Macbeth

A Tragedy

William Shakespeare

• Publisher: HarperPerennial Classics
• Year: 2014
• eBook ISBN: 9781443443418
• Topic: Literature
• Subtopic: Shakespeare Drama
• Index: Literature

When the Three Witches prophesy that Macbeth, a Scottish general, will become king, they unleash a series of events that prove tragic for all involved. Spurred by ambition, Macbeth and his ruthless Lady will stop at nothing, including murder, to make the throne theirs. Beginning with the murder of King Duncan and culminating with Lady Macbeth's descent into madness and Macbeth's final clash with Macduff, Macbeth is one of William Shakespeare's greatest dramatic works.

Known as "The Bard of Avon," William Shakespeare is arguably the greatest English-language writer known. Enormously popular during his life, Shakespeare's works continue to resonate more than three centuries after his death, as has his influence on theatre and literature. Shakespeare's innovative use of character, language, and experimentation with romance as tragedy served as a foundation for later playwrights and dramatists, and some of his most famous lines of dialogue have become part of everyday speech.

HarperPerennialClassics brings great works of literature to life in digital format, upholding the highest standards in ebook production and celebrating reading in all its forms. Look for more titles in the HarperPerennial Classics collection to build your digital library.

ACT FOUR

SCENE I. A dark cave. In the middle, a cauldron boiling.

Thunder. Enter the three Witches.

1 WITCH Thrice the brinded cat hath mew’d.

2 WITCH Thrice and once the hedge-pig whin’d.

3 WITCH Harpier cries; ’tis time, ’tis time.

1 WITCH Round about the cauldron go;

[5]

In the poison’d entrails throw.

Toad that under cold stone

Days and nights has thirty-one

Swelt’red venom sleeping got

Boil thou first i’ th’ charmed pot.

[10]

ALL Double, double toil and trouble;

Fire burn, and cauldron bubble.

2 WITCH Fillet of a fenny snake,

In the cauldron boil and bake;

Eye of newt, and toe of frog,

[15]

Wool of bat, and tongue of dog,

Adder’s fork, and blind-worm’s sting,

Lizard’s leg, and howlet’s wing --

For a charm of pow’rful trouble,

Like a hell-broth boil and bubble.

[20]

ALL Double, double toil and trouble;

Fire burn, and cauldron bubble.

3 WITCH Scale of dragon, tooth of wolf,

Witch’s mummy, maw and gulf

Of the ravin’d salt-sea shark,

[25]

Root of hemlock digg’d i’ th’ 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,

[30]

Finger of birth-strangled babe

Ditch-deliver’d by a drab --

Make the gruel thick and slab;

Add thereto a tiger’s chaudron,

For th’ ingredience of our cauldron.

[35]

ALL Double, double toil and trouble;

Fire burn, and cauldron bubble.

2 WITCH Cool it with a baboon’s blood,

Then the charm is firm and good.

Enter HECATE.

HECATE O, well done! I commend your pains;

[40]

And every one shall share i’ th’ gains.

And now about the cauldron sing,

Like elves and fairies in a ring,

Enchanting all that you put in.

[Music and a song: ‘Black spirits, etc’ Exit Hecate.

2 WITCH By the pricking of my thumbs,

[45]

Something wicked this way comes.

Open, locks, whoever knocks.

Enter MACBETH.

MACBETH How now, you secret, black, and midnight hags!

What is’t you do?

ALL A deed without a name.

[50]

MACBETH 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;

[55]

Though bladed com 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 germens tumble all together,

[60]

Even till destruction sicken – answer me

To what I ask you.

1 WITCH Speak.

2 WITCH Demand.

3 WITCH We’ll answer.

1 WITCH Say, if thou’dst rather hear it from our mouths,

Or from our masters?

MACBETH Call ’em; let me see ’em.

1 WITCH Pour in sow’s blood that hath eaten

[65]

Her nine farrow; grease that’s sweaten

From the murderer’s gibbet throw

Into the flame.

ALL Come, high or low;

Thyself and office deftly show.

Thunder. First Apparition, an Armed Head.

MACBETH Tell me, thou unknown power --

1 WITCH He knows thy thought.

[70]

Hear his speech, but say thou nought.

APPARITION Macbeth! Macbeth! Macbeth!

Beware Macduff;

Beware the Thane of Fife. Dismiss me. Enough.

[He descends.

MACBETH Whate’er thou art, for thy good caution, thanks;

Thou hast harp’d my fear aright. But one word more --

[75]

1 WITCH He will not be commanded. Here’s another,

More potent than the first.

Thunder. Second Apparition, a Bloody Child.

APPARITION Macbeth! Macbeth! Macbeth!

MACBETH Had I three ears, I’d hear thee.

APPARITION Be bloody, bold, and resolute; laugh to scorn

[80]

The pow’r of man, for none of woman born

Shall harm Macbeth. [Descends.

MACBETH Then live, Macduff; what need I fear of thee?

But yet I’ll make assurance double sure

And take a bond of fate. Thou shall not live;

[85]

That I may tell pale-hearted fear it lies,

And sleep in spite of thunder.

Thunder. Third Apparition, a Child Crowned, with a tree in his hand.

What is this

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.

[90]

APPARITION Be lion-mettled, proud, and take no care

Who chafes, who frets, or where conspirers are;

Macbeth shall never vanquish’d be until

Great Bimam wood to high Dunsinane Hill

Shall come against him. [Descends.

MACBETH That will never be.

[95]

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

[100]

To time and mortal custom. Yet my heart

Throbs to know one thing; tell me, if your an

Can tell so much – shall Banquo’s issue ever

Reign in this kingdom?

ALL Seek to know...

Table of contents

• Contents
• Macbeth
• Dramatis Personae
• Act One
• Act Two
• Act Three
• Act Four
• Act Five
• About the Author
• About the Series
• Copyright
• About the Publisher