Fer. The ditty does remember my drowned father, Mira. What is 't? a spirit? Lord, how it looks about! Believe, me, sir, It carries a brave form :-but 'tis a spirit. Pro. No, wench; it eats and sleeps, and hath such senses As we have, such. This gallant which thou seest, Was in the wreck; and but he's something stain'd With grief, that's beauty's canker, thou might'st call him A goodly person: he hath lost his fellows, And strays about to find them. As my soul prompts it :-Spirit, fine spirit! I'll free thee Within two days for this. On whom these airs attend !-Vouchsafe, my prayer Mira. But, certainly a maid. Fer. No wonder, sir; My language! heavens! I am the best of them that speak this speech, How the best? Pro. Fer. Yes, faith, and all his lords; the Duke of Milan, And his brave son, being twain. And his more braver daughter, could control thee, 1 The fringed curtains of thine eye advance. Why Shakspeare should have condescended to the elaborate nothingness, not to say nonsense of this metaphor (for what is meant by advancing "curtains?") I cannot conceive; that is to say, if he did condescend; for it looks very like the interpolation of some pompous, declamatory player. Pope has put it into his treatise on the Bathos. 66 66 2" Myself am Naples."-This is a very summary and kingly style. Shakspeare is fond of it. How, now, France?" says King John to King Philip, "I'm dying, Egypt!" says Antony to Cleopatra. MACBETH AND THE WITCHES. This scene fortunately comprises a summary of the whole subsequent history of Macbeth. A dark Cave. In the middle, a Caldron boiling. Thunder. 1st Wi. Thrice the brinded cat hath mew'd, 2nd Wi. Thrice and once the hedge-pig whin'd, 3rd Wi. Harper cries :-'Tis time, 'tis time. 1st Wi. Round about the caldron go; All In the caldron boil and bake : Eye of newt, and toe of frog, All. Witches' mummy; maw, and gulf, Make the gruel thick and slab; 2nd Wi. Cool it with a baboon's blood. Enter HECATE and the three other WITCHES And every one shall share i' the gains, And now about the caldron sing, (Music and a Song, Black Spirits, &c.) 2nd Wi. By the pricking of my thumbs, Something wicked this way comes :— Open, locks, whoever knocks. Enter MACBETH. Mac. How now, you secret, black, and midnight hags, What is 't you do? All. A deed without a name. Mac. 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 palaces and pyramids do slope Their heads to their foundations; though the treasure Of nature's germins tumble all together, 1st Wi. Say, if thou'dst rather hear it from our mouths, Or from our masters'? Mac. Call them, let me see them. 1st Wi. Pour in sow's blood, that hath eaten Her nine farrow; grease, that's sweaten From the murderer's gibbet, throw Thunder. An Apparition of an armed Head rises. Mac. Tell me, thou unknown power,- He knows thy thought; Hear his speech, but say thou naught. (Descends.) Mac. Whate'er thou art, for thy good caution thanks; Thunder. An Apparition of a bloody Child rises.3 Mac. Had I three ears, I'd hear thee App. Be bloody, bold, and resolute; laugh to scorn The power of man, for none of woman born Shall harm Macbeth. Mac. Then live, Macduff: what need I fear of thee? But yet I'll make assurance doubly sure, And take a bond of fate: thou shalt not live; That I may tell pale-hearted fear it lies, 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. App. Be lion-mettled, proud; and take no care Who chafes, who frets, or where conspirers are; Macbeth shall never vanquish'd be, until Who can impress the forest; bid the tree Unfix his earth-bound root? sweet bodements! good! Of Birnam rise, and our high-plac'd Macbeth All. Seek to know no more. Mac. I will be satisfied; deny me this And an eternal curse fall on you! Let me know :- (Descends.) (Hautboys.) All. Show his eyes and grieve his heart, 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. Mac. 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! Why do you show me this? a fourth? Start, eyes! |