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Macbeth

Act 4, Scene 1

A cavern. In the middle, a boiling cauldron. Thunder. Enter the three WITCHES.	A cavern. In the middle, a boiling cauldron. Thunder. The three WITCHES enter.
FIRST WITCH Thrice the brinded cat hath mewed.	FIRST WITCH The tawny cat has meowed three times.
SECOND WITCH Thrice, and once the hedge-pig whined.	SECOND WITCH Three times. And the hedgehog has whined once.
THIRD WITCH Harpier cries, “’Tis time, ’tis time.”	THIRD WITCH My spirit friend, Harpier, is yelling, “It’s time, it’s time!”
FIRST WITCH Round about the cauldron go, In the poisoned entrails throw. Toad, that under cold stone Days and nights has thirty-one Sweltered venom sleeping got, Boil thou first i’ th’ charmèd pot.	FIRST WITCH Dance around the cauldron and throw in the poisoned entrails. (holding up a toad) You’ll go in first—a toad that sat under a cold rock for a month, oozing poison from its pores.
ALL Double, double toil and trouble, Fire burn, and cauldron bubble.	ALL Double, double toil and trouble, Fire burn, and cauldron bubble.
SECOND WITCH Fillet of a fenny snake, In the cauldron 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.	SECOND WITCH (holding something up) We’ll boil you in the cauldron next—a slice of swamp snake. All the rest of you in too: a newt’s eye, a frog’s tongue, fur from a bat, a dog’s tongue, the forked tongue of an adder, the stinger of a burrowing worm, a lizard’s leg, an owl’s wing. (speaking to the ingredients) Make a charm to cause powerful trouble, and boil and bubble like a broth of hell.
ALL Double, double toil and trouble, Fire burn and cauldron bubble.	ALL Double, double toil and trouble, Fire burn and cauldron bubble.
THIRD WITCH Scale of dragon, tooth of wolf, Witches’ mummy, maw and gulf Of the ravined salt-sea shark, Root of hemlock digged i’ th’ dark, Liver of blaspheming Jew, Gall of goat and slips of yew Slivered in the moon’s eclipse, Nose of Turk and Tartar’s lips, Finger of birth-strangled babe Ditch-delivered by a drab, Make the gruel thick and slab. Add thereto a tiger’s chaudron, For the ingredients of our cauldron.	THIRD WITCH Here come some more ingredients: the scale of a dragon, a wolf’s tooth, a witch’s mummified flesh, the gullet and stomach of a ravenous shark, a root of hemlock that was dug up in the dark, a Jew’s liver, a goat’s bile, some twigs of yew that were broken off during a lunar eclipse, a Turk’s nose, a Tartar’s lips, the finger of a baby that was strangled as a prostitute gave birth to it in a ditch. (to the ingredients) Make this potion thick and gluey. (to the other WITCHES) Now let’s add a tiger’s entrails to the mix.
ALL Double, double toil and trouble, Fire burn and cauldron bubble.	ALL Double, double toil and trouble, Fire burn and cauldron bubble.
SECOND WITCH Cool it with a baboon’s blood, Then the charm is firm and good.	SECOND WITCH We’ll cool the mixture with baboon blood. After that the charm is finished.
Enter HECATE and the other three WITCHES	HECATE enters with three other WITCHES.
HECATE Oh well done! I commend your pains, 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.	HECATE Well done! I admire your efforts, and all of you will share the rewards. Now come sing around the cauldron like a ring of elves and fairies, enchanting everything you put in.
Music and a song: “Black spirits,” &c. HECATE retires	Music plays and the six WITCHES sing a song called “Black Spirits.” HECATE leaves.
SECOND WITCH By the pricking of my thumbs, Something wicked this way comes. Open, locks, Whoever knocks.	SECOND WITCH I can tell that something wicked is coming by the tingling in my thumbs. Doors, open up for whoever is knocking!
Enter MACBETH	MACBETH enters.
MACBETH How now, you secret, black, and midnight hags? What is ’t you do?	MACBETH What’s going on here, you secret, evil, midnight hags? What are you doing?
ALL A deed without a name.	ALL Something there isn’t a word for.
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 yeasty waves Confound and swallow navigation up, Though bladed corn be lodged 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, Even till destruction sicken, answer me To what I ask you.	MACBETH I don’t know how you know the things you do, but I insist that you answer my questions. I command you in the name of whatever dark powers you serve. I don’t care if you unleash violent winds that tear down churches, make the foamy waves overwhelm ships and send sailors to their deaths, flatten crops and trees, make castles fall down on their inhabitants’ heads, make palaces and pyramids collapse, and mix up everything in nature. Tell me what I want to know.
FIRST WITCH Speak.	FIRST WITCH Speak.
SECOND WITCH Demand.	SECOND WITCH Demand.
THIRD WITCH We’ll answer.	THIRD WITCH We’ll answer.
FIRST WITCH Say, if th’ hadst rather hear it from our mouths, Or from our masters’.	FIRST WITCH Would you rather hear these things from our mouths or from our master’s?
MACBETH Call ’em. Let me see ’em.	MACBETH 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 Into the flame.	FIRST WITCH Pour in the blood of a sow who has eaten her nine offspring. Take the sweat of a murderer on the gallows and throw it into the flame.
ALL Come, high or low; Thyself and office deftly show!	ALL Come, high or low spirits. Show yourself and what you do.
Thunder. FIRST APPARITION : an armed head	Thunder. The FIRST APPARITION appears, looking like a head with an armored helmet.
MACBETH Tell me, thou unknown power—	MACBETH Tell me, you unknown power—
FIRST WITCH He knows thy thought. Hear his speech but say thou nought.	FIRST WITCH He can read your thoughts. Listen, but don’t speak.
FIRST APPARITION Macbeth! Macbeth! Macbeth! Beware Macduff. Beware the thane of Fife. Dismiss me. Enough.	FIRST APPARITION Macbeth! Macbeth! Macbeth! Beware Macduff. Beware the thane of Fife. Let me go. Enough.
Descends	The FIRST APPARITION descends.
MACBETH Whate’er thou art, for thy good caution, thanks. Thou hast harped my fear aright. But one word more—	MACBETH Whatever you are, thanks for your advice. You have guessed exactly what I feared. But one word more—
FIRST WITCH He will not be commanded. Here’s another More potent than the first.	FIRST WITCH He will not be commanded by you. Here’s another, stronger than the first.
Thunder. SECOND APPARITION : a bloody child	Thunder. The SECOND APPARITION appears, looking like a bloody child.
SECOND APPARITION Macbeth! Macbeth! Macbeth!—	SECOND APPARITION Macbeth! Macbeth! Macbeth!
MACBETH Had I three ears, I’d hear thee.	MACBETH If I had three ears I’d listen with all three.
SECOND APPARITION Be bloody, bold, and resolute. Laugh to scorn The power of man, for none of woman born Shall harm Macbeth. Descends	SECOND APPARITION Be violent, bold, and firm. Laugh at the power of other men, because nobody born from a woman will ever harm Macbeth. The SECOND APPARITION 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 shalt not live, That I may tell pale-hearted fear it lies, And sleep in spite of thunder.	MACBETH Then I don’t need to kill Macduff. I have no reason to fear him. But even so, I’ll make doubly sure. I’ll guarantee my own fate by having you killed, Macduff. That way I can conquer my own fear and sleep easy at night.
Thunder. THIRD APPARITION : a child crowned, with a tree in his hand	Thunder. The THIRD APPARITION appears, in the form of a child with a crown on his head and 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?	What is this spirit that looks like the son of a king and wears a crown on his young head?
ALL Listen but speak not to ’t.	ALL Listen but don’t speak to it.
THIRD APPARITION Be lion-mettled, proud, and take no care Who chafes, who frets, or where conspirers are. Macbeth shall never vanquished be until Great Birnam Wood to high Dunsinane Hill Shall come against him.	THIRD APPARITION Be brave like the lion and proud. Don’t even worry about who hates you, who resents you, and who conspires against you. Macbeth will never be defeated until Birnam Wood marches to fight you at Dunsinane Hill.
Descends	The THIRD APPARITION descends.
MACBETH That will never be. Who can impress the forest, bid the tree Unfix his earthbound root? Sweet bodements! Good! Rebellious dead, rise never till the wood Of Birnam rise, and our high-placed Macbeth Shall live the lease of nature, pay his breath 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?	MACBETH That will never happen. Who can command the forest and make the trees pull their roots out of the earth? These were sweet omens! Good! My murders will never come back to threaten me until the forest of Birnam gets up and moves, and I will be king for my entire natural life. But my heart is still throbbing to know one thing. Tell me, if your dark powers can see this far: will Banquo’s sons ever reign in this kingdom?
ALL Seek to know no more.	ALL Don’t try to find out more.
MACBETH I will be satisfied. Deny me this, And an eternal curse fall on you! Let me know. Why sinks that cauldron? And what noise is this?	MACBETH I demand to be satisfied. If you refuse, let an eternal curse fall on you. Let me know. Why is that cauldron sinking? And what is that music?
Hautboys	Hautboys play music for a ceremonial procession.
FIRST WITCH Show.	FIRST WITCH Show.
SECOND WITCH Show.	SECOND WITCH Show.
THIRD WITCH Show.	THIRD WITCH Show.
ALL Show his eyes and grieve his heart. Come like shadows; so depart!	ALL Show him and make him grieve. Come like shadows and depart in the same way!
A show of eight kings, the last with a glass in his hand, followed by BANQUO	Eight kings march across the stage, the last one with a mirror in his hand, followed by the GHOST OF BANQUO.
MACBETH 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! What, will the line stretch out to th’ crack of doom? Another yet? A seventh? I’ll see no more. And yet the eighth appears, who bears a glass Which shows me many more, and some I see That twofold balls and treble scepters carry. Horrible sight! Now I see ’tis true; For the blood-boltered Banquo smiles upon me And points at them for his.	MACBETH You look too much like the ghost of Banquo. Go away! (to the first) Your crown hurts my eyes. (to the second) Your blond hair, which looks like another crown underneath the one you’re wearing, looks just like the first king’s hair. Now I see a third king who looks just like the second. Filthy hags! Why are you showing me this? A fourth! My eyes are bulging out of their sockets! Will this line stretch on forever? Another one! And a seventh! I don’t want to see any more. And yet an eighth appears, holding a mirror in which I see many more men. And some are carrying double balls and triple scepters, meaning they’re kings of more than one country! Horrible sight! Now I see it is true, they are Banquo’s descendants. Banquo, with his blood-clotted hair, is smiling at me and pointing to them as his.
Apparitions vanish	The spirits of the kings and the GHOST OF BANQUO vanish.
What, is this so?	What? Is this true?
FIRST WITCH Ay, sir, all this is so. But why Stands Macbeth thus amazedly? Come, sisters, cheer we up his sprites, And show the best of our delights. I’ll charm th’ air to give a sound, While you perform your antic round. That this great king may kindly say, Our duties did his welcome pay.	FIRST WITCH Yes, this is true, but why do you stand there so dumbfounded? Come, sisters, let’s cheer him up and show him our talents. I will charm the air to produce music while you all dance around like crazy, so this king will say we did our duty and entertained him.
Music. The WITCHES dance and then vanish	Music plays. The WITCHES dance and then vanish.
MACBETH Where are they? Gone? Let this pernicious hour Stand aye accursèd in the calendar! Come in, without there.	MACBETH Where are they? Gone? Let this evil hour be marked forever in the calendar as cursed. (calls to someone offstage) You outside, come in!
Enter LENNOX	LENNOX enters.
LENNOX What’s your grace’s will?	LENNOX What does your grace want?
MACBETH Saw you the weird sisters?	MACBETH Did you see the weird sisters?
LENNOX No, my lord.	LENNOX No, my lord.
MACBETH Came they not by you?	MACBETH Didn’t they pass by you?
LENNOX No, indeed, my lord.	LENNOX No, indeed, my lord.
MACBETH Infected be the air whereon they ride, And damned all those that trust them! I did hear The galloping of horse. Who was ’t came by?	MACBETH The air on which they ride is infected. Damn all those who trust them! I heard the galloping of horses. Who was it that came here?
LENNOX ’Tis two or three, my lord, that bring you word Macduff is fled to England.	LENNOX Two or three men, my lord, who brought the message that Macduff has fled to England.
MACBETH Fled to England?	MACBETH Fled to England?
LENNOX Ay, my good lord.	LENNOX Yes, my good lord.
MACBETH Time, thou anticipat’st my dread exploits. The flighty purpose never is o’ertook Unless the deed go with it. From this moment The very firstlings of my heart shall be The firstlings of my hand. And even now, To crown my thoughts with acts, be it thought and done: The castle of Macduff I will surprise, Seize upon Fife, give to th’ edge o’ th’ sword His wife, his babes, and all unfortunate souls That trace him in his line. No boasting like a fool. This deed I’ll do before this purpose cool. But no more sights!—Where are these gentlemen? Come, bring me where they are.	MACBETH Time, you thwart my dreadful plans. Unless a person does something the second he thinks of it, he’ll never get a chance to do it. From now on, as soon as I decide to do something I’m going to act immediately. In fact, I’ll start following up my thoughts with actions right now. I’ll raid Macduff’s castle, seize the town of Fife, and kill his wife, his children, and anyone else unfortunate enough to stand in line for his inheritance. No more foolish talk. I will do this deed before I lose my sense of purpose. But no more spooky visions!—Where are the messengers? Come, bring me to them.
Exeunt	They exit.