Mac. Ride you this afternoon?

Ban.

Ay, my good lord. Mac. We should have else desir'd your good

advice

(Which still hath been both grave and prosperous,) In this day's council; but we'll take to-morrow. you ride?

Is't far

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.

Mac.

Ban. My lord, I will not.

Fail not our feast.

Mac. We hear, our bloody cousins are bestow'd In England, and in Ireland; not confessing Their cruel parricide, filling their hearers With strange invention: But of that to-morrow; When, therewithal, we shall have cause of state, Craving us jointly. Hie you to horse: Adieu, Till you return at night. Goes Fleance with you? Ban. Ay, my good lord: our time does call upon

us.

Mac. I wish your horses swift, and sure of foot; And so I do commend you to their backs.

Farewel.

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: Attend those men our pleasure?

Atten. They are, my lord, without the palace

gate.

Mac. 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 fear'd: "Tis much he dares;

And, to that dauntless temper of his mind,
He hath a wisdom that doth guide his valour
To act in safety. There is none, but he,
Whose being I do fear: and, under him,
My genius is rebuk'd; as, it is said,

Mark Antony's was by Cæsar. He chid the sisters,
When first they put the name of King upon me,
And bade them speak to him; then, prophet-like,
They hail'd him father to a line of kings:
Upon my head they plac'd a fruitless crown,
And put a barren scepter in my gripe,
Thence to be wrench'd with an unlineal hand,
No son of mine succeeding. If it be so,
For Banquo's issue have I fil'd my mind;

For them the gracious Duncan have I murder'd;
Put rancours in the vessel of my peace
Only for them; and mine eternal jewel
Given to the common enemy of man,

To make them kings, the seed of Banquo kings!
Rather than so, come, fate, into the list,

And champion me to the utterance!--Who's there?

Re-enter Attendant, with two Murderers. Now to the door, and stay there till we call.

[Exit Attendant.

Was it not yesterday we spoke together?
1 Mur. It was, so please your highness.
Mac.

Well then, now
Have you consider'd of my speeches? Know,
That it was he, in the times past, which held you
So under fortune; which, you thought, had been
Our innocent self: this I made good to you
In our last conference; pass'd in probation with

you,

How you were borne in hand; how cross'd; the instruments;

Who wrought with them; and all things else, that

might,

To half a soul, and to a notion craz'd,

Say, Thus did Banquo.

1 Mur.

You made it known to us.

Mac. 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 gospell'd, Το pray for this good man, and for his issue, Whose heavy hand hath bow'd you to the grave, And beggar'd yours for ever?

1 Mur.

We are men, my liege.

Mac. Ay, in the catalogue ye go for men;

As hounds, and greyhounds, mungrels, spaniels, curs, Shoughs, water-rugs, and demi-wolves, are cleped All by the name of dogs: the valued file

Distinguishes the swift, the slow, the subtle,
The house-keeper, the hunter, every one
According to the gift which bounteous nature
Hath in him clos'd; whereby he does receive
Particular addition, from the bill

That writes them all alike: and so of men.
Now, if you have a station in the file,
And not in the worst rank of manhood, say
And I will put that business in your bosoms,
Whose execution takes your enemy off;
Grapples you to the heart and love of us,
Who wear our health but sickly in his life,
Which in his death were perfect.

2 Mur.

it;

I am one, my liege, Whom the vile blows and buffets of the world

Have so incens'd, that I am reckless what

I do, to spite the world.

1 Mur.

And I another,

So weary with disasters, tugg'd with fortune,
That I would set my life on any chance,

To mend it, or be rid on't.

Mac. 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
With bare-fac'd power sweep him from my sight,
And bid my will avouch it; yet I must not,
For certain friends that are both his and mine,
Whose loves I may not drop, but wail his fall
Whom I myself struck down: and thence it is,

That I to your assistance do make love;

Masking the business from the common eye,
For sundry weighty reasons.

2 Mur.

We shall, my lord,

Though our lives——

Perform what you command us.

1 Mur,

Mac. Your spirits shine through you. Within this hour, at most,

I will advise you where to plant yourselves.
Acquaint you with the perfect spy o'the time,
The moment on't; for't must be done to-night,
And something from the palace; always thought,
That I require a clearness: And with him,
(To leave no rubs, nor botches, in the work,)
Fleance his son, that keeps him company,

Whose absence is no less material to me

Than is his father's, must embrace the fate
Of that dark hour. Resolve yourselves apart;

I'll come to you anon.

Mur.

We are resolv'd, my lord.

Mac. I'll call upon you straight; abide within. It is concluded:-- -Banquo, thy soul's flight, If it find heaven, must find it out to-night.

SCENE II.

THE SAME. ANOTHER ROOM.

[Exeunt.

Enter Lady Macbeth, and a Servant.

Lady M. Is Banquo gone from court?

Serv. Ay, madam; but returns again to-night.