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Banquo:
It will be rain tonight.
First Murderer:
Let it come down.
(Assaults Banquo.)
Banquo:
O, treachery! Fly, good Fleance, fly, fly, fly!
Thou mayst revenge—O slave!
(Dies. Fleance escapes.)
Third Murderer:
Who did strike out the light?
First Murderer:
Was’t not the way?
Third Murderer:
There’s but one down: the son is fled.
Second Murderer:
We have lost best half of our affair.
First Murderer:
Well, let’s away, and say how much is done.
(Exeunt.)
Scene Four. The same. A Room of state in the Palace.
A banquet prepared. Enter Macbeth, Lady Macbeth, Ross, Lennox, Lords and Attendants.
Macbeth:
You know your own degrees, sit down. At first
And last the hearty welcome.
Lords:
Thanks to your Majesty.
Macbeth:
Ourself will mingle with society,
And play the humble host.
Our hostess keeps her state; but, in best time,
We will require her welcome.
Lady Macbeth:
Pronounce it for me, sir, to all our friends;
For my heart speaks they are welcome.
Enter first Murderer to the door.
Macbeth:
See, they encounter thee with their hearts’ thanks.
Both sides are even: here I’ll sit i’ th’ midst.
Be large in mirth; anon we’ll drink a measure
The table round. There’s blood upon thy face.
Murderer:
’Tis Banquo’s then.
Macbeth:
’Tis better thee without than he within.
Is he dispatch’d?
Murderer:
My lord, his throat is cut. That I did for him.
Macbeth:
Thou art the best o’ th’ cut-throats;
Yet he’s good that did the like for Fleance:
If thou didst it, thou art the nonpareil.
Murderer:
Most royal sir,
Fleance is ’scap’d.
Macbeth:
Then comes my fit again: I had else been perfect;
Whole as the marble, founded as the rock,
As broad and general as the casing air:
But now I am cabin’d, cribb’d, confin’d, bound in
To saucy doubts and fears. But Banquo’s safe?
Murderer:
Ay, my good lord. Safe in a ditch he bides,
With twenty trenched gashes on his head;
The least a death to nature.
Macbeth:
Thanks for that.
There the grown serpent lies; the worm that’s fled
Hath nature that in time will venom breed,
No teeth for th’ present.—Get thee gone; tomorrow
We’ll hear, ourselves, again.
(Exit Murderer.)