Chapter XXVII: Act V: SCENE I. Dunsinane. Ante-room in the castle

_Enter a_ Doctor of Physic _and a_ Waiting-Gentlewoman.

_Doct._ I have two nights watched with you, but can perceive[4506]
no truth in your report. When was it she last walked?

_Gent._ Since his majesty went into the field, I have seen
her rise from her bed, throw her nightgown upon her, unlock
her closet, take forth paper, fold it, write upon't, read it, 5
afterwards seal it, and again return to bed; yet all this
while in a most fast sleep.

_Doct._ A great perturbation in nature, to receive at once
the benefit of sleep and do the effects of watching! In this
slumbery agitation, besides her walking and other actual 10
performances, what, at any time, have you heard her say?

_Gent._ That, sir, which I will not report after her.[4507]

_Doct._ You may to me, and 'tis most meet you should.

_Gent._ Neither to you nor any one, having no witness
to confirm my speech.

_Enter_ LADY MACBETH, _with a taper_.

Lo you, here she comes![4508] 15
This is her very guise, and, upon my life, fast asleep. Observe
her; stand close.

_Doct._ How came she by that light?

_Gent._ Why, it stood by her: she has light by her continually;
'tis her command. 20

_Doct._ You see, her eyes are open.

_Gent._ Ay, but their sense is shut.[4509]

_Doct._ What is it she does now? Look, how she rubs
her hands.

_Gent._ It is an accustomed action with her, to seem thus 25
washing her hands: I have known her continue in this a
quarter of an hour.

_Lady M._ Yet here's a spot.

_Doct._ Hark! she speaks: I will set down what comes
from her, to satisfy my remembrance the more strongly.[4510] 30

_Lady M._ Out, damned spot! out, I say! One: two:
why, then 'tis time to do't. Hell is murky. Fie, my lord,[4511]
fie! a soldier, and afeard? What need we fear who knows[4512][4513]
it, when none can call our power to account? Yet who[4513]
would have thought the old man to have had so much 35
blood in him?[4514]

_Doct._ Do you mark that?

_Lady M._ The thane of Fife had a wife; where is she[4515]
now? What, will these hands ne'er be clean? No more
o' that, my lord, no more o' that: you mar all with this[4516] 40
starting.

_Doct._ Go to, go to; you have known what you should[4517]
not.

_Gent._ She has spoke what she should not, I am sure of
that: heaven knows what she has known. 45

_Lady M._ Here's the smell of the blood still: all the[4518]
perfumes of Arabia will not sweeten this little hand. Oh,
oh, oh!

_Doct._ What a sigh is there! The heart is sorely charged.

_Gent._ I would not have such a heart in my bosom for 50
the dignity of the whole body.

_Doct._ Well, well, well,--[4519]

_Gent._ Pray God it be, sir.

_Doct._ This disease is beyond my practice: yet I have
known those which have walked in their sleep who have[4520] 55
died holily in their beds.

_Lady M._ Wash your hands; put on your nightgown;
look not so pale: I tell you yet again, Banquo's buried;[4521]
he cannot come out on 's grave.[4522]

_Doct._ Even so? 60

_Lady M._ To bed, to bed; there's knocking at the gate:
come, come, come, come, give me your hand: what's done
cannot be undone: to bed, to bed, to bed. [_Exit._[4523]

_Doct._ Will she go now to bed?

_Gent._ Directly. 65

_Doct._ Foul whisperings are abroad: unnatural deeds
Do breed unnatural troubles: infected minds
To their deaf pillows will discharge their secrets:
More needs she the divine than the physician.
God, God forgive us all! Look after her;[4524] 70
Remove from her the means of all annoyance,
And still keep eyes upon her. So good night:
My mind she has mated and amazed my sight:[4525]
I think, but dare not speak.

_Gent._ Good night, good doctor.

[_Exeunt._[4526]

SCENE II. _The country near Dunsinane._[4527]

_Drum and colours. Enter_ MENTEITH, CAITHNESS, ANGUS,
LENNOX, _and_ Soldiers.[4528]

_Ment._ The English power is near, led on by Malcolm,
His uncle Siward and the good Macduff:[4529]
Revenges burn in them; for their dear causes[4530][4531]
Would to the bleeding and the grim alarm[4530][4532]
Excite the mortified man.[4530]

_Ang._ Near Birnam wood[4530][4533] 5
Shall we well meet them; that way are they coming.

_Caith._ Who knows if Donalbain be with his brother?

_Len._ For certain, sir, he is not: I have a file[4534]
Of all the gentry: there is Siward's son,
And many unrough youths, that even now[4535] 10
Protest their first of manhood.[4536]

_Ment._ What does the tyrant?

_Caith._ Great Dunsinane he strongly fortifies:
Some say he's mad; others, that lesser hate him,[4537]
Do call it valiant fury: but, for certain,
He cannot buckle his distemper'd cause[4538] 15
Within the belt of rule.

_Ang._ Now does he feel
His secret murders sticking on his hands;
Now minutely revolts upbraid his faith-breach;
Those he commands move only in command,
Nothing in love: now does he feel his title 20
Hang loose about him, like a giant's robe
Upon a dwarfish thief.

_Ment._ Who then shall blame
His pester'd senses to recoil and start,
When all that is within him does condemn
Itself for being there?

_Caith._ Well, march we on,[4539] 25
To give obedience where 'tis truly owed:
Meet we the medicine of the sickly weal,[4540]
And with him pour we, in our country's purge,
Each drop of us.

_Len._ Or so much as it needs
To dew the sovereign flower and drown the weeds. 30
Make we our march towards Birnam. [_Exeunt, marching._[4541]

SCENE III. _Dunsinane. A room in the castle._[4542]

_Enter_ MACBETH, Doctor, _and_ Attendants.

_Macb._ Bring me no more reports; let them fly all:
Till Birnam wood remove to Dunsinane[4543]
I cannot taint with fear. What's the boy Malcolm?[4544]
Was he not born of woman? The spirits that know[4545]
All mortal consequences have pronounced me thus:[4546] 5
'Fear not, Macbeth; no man that's born of woman
Shall e'er have power upon thee.' Then fly, false thanes,[4547]
And mingle with the English epicures:
The mind I sway by and the heart I bear[4548]
Shall never sag with doubt nor shake with fear.[4549] 10

_Enter a_ Servant.

The devil damn thee black, thou cream-faced loon![4550]
Where got'st thou that goose look?[4551]

_Serv._ There is ten thousand--[4552]

_Macb._ Geese, villain?

_Serv._ Soldiers, sir.

_Macb._ Go prick thy face and over-red thy fear,
Thou lily-liver'd boy. What soldiers, patch? 15
Death of thy soul! those linen cheeks of thine
Are counsellors to fear. What soldiers, whey-face?[4553]

_Serv._ The English force, so please you.

_Macb._ Take thy face hence. [_Exit Servant._[4554]
Seyton!--I am sick at heart,[4555][4556]
When I behold--Seyton, I say!--This push[4555] 20
Will cheer me ever, or disseat me now.[4557]
I have lived long enough: my way of life[4558]
Is fall'n into the sear, the yellow leaf,
And that which should accompany old age,
As honour, love, obedience, troops of friends, 25
I must not look to have; but, in their stead,
Curses, not loud but deep, mouth-honour, breath,
Which the poor heart would fain deny, and dare not.[4559]
Seyton!

_Enter_ SEYTON.

_Sey._ What's your gracious pleasure?[4560]

_Macb._ What news more?[4561] 30

_Sey._ All is confirmed, my lord, which was reported.

_Macb._ I'll fight, till from my bones my flesh be hack'd.[4562]
Give me my armour.

_Sey._ 'Tis not needed yet.

_Macb._ I'll put it on.
Send out moe horses, skirr the country round;[4563] 35
Hang those that talk of fear. Give me mine armour.[4564]
How does your patient, doctor?

_Doct._ Not so sick, my lord,
As she is troubled with thick-coming fancies,
That keep her from her rest.

_Macb._ Cure her of that.[4565]
Canst thou not minister to a mind diseased,[4566] 40
Pluck from the memory a rooted sorrow,
Raze out the written troubles of the brain,[4567]
And with some sweet oblivious antidote
Cleanse the stuff'd bosom of that perilous stuff[4568]
Which weighs upon the heart?

_Doct._ Therein the patient 45
Must minister to himself.[4569]

_Macb._ Throw physic to the dogs, I'll none of it.
Come, put mine armour on; give me my staff.[4570]
Seyton, send out. Doctor, the thanes fly from me.
Come, sir, dispatch. If thou couldst, doctor, cast 50
The water of my land, find her disease
And purge it to a sound and pristine health,[4571]
I would applaud thee to the very echo,
That should applaud again. Pull't off, I say.
What rhubarb, cyme, or what purgative drug,[4572] 55
Would scour these English hence? Hear'st thou of them?

_Doct._ Ay, my good lord; your royal preparation
Makes us hear something.

_Macb._ Bring it after me.
I will not be afraid of death and bane
Till Birnam forest come to Dunsinane.[4573] 60

_Doct._ [_Aside_] Were I from Dunsinane away and clear,[4574]
Profit again should hardly draw me here. [_Exeunt._[4575]

SCENE IV. _Country near Birnam wood._

_Drum and colours. Enter_ MALCOLM, _old_ SIWARD _and his_
Son, MACDUFF, MENTEITH, CAITHNESS, ANGUS, LENNOX, ROSS, _and_
Soldiers, _marching_.

_Mal._ Cousins, I hope the days are near at hand[4576]
That chambers will be safe.

_Ment._ We doubt it nothing.

_Siw._ What wood is this before us?

_Ment._ The wood of Birnam.[4577]

_Mal._ Let every soldier hew him down a bough,
And bear't before him: thereby shall we shadow 5
The numbers of our host, and make discovery
Err in report of us.

_Soldiers._ It shall be done.

_Siw._ We learn no other but the confident tyrant[4578]
Keeps still in Dunsinane, and will endure
Our setting down before 't.

_Mal._ 'Tis his main hope: 10
For where there is advantage to be given,[4579][4580]
Both more and less have given him the revolt,[4579]
And none serve with him but constrained things
Whose hearts are absent too.

_Macd._ Let our just censures[4581]
Attend the true event, and put we on[4581] 15
Industrious soldiership.

_Siw._ The time approaches,
That will with due decision make us know
What we shall say we have and what we owe.
Thoughts speculative their unsure hopes relate,
But certain issue strokes must arbitrate: 20
Towards which advance the war. [_Exeunt, marching._

SCENE V. _Dunsinane. Within the castle._[4582]

_Enter_ MACBETH, SEYTON, _and_ Soldiers, _with drum and colours_.[4583]

_Macb._ Hang out our banners on the outward walls;[4584]
The cry is still 'They come:' our castle's strength
Will laugh a siege to scorn: here let them lie
Till famine and the ague eat them up:
Were they not forced with those that should be ours,[4585] 5
We might have met them dareful, beard to beard,
And beat them backward home. [_A cry of women within._[4586]
What is that noise?

_Sey._ It is the cry of women, my good lord. [_Exit._[4587]

_Macb._ I have almost forgot the taste of fears:
The time has been, my senses would have cool'd[4588] 10
To hear a night-shriek, and my fell of hair
Would at a dismal treatise rouse and stir
As life were in 't: I have supp'd full with horrors;[4589]
Direness, familiar to my slaughterous thoughts,
Cannot once start me.

_Re-enter_ SEYTON.

Wherefore was that cry?[4590] 15

_Scy._ The queen, my lord, is dead.[4591]

_Macb._ She should have died hereafter;[4592]
There would have been a time for such a word.[4592][4593]
To-morrow, and to-morrow, and to-morrow,
Creeps in this petty pace from day to day,[4594] 20
To the last syllable of recorded time;
And all our yesterdays have lighted fools[4595]
The way to dusty death. Out, out, brief candle![4596]
Life's but a walking shadow, a poor player[4597]
That struts and frets his hour upon the stage[4597] 25
And then is heard no more: it is a tale[4597]
Told by an idiot, full of sound and fury,
Signifying nothing.

_Enter a_ Messenger.

Thou comest to use thy tongue; thy story quickly.

_Mess._ Gracious my lord,[4598] 30
I should report that which I say I saw,[4599]
But know not how to do it.[4600]

_Macb._ Well, say, sir.

_Mess._ As I did stand my watch upon the hill,
I look'd toward Birnam, and anon, methought,[4601]
The wood began to move.

_Macb._ Liar and slave![4602] 35

_Mess._ Let me endure your wrath, if't be not so:
Within this three mile may you see it coming;[4603]
I say, a moving grove.

_Macb._ If thou speak'st false,
Upon the next tree shalt thou hang alive,[4604]
Till famine cling thee: if thy speech be sooth,[4605] 40
I care not if thou dost for me as much.
I pull in resolution, and begin[4606]
To doubt the equivocation of the fiend
That lies like truth: 'Fear not, till Birnam wood[4601]
Do come to Dunsinane;' and now a wood 45
Comes toward Dunsinane. Arm, arm, and out![4607]
If this which he avouches does appear,[4608]
There is nor flying hence nor tarrying here.[4608][4609]
I 'gin to be a-weary of the sun,[4608][4610]
And wish the estate o' the world were now undone.[4608][4611] 50
Ring the alarum-bell! Blow, wind! come, wrack![4612]
At least we'll die with harness on our back. [_Exeunt._

SCENE VI. _Dunsinane. Before the castle._[4613]

_Drum and colours. Enter_ MALCOLM, _old_ SIWARD, MACDUFF, _and_
_their_ Army, _with boughs_.[4614]

_Mal._ Now near enough; your leavy screens throw down,[4615]
And show like those you are. You, worthy uncle,
Shall, with my cousin, your right noble son,
Lead our first battle: worthy Macduff and we[4616]
Shall take upon 's what else remains to do,[4617] 5
According to our order.

_Siw._ Fare you well.[4618]
Do we but find the tyrant's power to-night,
Let us be beaten, if we cannot fight.

_Macd._ Make all our trumpets speak; give them all breath,
Those clamorous harbingers of blood and death.

[_Exeunt._[4619] 10

SCENE VII. _Another part of the field._[4620]

_Alarums. Enter_MACBETH.[4621]

_Macb._ They have tied me to a stake; I cannot fly,[4622]
But bear-like I must fight the course. What's he
That was not born of woman? Such a one
Am I to fear, or none.

_Enter young_ SIWARD.[4623]

_Yo. Siw._ What is thy name?

_Macb._ Thou'lt be afraid to hear it.

_Yo. Siw._ No; though thou call'st thyself a hotter name[4624]
Than any is in hell.

_Macb._ My name 's Macbeth.

_Yo. Siw._ The devil himself could not pronounce a title
More hateful to mine ear.

_Macb._ No, nor more fearful.

_Yo. Siw._ Thou liest, abhorred tyrant; with my sword[4625] 10
I'll prove the lie thou speak'st.

[_They fight, and young Siward is slain._[4626]

_Macb._ Thou wast born of woman.
But swords I smile at, weapons laugh to scorn,
Brandish'd by man that's of a woman born. [_Exit._

_Alarums. Enter_ MACDUFF.

_Macd._ That way the noise is. Tyrant, show thy face!
If thou be'st slain and with no stroke of mine, 15
My wife and children's ghosts will haunt me still.
I cannot strike at wretched kerns, whose arms
Are hired to bear their staves: either thou, Macbeth,[4627]
Or else my sword, with an unbatter'd edge,[4628]
I sheathe again undeeded. There thou shouldst be; 20
By this great clatter, one of greatest note
Seems bruited: let me find him, fortune![4629][4630]
And more I beg not.[4629] [_Exit. Alarums._[4631]

_Enter_ MALCOLM _and old_ SIWARD.

_Siw._ This way, my lord; the castle's gently render'd:
The tyrant's people on both sides do fight; 25
The noble thanes do bravely in the war;
The day almost itself professes yours,[4632]
And little is to do.

_Mal._ We have met with foes[4633]
That strike beside us.

_Siw._ Enter, sir, the castle.

[_Exeunt. Alarum._[4634]

SCENE VIII. _Another part of the field._[4635]

_Enter_ MACBETH.[4636]

_Macb._ Why should I play the Roman fool, and die
On mine own sword? whiles I see lives, the gashes[4637]
Do better upon them.

_Enter_ MACDUFF.[4638]

_Macd._ Turn, hell-hound, turn!

_Macb._ Of all men else I have avoided thee:
But get thee back; my soul is too much charged 5
With blood of thine already.

_Macd._ I have no words:[4639]
My voice is in my sword, thou bloodier villain
Than terms can give thee out! [_They fight._[4640]

_Macb._ Thou losest labour:
As easy mayst thou the intrenchant air
With thy keen sword impress as make me bleed: 10
Let fall thy blade on vulnerable crests;
I bear a charmed life, which must not yield
To one of woman born.

_Macd._ Despair thy charm,
And let the angel whom thou still hast served
Tell thee, Macduff was from his mother's womb 15
Untimely ripp'd.

_Macb._ Accursed be that tongue that tells me so,
For it hath cow'd my better part of man!
And be these juggling fiends no more believed,
That palter with us in a double sense; 20
That keep the word of promise to our ear,
And break it to our hope. I 'll not fight with thee.[4641]

_Macd._ Then yield thee, coward,
And live to be the show and gaze o' the time:
We'll have thee, as our rarer monsters are, 25
Painted upon a pole, and underwrit,[4642]
'Here may you see the tyrant.'[4643]

_Macb._ I will not yield,
To kiss the ground before young Malcolm's feet,
And to be baited with the rabble's curse.
Though Birnam wood be come to Dunsinane,[4644] 30
And thou opposed, being of no woman born,[4645]
Yet I will try the last: before my body
I throw my warlike shield: lay on, Macduff;
And damn'd be him that first cries 'Hold, enough!'[4646]

[_Exeunt, fighting. Alarums._[4647]

_Retreat. Flourish. Enter, with drum and colours_, MALCOLM, _old_
SIWARD, ROSS, _the other_ Thanes, _and_ Soldiers.[4648]

_Mal._ I would the friends we miss were safe arrived.[4649] 35

_Siw._ Some must go off: and yet, by these I see,
So great a day as this is cheaply bought.

_Mal._ Macduff is missing, and your noble son.

_Ross._ Your son, my lord, has paid a soldier's debt:
He only lived but till he was a man; 40
The which no sooner had his prowess confirm'd[4650]
In the unshrinking station where he fought,
But like a man he died.

_Siw._ Then he is dead?[4651]

_Ross._ Ay, and brought off the field: your cause of sorrow[4652]
Must not be measured by his worth, for then 45
It hath no end.

_Siw._ Had he his hurts before?

_Ross._ Ay, on the front.

_Siw._ Why then, God's soldier be he!
Had I as many sons as I have hairs,
I would not wish them to a fairer death:
And so his knell is knoll'd.

_Mal._ He's worth more sorrow, 50
And that I'll spend for him.

_Siw._ He's worth no more:
They say he parted well and paid his score:
And so God be with him! Here comes newer comfort.[4653]

_Re-enter_ MACDUFF, _with_ MACBETH'S _head_.[4654]

_Macd._ Hail, king! for so thou art: behold, where stands[4655]
The usurper's cursed head: the time is free: 55
I see thee compass'd with thy kingdom's pearl,[4656]
That speak my salutation in their minds;
Whose voices I desire aloud with mine:
Hail, King of Scotland!

_All._ Hail, King of Scotland![4657] [_Flourish._

_Mal._ We shall not spend a large expense of time[4658] 60
Before we reckon with your several loves,
And make us even with you. My thanes and kinsmen,[4659]
Henceforth be earls, the first that ever Scotland
In such an honour named. What's more to do,
Which would be planted newly with the time, 65
As calling home our exiled friends abroad
That fled the snares of watchful tyranny,
Producing forth the cruel ministers
Of this dead butcher and his fiend-like queen,
Who, as 'tis thought, by self and violent hands[4660] 70
Took off her life; this, and what needful else[4661]
That calls upon us, by the grace of Grace[4662]
We will perform in measure, time and place:
So thanks to all at once and to each one,
Whom we invite to see us crown'd at Scone.[4663] 75

[_Flourish. Exeunt._

FOOTNOTES:

[4506] _two_] _too_ F1.

[4507] _report_] _repeat_ Warburton conj.

[4508] Lady Macbeth,] Rowe. Lady, Ff. Queen, Staunton.

[4509] _sense is_] Rowe. _sense are_ Ff. _sense' are_ Dyce (S. Walker conj.).

[4510] [taking out his Tables. Capell.

_satisfy_] _fortifie_ Warburton.

[4511] _murky._] _murky!_ Steevens. See note (IX).

[4512] _afeard_] _afraid_ Rowe.

[4513] _fear who ... account?_] Theobald. _feare? who ... accompt_: F1F2. _fear? who ... account_: F3F4. _fear who ... account_--Rowe (ed. 2).

[4514] _him?_] Rowe. _him._ Ff.

[4515] [Sings. Nicholson conj.

[4516] _this_] F1. om. F2F3F4.

[4517] _Go ... not._] Prose in Pope. Two lines in Ff.

[4518] _of the blood_] F1F2. _of bloud_ F3F4.

[4519] _well,--_] _well--_ Rowe. _well._ Ff.

[4520] _which ... who_] _who ... to_ A. Hunter.

[4521] _Banquo's_] _Duncan's_ Hunter conj.

[4522] _on's_] _of his_ Pope. _of's_ Capell.

[4523] [Exit.] Exit Lady. Ff.

[4524] _God, God_] _Good God_ Pope.

[4525] _she has_] _she 'as_ Pope.

[4526] [Exeunt.] Exeunt severally. Capell.

[4527] The country ...] Capell. A Field with a Wood at Distance. Rowe.

[4528] Caithness,] Dyce. Cathnes. Ff.

and] om. Ff.

[4529] _Siward_] Theobald. _Seyward_ Ff.

[4530] _for ... man._] Omit as spurious, Anon. conj.

[4531] _causes_] Quoted _cause_ in Theobald's note.

[4532] _Would ... alarm_] F1. Omitted in F2F3F4.

[4533] _mortified_] _milkiest_ Anon. conj.

[4534] _I have_] _I've_ Pope.

[4535] _unrough_] Theobald. _unruffe_ F1F2. _unruff_ F3F4. _unruff'd_ Pope. _unwrought_ Mason conj. _untough_ Collier MS.

[4536] _tyrant?_] F4. _tyrant._ F1F2F3.

[4537] _hate_] F1F2. _hates_ F3F4.

[4538] _cause_] _course_ Singer, ed. 2 (Collier MS. and S. Walker conj.). _corse_ Anon. conj.

[4539] _there?_] Pope. _there._ Ff.

[4540] _medicine_] _Med'cine_ Ff. _medecin_ Steevens (Warburton conj.). _med'cin_ Capell.

[4541] _Make we_] _Make me_ Theobald (ed. 1). _Make up_ Theobald (ed. 2).

_Birnam_] _Birnan_ F4.

[Exeunt, marching.] Ff. Exeunt. Rowe.

[4542] Dunsinane. A room in the castle.] Capell. The Castle. Rowe. Dunsinane. Pope.

[4543] _Birnam_] F3 F4. _Byrnane_ F1. _Byrnam_ F2.

[4544] _taint_] _faint_ S. Walker conj.

[4545] _The spirits_] _Spirits_ Pope.

[4546] _consequences have_] _consequents_, Steevens (1793).

_me thus_] _it_ Pope. _me_ Capell.

[4547] _upon_] _on_ Steevens (1793).

_Then fly_] _Fly_ Pope.

[4548] _sway_] _stay_ Anon. conj.

[4549] Enter a Servant.] F3 F4. Enter Servant. F1 F2. Enter an Attendant, hastily. Capell.

[4550] _loon_] F3. _loone_ F1 F2. _lown_ F4.

[4551] _goose_] _ghost_ Anon. apud Rann conj.

[4552] _is_] _are_ Rowe.

_thousand--_] Rowe. _thousand._ Ff.

[4553] _whey-face_] _whay-face_ Ff.

[4554] [Exit Servant.] Dyce. om. Ff.

[4555] _Seyton ... say!--_] Pointed as in Rowe. _Seyton, I ... hart, ... behold: Seyton, I say,_ Ff.

[4556] _I am_] _I'm_ Pope.

[4557] _cheer_] F3 F4. _cheere_ F1 F2. _chair_ Dyce (Percy conj.).

_disseat_] Steevens (Jennens and Capell conj.). _dis-eate_ F1. _disease_ F2 F3 F4.

[4558] _way_] _May_ Steevens, 1778, (Johnson conj.).

_of_] _off_ Jackson conj.

[4559] _and dare_] _but dare_ Reed (1803, 1813, 1821).

[4560] _Seyton!_] om. Rowe.

[4561] _What's_] _What is_ Pope.

[4562] _be_] F1. _is_ F2 F3 F4.

[4563] _moe_] F1 F2. _more_ F3 F4.

_skirr_] _scour_ A. Hunter.

[4564] _talk of_] F1 _stand in_ F2 F3 F4.

[4565] _Cure her_] F2 F3 F4. _Cure_ F1. _Make cure_ Anon. conj.

_of_] F1 F2. _from_ F3 F4.

[4566] _not_] om. Badham conj.

_a mind_] _minds_ Pope.

[4567] _Raze_] F1 F2. _Raise_ F3. _Rase_ F4.

[4568] _stuffd ... stuff_] _cloggd ... stuff_ or _stuffd ... load_ Staunton conj.

_stuffd_] _stufft_ F1. _stuft_ F2 F3 F4. _full_ Pope. _foul_ A. Hunter (Steevens conj.). _fraught_ Anon. conj. _pressd_ Anon. conj.

_stuff_] F3 F4. _stuffe_ F1 F2. _tuft_ Jackson conj. _grief_ Collier (Collier MS.). _matter_ Keightley. _slough_ Anon. conj.

[4569] _to_] F1. _unto_ F2 F3 F4.

[4570] _mine_] F1 F2 F3. _my_ F4.

[4571] _pristine_] _pristine_ F1.

[4572] _cyme_] _Cyme_ F1 _Caeny_ F2 F3. _senna_ F4. _clysme_ Badham conj _sene_ Wellesley conj. _sirrah_ Bullock conj.

[4573] _Birnam_] _Birnane._ F1.

[Exit. Steevens (1793). Exeunt all except Doctor. Dyce.

[4574] [Aside] Hanmer.

[4575] [Exeunt.] Exit. Steevens (1793). Country ...] Edd. (Globe ed.). A Wood. Rowe. Birnam Wood. Pope. Plains leading to Dunsinane; a Wood adjacent. Capell. om. Steevens.

Drums and colours.] Ff. om. Rowe.

Enter ...] Enter Malcolme, Seyward, Macduffe, Seywards Sonne, Menteth, Cathnes, Angus, and Soldiers Marching. Ff.

[4576] _Cousins_] _Cosins_ F1 F2. _Cousin_ F3 F4.

[4577] _Birnam_] F3 F4. _Byrnam_ F2. _Birnane_ F1.

[4578] _confident_] _confin'd_ Warburton.

[4579] _where ... have given_] _when ... do give_ A. Hunter.

[4580] _advantage to be given_] _a 'vantage to be gone_ Johnson conj. _advantage to be gone_ Capell. _advantage to be got_ Steevens conj. _advantage to be taken_ Keightley (Chedworth conj.). _advantage to be gain'd_ Singer conj. (withdrawn). _advantage to be gotten_ Collier (Collier MS.).

[4581] _Let ... Attend_] F1. _Let our best censures Before_ F2 F3 F4. _Set our best censures Before_ Rowe. _Let our best centuries Before:--_ Jackson conj.

[4582] Dunsinane. Within....] Malone. The Castle. Rowe. Dunsinane. Pope. The Castle of Dunsinane. Theobald. Before Dunsinane. Hanmer. Dunsinane. A Plat-form within the Castle. Capell.

[4583] ... drums and colours.] ... Drum and Dolours. F3.... Drums and Colours. F4.

[4584] _banners on ... walls_;] _banners on ... walls,_ Ff. _banners; on ... walls_ Anon. conj.

[4585] _forced_] _'forc'd_ Hanmer. _farc'd_ Collier (Collier MS.).

[4586] [A cry ...] A Cry within of Women. Ff (after _noise?_).

[4587] [Exit.] Dyce. om. Ff. Retires. Collier conj. Enter an Attendant, who whispers Seyton. Anon. conj.

[4588] _cool'd_] _'coil'd_ Malone conj. _quail'd_ Collier (Collier MS.).

[4589] _sup'd full_] _surfeited_ Hanmer.

[4590] _once_] _now_ Hanmer.

Re-enter Seyton.] Dyce. om. Ff.

[4591] _my lord_] om. Pope.

[4592] _died hereafter; There_] _died: hereafter There_ Jackson conj.

[4593] _time ... word._] _time for--Such a world!--_ Johnson conj. (withdrawn).

[4594] _Creeps_] _Creep_ Capell conj.

[4595] _fools_] _foules_ Hunter conj.

[4596] _dusty_] F1. _study_ F2 F3 F4. _dusky_ Hanmer (Theobald conj.).

[4597] _A poor ... more_:] Omitted by A. Hunter.

[4598] _Gracious my_] F1. _My gracious_ F2 F3 F4.

[4599] _I say_] _I'd say_ Hanmer. om. Keightley, reading _Gracious ... which_ as one line.

[4600] _do it_] Knight. _doo't_ F1 F2. _do't_ F3 F4.

_say_] _say it_ Pope.

[4601] _Birnam_] F4. _Byrnane_ F1. _Byrnam_ F2 F3.

[4602] [Striking him. Rowe.

[4603] _may you_] F1 F2. _you may_ F3 F4.

[4604] _shalt_] _shall_ F1.

[4605] _cling_] _clem_ Anon. conj.

[4606] _pull_] _pall_ A. Hunter (Johnson conj.).

[4607] _toward_] _towards_ Warburton.

[4608] _If ... undone._] Omit as spurious, Anon. conj.

[4609] _nor flying_] F1 F2. _no flying_ F3 F4.

[4610] _a-weary_] F1. _a weary_ F2 F3 F4. _weary_ Johnson.

[4611] _the estate_] _th' estate_ Ff. _the state_ Pope.

[4612] _Ring ... bell_] A stage direction, Theobald conj.

[4613] Dunsinane. Before ...] Before Macbeth's Castle. Rowe. Before Dunsinane. Pope.

[4614] Drum and colours.] Ff. om. Rowe.

Enter ... old Siward ...] Enter ... Seyward ... Ff.

[4615] _Now ... down_,] One line in Rowe. Two in Ff.

_leavy_] Ff. _leafy_ Collier.

[4616] _worthy_] _brave_ Pope.

[4617] _upon 's_] _upon us_ Capell.

[4618] _Do we_] _Let us_ Pope.

[4619] [Exeunt.] Capell. Exeunt. Alarums continued. Ff.

[4620] SCENE VII.] Scena Septima. Ff. Rowe, Pope, &c. continue the Scene.

Another ...] The same. Another Part of the Plain. Capell.

[4621] Alarums.] Alarums, as of a Battle join'd. Skirmishings. Capell. Alarums continued. Ff (at end of SCENE VI).

[4622] _They have_] _They've_ Pope.

[4623] Enter young Siward.] Theobald. Enter young Seyward. Ff (yong F2).

[4624] _hotter_] _hoter_ F1.

[4625] _abhorred_] F1. _thou abhorred_ F2 F3 F4.

[4626] [They fight ...] Fight, and young Seyward slaine. F1 F2 (yong F2). Fight, and young Seyward's slain. F3 F4.

[4627] _either_] _or_ Pope.

[4628] _unbatter'd_] Rowe. _unbattered_ F1 F3 F4. _unbatterred_ F2.

[4629] _Seems ... And_] _As in_ Ff. One line in Hanmer.

[4630] _bruited_] _bruited there_ Steevens conj.

_find_] _but find_ Steevens conj.

[4631] Alarums.] Ff. Alarum. Rowe (ed. 2).

old Siward.] Seyward. Ff. Siward. Theobald. old Seyward. Capell.

[4632] _itself professes_] _professes itself_ Johnson.

[4633] _We have_] _We've_ Pope.

[4634] Alarum.] Ff. Alarums. Capell.

[4635] SCENE VIII]. Dyce. SCENE VII. Pope. Scene continued in Ff.

... field.] ... plain. Dyce.

[4636] Enter ...] Ff. Re-enter ... Capell.

[4637] _whiles_] _whilst_ Rowe.

[4638] Enter ...] Ff. Re-enter ... Capell.

[4639] _I have_] _I've_ Pope.

[4640] [They fight.] Malone. Fight: Alarum. Ff. Fight. Capell.

[4641] _I'll_] _I will_ S. Walker conj., ending the lines _hope!... coward._

[4642] _pole_] _cloth_ A. Hunter.

[4643] _I will_] _I'll_ Pope.

[4644] _Birnam_] F4. _Byrnane_ F1. _Byrnam_ F2F3.

[4645] _being_] _be_ Theobald.

[4646] _him_] _he_ Pope.

[4647] [Exeunt, fighting. Alarums.] Pope. Exeunt fighting. Alarums. Enter Fighting, and Macbeth slaine. Ff. Exeunt, fighting. Capell.

[4648] Retreat. Flourish.] Retreat, and Flourish. Ff.

old Siward,] Seyward, Ff. Siward, Theobald, old Seyward, Capell.

the other Thanes,] Thanes, Ff. Lenox, Angus, Cathness, Menteth, Malone.

[4649] SCENE VIII. Pope.

[4650] _his prowess_] _he well_ A. Hunter.

[4651] _he is_] _is he_ Pope.

[4652] _cause_] _course_ Anon. conj.

[4653] _And so_] _So_ Pope. _And_ Collier MS.

_be with_] _b' wi'_ Anon. conj.

[4654] Re-enter ...] Capell. Enter ... Ff.

...head.] Ff.... head on a pole. Malone (from Holinshed).... head on a pike. A. Hunter.

[4655] _Hail ... stands_] One line in Rowe. Two in Ff.

[Sticking the pike in the ground. Collier (Collier MS.).

[4656] _pearl_] F3F4. _pearle_ F1F2. _peers_ Rowe. _pearls_ Anon. conj.

[4657] _Scotland!_] _Scotland! hail!_ Hanmer.

All. _Hail_,] All. _All hail_, Anon. conj.

_Hail ... Scotland!_] _King of Scotland, hail!_ Steevens (1793).

[4658] _spend_] _make_ Keightley.

_expense_] _extent_ Steevens conj. _expanse_ Singer conj.

[4659] _My_] om. Pope.

[4660] _self and_] _self-laid_ Anon. conj.

[4661] _what_] _what's_ Hanmer.

[4662] _Grace_] _heaven_ Pope. _God_ Warburton.

[4663] Exeunt.] Exeunt omnes. Ff.

NOTES.

NOTE I.

I. 3. 21-24. Pope was the first to place the words 'Thus thou ... undone' in inverted commas, and was followed substantially by all subsequent editors with the exception of those we are about to mention. Hanmer printed in italics 'This thou must do if thou have it' only, and was followed by Capell and Mr. Staunton, except that they restore the original reading 'Thus' for 'This.' Johnson proposed to read 'me' for 'it' in line 22, printing in italics the same words which Pope included in inverted commas. His reading was adopted by Rann. Dr. A. Hunter (Harry Rowe) read:

'Thou'dst have, great Glamis,
That which cries, _Thus than must do, if thou have me,_
_And that's what rather thou dost fear to do,_
_Than wishest should be undone_.'

Mr. Joseph Hunter (_New Illustrations &c. of Shakespeare_, II. p. 172) proposed to mark the words 'Thus thou must do' only as a quotation, and to read line 22 thus:

'That which cries "Thus thou must do" if thou wouldst have it.'

NOTE II.

II. 1. 13, 14. The first Folio reads here:

'He hath beene in vnusuall Pleasure,
And sent forth great Largesse to your Offices.'

The second, followed substantially by the third and fourth:

'He hath beene in unusuall pleasure.
And sent forth a great Largesse to your Offices.'

Rowe altered 'Offices' to 'Officers.'

Pope reads:

'He hath to-night been in unusual pleasure,
And sent great largess to your officers.'

'To-night' was first introduced in Davenant's Version.

This reading was adopted by subsequent editors down to Capell, inclusive. Steevens (1773) has:

'He hath been in unusual pleasure;
Sent forth great largess to your officers.'

Jennens first adopted the arrangement given in our text, though he retained Rowe's emendation 'officers.'

NOTE III.

II. 1. 24. After this line Jennens proposes to add the following to Banquo's speech:

'Those lookers into fate, that hail'd you, _Cawdor_!
Did also hail you, king! and I do trust,
Most worthy _Thane_, you would _consent_ to accept
What your deserts would grace, when offer'd you.'

NOTE IV.

II. 2. 35, 36. In the Folios and the earlier editors it is not clear from the mode of printing where the words of the 'voice' ended. Hanmer printed the whole in italics down to 'life's feast' in line 40, omitting however line 37 with Pope. Johnson was the first to print only the words 'Sleep no more! Macbeth doth murther sleep' as the cry of the voice, supposing the remainder to be Macbeth's comment. In lines 42, 43, where the printing of the earlier editions is equally indecisive, Hanmer prints from 'Glamis' to 'Macbeth shall sleep no more' in italics, while Johnson prints only 'Glamis hath murder'd sleep' as the cry of the voice.

NOTE V.

III. 1. 120-122. Dr. A. Hunter (Harry Rowe) arranges these lines as follows:

'But wail his fall whom I myself struck down:
For certain friends there are, both his and mine,
Whose loves I may not drop: and thence it is, &c.'

NOTE VI.

III. 2. 29-35. In these lines we have followed the arrangement of Steevens (1793), which with the exception of the fourth and fifth lines is the same as that of the Folios. The Folios divide the fourth and fifth lines thus:

'Vnsafe the while, that wee must laue
Our Honors in these flattering streames.'

Rowe read them:

'Unsafe the while, that we must lave our Honours
In these so flattering streams,
And make &c.'

Pope:

'Unsafe the while, that we must lave our honours
In these so flatt'ring streams, and make our faces
Vizards t'our hearts, disguising what they are.

Capell rearranged the whole passage thus:

'So shall I, love;
And so, I pray, be you: let your remembrance
Apply to Banquo; present him eminence, both
With eye and tongue: Unsafe the while, that we
Must lave our honours in these flattering streams;
And make our faces vizards to our hearts.
Disguising what they are.'

Steevens suggested that something was omitted, and proposed to read 'Unsafe the while it is for us, that we,' &c.

NOTE VII.

III. 4. 124. 'Augure,' as was pointed out by Mr. Singer, was used for 'augury.' In Florio's _World of Wordes_(1598), we find 'Augurio, an _augure_, a soothsaying, a prediction, a signe, a coniecture, a divination, a bad or ill hap, a wishing of good hap, a forboding.'

NOTE VIII.

IV. 1. 43. Rowe, from Davenant's version, prints the song thus:

'Black Spirits and White,
Blue Spirits and Gray,
Mingle, mingle, mingle,
You that mingle may.'

In the second line Malone printed 'Red spirits,' &c., following Middleton's play of _The Witch_, Act V. Sc. 2.

NOTE IX.

V. 1. 32. _Hell is murky._ Steevens printed these words with a note of exclamation after them, with the following note. 'She certainly imagines herself here talking to Macbeth, who, (she supposes,) has just said, _Hell is murky_, (i.e. hell is a dismal place to go to in consequence of such a deed,) and repeats his words in contempt of his cowardice.'

CAMBRIDGE: PRINTED AT THE UNIVERSITY PRESS.

Transcriber's Notes:

Simple spelling, grammar, and typographical errors were
silently corrected.

Anachronistic and non-standard spellings retained as printed.

Line wrapping retained in plays to retain prose numbering.

Linenotes converted to footnotes with anchors at line ends.

Incorrect line numbers retained, e.g. there are often more than
5 lines (or occasionally less than 5) between increments of 5.

Anchors assigned to linenotes without line references.

Italics markup is enclosed in _underscores_.