter.
thou art] Thou'rt Pope.
[3808] That] The Jennens.
wing] F1. wine F2 F3 F4. wind Rowe.
[3809] thou hadst] thou'dst Pope.
[3810] mine] more Collier (Collier MS.), mean Staunton conj.
I have] I've Pope.
[3811] than more] ev'n more Hanmer. nay, more A. Hunter.
[3812] Your ... honour.] Arranged as in Pope. Five lines, ending duties: ... state, ... should, ... love ... honor, in Ff.
[3813] by ... Safe toward] in doing nothing, Save tow'rds Johnson conj.
[3814] Safe] Shap'd Hanmer. Fief'd Warburton. Fiefs Warburton conj. Serves Heath conj. Saf'd Malone conj.
Safe toward your] Safe to ward your Anon. conj. (Gent. Mag. LIX. p. 713). Safe-toward your Seymour conj. Your safeguards Becket conj.
your] you Blackstone conj.
love] life Warburton.
[3815] nor] and Rowe.
[3816] kinsmen] F1. kinsman F2 F3 F4.
thanes] and thanes, Hanmer.
[3817] unaccompanied] accompanied Warburton and Johnson.
[3818] From] om. Pope.
Inverness] Pope. Envernes Ff.
[3819] S. Walker would end the lines labour, ... you.
[3820] harbinger] Rowe. herbenger F1 F2 F3. harbenger F4.
[3821] [Aside] Rowe. om. Ff.
[3822] not light] no light Hanmer. not night Warburton.
[3823] so valiant] of valour Hanmer.
[3824] Let's] let us Pope.
[3825] It,] He A. Hunter.
[Flourish. Exeunt.] F3. Exeunt. F2 F3 F4.
[3826] Scene V.] Scene VII. Pope.
Inverness. Macbeth's castle.] An Apartment in Macbeth's Castle. Rowe. An ... Castle at Inverness. Pope.
[3827] Enter Lady Macbeth ...] Enter Macbeths Wife alone with a Letter. Ff. Enter Lady Macbeth alone with a Letter. Rowe. Enter Lady Macbeth, reading. Capell.
[3828] Lady M.] Lady. Ff.
[3829] perfectest] Rowe (ed. 2). perfectst F1 F2. perfect'st F3 F4. perfected Warburton.
[3830] Whiles] While Pope.
[3831] all-hailed] all-hail'd F1. all hail'd F2 F3 F4. all, hail'd Rowe (ed. 1).
[3832] weird] Theobald. weyward Ff. wayward Rowe.
[3833] shalt be] shalt be hereafter Upton conj.
[3834] the dues] thy dues Capell conj.
[3835] art] art now Seymour conj.
[3836] do I] I do F4. I Pope.
[3837] human] Rowe. humane Ff.
[3838] And ... it;] As in Pope. Three lines, ending winne ... cryes, ... it, in Ff.
[3839] thou'ldst ... undone.'] See note (I).
[3840] Hie] F4. High F1 F2 F3.
[3841] impedes thee] impeides thee F1. thee hinders F2 F3 F4.
[3842] metaphysical] metaphysic Pope.
doth seem] doth seek Johnson conj. do strive Anon. conj.
[3843] thee crown'd] crown'd thee Warburton.
[3844] Enter a Messenger.] Enter Messenger. Ff. Enter an Attendant. Capell.
[3845] Mess.] Att. Capell.
[3846] He ... hoarse] One line in Rowe. Two in Ff.
[Exit Messenger.] Ff. Exit Att. Capell.
himself is] himself's not Warburton.
[3847] you spirits] all you spirits Pope (Davenant's version). come, you spirits Steevens (1793). spirits of evil Keightley.
[3848] mortal] deadly A. Hunter.
[3849] direst] direct Warburton and Johnson.
[3850] peace] pace Johnson conj.
[3852] for gall] with gall Keightley.
[3853] blanket] Ff. blank height Coleridge conj. blankness Collier MS. blackness Bailey conj. blankest Jessopp conj. blonket Anon. (N. and Q.) conj.
[3854] [Embracing him. Rowe.
[3855] present] present time Pope.
feel] feel e'en Hunter conj. feel me Anon. conj.
[3856] My] om. Pope.
[3857] sun] his sun Jackson conj.
[3858] a] om. F2.
[3859] matters. To ... time,] Theobald. matters, to ... time. Ff.
[3860] to fear] and fear Theobald (ed. 2).
[3861] Scene VI.] Scene VIII. Pope. Scene IV. Rowe (ed. 1).
Before....] The Castle Gate. Rowe. Before Macbeth's Castle Gate. Theobald.
[3862] Hautboys and torches.] Hoboyes, and Torches. Ff (Hoboys, F4). Hautboys. Servants of Macbeth with Torches. Capell.
Enter Duncan....] Enter King.... Ff.
[3863] seat] site Johnson conj.
[3864] the air ... itself] As in Rowe. One line in Ff.
[3865] Unto ... senses] Gentle unto our sense Becket conj.
gentle senses] general sense Warburton. gentle sense Capell (Johnson conj.).
[3866] martlet] Rowe. Barlet Ff.
[3867] loved mansionry] love-mansionry Staunton conj.
mansionry] Theobald. mansonry Ff. masonry Pope (ed. 2).
the] om. Pope.
[3868] Smells ... delicate] Steevens (1793) ends the lines buttress, ... made ... they ... air ... delicate.
[3869] wooingly] sweet and wooingly Hanmer.
wooingly here: no] wooingly. Here is no Johnson conj. (withdrawn).
jutty, frieze] Steevens (1793). jutty frieze Ff. jutting frieze Pope. jutty, (word omitted) frieze S. Walker conj.
[3870] bird] bird on't Keightley.
[3871] cradle: ... haunt,] Rowe. cradle, ... haunt: Ff.
[3872] most] Rowe. must Ff. much Collier (Collier MS.).
[3873] Enter Lady Macbeth.] Enter Lady. Ff (and passim).
See, see,] See! Hanmer.
[3874] sometime is] sometime's Pope (ed. 1). sometimes Pope (ed. 2). sometimes is Theobald.
[3875] you How you] you:—How?—You Jackson conj.
[3876] shall] should Rowe (ed. 2).
God'ild] God-eyld Ff. Godild Hanmer. God-yeld Warburton. god-yield Johnson. God shield Johnson conj.
[3877] Against ... hermits] As in Pope. In Ff the first three lines end broad, ... house: ... dignities.
[3878] hermits] F3 F4. Ermites F1. Hermites F2.
[3879] as] at F2.
[3880] To his] To's Pope.
[3881] theirs, in compt,] theirs, in compt Pope. theirs in compt, Ff.
[3882] host: we] host, we F3 F4. host we F1 F2.
[3883] [kisses her. Nicholson conj.
[3884] Scene VII.] Scene IX. Pope.
Macbeth's castle.] An Apartment. Rowe. An Apartment in Macbeth's Castle. Theobald.
[3885] Hautboys and torches.] Ho-boyes. Torches. F1 F2. Ho boyes. Torches. F3. Hoboys. Torches. F4.
Enter ... and pass over....] Enter ... over.... Ff.
a Sewer, and] om. Rowe.
[3886] well It ... quickly: if] well, It ... quickly: If Ff. well. It ... quickly. If Anon, apud Johnson conj. well. It ... quickly if Grant White (Anon. conj. N. and Q.).
[3887] assassination] assassinator Becket conj.
[3888] his] its Pope.
surcease, success] success, surcease A. Hunter (Johnson conj.).
[3889] be ... end-all] be the all, and be the end of all—Rowe (ed. 2).
be-all] Hyphen inserted by Pope.
end-all] Hyphen inserted by Pope.
end-all here,] Hanmer. end all. Heere, Ff (Here F3 F4). end all—Here, Rowe (ed. 1). end-all—Here. Warburton.
[3890] But here, upon] Here only on Pope.
shoal Theobald. schoole F1 F2. school F3 F4. shelve Warburton. school'd Becket conj.
time,] time— Rowe.
[3891] instructions] inductions Becket conj.
[3892] the inventor ... Commends] F1. Omitted in F2 F3 F4 and Rowe.
[3893] this] om. Pope. thus, Collier, ed. 2 (Mason conj.).
[3894] Commends] Returns Pope. ingredients] Pope. ingredience Ff.
[3895] his] F1. this F2 F3 F4.
faculties] F1 F2. faculty F3 F4.
[3896] against] again Johnson.
[3897] cherubin] Ff. cherubim Jennens.
[3898] couriers] Pope. Curriors Ff. curriers Rowe. coursers Theobald (Warburton).
[3899] itself] its sell Singleton conj. its seat Bailey conj.
[3900] on the other.] on th' other. Ff. on th' other— Rowe. on th' other side. Hanmer. upon the other. Steevens conj. on the rider. Mason conj. on theory. Jackson conj. on th' earth. or upon th' earth. Bailey conj. on the other bank. Anon. conj.
[3901] Scene X. Pope.
[3902] He has] He's Pope. He hath Hanmer.
[3903] Know you not he has?] Know you not? he has. Capell conj.
[3904] sorts] sort Theobald.
[3905] would] should Pope.
[3906] dress'd] bless'd Bailey conj.
[3907] did] bid Becket conj. eyed Bailey conj.
time] After this Keightley marks a line omitted.
[3908] love] liver Bailey conj.
afeard] affear'd F1 F2 F3. afraid F4.
[3909] have ... And] leave ... And or have ... Or Johnson conj. crave ... And Becket conj. lack ... And Anon. conj.
[3910] adage?] Capell. adage. Ff.
[3911] Who ... none.] Given to Lady M., reading no, Hunter conj.
do] Rowe and Southern MS. no Ff.
beast was't] boast was't Collier MS. baseness was't Bailey conj. was it Hunter conj.
[3912] the] than Hanmer.
[3913] adhere] co-here Pope.
[3914] They have] They've Pope.
[3915] And ... this.] As in Steevens (1793). In Ff the first line ends at sworne.
[3917] fail?] fail?— Rowe. fail,— Theobald (ed. 2).
fail!] Rowe. faile? F1F2 fail? F3F4. fail. Capell.
[3918] his] this Pope.
[3919] convince] confound A. Hunter.
[3920] lie] lyes F1.
[3921] mettle] metal F4.
[3922] I am] I'm Pope.
[3923] Away ... know.] Given to Lady M., Hunter conj.
