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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;
Though bladed corn 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,
Even till destruction sicken, answer me
To what I ask you.
First Witch:
Speak.
Second Witch:
Demand.
Third Witch:
We’ll answer.
First Witch:
Say, if thou’dst rather hear it from our mouths,
Or from our masters?
Macbeth:
Call ’em, let me see ’em.
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.
All:
Come, high or low;
Thyself and office deftly show!
(Thunder. An Apparition of an armed Head rises.)
Macbeth:
Tell me, thou unknown power,—
First Witch:
He knows thy thought:
Hear his speech, but say thou naught.
Apparition:
Macbeth! Macbeth! Macbeth! Beware Macduff;
Beware the Thane of Fife.—Dismiss me.—Enough.
(Descends.)
Macbeth:
Whate’er thou art, for thy good caution, thanks;
Thou hast harp’d my fear aright.—But one word more.
First Witch:
He will not be commanded. Here’s another,
More potent than the first.
(Thunder. An Apparition of a bloody Child rises.)
Apparition:
Macbeth! Macbeth! Macbeth!
Macbeth:
Had I three ears, I’d hear thee.
Apparition:
Be bloody, bold, and resolute. Laugh to scorn
The power 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 shalt not live;
That I may tell pale-hearted fear it lies,
And sleep in spite of thunder.
(Thunder. An Apparition of a Child crowned, with a tree in his hand, rises.)
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.
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 Birnam wood to high Dunsinane hill
Shall come against him.
(Descends.)