#angus Chestnut

[cakesofwhimsy]

S1E8 Outfits

[irenadel]

And if the devil... 2/10

Making a banner for this finally for the grand finale coming soon. Excuse to rb. Credit for the Aemond screencap goes to the wonderful Liv @barbieaemond Smut at last, you have been warned Aemond Targaryen x Maid!Reader

Chapter 1 Chapter 3 Chapter 4 Chapter 5 Chapter 6 Chapter 7 Chapter 8 Chapter 9 Chapter 10

“It won’t always be like this, ya know?”

It is very late at night, and you are only shelling chestnuts because your eyes cannot darn clothes under an oil lamp, no matter how good quality it used to be when it was new. Angus does this often, hang around, lugging his big, awkward arms, thinking he is being subtle and moody about it. A little romantic. Deep thoughts and smart plans. But more often, he ends up looking like a very large, very sullen wardrobe. It would have been endearing if it didn’t make housework so bloody hard all the time. You hand him the other bag and he sits down to work with you. Shells for the chickens to peck at, one bag as a dinner treat, the other for your cousins Bree and Delma to roast and sell. Leftovers from a castle kitchen were often generous.

“I’ll be done with the apprenticeship in no time,” he says, voice still cracking a bit when he’s nervous. You scoff, perhaps unkindly, because he has just started the damn thing, and the gods know if you’ll be able to finish paying for it, but he continues on bravely. “I’ll be bringing in good coin and Delma and Bree will marry and you’ll find a fat, old man who’ll keel over and leave you his shop, and you won’t ever have to work for royal cunts again.”

You cuff him over the head once, and he is more surprised by the meanness of your glare than the blow. You are surprised too, try to soften it by sneaking him a shelled chestnut and cleaning his neck for him. He’s gotten sloppy about washing it since he stopped living at home.

“They’re not so bad,” you say after some time in silence. Angus fidgets but keeps shelling, always a bit uncomfortable when you withdraw to think.

“Is the princess pretty?”

You stop for a moment. You can’t really see him in the dim light of the sputtering lamp, your cousin, near grown now, the pimples still doting his chin. You wish it would go both ways and that he didn’t have to see you either.

You try not to think about the prince and princess when you’re at home. They do not belong here, in the smelly yard, with the scraggly chickens rummaging among the trash and your mud-caked feet. The girl you are around them has no place here either. She’s too wild and headstrong to be kind to Angus when he offers you a cage like he’s offering you a gift.

You try not to think of knives and sapphires and hair so soft and heavy it’s like bolts of white satin.

“They’re all pretty,” you answer disdainfully.

Angus smiles a little meanly, satisfied in your eye-roll and apparent exasperation with royalty. He does not see the fondness come to your face or the way it softness the edges of your mouth and the cast of your eyes.

“You know how to fight.”

He’d cornered you outside the laundry, after dumping Helaena’s morning ewer of water and hauling down half the princess’s laundry. Your eyes were infuriatingly fixed back on the floor. Your head exasperatingly lowered back into submission. He was almost amused to discover your courtesies were just as bad as the first time he’d seen them.

“My prince.”

And Aemond Targaryen did not let himself mistake the dismissal for an honorific as you tried to slither past him, ignoring the question that had not been asked. It was your stubborn push against his body, thrilling and oddly satisfying, stopping immediately after you’d heard the whistle of his Valyrian steel dagger, just a few seconds before he buried it in a beam of aged wood right beside your ear.

A few seconds but not before.

He regarded you with a cock-sure tilt to his head. Stranger and stranger you were, perfectly still now with a handful of prince shoved against your front, trapped against the wall, with Helaena’s porcelain ewer laying in pieces at your feet, and your chest heaving like it had that day at the fountain. Aemond was only vaguely aware of his own stirring arousal until you’d looked up to glare at him with eyes red as fresh blood.

“But you don’t fight well,” he’d said to you and laughed at your indignant flush when you’d been unable to help yourself and faced him at last. “You should be quicker than that. You let things go by you that you don’t have to. A punch.”

He’d given himself the luxury of touching the fading bruise on your cheekbone, both sick and delighted at your shiver of fear, the squirming of your trapped body.

“A dagger.”

He’d wrenched the lovely, deadly thing out of the wooden beam and used the hilt to tilt your oddly pointed chin back towards him. Long hooked nose. The deep set shadow of your eyes. He was missing something in your features, some clue that was there, barely eluding him, distracted as he was by how pink your albino lips were this close up.

He’d offered the hilt of the dagger to your slack, sweat-slicked hand.

“Go on. Try it. You’re quick but I’m quicker. Give me your best shot.”

Aemond had never had much of an idea of how one went about bending serving wenches over furniture, the way his brother would endlessly brag about. Had preferred it that way. Had done his best to forget those few unsettling visits to the Street of Silk besides Aegon. But now he wondered. He wondered too if there was something as rotten and festering inside of him as whatever hid within his brother, because he liked this better. Your racing heart. Your shuddering breath. The impossible to follow train of emotions darting across your face as your hand closed around the offered dagger.

Would you strike?

Would you be too scared?

Unable to?

“You can’t see,” Aemond had whispered the secret he’d guessed against your ear, savoring the broken sound you let out. “At least not well. Here, let me help you, my heart is right here.”

And he’d known he’d made the right choice in you because when he’d placed your pale hand against his equally pale chest, leather doublet opened for a truer strike, your stubby kitten nails had buried into his skin and his prick, half-forgotten in the heat of the moment had twinged in sympathy with your sudden, grimly determined look.

Do it, Aemond Targaryen had thought wildly, do it, do it, do it.

And you did. Dagger clattering to the floor, your knee coming up between his legs and he was on the ground laughing through the pain as you tried to make yourself scarce. Brave enough to knee a prince in the groin, still too scared to stay to face the aftermath. But you did turn around before disappearing into the kitchens. You spat into the ground, glared at him and mouthed something, no doubt a vile insult, something Aemond remembered long afterwards, sometimes in a fury, sometimes in warm satisfaction. Ifak, you had called him between clenched teeth, with a click at the back of your throat that no Westerosi girl could have ever produced and that defiant toss of your hair, like an unbroken wild horse. Walker, in a strange tongue from across the sea, that Aemond had encountered once in an old dusty book and would now eagerly seek out again.

“I’m not a whore for you and your ifak chiftik brother to pass around.”

Aemond had laughed again, rejoicing in the pain. He laughed because he hoped you had kneed Aegon too, thrown a chamber pot his way for good measure. Because you would know better soon. He would teach you better. You would know the difference between a snake and a dragon.

After, he dreamt about you often.

Alone at night. When Ser Criston told him about piety and decorum and the way he would be expected to treat the ladies at court. When his mother spoke of his duty to his future lady wife. Always to him, never to Aegon who could bloody use it. He hated each admonition as much as he treasured it. Knew his mother harped on him only because he would listen, unlike his brother. He would strife for it, the perfection she longed for in any of her children, if only to please her, even though he saw the way the court looked at him. Girls afraid. Women pityingly. Too strange and disquieting if he ever removed the eyepatch. Too intimidating when he kept it on. Always he knew it was better to be fearsome than fearful.

His brother and nephews had taught him that lesson well and he was loath to part with it, even for you.

Still, he dreamt of you instead of simpering ladies. He dreamt of you and shuddered at the visceral memory you conjured, of that first time in the Street of Silk, when Aemond had thought fear long gone from his life only to have his brother bring it back. Strange sounds and smells and hands on him and the faintly nauseous pleasure of the first time a woman had touched his cock, he too young and unready to know what to do or say, she too used to obeying Prince Aegon’s orders to do anything other than her job.

He dreamt of you in those silken sheets, the proud toss of your coarse yellow hair, the odd cast of your red eyes, between his legs, telling him to relax, layback and enjoy himself.

My prince, you would call him as you took him in your mouth the way Aegon’s prostitute had and he swore in his bed, far away from the incense and the oils of that moment, taking himself in hand, thinking of your clenched teeth and angry words. As he fucked his fist in a hurry, angrily chasing the memory of your hissed insult, he would think of every time he had encountered you near Helaena’s room, eyes no longer lowered, feet firmly planted on the stone floor to face him. 

You, too ready to fight him if he moved towards you. He, too ready to rip the bonnet off your head to wrap the heavy length of your braid around his hand. You, too ready to let him pull you into an embrace you knew to be sheer madness.

Because it wasn’t idle curiosity anymore.

It wasn’t simple lust that made Prince Aemond near double over from the strength of his arousal every time he saw a bruise on your blotchy sun-burnt face or an angry red mark around your pale wrist. It was more than desire he felt the first time he saw your split lip and cornered you against a wall again, brushing with his thumb the scab that just hours ago had been seeping blood, breathing too heavily, manhood too hard to think. And this time you had been caught by surprise by his tenderness, unable to summon outrage and false pride to throw him off you or even the common sense to acquiesce to whatever a prince of the realm could demand of you.

No. Prince Aemond’s hunger had awakened in you demands of your own.

You had taken his thumb into your mouth and  bitten down so hard you heard him hiss a breath in and felt him fall into your arms. He had kissed you, his royal Valyrian blood still fresh on your lips, and your tongue had sought his out, even as his hands, one still bleeding, had wrapped around your hips, yanked them towards him, your legs off the floor and around his waist. You hadn’t known what it would be like to fuck a man you wanted so much but Aemond seemed willing to learn with you, ruffling desperately through your thin petticoat and your smallclothes until his cloth-trapped erection had finally rubbed against your heat. Wet, gloriously, smolderingly wet. And he had seen you grimace like you were in pain, a graceless, hungry sound escaping your throat, and he had known Aegon had fucking robbed him. Because this was the way it was supposed to be, and not whatever poor mummery had befallen him in that brothel.

Your mouth sloppily trying to devour his, your arms around his neck, holding on while he pushed his hips into yours, better, sweeter, harder than he had ever fucked any of Aegon’s painted girls. It was impossible, as he let your mouth go and panted against your ear, a deep hungry growl that he had not known he had learnt from Vhagar escaping him, it was impossible to reach for anything more. He wanted inside you, inside the wet, hot promise of your clothed cunt, but would not suffer a second away from you and knew, without a shadow of doubt, that he had been right to refuse, because he felt your hips meet his, you grinding against his throbbing prick, head thrown back against the stone wall and heard, in your desperately muffled cry, heard the first of your peaks. And he had not known anything else after that, except the savage joy of the hunt. Of pushing you against the wall and grinding into your core hard and fast and brutal, chasing after your pleasure, panting harshly, teeth-grittingly determined to fight his own throbbing desire, until you bit your lip to keep from crying out your next peak. Again and again, his hips driving madly into yours as he promised you anything, everything if you would just come for him one more time. He came on your third, because you snaked one trembling hand between your bodies, shoved it inside his laces and wrapped it around him, tight and merciless, looking at him straight in the eye, patch askew, sapphire glinting in the low candlelight, yanking on his prick, once, twice until he was coming all over your hand, legs near failing him as you both toppled unto the cold stone floor, a tangle of limbs and clothes.

You’d wiped your hand gods know where and let him rest his forehead against your racing heart, until his own would stop hammering madly in his ears. It was the way you looked at him after that destroyed him, that trapped him forever in the ribcage that held your own wildly beating heart. Because you looked at him like it pained you. You brushed his white hair out of his face the way you did Helaena’s, tenderly, kindly, the way you had never touched him before. You thumbed the edge of the scar on his cheekbone, and let the words escape your mouth: “You’re beautiful.”

And when you said it like this, like you were fighting a losing battle, like it hurt coming out, then Aemond could believe it.

[atarahderek]

Disney Horses

Disney has never tried doing a franchise focused on their equine characters, and I am disappointed. So here is a partial compilation of Disney horses--namely the ones I think would be the most marketable--just in case Disney should ever change their mind on that point and wants a reference guide to which horses they should include in the line.

Major (Cinderella, 1950)

Major is a gray stallion who is temporarily transformed into a coachman for Cinderella's night at the ball.

Samson (Sleeping Beauty, 1959)

Samson is a gray stallion belonging to Prince Phillip. He is shown to be fast and fearless, and he hates distractions and detours.

Captain (101 Dalmatians, 1961)

Captain is a gray draft stallion who lives in the English countryside. He is instrumental in aiding in the rescue of Pongo and Perdita's puppies, and helps provide them with shelter and protection during their trek back to London.

Frou Frou (Aristocats, 1970)

Frou Frou is a flaxen chestnut light draft mare belonging to Madame Adelaide Bonfamille of Paris, France. She is a close friend of Duchess and her kittens. She is the only mare to be prominently featured in a Disney animated feature film with a specific storyline. Fantasia (1940) features a pegasus mare in one of its sequences (the mother of Peter Pegasus).

Philippe (Beauty and the Beast, 1991)

Philippe is a flaxen chestnut Belgian draft stallion who belongs to Maurice and Belle. He is very cautious and skittish, but bravely returns with Belle to the Beast's castle to find her father.

Achilles (The Hunchback of Notre Dame, 1996)

Achilles is a gray warhorse who belongs to Captain Phoebus. He is trained to respond to commands the same way a dog would, and even knows how to sit and heel. He appears to get along with Frollo's Friesian stallion Snowball, despite their owners being on opposites sides.

Pegasus (Hercules, 1997)

Pegasus is a pegasus stallion belonging to Hercules. He is white with a blue mane and tail. Pegasus isn't the most intelligent horse, but he's very loyal and courageous.

Khan (Mulan, 1998)

Khan is Mulan's faithful black stallion. He carries her into battle against the Huns.

Bullseye (Toy Story 2, 1999)

Bullseye is a chestnut stallion who serves as Woody's loyal steed in the children's show that spawned the toy line Woody is part of. In the Toy Story films, Bullseye is Jessie's closest friend and ally.

Buck (Home on the Range, 2004)

Buck is a bay stallion belonging to Sheriff Brown. He is incredibly egotistical and admires the bounty hunter Rico until he learns Rico is working for the notorious Alameda Slim.

Maximus (Tangled, 2010)

Maximus is a light silver Andalusian stallion who loyally serves the Captain of the Guard, acting as both his mount and his right hand man. He is intelligent, brave and fiercely patriotic. He dedicates his life to protecting Princess Rapunzel on all her adventures.

Angus (Brave, 2012)

Angus is a black Shire stallion who serves as Merida's mount and best friend. He has good judgment and hates having to carry Merida into danger, but will do so if the cause is just.

Sitron (Frozen, 2013)

Sitron is a brunblakk (brown dun) fjord stallion who belongs to Prince Hans of the Southern Isles. Despite his owner's sinister nature, Sitron is a polite, friendly horse with fast reflexes and an instinct to protect.

Fidella (Tangled the Series, 2017)

Fidella is a bay draft mare who belongs to Cassandra. She is fast, strong and brave, and Maximus develops a crush on her. Fidella does not come from a feature film, but this list desperately needed another mare.

The Nokk (Frozen II, 2019)

The Nokk is a Scandinavian water spirit tamed by Elsa. It serves as her mount. While it is Elsa's friend and allows her to ride it, it is still very wild and will drown trespassers on the Dark Sea.

[maleeni]

Kiley Coltrane for @hauntedtrait's Chestnut Bachelor Challenge.

Born in a Henford-On-Bagley, Kiley (27) grew up exploring the outdoors, building treehouses, and tending to injured birds and stray animals. Raised by her kind-hearted foster father who nurtured her love for wildlife, Kiley developed a connection with the natural world. With no known biological family, Kiley's foster father was her rock. Despite the lack of blood ties, they shared an unbreakable bond until he passed away, leaving Kiley with a profound appreciation for found families.

Kiley's heart comes alive when she is outdoors. Whether it's hiking, camping under the stars, or simply breathing in the fresh mountain air, the natural world is her sanctuary. Kiley's life philosophy revolves around the interconnectedness of all living beings. She believes that by nurturing the environment and caring for animals, she can contribute to a more harmonious world. Her experiences have taught her that family is not solely defined by blood but by the bonds we create and the love we share.

Despite her ability to heal and nurture, Kiley sometimes struggles with feelings of solitude stemming from her lack of a conventional family. She channels these emotions into her work as a large animal vet, finding solace in her efforts to mend the lives of animals in need.

Kiley applied to this Bachelor Challenge to push herself out of her comfort zone and hopefully get to know some interesting people - whether this leads to a deeper connection or not, she is excited about the experience!

Traits: adventurous, animal enthusiast, slob.

Likes: Physical activity (especially rock climbing - she also enjoys hiking and boxing), thai food, dancing at nightclubs, cuddles with her Border Collie (Angus), open log fires, comfy socks, thunderstorms and the smell of rain, David Attenborough documentaries.

Dislikes: Super hero movies, fake people who gossip, rudeness, raw celery, spiders (she would never kill one, but they make her skin crawl), going to the dentist (she refuses to get her chipped front tooth capped), sitting still and waiting (she is only patient when it comes to animals).

[renee-writer]

Frank Chapter 15

AO3

She finds a bit of peace, out collecting bits of herbs, plants, and mushrooms. It is away from the oppressive eyes that always seem to be on her inside the castle proper. Even as Angus ( her guard for the day) wonders behind her. At least she can breath fresh air for a bit.

 

She is picking some flowers growing up from a stump when a voice startles her.

 

“Those are poisonous, ye ken?”

 

She jerks up, almost upending the basket she was collecting them in. Turning, she sees a lass, long chestnut hair lose around her face. She is giggling.

 

“Yes, I know. The petals are but the leaves make an excellent tea. Helps with the headaches gotten by to much alcohol.”

 

“Hmm, imagine that. I am Geillis Duncan, the proctor’s wife.”

 

“Nice to meet you. I am …”

 

“Everyone kens who you are Claire. You are the talk of the village. Most believed you to be a whore but, with your healing skills, they know think you a witch.”

 

“Good heavens!”

 

“Dinna fash about it. They think the same about me. All lasses that can do more than spread their legs and produce babies are considered thus. I, like you, have certain healing skills.”

 

She likes her immediately. There is something refreshing about her frank talk, unusual in this time.

 

“Then it is very nice to meet you.” The lass grins and takes her arm in hers.

 

“I believe we will be very good friends. You must come into the village, when you can. We shall compare recipes and I have some potions you might find useful, especially with the gathering fast approaching.”

 

“The what?”

 

“The gathering. All the men of clan Mackenzie will come and swear alliance to Himself, pay rents, get drunk, go on a boar hunt. It is quite exciting. Lasses like you and I will be quite useful.”

 

“I see.”

 

She does. She sees the clansmen will be distracted. It feels like the perfect time to make their escape. She must find a way to talk with Frank.

[kadencrafter78]

ACT 1

Scene 1

Thunder and Lightning. Enter three Witches.

FIRST WITCH  When shall we three meet again? In thunder, lightning, or in rain? SECOND WITCH  When the hurly-burly’s done, When the battle’s lost and won. THIRD WITCH  That will be ere the set of sun. FIRST WITCH  Where the place? SECOND WITCH  Upon the heath. THIRD WITCH  There to meet with Macbeth. FIRST WITCH  I come, Graymalkin. SECOND WITCH  Paddock calls. THIRD WITCH  Anon. ALL  Fair is foul, and foul is fair;

Hover through the fog and filthy air. They exit.

Scene 2Alarum within. Enter King Duncan, Malcolm, Donalbain, Lennox, with Attendants, meeting a bleeding Captain.

DUNCAN  What bloody man is that? He can report, As seemeth by his plight, of the revolt The newest state. MALCOLM  This is the sergeant Who, like a good and hardy soldier, fought ’Gainst my captivity.—Hail, brave friend! Say to the King the knowledge of the broil As thou didst leave it. CAPTAIN  Doubtful it stood, As two spent swimmers that do cling together And choke their art. The merciless Macdonwald (Worthy to be a rebel, for to that The multiplying villainies of nature Do swarm upon him) from the Western Isles Of kerns and gallowglasses is supplied; And Fortune, on his damnèd quarrel smiling, Showed like a rebel’s whore. But all’s too weak; For brave Macbeth (well he deserves that name), Disdaining Fortune, with his brandished steel, Which smoked with bloody execution, Like Valor’s minion, carved out his passage Till he faced the slave; Which ne’er shook hands, nor bade farewell to him, Till he unseamed him from the nave to th’ chops, And fixed his head upon our battlements. DUNCAN  O valiant cousin, worthy gentleman! CAPTAIN  As whence the sun ’gins his reflection Shipwracking storms and direful thunders break, So from that spring whence comfort seemed to come Discomfort swells. Mark, King of Scotland, mark: No sooner justice had, with valor armed, Compelled these skipping kerns to trust their heels, But the Norweyan lord, surveying vantage, With furbished arms and new supplies of men, Began a fresh assault. DUNCAN  Dismayed not this our captains, Macbeth and Banquo? CAPTAIN  Yes, as sparrows eagles, or the hare the lion. If I say sooth, I must report they were As cannons overcharged with double cracks, So they doubly redoubled strokes upon the foe. Except they meant to bathe in reeking wounds Or memorize another Golgotha, I cannot tell— But I am faint. My gashes cry for help. DUNCAN  So well thy words become thee as thy wounds: They smack of honor both.—Go, get him surgeons. The Captain is led off by Attendants.

Enter Ross and Angus.

Who comes here? MALCOLM  The worthy Thane of Ross. LENNOX  What a haste looks through his eyes! So should he look that seems to speak things strange. ROSS  God save the King. DUNCAN  Whence cam’st thou, worthy thane? ROSS  From Fife, great king, Where the Norweyan banners flout the sky And fan our people cold. Norway himself, with terrible numbers, Assisted by that most disloyal traitor, The Thane of Cawdor, began a dismal conflict, Till that Bellona’s bridegroom, lapped in proof, Confronted him with self-comparisons, Point against point, rebellious arm ’gainst arm, Curbing his lavish spirit. And to conclude, The victory fell on us. DUNCAN  Great happiness! ROSS  That now Sweno, The Norways’ king, craves composition. Nor would we deign him burial of his men Till he disbursèd at Saint Colme’s Inch Ten thousand dollars to our general use. DUNCAN  No more that Thane of Cawdor shall deceive Our bosom interest. Go, pronounce his present death, And with his former title greet Macbeth. ROSS  I’ll see it done. DUNCAN 

What he hath lost, noble Macbeth hath won. They exit.

Scene 3

Thunder. Enter the three Witches.

FIRST WITCH Where hast thou been, sister? SECOND WITCH  Killing swine. THIRD WITCH  Sister, where thou? FIRST WITCH  A sailor’s wife had chestnuts in her lap And munched and munched and munched. “Give me,” quoth I. “Aroint thee, witch,” the rump-fed runnion cries. Her husband’s to Aleppo gone, master o’ th’ Tiger; But in a sieve I’ll thither sail, And, like a rat without a tail, I’ll do, I’ll do, and I’ll do. SECOND WITCH  I’ll give thee a wind. FIRST WITCH  Th’ art kind. THIRD WITCH  And I another. FIRST WITCH  I myself have all the other, And the very ports they blow; All the quarters that they know I’ th’ shipman’s card. I’ll drain him dry as hay. Sleep shall neither night nor day Hang upon his penthouse lid. He shall live a man forbid. Weary sev’nnights, nine times nine, Shall he dwindle, peak, and pine. Though his bark cannot be lost, Yet it shall be tempest-tossed. Look what I have. SECOND WITCH  Show me, show me. FIRST WITCH  Here I have a pilot’s thumb, Wracked as homeward he did come.Drum within. THIRD WITCH  A drum, a drum! Macbeth doth come. ALL, dancing in a circle  The Weïrd Sisters, hand in hand, Posters of the sea and land, Thus do go about, about, Thrice to thine and thrice to mine And thrice again, to make up nine. Peace, the charm’s wound up.

Enter Macbeth and Banquo.

MACBETH  So foul and fair a day I have not seen. BANQUO  How far is ’t called to Forres?—What are these, So withered, and so wild in their attire, That look not like th’ inhabitants o’ th’ Earth And yet are on ’t?—Live you? Or are you aught That man may question? You seem to understand me By each at once her choppy finger laying Upon her skinny lips. You should be women, And yet your beards forbid me to interpret That you are so. MACBETH  Speak if you can. What are you? FIRST WITCH  All hail, Macbeth! Hail to thee, Thane of Glamis! SECOND WITCH  All hail, Macbeth! Hail to thee, Thane of Cawdor! THIRD WITCH  All hail, Macbeth, that shalt be king hereafter! BANQUO  Good sir, why do you start and seem to fear Things that do sound so fair?—I’ th’ name of truth, Are you fantastical, or that indeed Which outwardly you show? My noble partner You greet with present grace and great prediction Of noble having and of royal hope, That he seems rapt withal. To me you speak not. If you can look into the seeds of time And say which grain will grow and which will not, Speak, then, to me, who neither beg nor fear Your favors nor your hate. FIRST WITCH  Hail! SECOND WITCH  Hail! THIRD WITCH  Hail! FIRST WITCH  Lesser than Macbeth and greater. SECOND WITCH  Not so happy, yet much happier. THIRD WITCH  Thou shalt get kings, though thou be none. So all hail, Macbeth and Banquo! FIRST WITCH  Banquo and Macbeth, all hail! MACBETH  Stay, you imperfect speakers. Tell me more. By Sinel’s death I know I am Thane of Glamis. But how of Cawdor? The Thane of Cawdor lives A prosperous gentleman, and to be king Stands not within the prospect of belief, No more than to be Cawdor. Say from whence You owe this strange intelligence or why Upon this blasted heath you stop our way With such prophetic greeting. Speak, I charge you. Witches vanish. BANQUO  The earth hath bubbles, as the water has, And these are of them. Whither are they vanished? MACBETH  Into the air, and what seemed corporal melted, As breath into the wind. Would they had stayed! BANQUO  Were such things here as we do speak about? Or have we eaten on the insane root That takes the reason prisoner? MACBETH  Your children shall be kings. BANQUO  You shall be king. MACBETH  And Thane of Cawdor too. Went it not so? BANQUO  To th’ selfsame tune and words.—Who’s here?

Enter Ross and Angus.

ROSS  The King hath happily received, Macbeth, The news of thy success, and, when he reads Thy personal venture in the rebels’ fight, His wonders and his praises do contend Which should be thine or his. Silenced with that, In viewing o’er the rest o’ th’ selfsame day He finds thee in the stout Norweyan ranks, Nothing afeard of what thyself didst make, Strange images of death. As thick as tale Came post with post, and every one did bear Thy praises in his kingdom’s great defense, And poured them down before him. ANGUS  We are sent To give thee from our royal master thanks, Only to herald thee into his sight, Not pay thee. ROSS  And for an earnest of a greater honor, He bade me, from him, call thee Thane of Cawdor, In which addition, hail, most worthy thane, For it is thine. BANQUO  What, can the devil speak true? MACBETH  The Thane of Cawdor lives. Why do you dress me In borrowed robes? ANGUS  Who was the Thane lives yet, But under heavy judgment bears that life Which he deserves to lose. Whether he was combined With those of Norway, or did line the rebel With hidden help and vantage, or that with both He labored in his country’s wrack, I know not; But treasons capital, confessed and proved, Have overthrown him. MACBETH, aside  Glamis and Thane of Cawdor! The greatest is behind. To Ross and Angus. Thanks for your pains. Aside to Banquo. Do you not hope your children shall be kings, When those that gave the Thane of Cawdor to me Promised no less to them? BANQUO  That, trusted home, Might yet enkindle you unto the crown, Besides the Thane of Cawdor. But ’tis strange. And oftentimes, to win us to our harm, The instruments of darkness tell us truths, Win us with honest trifles, to betray ’s In deepest consequence.— Cousins, a word, I pray you.They step aside. MACBETH, aside  Two truths are told As happy prologues to the swelling act Of the imperial theme.—I thank you, gentlemen. Aside. This supernatural soliciting Cannot be ill, cannot be good. If ill, Why hath it given me earnest of success Commencing in a truth? I am Thane of Cawdor. If good, why do I yield to that suggestion Whose horrid image doth unfix my hair And make my seated heart knock at my ribs Against the use of nature? Present fears Are less than horrible imaginings. My thought, whose murder yet is but fantastical, Shakes so my single state of man That function is smothered in surmise, And nothing is but what is not. BANQUO  Look how our partner’s rapt. MACBETH, aside  If chance will have me king, why, chance may crown me Without my stir. BANQUO  New honors come upon him, Like our strange garments, cleave not to their mold But with the aid of use. MACBETH, aside  Come what come may, Time and the hour runs through the roughest day. BANQUO  Worthy Macbeth, we stay upon your leisure. MACBETH  Give me your favor. My dull brain was wrought With things forgotten. Kind gentlemen, your pains Are registered where every day I turn The leaf to read them. Let us toward the King. Aside to Banquo. Think upon what hath chanced, and at more time, The interim having weighed it, let us speak Our free hearts each to other. BANQUO  Very gladly. MACBETH 

Till then, enough.—Come, friends. They exit.

Scene 4

Flourish. Enter King Duncan, Lennox, Malcolm, Donalbain, and Attendants.

DUNCAN  Is execution done on Cawdor? Are not Those in commission yet returned? MALCOLM  My liege, They are not yet come back. But I have spoke With one that saw him die, who did report That very frankly he confessed his treasons, Implored your Highness’ pardon, and set forth A deep repentance. Nothing in his life Became him like the leaving it. He died As one that had been studied in his death To throw away the dearest thing he owed As ’twere a careless trifle. DUNCAN  There’s no art To find the mind’s construction in the face. He was a gentleman on whom I built An absolute trust.

Enter Macbeth, Banquo, Ross, and Angus.

O worthiest cousin, The sin of my ingratitude even now Was heavy on me. Thou art so far before That swiftest wing of recompense is slow To overtake thee. Would thou hadst less deserved, That the proportion both of thanks and payment Might have been mine! Only I have left to say, More is thy due than more than all can pay. MACBETH  The service and the loyalty I owe In doing it pays itself. Your Highness’ part Is to receive our duties, and our duties Are to your throne and state children and servants, Which do but what they should by doing everything Safe toward your love and honor. DUNCAN  Welcome hither. I have begun to plant thee and will labor To make thee full of growing.—Noble Banquo, That hast no less deserved nor must be known No less to have done so, let me enfold thee And hold thee to my heart. BANQUO  There, if I grow, The harvest is your own. DUNCAN  My plenteous joys, Wanton in fullness, seek to hide themselves In drops of sorrow.—Sons, kinsmen, thanes, And you whose places are the nearest, know We will establish our estate upon Our eldest, Malcolm, whom we name hereafter The Prince of Cumberland; which honor must Not unaccompanied invest him only, But signs of nobleness, like stars, shall shine On all deservers.—From hence to Inverness And bind us further to you. MACBETH  The rest is labor which is not used for you. I’ll be myself the harbinger and make joyful The hearing of my wife with your approach. So humbly take my leave. DUNCAN  My worthy Cawdor. MACBETH, aside  The Prince of Cumberland! That is a step On which I must fall down or else o’erleap, For in my way it lies. Stars, hide your fires; Let not light see my black and deep desires. The eye wink at the hand, yet let that be Which the eye fears, when it is done, to see. He exits. DUNCAN  True, worthy Banquo. He is full so valiant, And in his commendations I am fed: It is a banquet to me.—Let’s after him, Whose care is gone before to bid us welcome.

It is a peerless kinsman. Flourish. They exit.

Scene 5Enter Macbeth’s Wife, alone, with a letter.

LADY MACBETH, reading the letter  They met me in the day of success, and I have learned by the perfect’st report they have more in them than mortal knowledge. When I burned in desire to question them further, they made themselves air, into which they vanished. Whiles I stood rapt in the wonder of it came missives from the King, who all-hailed me “Thane of Cawdor,” by which title, before, these Weïrd Sisters saluted me and referred me to the coming on of time with “Hail, king that shalt be.” This have I thought good to deliver thee, my dearest partner of greatness, that thou might’st not lose the dues of rejoicing by being ignorant of what greatness is promised thee. Lay it to thy heart, and farewell. Glamis thou art, and Cawdor, and shalt be What thou art promised. Yet do I fear thy nature; It is too full o’ th’ milk of human kindness To catch the nearest way. Thou wouldst be great, Art not without ambition, but without The illness should attend it. What thou wouldst highly, That wouldst thou holily; wouldst not play false And yet wouldst wrongly win. Thou ’dst have, great Glamis, That which cries “Thus thou must do,” if thou have it, And that which rather thou dost fear to do, Than wishest should be undone. Hie thee hither, That I may pour my spirits in thine ear And chastise with the valor of my tongue All that impedes thee from the golden round, Which fate and metaphysical aid doth seem To have thee crowned withal. Enter Messenger.

What is your tidings? MESSENGER  The King comes here tonight. LADY MACBETH  Thou ’rt mad to say it. Is not thy master with him, who, were ’t so, Would have informed for preparation? MESSENGER  So please you, it is true. Our thane is coming. One of my fellows had the speed of him, Who, almost dead for breath, had scarcely more Than would make up his message. LADY MACBETH  Give him tending. He brings great news.Messenger exits. The raven himself is hoarse That croaks the fatal entrance of Duncan Under my battlements. Come, you spirits That tend on mortal thoughts, unsex me here, And fill me from the crown to the toe top-full Of direst cruelty. Make thick my blood. Stop up th’ access and passage to remorse, That no compunctious visitings of nature Shake my fell purpose, nor keep peace between Th’ effect and it. Come to my woman’s breasts And take my milk for gall, you murd’ring ministers, Wherever in your sightless substances You wait on nature’s mischief. Come, thick night, And pall thee in the dunnest smoke of hell, That my keen knife see not the wound it makes, Nor heaven peep through the blanket of the dark To cry “Hold, hold!”

Enter Macbeth.

Great Glamis, worthy Cawdor, Greater than both by the all-hail hereafter! Thy letters have transported me beyond This ignorant present, and I feel now The future in the instant. MACBETH  My dearest love, Duncan comes here tonight. LADY MACBETH  And when goes hence? MACBETH  Tomorrow, as he purposes. LADY MACBETH  O, never Shall sun that morrow see! Your face, my thane, is as a book where men May read strange matters. To beguile the time, Look like the time. Bear welcome in your eye, Your hand, your tongue. Look like th’ innocent flower, But be the serpent under ’t. He that’s coming Must be provided for; and you shall put This night’s great business into my dispatch, Which shall to all our nights and days to come Give solely sovereign sway and masterdom. MACBETH  We will speak further. LADY MACBETH  Only look up clear. To alter favor ever is to fear.

Leave all the rest to me. They exit.

Scene 6

Hautboys and Torches. Enter King Duncan, Malcolm, Donalbain, Banquo, Lennox, Macduff, Ross, Angus, and Attendants.

DUNCAN  This castle hath a pleasant seat. The air Nimbly and sweetly recommends itself Unto our gentle senses. BANQUO  This guest of summer, The temple-haunting martlet, does approve, By his loved mansionry, that the heaven’s breath Smells wooingly here. No jutty, frieze, Buttress, nor coign of vantage, but this bird Hath made his pendant bed and procreant cradle. Where they most breed and haunt, I have observed, The air is delicate.

Enter Lady Macbeth.

DUNCAN  See, see our honored hostess!— The love that follows us sometime is our trouble, Which still we thank as love. Herein I teach you How you shall bid God ’ild us for your pains And thank us for your trouble. LADY MACBETH  All our service, In every point twice done and then done double, Were poor and single business to contend Against those honors deep and broad wherewith Your Majesty loads our house. For those of old, And the late dignities heaped up to them, We rest your hermits. DUNCAN  Where’s the Thane of Cawdor? We coursed him at the heels and had a purpose To be his purveyor; but he rides well, And his great love, sharp as his spur, hath helped him To his home before us. Fair and noble hostess, We are your guest tonight. LADY MACBETH  Your servants ever Have theirs, themselves, and what is theirs in compt To make their audit at your Highness’ pleasure, Still to return your own. DUNCAN  Give me your hand. Taking her hand. Conduct me to mine host. We love him highly And shall continue our graces towards him.

By your leave, hostess. They exit.

Scene 7

Hautboys. Torches. Enter a Sewer and divers Servants with dishes and service over the stage. Then enter Macbeth.

MACBETH  If it were done when ’tis done, then ’twere well It were done quickly. If th’ assassination Could trammel up the consequence and catch With his surcease success, that but this blow Might be the be-all and the end-all here, But here, upon this bank and shoal of time, We’d jump the life to come. But in these cases We still have judgment here, that we but teach Bloody instructions, which, being taught, return To plague th’ inventor. This even-handed justice Commends th’ ingredience of our poisoned chalice To our own lips. He’s here in double trust: First, as I am his kinsman and his subject, Strong both against the deed; then, as his host, Who should against his murderer shut the door, Not bear the knife myself. Besides, this Duncan Hath borne his faculties so meek, hath been So clear in his great office, that his virtues Will plead like angels, trumpet-tongued, against The deep damnation of his taking-off; And pity, like a naked newborn babe Striding the blast, or heaven’s cherubin horsed Upon the sightless couriers of the air, Shall blow the horrid deed in every eye, That tears shall drown the wind. I have no spur To prick the sides of my intent, but only Vaulting ambition, which o’erleaps itself And falls on th’ other—

Enter Lady Macbeth.

How now, what news? LADY MACBETH  He has almost supped. Why have you left the chamber? MACBETH  Hath he asked for me? LADY MACBETH  Know you not he has? MACBETH  We will proceed no further in this business. He hath honored me of late, and I have bought Golden opinions from all sorts of people, Which would be worn now in their newest gloss, Not cast aside so soon. LADY MACBETH  Was the hope drunk Wherein you dressed yourself? Hath it slept since? And wakes it now, to look so green and pale At what it did so freely? From this time Such I account thy love. Art thou afeard To be the same in thine own act and valor As thou art in desire? Wouldst thou have that Which thou esteem’st the ornament of life And live a coward in thine own esteem, Letting “I dare not” wait upon “I would,” Like the poor cat i’ th’ adage? MACBETH  Prithee, peace. I dare do all that may become a man. Who dares do more is none. LADY MACBETH  What beast was ’t, then, That made you break this enterprise to me? When you durst do it, then you were a man; And to be more than what you were, you would Be so much more the man. Nor time nor place Did then adhere, and yet you would make both. They have made themselves, and that their fitness now Does unmake you. I have given suck, and know How tender ’tis to love the babe that milks me. I would, while it was smiling in my face, Have plucked my nipple from his boneless gums And dashed the brains out, had I so sworn as you Have done to this. MACBETH  If we should fail— LADY MACBETH  We fail? But screw your courage to the sticking place And we’ll not fail. When Duncan is asleep (Whereto the rather shall his day’s hard journey Soundly invite him), his two chamberlains Will I with wine and wassail so convince That memory, the warder of the brain, Shall be a fume, and the receipt of reason A limbeck only. When in swinish sleep Their drenchèd natures lies as in a death, What cannot you and I perform upon Th’ unguarded Duncan? What not put upon His spongy officers, who shall bear the guilt Of our great quell? MACBETH  Bring forth men-children only, For thy undaunted mettle should compose Nothing but males. Will it not be received, When we have marked with blood those sleepy two Of his own chamber and used their very daggers, That they have done ’t? LADY MACBETH  Who dares receive it other, As we shall make our griefs and clamor roar Upon his death? MACBETH  I am settled and bend up Each corporal agent to this terrible feat. Away, and mock the time with fairest show. False face must hide what the false heart doth

know. They exit.

ACT 2

Scene 1

Enter Banquo, and Fleance with a torch before him.

BANQUO How goes the night, boy? FLEANCE  The moon is down. I have not heard the clock. BANQUO  And she goes down at twelve. FLEANCE  I take ’t ’tis later, sir. BANQUO  Hold, take my sword.He gives his sword to Fleance. There’s husbandry in heaven; Their candles are all out. Take thee that too. A heavy summons lies like lead upon me, And yet I would not sleep. Merciful powers, Restrain in me the cursèd thoughts that nature Gives way to in repose.

Enter Macbeth, and a Servant with a torch.

Give me my sword.—Who’s there? MACBETH  A friend. BANQUO  What, sir, not yet at rest? The King’s abed. He hath been in unusual pleasure, and Sent forth great largess to your offices. This diamond he greets your wife withal, By the name of most kind hostess, and shut up In measureless content. He gives Macbeth a jewel. MACBETH  Being unprepared, Our will became the servant to defect, Which else should free have wrought. BANQUO  All’s well. I dreamt last night of the three Weïrd Sisters. To you they have showed some truth. MACBETH  I think not of them. Yet, when we can entreat an hour to serve, We would spend it in some words upon that business, If you would grant the time. BANQUO  At your kind’st leisure. MACBETH  If you shall cleave to my consent, when ’tis, It shall make honor for you. BANQUO  So I lose none In seeking to augment it, but still keep My bosom franchised and allegiance clear, I shall be counseled. MACBETH  Good repose the while. BANQUO  Thanks, sir. The like to you. Banquo and Fleance exit. MACBETH  Go bid thy mistress, when my drink is ready, She strike upon the bell. Get thee to bed. Servant exits. Is this a dagger which I see before me, The handle toward my hand? Come, let me clutch thee. I have thee not, and yet I see thee still. Art thou not, fatal vision, sensible To feeling as to sight? Or art thou but A dagger of the mind, a false creation Proceeding from the heat-oppressèd brain? I see thee yet, in form as palpable As this which now I draw.He draws his dagger. Thou marshal’st me the way that I was going, And such an instrument I was to use. Mine eyes are made the fools o’ th’ other senses Or else worth all the rest. I see thee still, And, on thy blade and dudgeon, gouts of blood, Which was not so before. There’s no such thing. It is the bloody business which informs Thus to mine eyes. Now o’er the one-half world Nature seems dead, and wicked dreams abuse The curtained sleep. Witchcraft celebrates Pale Hecate’s off’rings, and withered murder, Alarumed by his sentinel, the wolf, Whose howl’s his watch, thus with his stealthy pace, With Tarquin’s ravishing strides, towards his design Moves like a ghost. Thou sure and firm-set earth, Hear not my steps, which way they walk, for fear Thy very stones prate of my whereabouts And take the present horror from the time, Which now suits with it. Whiles I threat, he lives. Words to the heat of deeds too cold breath gives. A bell rings. I go, and it is done. The bell invites me. Hear it not, Duncan, for it is a knell

That summons thee to heaven or to hell. He exits.

Scene 2Enter Lady Macbeth.

LADY MACBETH  That which hath made them drunk hath made me bold. What hath quenched them hath given me fire. Hark!—Peace. It was the owl that shrieked, the fatal bellman, Which gives the stern’st good-night. He is about it. The doors are open, and the surfeited grooms Do mock their charge with snores. I have drugged their possets, That death and nature do contend about them Whether they live or die. MACBETH, within  Who’s there? what, ho! LADY MACBETH  Alack, I am afraid they have awaked, And ’tis not done. Th’ attempt and not the deed Confounds us. Hark!—I laid their daggers ready; He could not miss ’em. Had he not resembled My father as he slept, I had done ’t.

Enter Macbeth with bloody daggers.

My husband? MACBETH  I have done the deed. Didst thou not hear a noise? LADY MACBETH  I heard the owl scream and the crickets cry. Did not you speak? MACBETH  When? LADY MACBETH  Now. MACBETH  As I descended? LADY MACBETH  Ay. MACBETH  Hark!—Who lies i’ th’ second chamber? LADY MACBETH  Donalbain. MACBETH  This is a sorry sight. LADY MACBETH  A foolish thought, to say a sorry sight. MACBETH  There’s one did laugh in ’s sleep, and one cried “Murder!” That they did wake each other. I stood and heard them. But they did say their prayers and addressed them Again to sleep. LADY MACBETH  There are two lodged together. MACBETH  One cried “God bless us” and “Amen” the other, As they had seen me with these hangman’s hands, List’ning their fear. I could not say “Amen” When they did say “God bless us.” LADY MACBETH  Consider it not so deeply. MACBETH  But wherefore could not I pronounce “Amen”? I had most need of blessing, and “Amen” Stuck in my throat. LADY MACBETH  These deeds must not be thought After these ways; so, it will make us mad. MACBETH  Methought I heard a voice cry “Sleep no more! Macbeth does murder sleep”—the innocent sleep, Sleep that knits up the raveled sleave of care, The death of each day’s life, sore labor’s bath, Balm of hurt minds, great nature’s second course, Chief nourisher in life’s feast. LADY MACBETH  What do you mean? MACBETH  Still it cried “Sleep no more!” to all the house. “Glamis hath murdered sleep, and therefore Cawdor Shall sleep no more. Macbeth shall sleep no more.” LADY MACBETH  Who was it that thus cried? Why, worthy thane, You do unbend your noble strength to think So brainsickly of things. Go get some water And wash this filthy witness from your hand.— Why did you bring these daggers from the place? They must lie there. Go, carry them and smear The sleepy grooms with blood. MACBETH  I’ll go no more. I am afraid to think what I have done. Look on ’t again I dare not. LADY MACBETH  Infirm of purpose! Give me the daggers. The sleeping and the dead Are but as pictures. ’Tis the eye of childhood That fears a painted devil. If he do bleed, I’ll gild the faces of the grooms withal, For it must seem their guilt. She exits with the daggers. Knock within. MACBETH  Whence is that knocking? How is ’t with me when every noise appalls me? What hands are here! Ha, they pluck out mine eyes. Will all great Neptune’s ocean wash this blood Clean from my hand? No, this my hand will rather The multitudinous seas incarnadine, Making the green one red.

Enter Lady Macbeth.

LADY MACBETH  My hands are of your color, but I shame To wear a heart so white.Knock. I hear a knocking At the south entry. Retire we to our chamber. A little water clears us of this deed. How easy is it, then! Your constancy Hath left you unattended.Knock. Hark, more knocking. Get on your nightgown, lest occasion call us And show us to be watchers. Be not lost So poorly in your thoughts. MACBETH  To know my deed ’twere best not know myself. Knock. Wake Duncan with thy knocking. I would thou

couldst. They exit.

Scene 3

Knocking within. Enter a Porter.

PORTER Here’s a knocking indeed! If a man were porter of hell gate, he should have old turning the key. (Knock.) Knock, knock, knock! Who’s there, i’ th’ name of Beelzebub? Here’s a farmer that hanged himself on th’ expectation of plenty. Come in time! Have napkins enough about you; here you’ll sweat for ’t. (Knock.) Knock, knock! Who’s there, in th’ other devil’s name? Faith, here’s an equivocator that could swear in both the scales against either scale, who committed treason enough for God’s sake yet could not equivocate to heaven. O, come in, equivocator. (Knock.) Knock, knock, knock! Who’s there? Faith, here’s an English tailor come hither for stealing out of a French hose. Come in, tailor. Here you may roast your goose. (Knock.) Knock, knock! Never at quiet.—What are you?—But this place is too cold for hell. I’ll devil-porter it no further. I had thought to have let in some of all professions that go the primrose way to th’ everlasting bonfire. (Knock.) Anon, anon!

The Porter opens the door to Macduff and Lennox.

I pray you, remember the porter. MACDUFF  Was it so late, friend, ere you went to bed That you do lie so late? PORTER  Faith, sir, we were carousing till the second cock, and drink, sir, is a great provoker of three things. MACDUFF  What three things does drink especially provoke? PORTER  Marry, sir, nose-painting, sleep, and urine. Lechery, sir, it provokes and unprovokes. It provokes the desire, but it takes away the performance. Therefore much drink may be said to be an equivocator with lechery. It makes him, and it mars him; it sets him on, and it takes him off; it persuades him and disheartens him; makes him stand to and not stand to; in conclusion, equivocates him in a sleep and, giving him the lie, leaves him. MACDUFF  I believe drink gave thee the lie last night. PORTER  That it did, sir, i’ th’ very throat on me; but I requited him for his lie, and, I think, being too strong for him, though he took up my legs sometime, yet I made a shift to cast him. MACDUFF  Is thy master stirring?

Enter Macbeth.

Our knocking has awaked him. Here he comes. Porter exits. LENNOX  Good morrow, noble sir. MACBETH  Good morrow, both. MACDUFF  Is the King stirring, worthy thane? MACBETH  Not yet. MACDUFF  He did command me to call timely on him. I have almost slipped the hour. MACBETH  I’ll bring you to him. MACDUFF  I know this is a joyful trouble to you, But yet ’tis one. MACBETH  The labor we delight in physics pain. This is the door. MACDUFF  I’ll make so bold to call, For ’tis my limited service.Macduff exits. LENNOX  Goes the King hence today? MACBETH  He does. He did appoint so. LENNOX  The night has been unruly. Where we lay, Our chimneys were blown down and, as they say, Lamentings heard i’ th’ air, strange screams of death, And prophesying, with accents terrible, Of dire combustion and confused events New hatched to th’ woeful time. The obscure bird Clamored the livelong night. Some say the Earth Was feverous and did shake. MACBETH  ’Twas a rough night. LENNOX  My young remembrance cannot parallel A fellow to it.

Enter Macduff.

MACDUFF  O horror, horror, horror! Tongue nor heart cannot conceive nor name thee! MACBETH AND LENNOX  What’s the matter? MACDUFF  Confusion now hath made his masterpiece. Most sacrilegious murder hath broke ope The Lord’s anointed temple and stole thence The life o’ th’ building. MACBETH  What is ’t you say? The life? LENNOX  Mean you his Majesty? MACDUFF  Approach the chamber and destroy your sight With a new Gorgon. Do not bid me speak. See and then speak yourselves. Macbeth and Lennox exit. Awake, awake! Ring the alarum bell.—Murder and treason! Banquo and Donalbain, Malcolm, awake! Shake off this downy sleep, death’s counterfeit, And look on death itself. Up, up, and see The great doom’s image. Malcolm, Banquo, As from your graves rise up and walk like sprites To countenance this horror.—Ring the bell. Bell rings.

Enter Lady Macbeth.

LADY MACBETH  What’s the business, That such a hideous trumpet calls to parley The sleepers of the house? Speak, speak! MACDUFF  O gentle lady, ’Tis not for you to hear what I can speak. The repetition in a woman’s ear Would murder as it fell.

Enter Banquo.

O Banquo, Banquo, Our royal master’s murdered. LADY MACBETH  Woe, alas! What, in our house? BANQUO  Too cruel anywhere.— Dear Duff, I prithee, contradict thyself And say it is not so. Enter Macbeth, Lennox, and Ross.

MACBETH  Had I but died an hour before this chance, I had lived a blessèd time; for from this instant There’s nothing serious in mortality. All is but toys. Renown and grace is dead. The wine of life is drawn, and the mere lees Is left this vault to brag of.

Enter Malcolm and Donalbain.

DONALBAIN  What is amiss? MACBETH  You are, and do not know ’t. The spring, the head, the fountain of your blood Is stopped; the very source of it is stopped. MACDUFF  Your royal father’s murdered. MALCOLM  O, by whom? LENNOX  Those of his chamber, as it seemed, had done ’t. Their hands and faces were all badged with blood. So were their daggers, which unwiped we found Upon their pillows. They stared and were distracted. No man’s life was to be trusted with them. MACBETH  O, yet I do repent me of my fury, That I did kill them. MACDUFF  Wherefore did you so? MACBETH  Who can be wise, amazed, temp’rate, and furious, Loyal, and neutral, in a moment? No man. Th’ expedition of my violent love Outrun the pauser, reason. Here lay Duncan, His silver skin laced with his golden blood, And his gashed stabs looked like a breach in nature For ruin’s wasteful entrance; there the murderers, Steeped in the colors of their trade, their daggers Unmannerly breeched with gore. Who could refrain That had a heart to love, and in that heart Courage to make ’s love known? LADY MACBETH  Help me hence, ho! MACDUFF  Look to the lady. MALCOLM, aside to Donalbain  Why do we hold our tongues, That most may claim this argument for ours? DONALBAIN, aside to Malcolm  What should be spoken here, where our fate, Hid in an auger hole, may rush and seize us? Let’s away. Our tears are not yet brewed. MALCOLM, aside to Donalbain  Nor our strong sorrow upon the foot of motion. BANQUO  Look to the lady. Lady Macbeth is assisted to leave. And when we have our naked frailties hid, That suffer in exposure, let us meet And question this most bloody piece of work To know it further. Fears and scruples shake us. In the great hand of God I stand, and thence Against the undivulged pretense I fight Of treasonous malice. MACDUFF  And so do I. ALL  So all. MACBETH  Let’s briefly put on manly readiness And meet i’ th’ hall together. ALL  Well contented. All but Malcolm and Donalbain exit. MALCOLM  What will you do? Let’s not consort with them. To show an unfelt sorrow is an office Which the false man does easy. I’ll to England. DONALBAIN  To Ireland I. Our separated fortune Shall keep us both the safer. Where we are, There’s daggers in men’s smiles. The near in blood, The nearer bloody. MALCOLM  This murderous shaft that’s shot Hath not yet lighted, and our safest way Is to avoid the aim. Therefore to horse, And let us not be dainty of leave-taking But shift away. There’s warrant in that theft

Which steals itself when there’s no mercy left. They exit.

Scene 4

Enter Ross with an Old Man.

OLD MAN  Threescore and ten I can remember well, Within the volume of which time I have seen Hours dreadful and things strange, but this sore night Hath trifled former knowings. ROSS  Ha, good father, Thou seest the heavens, as troubled with man’s act, Threatens his bloody stage. By th’ clock ’tis day, And yet dark night strangles the traveling lamp. Is ’t night’s predominance or the day’s shame That darkness does the face of earth entomb When living light should kiss it? OLD MAN  ’Tis unnatural, Even like the deed that’s done. On Tuesday last A falcon, tow’ring in her pride of place, Was by a mousing owl hawked at and killed. ROSS  And Duncan’s horses (a thing most strange and certain), Beauteous and swift, the minions of their race, Turned wild in nature, broke their stalls, flung out, Contending ’gainst obedience, as they would Make war with mankind. OLD MAN  ’Tis said they eat each other. ROSS  They did so, to th’ amazement of mine eyes That looked upon ’t.

Enter Macduff.

Here comes the good Macduff.— How goes the world, sir, now? MACDUFF  Why, see you not? ROSS  Is ’t known who did this more than bloody deed? MACDUFF  Those that Macbeth hath slain. ROSS  Alas the day, What good could they pretend? MACDUFF  They were suborned. Malcolm and Donalbain, the King’s two sons, Are stol’n away and fled, which puts upon them Suspicion of the deed. ROSS  ’Gainst nature still! Thriftless ambition, that will ravin up Thine own lives’ means. Then ’tis most like The sovereignty will fall upon Macbeth. MACDUFF  He is already named and gone to Scone To be invested. ROSS  Where is Duncan’s body? MACDUFF  Carried to Colmekill, The sacred storehouse of his predecessors And guardian of their bones. ROSS  Will you to Scone? MACDUFF  No, cousin, I’ll to Fife. ROSS  Well, I will thither. MACDUFF  Well, may you see things well done there. Adieu, Lest our old robes sit easier than our new. ROSS  Farewell, father. OLD MAN  God’s benison go with you and with those

That would make good of bad and friends of foes. All exit.

ACT 3

Scene 1

Enter Banquo.

BANQUO  Thou hast it now—king, Cawdor, Glamis, all As the Weïrd Women promised, and I fear Thou played’st most foully for ’t. Yet it was said It should not stand in thy posterity, But that myself should be the root and father Of many kings. If there come truth from them (As upon thee, Macbeth, their speeches shine) Why, by the verities on thee made good, May they not be my oracles as well, And set me up in hope? But hush, no more.

Sennet sounded. Enter Macbeth as King, Lady Macbeth, Lennox, Ross, Lords, and Attendants.

MACBETH  Here’s our chief guest. LADY MACBETH  If he had been forgotten, It had been as a gap in our great feast And all-thing unbecoming. MACBETH  Tonight we hold a solemn supper, sir, And I’ll request your presence. BANQUO  Let your Highness Command upon me, to the which my duties Are with a most indissoluble tie Forever knit. MACBETH  Ride you this afternoon? BANQUO  Ay, my good lord. MACBETH  We should have else desired your good advice (Which still hath been both grave and prosperous) In this day’s council, but we’ll take tomorrow. Is ’t far you ride? BANQUO  As far, my lord, as will fill up the time ’Twixt this and supper. Go not my horse the better, I must become a borrower of the night For a dark hour or twain. MACBETH  Fail not our feast. BANQUO  My lord, I will not. MACBETH  We hear our bloody cousins are bestowed In England and in Ireland, not confessing Their cruel parricide, filling their hearers With strange invention. But of that tomorrow, When therewithal we shall have cause of state Craving us jointly. Hie you to horse. Adieu, Till you return at night. Goes Fleance with you? BANQUO  Ay, my good lord. Our time does call upon ’s. MACBETH  I wish your horses swift and sure of foot, And so I do commend you to their backs. Farewell.Banquo exits. Let every man be master of his time Till seven at night. To make society The sweeter welcome, we will keep ourself Till suppertime alone. While then, God be with you. Lords and all but Macbeth and a Servant exit. Sirrah, a word with you. Attend those men Our pleasure? SERVANT  They are, my lord, without the palace gate. MACBETH  Bring them before us.Servant exits. To be thus is nothing, But to be safely thus. Our fears in Banquo Stick deep, and in his royalty of nature Reigns that which would be feared. ’Tis much he dares, And to that dauntless temper of his mind He hath a wisdom that doth guide his valor To act in safety. There is none but he Whose being I do fear; and under him My genius is rebuked, as it is said Mark Antony’s was by Caesar. He chid the sisters When first they put the name of king upon me And bade them speak to him. Then, prophet-like, They hailed him father to a line of kings. Upon my head they placed a fruitless crown And put a barren scepter in my grip, Thence to be wrenched with an unlineal hand, No son of mine succeeding. If ’t be so, For Banquo’s issue have I filed my mind; For them the gracious Duncan have I murdered, Put rancors in the vessel of my peace Only for them, and mine eternal jewel Given to the common enemy of man To make them kings, the seeds of Banquo kings. Rather than so, come fate into the list, And champion me to th’ utterance.—Who’s there?

Enter Servant and two Murderers.

To the Servant. Now go to the door, and stay there till we call.Servant exits. Was it not yesterday we spoke together? MURDERERS  It was, so please your Highness. MACBETH  Well then, now Have you considered of my speeches? Know That it was he, in the times past, which held you So under fortune, which you thought had been Our innocent self. This I made good to you In our last conference, passed in probation with you How you were borne in hand, how crossed, the instruments, Who wrought with them, and all things else that might To half a soul and to a notion crazed Say “Thus did Banquo.” FIRST MURDERER  You made it known to us. MACBETH  I did so, and went further, which is now Our point of second meeting. Do you find Your patience so predominant in your nature That you can let this go? Are you so gospeled To pray for this good man and for his issue, Whose heavy hand hath bowed you to the grave And beggared yours forever? FIRST MURDERER  We are men, my liege. MACBETH  Ay, in the catalogue you go for men, As hounds and greyhounds, mongrels, spaniels, curs, Shoughs, water-rugs, and demi-wolves are clept All by the name of dogs. The valued file Distinguishes the swift, the slow, the subtle, The housekeeper, the hunter, every one According to the gift which bounteous nature Hath in him closed; whereby he does receive Particular addition, from the bill That writes them all alike. And so of men. Now, if you have a station in the file, Not i’ th’ worst rank of manhood, say ’t, And I will put that business in your bosoms Whose execution takes your enemy off, Grapples you to the heart and love of us, Who wear our health but sickly in his life, Which in his death were perfect. SECOND MURDERER  I am one, my liege, Whom the vile blows and buffets of the world Hath so incensed that I am reckless what I do to spite the world. FIRST MURDERER  And I another So weary with disasters, tugged with fortune, That I would set my life on any chance, To mend it or be rid on ’t. MACBETH  Both of you Know Banquo was your enemy. MURDERERS  True, my lord. MACBETH  So is he mine, and in such bloody distance That every minute of his being thrusts Against my near’st of life. And though I could With barefaced power sweep him from my sight And bid my will avouch it, yet I must not, For certain friends that are both his and mine, Whose loves I may not drop, but wail his fall Who I myself struck down. And thence it is That I to your assistance do make love, Masking the business from the common eye For sundry weighty reasons. SECOND MURDERER  We shall, my lord, Perform what you command us. FIRST MURDERER  Though our lives— MACBETH  Your spirits shine through you. Within this hour at most I will advise you where to plant yourselves, Acquaint you with the perfect spy o’ th’ time, The moment on ’t, for ’t must be done tonight And something from the palace; always thought That I require a clearness. And with him (To leave no rubs nor botches in the work) Fleance, his son, that keeps him company, Whose absence is no less material to me Than is his father’s, must embrace the fate Of that dark hour. Resolve yourselves apart. I’ll come to you anon. MURDERERS  We are resolved, my lord. MACBETH  I’ll call upon you straight. Abide within. Murderers exit. It is concluded. Banquo, thy soul’s flight, If it find heaven, must find it out tonight. He exits.

Scene 2

Enter Macbeth’s Lady and a Servant.

LADY MACBETH Is Banquo gone from court? SERVANT  Ay, madam, but returns again tonight. LADY MACBETH  Say to the King I would attend his leisure For a few words. SERVANT  Madam, I will.He exits. LADY MACBETH  Naught’s had, all’s spent, Where our desire is got without content. ’Tis safer to be that which we destroy Than by destruction dwell in doubtful joy. Enter Macbeth.

How now, my lord, why do you keep alone, Of sorriest fancies your companions making, Using those thoughts which should indeed have died With them they think on? Things without all remedy Should be without regard. What’s done is done. MACBETH  We have scorched the snake, not killed it. She’ll close and be herself whilst our poor malice Remains in danger of her former tooth. But let the frame of things disjoint, both the worlds suffer, Ere we will eat our meal in fear, and sleep In the affliction of these terrible dreams That shake us nightly. Better be with the dead, Whom we, to gain our peace, have sent to peace, Than on the torture of the mind to lie In restless ecstasy. Duncan is in his grave. After life’s fitful fever he sleeps well. Treason has done his worst; nor steel nor poison, Malice domestic, foreign levy, nothing Can touch him further. LADY MACBETH  Come on, gentle my lord, Sleek o’er your rugged looks. Be bright and jovial Among your guests tonight. MACBETH  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 honors in these flattering streams And make our faces vizards to our hearts, Disguising what they are. LADY MACBETH  You must leave this. MACBETH  O, full of scorpions is my mind, dear wife! Thou know’st that Banquo and his Fleance lives. LADY MACBETH  But in them nature’s copy’s not eterne. MACBETH  There’s comfort yet; they are assailable. Then be thou jocund. Ere the bat hath flown His cloistered flight, ere to black Hecate’s summons The shard-born beetle with his drowsy hums Hath rung night’s yawning peal, there shall be done A deed of dreadful note. LADY MACBETH  What’s to be done? MACBETH  Be innocent of the knowledge, dearest chuck, Till thou applaud the deed.—Come, seeling night, Scarf up the tender eye of pitiful day And with thy bloody and invisible hand Cancel and tear to pieces that great bond Which keeps me pale. Light thickens, and the crow Makes wing to th’ rooky wood. Good things of day begin to droop and drowse, Whiles night’s black agents to their preys do rouse.— Thou marvel’st at my words, but hold thee still. Things bad begun make strong themselves by ill.

So prithee go with me. They exit.

Scene 3

Enter three Murderers.

FIRST MURDERER  But who did bid thee join with us? THIRD MURDERER  Macbeth. SECOND MURDERER, to the First Murderer  He needs not our mistrust, since he delivers Our offices and what we have to do To the direction just. FIRST MURDERER  Then stand with us.— The west yet glimmers with some streaks of day. Now spurs the lated traveler apace To gain the timely inn, and near approaches The subject of our watch. THIRD MURDERER  Hark, I hear horses. BANQUO, within  Give us a light there, ho! SECOND MURDERER  Then ’tis he. The rest That are within the note of expectation Already are i’ th’ court. FIRST MURDERER  His horses go about. THIRD MURDERER  Almost a mile; but he does usually (So all men do) from hence to th’ palace gate Make it their walk.

Enter Banquo and Fleance, with a torch.

SECOND MURDERER  A light, a light! THIRD MURDERER  ’Tis he. FIRST MURDERER  Stand to ’t. BANQUO, to Fleance  It will be rain tonight. FIRST MURDERER  Let it come down! The three Murderers attack. BANQUO  O treachery! Fly, good Fleance, fly, fly, fly! Thou mayst revenge—O slave! He dies. Fleance exits. 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. They exit.

Scene 4Banquet 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.They sit. 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. He approaches the Murderer. There’s blood upon thy face. MURDERER  ’Tis Banquo’s then. MACBETH  ’Tis better thee without than he within. Is he dispatched? MURDERER  My lord, his throat is cut. That I did for him. MACBETH  Thou art the best o’ th’ cutthroats, Yet he’s good that did the like for Fleance. If thou didst it, thou art the nonpareil. MURDERER  Most royal sir, Fleance is ’scaped. MACBETH, aside  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 cabined, cribbed, confined, bound in To saucy doubts and fears.—But Banquo’s safe? MURDERER  Ay, my good lord. Safe in a ditch he bides, With twenty trenchèd 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.Murderer exits. LADY MACBETH  My royal lord, You do not give the cheer. The feast is sold That is not often vouched, while ’tis a-making, ’Tis given with welcome. To feed were best at home; From thence, the sauce to meat is ceremony; Meeting were bare without it.

Enter the Ghost of Banquo, and sits in Macbeth’s place.

MACBETH, to Lady Macbeth  Sweet remembrancer!— Now, good digestion wait on appetite And health on both! LENNOX  May ’t please your Highness sit. MACBETH  Here had we now our country’s honor roofed, Were the graced person of our Banquo present, Who may I rather challenge for unkindness Than pity for mischance. ROSS  His absence, sir, Lays blame upon his promise. Please ’t your Highness To grace us with your royal company? MACBETH  The table’s full. LENNOX  Here is a place reserved, sir. MACBETH  Where? LENNOX  Here, my good lord. What is ’t that moves your Highness? MACBETH  Which of you have done this? LORDS  What, my good lord? MACBETH, to the Ghost  Thou canst not say I did it. Never shake Thy gory locks at me. ROSS  Gentlemen, rise. His Highness is not well. LADY MACBETH  Sit, worthy friends. My lord is often thus And hath been from his youth. Pray you, keep seat. The fit is momentary; upon a thought He will again be well. If much you note him You shall offend him and extend his passion. Feed and regard him not.Drawing Macbeth aside. Are you a man? MACBETH  Ay, and a bold one, that dare look on that Which might appall the devil. LADY MACBETH  O, proper stuff! This is the very painting of your fear. This is the air-drawn dagger which you said Led you to Duncan. O, these flaws and starts, Impostors to true fear, would well become A woman’s story at a winter’s fire, Authorized by her grandam. Shame itself! Why do you make such faces? When all’s done, You look but on a stool. MACBETH  Prithee, see there. Behold, look! To the Ghost. Lo, how say you? Why, what care I? If thou canst nod, speak too.— If charnel houses and our graves must send Those that we bury back, our monuments Shall be the maws of kites.Ghost exits. LADY MACBETH  What, quite unmanned in folly? MACBETH  If I stand here, I saw him. LADY MACBETH  Fie, for shame! MACBETH  Blood hath been shed ere now, i’ th’ olden time, Ere humane statute purged the gentle weal; Ay, and since too, murders have been performed Too terrible for the ear. The time has been That, when the brains were out, the man would die, And there an end. But now they rise again With twenty mortal murders on their crowns And push us from our stools. This is more strange Than such a murder is. LADY MACBETH  My worthy lord, Your noble friends do lack you. MACBETH  I do forget.— Do not muse at me, my most worthy friends. I have a strange infirmity, which is nothing To those that know me. Come, love and health to all. Then I’ll sit down.—Give me some wine. Fill full.

Enter Ghost.

I drink to th’ general joy o’ th’ whole table And to our dear friend Banquo, whom we miss. Would he were here! To all, and him we thirst, And all to all. LORDS  Our duties, and the pledge. They raise their drinking cups. MACBETH, to the Ghost  Avaunt, and quit my sight! Let the earth hide thee. Thy bones are marrowless; thy blood is cold; Thou hast no speculation in those eyes Which thou dost glare with. LADY MACBETH  Think of this, good peers, But as a thing of custom. ’Tis no other; Only it spoils the pleasure of the time. MACBETH, to the Ghost  What man dare, I dare. Approach thou like the rugged Russian bear, The armed rhinoceros, or th’ Hyrcan tiger; Take any shape but that, and my firm nerves Shall never tremble. Or be alive again And dare me to the desert with thy sword. If trembling I inhabit then, protest me The baby of a girl. Hence, horrible shadow! Unreal mock’ry, hence!Ghost exits. Why so, being gone, I am a man again.—Pray you sit still. LADY MACBETH  You have displaced the mirth, broke the good meeting With most admired disorder. MACBETH  Can such things be And overcome us like a summer’s cloud, Without our special wonder? You make me strange Even to the disposition that I owe When now I think you can behold such sights And keep the natural ruby of your cheeks When mine is blanched with fear. ROSS  What sights, my lord? LADY MACBETH  I pray you, speak not. He grows worse and worse. Question enrages him. At once, good night. Stand not upon the order of your going, But go at once. LENNOX  Good night, and better health Attend his Majesty. LADY MACBETH  A kind good night to all. Lords and all but Macbeth and Lady Macbeth exit. MACBETH  It will have blood, they say; blood will have blood. Stones have been known to move, and trees to speak. Augurs and understood relations have By maggot pies and choughs and rooks brought forth The secret’st man of blood.—What is the night? LADY MACBETH  Almost at odds with morning, which is which. MACBETH  How say’st thou that Macduff denies his person At our great bidding? LADY MACBETH  Did you send to him, sir? MACBETH  I hear it by the way; but I will send. There’s not a one of them but in his house I keep a servant fee’d. I will tomorrow (And betimes I will) to the Weïrd Sisters. More shall they speak, for now I am bent to know By the worst means the worst. For mine own good, All causes shall give way. I am in blood Stepped in so far that, should I wade no more, Returning were as tedious as go o’er. Strange things I have in head that will to hand, Which must be acted ere they may be scanned. LADY MACBETH  You lack the season of all natures, sleep. MACBETH  Come, we’ll to sleep. My strange and self-abuse Is the initiate fear that wants hard use.

We are yet but young in deed. They exit.

Scene 5Thunder. Enter the three Witches, meeting Hecate.

FIRST WITCH  Why, how now, Hecate? You look angerly. HECATE  Have I not reason, beldams as you are? Saucy and overbold, how did you dare To trade and traffic with Macbeth In riddles and affairs of death, And I, the mistress of your charms, The close contriver of all harms, Was never called to bear my part Or show the glory of our art? And which is worse, all you have done Hath been but for a wayward son, Spiteful and wrathful, who, as others do, Loves for his own ends, not for you. But make amends now. Get you gone, And at the pit of Acheron Meet me i’ th’ morning. Thither he Will come to know his destiny. Your vessels and your spells provide, Your charms and everything beside. I am for th’ air. This night I’ll spend Unto a dismal and a fatal end. Great business must be wrought ere noon. Upon the corner of the moon There hangs a vap’rous drop profound. I’ll catch it ere it come to ground, And that, distilled by magic sleights, Shall raise such artificial sprites As by the strength of their illusion Shall draw him on to his confusion. He shall spurn fate, scorn death, and bear His hopes ’bove wisdom, grace, and fear. And you all know, security Is mortals’ chiefest enemy. Music and a song. Hark! I am called. My little spirit, see, Sits in a foggy cloud and stays for me.Hecate exits. Sing within “Come away, come away,” etc. FIRST WITCH 

Come, let’s make haste. She’ll soon be back again. They exit.

Scene 6

Enter Lennox and another Lord.

LENNOX  My former speeches have but hit your thoughts, Which can interpret farther. Only I say Things have been strangely borne. The gracious Duncan Was pitied of Macbeth; marry, he was dead. And the right valiant Banquo walked too late, Whom you may say, if ’t please you, Fleance killed, For Fleance fled. Men must not walk too late. Who cannot want the thought how monstrous It was for Malcolm and for Donalbain To kill their gracious father? Damnèd fact, How it did grieve Macbeth! Did he not straight In pious rage the two delinquents tear That were the slaves of drink and thralls of sleep? Was not that nobly done? Ay, and wisely, too, For ’twould have angered any heart alive To hear the men deny ’t. So that I say He has borne all things well. And I do think That had he Duncan’s sons under his key (As, an ’t please heaven, he shall not) they should find What ’twere to kill a father. So should Fleance. But peace. For from broad words, and ’cause he failed His presence at the tyrant’s feast, I hear Macduff lives in disgrace. Sir, can you tell Where he bestows himself? LORD  The son of Duncan (From whom this tyrant holds the due of birth) Lives in the English court and is received Of the most pious Edward with such grace That the malevolence of fortune nothing Takes from his high respect. Thither Macduff Is gone to pray the holy king upon his aid To wake Northumberland and warlike Siward That, by the help of these (with Him above To ratify the work), we may again Give to our tables meat, sleep to our nights, Free from our feasts and banquets bloody knives, Do faithful homage, and receive free honors, All which we pine for now. And this report Hath so exasperate the King that he Prepares for some attempt of war. LENNOX  Sent he to Macduff? LORD  He did, and with an absolute “Sir, not I,” The cloudy messenger turns me his back And hums, as who should say “You’ll rue the time That clogs me with this answer.” LENNOX  And that well might Advise him to a caution t’ hold what distance His wisdom can provide. Some holy angel Fly to the court of England and unfold His message ere he come, that a swift blessing May soon return to this our suffering country Under a hand accursed. LORD 

I’ll send my prayers with him. They exit.

ACT 4

Scene 1

Thunder. Enter the three Witches.

FIRST WITCH  Thrice the brinded cat hath mewed. SECOND WITCH  Thrice, and once the hedge-pig whined. THIRD WITCH  Harpier cries “’Tis time, ’tis 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. The Witches circle the cauldron. 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 blindworm’s sting, Lizard’s leg and howlet’s wing, For a charm of powerful trouble, Like a hell-broth boil and bubble. ALL  Double, double toil and trouble; Fire burn, and cauldron bubble. THIRD WITCH  Scale of dragon, tooth of wolf, Witch’s 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 th’ ingredience of our cauldron. 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.

Enter Hecate to the other three Witches.

HECATE  O, well done! I commend your pains, And everyone 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. Hecate exits. SECOND WITCH  By the pricking of my thumbs, 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. 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. FIRST WITCH  Speak. SECOND WITCH  Demand. THIRD WITCH  We’ll answer. FIRST WITCH  Say if th’ hadst 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 murderers’ 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— FIRST WITCH  He knows thy thought. Hear his speech but say thou naught. FIRST 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 harped my fear aright. But one word more— FIRST WITCH  He will not be commanded. Here’s another More potent than the first.

Thunder. Second Apparition, a Bloody Child.

SECOND APPARITION  Macbeth! Macbeth! Macbeth!— MACBETH  Had I three ears, I’d hear thee. SECOND APPARITION  Be bloody, bold, and resolute. Laugh to scorn The power of man, for none of woman born Shall harm Macbeth.He 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. 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. 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.He 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? ALL  Seek to know no more. MACBETH  I will be satisfied. Deny me this, And an eternal curse fall on you! Let me know! Cauldron sinks. Hautboys. Why sinks that cauldron? And what noise is this? FIRST WITCH  Show. SECOND WITCH  Show. THIRD WITCH  Show. ALL  Show his eyes and grieve his heart. Come like shadows; so depart. A show of eight kings, the eighth king with a glass in his hand, and Banquo last.

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. The Apparitions disappear. What, is this so? 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 the air to give a sound While you perform your antic round, That this great king may kindly say Our duties did his welcome pay. Music. The Witches dance and vanish. MACBETH  Where are they? Gone? Let this pernicious hour Stand aye accursèd in the calendar!— Come in, without there.

Enter Lennox.

LENNOX  What’s your Grace’s will? MACBETH  Saw you the Weïrd Sisters? LENNOX  No, my lord. MACBETH  Came they not by you? 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? LENNOX  ’Tis two or three, my lord, that bring you word Macduff is fled to England. MACBETH  Fled to England? LENNOX  Ay, my good lord. MACBETH, aside  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. They exit.

[rainmanlegends]

Scene 1

Thunder and Lightning. Enter three Witches.

Sexy Witch 1

 When shall we three meet again?

 In thunder, lightning, or in rain?

Sexy Witch 2

 When the hurly-burly’s done,

 When the battle’s lost and won.

Sexy Witch 3

 That will be ere the set of sun.

Sexy Witch 1

 Where the place?

Sexy Witch 2

 Upon the heath.

Sexy Witch 3

 There to meet with M*cb*th.

Sexy Witch 1

I come, Graymalkin.

⌜Sexy Witch 2⌝

Paddock calls.

⌜Sexy Witch 3⌝

Anon.

ALL

 Fair is foul, and foul is fair;

 Hover through the fog and filthy air.

They exit.

Scene 2

Alarum within. Enter King ⌜Duncan,⌝ Malcolm,

Donalbain, Lennox, with Attendants, meeting a bleeding

Captain.

DUNCAN

 What bloody man is that? He can report,

 As seemeth by his plight, of the revolt

 The newest state.

MALCOLM

 This is the sergeant

 Who, like a good and hardy soldier, fought

 ’Gainst my captivity.—Hail, brave friend!

 Say to the King the knowledge of the broil

 As thou didst leave it.

CAPTAIN

Doubtful it stood,

 As two spent swimmers that do cling together

 And choke their art. The merciless Macdonwald

 (Worthy to be a rebel, for to that

 The multiplying villainies of nature

 Do swarm upon him) from the Western Isles

 Of kerns and ⌜gallowglasses⌝ is supplied;

 And Fortune, on his damnèd ⌜quarrel⌝ smiling,

 Showed like a rebel’s whore. But all’s too weak;

 For brave M*cb*th (well he deserves that name),

 Disdaining Fortune, with his brandished steel,

 Which smoked with bloody execution,

 Like Valor’s minion, carved out his passage

 Till he faced the slave;

 Which ne’er shook hands, nor bade farewell to him,

 Till he unseamed him from the nave to th’ chops,

 And fixed his head upon our battlements.

DUNCAN

 O valiant cousin, worthy gentleman!

CAPTAIN

 As whence the sun ’gins his reflection

 Shipwracking storms and direful thunders ⌜break,⌝

 So from that spring whence comfort seemed to

 come

 Discomfort swells. Mark, King of Scotland, mark:

 No sooner justice had, with valor armed,

 Compelled these skipping kerns to trust their heels,

 But the Norweyan lord, surveying vantage,

 With furbished arms and new supplies of men,

 Began a fresh assault.

DUNCAN

 Dismayed not this our captains, M*cb*th and

 Banquo?

CAPTAIN

 Yes, as sparrows eagles, or the hare the lion.

 If I say sooth, I must report they were

 As cannons overcharged with double cracks,

 So they doubly redoubled strokes upon the foe.

 Except they meant to bathe in reeking wounds

 Or memorize another Golgotha,

 I cannot tell—

 But I am faint. My gashes cry for help.

DUNCAN

 So well thy words become thee as thy wounds:

 They smack of honor both.—Go, get him surgeons.

⌜The Captain is led off by Attendants.⌝

Enter Ross and Angus.

 Who comes here?

MALCOLM

 The worthy Thane of Ross.

LENNOX

 What a haste looks through his eyes!

 So should he look that seems to speak things

 strange.

ROSS

God save the King.

DUNCAN

Whence cam’st thou, worthy thane?

ROSS

From Fife, great king,

 Where the Norweyan banners flout the sky

 And fan our people cold.

 Norway himself, with terrible numbers,

 Assisted by that most disloyal traitor,

 The Thane of Cawdor, began a dismal conflict,

 Till that Bellona’s bridegroom, lapped in proof,

 Confronted him with self-comparisons,

 Point against point, rebellious arm ’gainst arm,

 Curbing his lavish spirit. And to conclude,

 The victory fell on us.

DUNCAN

 Great happiness!

ROSS

That now Sweno,

 The Norways’ king, craves composition.

 Nor would we deign him burial of his men

 Till he disbursèd at Saint Colme’s Inch

 Ten thousand dollars to our general use.

DUNCAN

 No more that Thane of Cawdor shall deceive

 Our bosom interest. Go, pronounce his present

 death,

 And with his former title greet M*cb*th.

ROSS

I’ll see it done.

DUNCAN

 What he hath lost, noble M*cb*th hath won.

They exit.

Scene 3

Thunder. Enter the three Witches.

Sexy Witch 1

Where hast thou been, sister?

Sexy Witch 2

Killing swine.

Sexy Witch 3

Sister, where thou?

Sexy Witch 1

 A sailor’s wife had chestnuts in her lap

 And munched and munched and munched. “Give

 me,” quoth I.

 “Aroint thee, witch,” the rump-fed runnion cries.

 Her husband’s to Aleppo gone, master o’ th’ Tiger;

 But in a sieve I’ll thither sail,

 And, like a rat without a tail,

 I’ll do, I’ll do, and I’ll do.

Sexy Witch 2

 I’ll give thee a wind.

Sexy Witch 1

 Th’ art kind.

Sexy Witch 3

 And I another.

Sexy Witch 1

 I myself have all the other,

 And the very ports they blow;

 All the quarters that they know

 I’ th’ shipman’s card.

 I’ll drain him dry as hay.

 Sleep shall neither night nor day

 Hang upon his penthouse lid.

 He shall live a man forbid.

 Weary sev’nnights, nine times nine,

 Shall he dwindle, peak, and pine.

 Though his bark cannot be lost,

 Yet it shall be tempest-tossed.

 Look what I have.

Sexy Witch 2

Show me, show me.

Sexy Witch 1

 Here I have a pilot’s thumb,

 Wracked as homeward he did come.

Drum within.

Sexy Witch 3

 A drum, a drum!

 M*cb*th doth come.

ALL

, ⌜dancing in a circle⌝ 

 The Weïrd Sisters, hand in hand,

 Posters of the sea and land,

 Thus do go about, about,

 Thrice to thine and thrice to mine

 And thrice again, to make up nine.

 Peace, the charm’s wound up.

Enter M*cb*th and Banquo.

M*cb*th

 So foul and fair a day I have not seen.

BANQUO

 How far is ’t called to ⌜Forres?⌝—What are these,

 So withered, and so wild in their attire,

 That look not like th’ inhabitants o’ th’ Earth

 And yet are on ’t?—Live you? Or are you aught

 That man may question? You seem to understand

 me

 By each at once her choppy finger laying

 Upon her skinny lips. You should be women,

 And yet your beards forbid me to interpret

 That you are so.

M*cb*th

 Speak if you can. What are you?

Sexy Witch 1

 All hail, M*cb*th! Hail to thee, Thane of Glamis!

Sexy Witch 2

 All hail, M*cb*th! Hail to thee, Thane of Cawdor!

Sexy Witch 3

 All hail, M*cb*th, that shalt be king hereafter!

BANQUO

 Good sir, why do you start and seem to fear

 Things that do sound so fair?—I’ th’ name of truth,

 Are you fantastical, or that indeed

 Which outwardly you show? My noble partner

 You greet with present grace and great prediction

 Of noble having and of royal hope,

 That he seems rapt withal. To me you speak not.

 If you can look into the seeds of time

 And say which grain will grow and which will not,

 Speak, then, to me, who neither beg nor fear

 Your favors nor your hate.

Sexy Witch 1

Hail!

Sexy Witch 2

Hail!

Sexy Witch 3

Hail!

Sexy Witch 1

 Lesser than M*cb*th and greater.

Sexy Witch 2

 Not so happy, yet much happier.

Sexy Witch 3

 Thou shalt get kings, though thou be none.

 So all hail, M*cb*th and Banquo!

Sexy Witch 1

 Banquo and M*cb*th, all hail!

M*cb*th

 Stay, you imperfect speakers. Tell me more.

 By Sinel’s death I know I am Thane of Glamis.

 But how of Cawdor? The Thane of Cawdor lives

 A prosperous gentleman, and to be king

 Stands not within the prospect of belief,

 No more than to be Cawdor. Say from whence

 You owe this strange intelligence or why

 Upon this blasted heath you stop our way

 With such prophetic greeting. Speak, I charge you.

Witches vanish.

BANQUO

 The earth hath bubbles, as the water has,

 And these are of them. Whither are they vanished?

M*cb*th

 Into the air, and what seemed corporal melted,

 As breath into the wind. Would they had stayed!

BANQUO

 Were such things here as we do speak about?

 Or have we eaten on the insane root

 That takes the reason prisoner?

M*cb*th

 Your children shall be kings.

BANQUO

 You shall be king.

M*cb*th

 And Thane of Cawdor too. Went it not so?

BANQUO

 To th’ selfsame tune and words.—Who’s here?

Enter Ross and Angus.

ROSS

 The King hath happily received, M*cb*th,

 The news of thy success, and, when he reads

 Thy personal venture in the rebels’ fight,

 His wonders and his praises do contend

 Which should be thine or his. Silenced with that,

 In viewing o’er the rest o’ th’ selfsame day

 He finds thee in the stout Norweyan ranks,

 Nothing afeard of what thyself didst make,

 Strange images of death. As thick as tale

 ⌜Came⌝ post with post, and every one did bear

 Thy praises in his kingdom’s great defense,

 And poured them down before him.

ANGUS

 We are sent

 To give thee from our royal master thanks,

 Only to herald thee into his sight,

 Not pay thee.

ROSS

 And for an earnest of a greater honor,

 He bade me, from him, call thee Thane of Cawdor,

 In which addition, hail, most worthy thane,

 For it is thine.

BANQUO

 What, can the devil speak true?

M*cb*th

 The Thane of Cawdor lives. Why do you dress me

 In borrowed robes?

ANGUS

 Who was the Thane lives yet,

 But under heavy judgment bears that life

 Which he deserves to lose. Whether he was

 combined

 With those of Norway, or did line the rebel

 With hidden help and vantage, or that with both

 He labored in his country’s wrack, I know not;

 But treasons capital, confessed and proved,

 Have overthrown him.

M*cb*th

, ⌜aside⌝  

 Glamis and Thane of Cawdor!

 The greatest is behind. ⌜To Ross and Angus.⌝ Thanks

 for your pains.

 ⌜Aside to Banquo.⌝ Do you not hope your children

 shall be kings,

 When those that gave the Thane of Cawdor to me

 Promised no less to them?

BANQUO

 That, trusted home,

 Might yet enkindle you unto the crown,

 Besides the Thane of Cawdor. But ’tis strange.

 And oftentimes, to win us to our harm,

 The instruments of darkness tell us truths,

 Win us with honest trifles, to betray ’s

 In deepest consequence.—

 Cousins, a word, I pray you.

⌜They step aside.⌝

M*cb*th

, ⌜aside⌝  

 Two truths are told

 As happy prologues to the swelling act

 Of the imperial theme.—I thank you, gentlemen.

 ⌜Aside.⌝ This supernatural soliciting

 Cannot be ill, cannot be good. If ill,

 Why hath it given me earnest of success

 Commencing in a truth? I am Thane of Cawdor.

 If good, why do I yield to that suggestion

 Whose horrid image doth unfix my hair

 And make my seated heart knock at my ribs

 Against the use of nature? Present fears

 Are less than horrible imaginings.

 My thought, whose murder yet is but fantastical,

 Shakes so my single state of man

 That function is smothered in surmise,

 And nothing is but what is not.

BANQUO

Look how our partner’s rapt.

M*cb*th

, ⌜aside⌝ 

 If chance will have me king, why, chance may

 crown me

 Without my stir.

BANQUO

 New honors come upon him,

 Like our strange garments, cleave not to their mold

 But with the aid of use.

M*cb*th

, ⌜aside⌝  

 Come what come may,

 Time and the hour runs through the roughest day.

BANQUO

 Worthy M*cb*th, we stay upon your leisure.

M*cb*th

 Give me your favor. My dull brain was wrought

 With things forgotten. Kind gentlemen, your pains

 Are registered where every day I turn

 The leaf to read them. Let us toward the King.

 ⌜Aside to Banquo.⌝ Think upon what hath chanced,

 and at more time,

 The interim having weighed it, let us speak

 Our free hearts each to other.

BANQUO

Very gladly.

M*cb*th

Till then, enough.—Come, friends.

They exit.

Scene 4

Flourish. Enter King ⌜Duncan,⌝ Lennox, Malcolm,

Donalbain, and Attendants.

DUNCAN

 Is execution done on Cawdor? ⌜Are⌝ not

 Those in commission yet returned?

MALCOLM

 My liege,

 They are not yet come back. But I have spoke

 With one that saw him die, who did report

 That very frankly he confessed his treasons,

 Implored your Highness’ pardon, and set forth

 A deep repentance. Nothing in his life

 Became him like the leaving it. He died

 As one that had been studied in his death

 To throw away the dearest thing he owed

 As ’twere a careless trifle.

DUNCAN

 There’s no art

 To find the mind’s construction in the face.

 He was a gentleman on whom I built

 An absolute trust.

Enter M*cb*th, Banquo, Ross, and Angus.

 O worthiest cousin,

 The sin of my ingratitude even now

 Was heavy on me. Thou art so far before

 That swiftest wing of recompense is slow

 To overtake thee. Would thou hadst less deserved,

 That the proportion both of thanks and payment

 Might have been mine! Only I have left to say,

 More is thy due than more than all can pay.

M*cb*th

 The service and the loyalty I owe

 In doing it pays itself. Your Highness’ part

 Is to receive our duties, and our duties

 Are to your throne and state children and servants,

 Which do but what they should by doing everything

 Safe toward your love and honor.

DUNCAN

 Welcome hither.

 I have begun to plant thee and will labor

 To make thee full of growing.—Noble Banquo,

 That hast no less deserved nor must be known

 No less to have done so, let me enfold thee

 And hold thee to my heart.

BANQUO

 There, if I grow,

 The harvest is your own.

DUNCAN

 My plenteous joys,

 Wanton in fullness, seek to hide themselves

 In drops of sorrow.—Sons, kinsmen, thanes,

 And you whose places are the nearest, know

 We will establish our estate upon

 Our eldest, Malcolm, whom we name hereafter

 The Prince of Cumberland; which honor must

 Not unaccompanied invest him only,

 But signs of nobleness, like stars, shall shine

 On all deservers.—From hence to Inverness

 And bind us further to you.

M*cb*th

 The rest is labor which is not used for you.

 I’ll be myself the harbinger and make joyful

 The hearing of my wife with your approach.

 So humbly take my leave.

DUNCAN

 My worthy Cawdor.

M*cb*th

, ⌜aside⌝ 

 The Prince of Cumberland! That is a step

 On which I must fall down or else o’erleap,

 For in my way it lies. Stars, hide your fires;

 Let not light see my black and deep desires.

 The eye wink at the hand, yet let that be

 Which the eye fears, when it is done, to see.

He exits.

DUNCAN

 True, worthy Banquo. He is full so valiant,

 And in his commendations I am fed:

 It is a banquet to me.—Let’s after him,

 Whose care is gone before to bid us welcome.

 It is a peerless kinsman.

Flourish. They exit.

Scene 5

Enter M*cb*th’s Wife, alone, with a letter.

the absolute QUEEN who SLAYS

, ⌜reading the letter⌝  

They met me in the

 day of success, and I have learned by the perfect’st

 report they have more in them than mortal knowledge.

 When I burned in desire to question them further, they

 made themselves air, into which they vanished.

 Whiles I stood rapt in the wonder of it came missives

 from the King, who all-hailed me “Thane of Cawdor,”

 by which title, before, these Weïrd Sisters saluted me

 and referred me to the coming on of time with “Hail,

 king that shalt be.” This have I thought good to deliver

 thee, my dearest partner of greatness, that thou

 might’st not lose the dues of rejoicing by being ignorant

 of what greatness is promised thee. Lay it to thy

 heart, and farewell.

 Glamis thou art, and Cawdor, and shalt be

 What thou art promised. Yet do I fear thy nature;

 It is too full o’ th’ milk of human kindness

 To catch the nearest way. Thou wouldst be great,

 Art not without ambition, but without

 The illness should attend it. What thou wouldst

 highly,

 That wouldst thou holily; wouldst not play false

 And yet wouldst wrongly win. Thou ’dst have, great

 Glamis,

 That which cries “Thus thou must do,” if thou have

 it,

 And that which rather thou dost fear to do,

 Than wishest should be undone. Hie thee hither,

 That I may pour my spirits in thine ear

 And chastise with the valor of my tongue

 All that impedes thee from the golden round,

 Which fate and metaphysical aid doth seem

 To have thee crowned withal.

Enter Messenger.

 What is your tidings?

MESSENGER

 The King comes here tonight.

the absolute QUEEN who SLAYS

 Thou ’rt mad to say it.

 Is not thy master with him, who, were ’t so,

 Would have informed for preparation?

MESSENGER

 So please you, it is true. Our thane is coming.

 One of my fellows had the speed of him,

 Who, almost dead for breath, had scarcely more

 Than would make up his message.

the absolute QUEEN who SLAYS

 Give him tending.

 He brings great news.

Messenger exits.

 The raven himself is hoarse

 That croaks the fatal entrance of Duncan

 Under my battlements. Come, you spirits

 That tend on mortal thoughts, unsex me here,

 And fill me from the crown to the toe top-full

 Of direst cruelty. Make thick my blood.

 Stop up th’ access and passage to remorse,

 That no compunctious visitings of nature

 Shake my fell purpose, nor keep peace between

 Th’ effect and it. Come to my woman’s breasts

 And take my milk for gall, you murd’ring ministers,

 Wherever in your sightless substances

 You wait on nature’s mischief. Come, thick night,

 And pall thee in the dunnest smoke of hell,

 That my keen knife see not the wound it makes,

 Nor heaven peep through the blanket of the dark

 To cry “Hold, hold!”

Enter M*cb*th.

 Great Glamis, worthy Cawdor,

 Greater than both by the all-hail hereafter!

 Thy letters have transported me beyond

 This ignorant present, and I feel now

 The future in the instant.

M*cb*th

 My dearest love,

 Duncan comes here tonight.

the absolute QUEEN who SLAYS

 And when goes hence?

M*cb*th

 Tomorrow, as he purposes.

the absolute QUEEN who SLAYS

 O, never

 Shall sun that morrow see!

 Your face, my thane, is as a book where men

 May read strange matters. To beguile the time,

 Look like the time. Bear welcome in your eye,

 Your hand, your tongue. Look like th’ innocent

 flower,

 But be the serpent under ’t. He that’s coming

 Must be provided for; and you shall put

 This night’s great business into my dispatch,

 Which shall to all our nights and days to come

 Give solely sovereign sway and masterdom.

M*cb*th

 We will speak further.

the absolute QUEEN who SLAYS

 Only look up clear.

 To alter favor ever is to fear.

 Leave all the rest to me.

They exit.

Scene 6

Hautboys and Torches. Enter King ⌜Duncan,⌝ Malcolm,

Donalbain, Banquo, Lennox, Macduff, Ross, Angus, and

Attendants.

DUNCAN

 This castle hath a pleasant seat. The air

 Nimbly and sweetly recommends itself

 Unto our gentle senses.

BANQUO

 This guest of summer,

 The temple-haunting ⌜martlet,⌝ does approve,

 By his loved ⌜mansionry,⌝ that the heaven’s breath

 Smells wooingly here. No jutty, frieze,

 Buttress, nor coign of vantage, but this bird

 Hath made his pendant bed and procreant cradle.

 Where they ⌜most⌝ breed and haunt, I have

 observed,

 The air is delicate.

Enter Lady ⌜M*cb*th.⌝

DUNCAN

See, see our honored hostess!—

 The love that follows us sometime is our trouble,

 Which still we thank as love. Herein I teach you

 How you shall bid God ’ild us for your pains

 And thank us for your trouble.

the absolute QUEEN who SLAYS

 All our service,

 In every point twice done and then done double,

 Were poor and single business to contend

 Against those honors deep and broad wherewith

 Your Majesty loads our house. For those of old,

 And the late dignities heaped up to them,

 We rest your hermits.

DUNCAN

 Where’s the Thane of Cawdor?

 We coursed him at the heels and had a purpose

 To be his purveyor; but he rides well,

 And his great love, sharp as his spur, hath helped

 him

 To his home before us. Fair and noble hostess,

 We are your guest tonight.

the absolute QUEEN who SLAYS

 Your servants ever

 Have theirs, themselves, and what is theirs in compt

 To make their audit at your Highness’ pleasure,

 Still to return your own.

DUNCAN

 Give me your hand.

⌜Taking her hand.⌝

 Conduct me to mine host. We love him highly

 And shall continue our graces towards him.

 By your leave, hostess.

They exit.

Scene 7

Hautboys. Torches. Enter a Sewer and divers Servants

with dishes and service over the stage. Then enter

M*cb*th.

M*cb*th

 If it were done when ’tis done, then ’twere well

 It were done quickly. If th’ assassination

 Could trammel up the consequence and catch

 With his surcease success, that but this blow

 Might be the be-all and the end-all here,

 But here, upon this bank and ⌜shoal⌝ of time,

 We’d jump the life to come. But in these cases

 We still have judgment here, that we but teach

 Bloody instructions, which, being taught, return

 To plague th’ inventor. This even-handed justice

 Commends th’ ingredience of our poisoned chalice

 To our own lips. He’s here in double trust:

 First, as I am his kinsman and his subject,

 Strong both against the deed; then, as his host,

 Who should against his murderer shut the door,

 Not bear the knife myself. Besides, this Duncan

 Hath borne his faculties so meek, hath been

 So clear in his great office, that his virtues

 Will plead like angels, trumpet-tongued, against

 The deep damnation of his taking-off;

 And pity, like a naked newborn babe

 Striding the blast, or heaven’s cherubin horsed

 Upon the sightless couriers of the air,

 Shall blow the horrid deed in every eye,

 That tears shall drown the wind. I have no spur

 To prick the sides of my intent, but only

 Vaulting ambition, which o’erleaps itself

 And falls on th’ other—

Enter Lady ⌜M*cb*th.⌝

 How now, what news?

the absolute QUEEN who SLAYS

 He has almost supped. Why have you left the

 chamber?

M*cb*th

 Hath he asked for me?

the absolute QUEEN who SLAYS

 Know you not he has?

M*cb*th

 We will proceed no further in this business.

 He hath honored me of late, and I have bought

 Golden opinions from all sorts of people,

 Which would be worn now in their newest gloss,

 Not cast aside so soon.

the absolute QUEEN who SLAYS

 Was the hope drunk

 Wherein you dressed yourself? Hath it slept since?

 And wakes it now, to look so green and pale

 At what it did so freely? From this time

 Such I account thy love. Art thou afeard

 To be the same in thine own act and valor

 As thou art in desire? Wouldst thou have that

 Which thou esteem’st the ornament of life

 And live a coward in thine own esteem,

 Letting “I dare not” wait upon “I would,”

 Like the poor cat i’ th’ adage?

M*cb*th

 Prithee, peace.

 I dare do all that may become a man.

 Who dares ⌜do⌝ more is none.

the absolute QUEEN who SLAYS

 What beast was ’t,

 then,

 That made you break this enterprise to me?

 When you durst do it, then you were a man;

 And to be more than what you were, you would

 Be so much more the man. Nor time nor place

 Did then adhere, and yet you would make both.

 They have made themselves, and that their fitness

 now

 Does unmake you. I have given suck, and know

 How tender ’tis to love the babe that milks me.

 I would, while it was smiling in my face,

 Have plucked my NIPPLE from his boneless gums

 And dashed the brains out, had I so sworn as you

 Have done to this.

M*cb*th

 If we should fail—

the absolute QUEEN who SLAYS

 We fail?

 But screw your courage to the sticking place

 And we’ll not fail. When Duncan is asleep

 (Whereto the rather shall his day’s hard journey

 Soundly invite him), his two chamberlains

 Will I with wine and wassail so convince

 That memory, the warder of the brain,

 Shall be a fume, and the receipt of reason

 A limbeck only. When in swinish sleep

 Their drenchèd natures lies as in a death,

 What cannot you and I perform upon

 Th’ unguarded Duncan? What not put upon

 His spongy officers, who shall bear the guilt

 Of our great quell?

M*cb*th

 Bring forth men-children only,

 For thy undaunted mettle should compose

 Nothing but males. Will it not be received,

 When we have marked with blood those sleepy two

 Of his own chamber and used their very daggers,

 That they have done ’t?

the absolute QUEEN who SLAYS

 Who dares receive it other,

 As we shall make our griefs and clamor roar

 Upon his death?

M*cb*th

 I am settled and bend up

 Each corporal agent to this terrible feat.

 Away, and mock the time with fairest show.

 False face must hide what the false heart doth

 know.

They exit.

why the fuck is macbeth in my fucking inbox bro

[artistictiana]

Scene 1

Thunder and Lightning. Enter three Witches.

Sexy Witch 1

 When shall we three meet again?

 In thunder, lightning, or in rain?

Sexy Witch 2

 When the hurly-burly’s done,

 When the battle’s lost and won.

Sexy Witch 3

 That will be ere the set of sun.

Sexy Witch 1

 Where the place?

Sexy Witch 2

 Upon the heath.

Sexy Witch 3

 There to meet with M*cb*th.

Sexy Witch 1

I come, Graymalkin.

⌜Sexy Witch 2⌝

Paddock calls.

⌜Sexy Witch 3⌝

Anon.

ALL

 Fair is foul, and foul is fair;

 Hover through the fog and filthy air.

They exit.

Scene 2

Alarum within. Enter King ⌜Duncan,⌝ Malcolm,

Donalbain, Lennox, with Attendants, meeting a bleeding

Captain.

DUNCAN

 What bloody man is that? He can report,

 As seemeth by his plight, of the revolt

 The newest state.

MALCOLM

 This is the sergeant

 Who, like a good and hardy soldier, fought

 ’Gainst my captivity.—Hail, brave friend!

 Say to the King the knowledge of the broil

 As thou didst leave it.

CAPTAIN

Doubtful it stood,

 As two spent swimmers that do cling together

 And choke their art. The merciless Macdonwald

 (Worthy to be a rebel, for to that

 The multiplying villainies of nature

 Do swarm upon him) from the Western Isles

 Of kerns and ⌜gallowglasses⌝ is supplied;

 And Fortune, on his damnèd ⌜quarrel⌝ smiling,

 Showed like a rebel’s whore. But all’s too weak;

 For brave M*cb*th (well he deserves that name),

 Disdaining Fortune, with his brandished steel,

 Which smoked with bloody execution,

 Like Valor’s minion, carved out his passage

 Till he faced the slave;

 Which ne’er shook hands, nor bade farewell to him,

 Till he unseamed him from the nave to th’ chops,

 And fixed his head upon our battlements.

DUNCAN

 O valiant cousin, worthy gentleman!

CAPTAIN

 As whence the sun ’gins his reflection

 Shipwracking storms and direful thunders ⌜break,⌝

 So from that spring whence comfort seemed to

 come

 Discomfort swells. Mark, King of Scotland, mark:

 No sooner justice had, with valor armed,

 Compelled these skipping kerns to trust their heels,

 But the Norweyan lord, surveying vantage,

 With furbished arms and new supplies of men,

 Began a fresh assault.

DUNCAN

 Dismayed not this our captains, M*cb*th and

 Banquo?

CAPTAIN

 Yes, as sparrows eagles, or the hare the lion.

 If I say sooth, I must report they were

 As cannons overcharged with double cracks,

 So they doubly redoubled strokes upon the foe.

 Except they meant to bathe in reeking wounds

 Or memorize another Golgotha,

 I cannot tell—

 But I am faint. My gashes cry for help.

DUNCAN

 So well thy words become thee as thy wounds:

 They smack of honor both.—Go, get him surgeons.

⌜The Captain is led off by Attendants.⌝

Enter Ross and Angus.

 Who comes here?

MALCOLM

 The worthy Thane of Ross.

LENNOX

 What a haste looks through his eyes!

 So should he look that seems to speak things

 strange.

ROSS

God save the King.

DUNCAN

Whence cam’st thou, worthy thane?

ROSS

From Fife, great king,

 Where the Norweyan banners flout the sky

 And fan our people cold.

 Norway himself, with terrible numbers,

 Assisted by that most disloyal traitor,

 The Thane of Cawdor, began a dismal conflict,

 Till that Bellona’s bridegroom, lapped in proof,

 Confronted him with self-comparisons,

 Point against point, rebellious arm ’gainst arm,

 Curbing his lavish spirit. And to conclude,

 The victory fell on us.

DUNCAN

 Great happiness!

ROSS

That now Sweno,

 The Norways’ king, craves composition.

 Nor would we deign him burial of his men

 Till he disbursèd at Saint Colme’s Inch

 Ten thousand dollars to our general use.

DUNCAN

 No more that Thane of Cawdor shall deceive

 Our bosom interest. Go, pronounce his present

 death,

 And with his former title greet M*cb*th.

ROSS

I’ll see it done.

DUNCAN

 What he hath lost, noble M*cb*th hath won.

They exit.

Scene 3

Thunder. Enter the three Witches.

Sexy Witch 1

Where hast thou been, sister?

Sexy Witch 2

Killing swine.

Sexy Witch 3

Sister, where thou?

Sexy Witch 1

 A sailor’s wife had chestnuts in her lap

 And munched and munched and munched. “Give

 me,” quoth I.

 “Aroint thee, witch,” the rump-fed runnion cries.

 Her husband’s to Aleppo gone, master o’ th’ Tiger;

 But in a sieve I’ll thither sail,

 And, like a rat without a tail,

 I’ll do, I’ll do, and I’ll do.

Sexy Witch 2

 I’ll give thee a wind.

Sexy Witch 1

 Th’ art kind.

Sexy Witch 3

 And I another.

Sexy Witch 1

 I myself have all the other,

 And the very ports they blow;

 All the quarters that they know

 I’ th’ shipman’s card.

 I’ll drain him dry as hay.

 Sleep shall neither night nor day

 Hang upon his penthouse lid.

 He shall live a man forbid.

 Weary sev’nnights, nine times nine,

 Shall he dwindle, peak, and pine.

 Though his bark cannot be lost,

 Yet it shall be tempest-tossed.

 Look what I have.

Sexy Witch 2

Show me, show me.

Sexy Witch 1

 Here I have a pilot’s thumb,

 Wracked as homeward he did come.

Drum within.

Sexy Witch 3

 A drum, a drum!

 M*cb*th doth come.

ALL

, ⌜dancing in a circle⌝ 

 The Weïrd Sisters, hand in hand,

 Posters of the sea and land,

 Thus do go about, about,

 Thrice to thine and thrice to mine

 And thrice again, to make up nine.

 Peace, the charm’s wound up.

Enter M*cb*th and Banquo.

M*cb*th

 So foul and fair a day I have not seen.

BANQUO

 How far is ’t called to ⌜Forres?⌝—What are these,

 So withered, and so wild in their attire,

 That look not like th’ inhabitants o’ th’ Earth

 And yet are on ’t?—Live you? Or are you aught

 That man may question? You seem to understand

 me

 By each at once her choppy finger laying

 Upon her skinny lips. You should be women,

 And yet your beards forbid me to interpret

 That you are so.

M*cb*th

 Speak if you can. What are you?

Sexy Witch 1

 All hail, M*cb*th! Hail to thee, Thane of Glamis!

Sexy Witch 2

 All hail, M*cb*th! Hail to thee, Thane of Cawdor!

Sexy Witch 3

 All hail, M*cb*th, that shalt be king hereafter!

BANQUO

 Good sir, why do you start and seem to fear

 Things that do sound so fair?—I’ th’ name of truth,

 Are you fantastical, or that indeed

 Which outwardly you show? My noble partner

 You greet with present grace and great prediction

 Of noble having and of royal hope,

 That he seems rapt withal. To me you speak not.

 If you can look into the seeds of time

 And say which grain will grow and which will not,

 Speak, then, to me, who neither beg nor fear

 Your favors nor your hate.

Sexy Witch 1

Hail!

Sexy Witch 2

Hail!

Sexy Witch 3

Hail!

Sexy Witch 1

 Lesser than M*cb*th and greater.

Sexy Witch 2

 Not so happy, yet much happier.

Sexy Witch 3

 Thou shalt get kings, though thou be none.

 So all hail, M*cb*th and Banquo!

Sexy Witch 1

 Banquo and M*cb*th, all hail!

M*cb*th

 Stay, you imperfect speakers. Tell me more.

 By Sinel’s death I know I am Thane of Glamis.

 But how of Cawdor? The Thane of Cawdor lives

 A prosperous gentleman, and to be king

 Stands not within the prospect of belief,

 No more than to be Cawdor. Say from whence

 You owe this strange intelligence or why

 Upon this blasted heath you stop our way

 With such prophetic greeting. Speak, I charge you.

Witches vanish.

BANQUO

 The earth hath bubbles, as the water has,

 And these are of them. Whither are they vanished?

M*cb*th

 Into the air, and what seemed corporal melted,

 As breath into the wind. Would they had stayed!

BANQUO

 Were such things here as we do speak about?

 Or have we eaten on the insane root

 That takes the reason prisoner?

M*cb*th

 Your children shall be kings.

BANQUO

 You shall be king.

M*cb*th

 And Thane of Cawdor too. Went it not so?

BANQUO

 To th’ selfsame tune and words.—Who’s here?

Enter Ross and Angus.

ROSS

 The King hath happily received, M*cb*th,

 The news of thy success, and, when he reads

 Thy personal venture in the rebels’ fight,

 His wonders and his praises do contend

 Which should be thine or his. Silenced with that,

 In viewing o’er the rest o’ th’ selfsame day

 He finds thee in the stout Norweyan ranks,

 Nothing afeard of what thyself didst make,

 Strange images of death. As thick as tale

 ⌜Came⌝ post with post, and every one did bear

 Thy praises in his kingdom’s great defense,

 And poured them down before him.

ANGUS

 We are sent

 To give thee from our royal master thanks,

 Only to herald thee into his sight,

 Not pay thee.

ROSS

 And for an earnest of a greater honor,

 He bade me, from him, call thee Thane of Cawdor,

 In which addition, hail, most worthy thane,

 For it is thine.

BANQUO

 What, can the devil speak true?

M*cb*th

 The Thane of Cawdor lives. Why do you dress me

 In borrowed robes?

ANGUS

 Who was the Thane lives yet,

 But under heavy judgment bears that life

 Which he deserves to lose. Whether he was

 combined

 With those of Norway, or did line the rebel

 With hidden help and vantage, or that with both

 He labored in his country’s wrack, I know not;

 But treasons capital, confessed and proved,

 Have overthrown him.

M*cb*th

, ⌜aside⌝  

 Glamis and Thane of Cawdor!

 The greatest is behind. ⌜To Ross and Angus.⌝ Thanks

 for your pains.

 ⌜Aside to Banquo.⌝ Do you not hope your children

 shall be kings,

 When those that gave the Thane of Cawdor to me

 Promised no less to them?

BANQUO

 That, trusted home,

 Might yet enkindle you unto the crown,

 Besides the Thane of Cawdor. But ’tis strange.

 And oftentimes, to win us to our harm,

 The instruments of darkness tell us truths,

 Win us with honest trifles, to betray ’s

 In deepest consequence.—

 Cousins, a word, I pray you.

⌜They step aside.⌝

M*cb*th

, ⌜aside⌝  

 Two truths are told

 As happy prologues to the swelling act

 Of the imperial theme.—I thank you, gentlemen.

 ⌜Aside.⌝ This supernatural soliciting

 Cannot be ill, cannot be good. If ill,

 Why hath it given me earnest of success

 Commencing in a truth? I am Thane of Cawdor.

 If good, why do I yield to that suggestion

 Whose horrid image doth unfix my hair

 And make my seated heart knock at my ribs

 Against the use of nature? Present fears

 Are less than horrible imaginings.

 My thought, whose murder yet is but fantastical,

 Shakes so my single state of man

 That function is smothered in surmise,

 And nothing is but what is not.

BANQUO

Look how our partner’s rapt.

M*cb*th

, ⌜aside⌝ 

 If chance will have me king, why, chance may

 crown me

 Without my stir.

BANQUO

 New honors come upon him,

 Like our strange garments, cleave not to their mold

 But with the aid of use.

M*cb*th

, ⌜aside⌝  

 Come what come may,

 Time and the hour runs through the roughest day.

BANQUO

 Worthy M*cb*th, we stay upon your leisure.

M*cb*th

 Give me your favor. My dull brain was wrought

 With things forgotten. Kind gentlemen, your pains

 Are registered where every day I turn

 The leaf to read them. Let us toward the King.

 ⌜Aside to Banquo.⌝ Think upon what hath chanced,

 and at more time,

 The interim having weighed it, let us speak

 Our free hearts each to other.

BANQUO

Very gladly.

M*cb*th

Till then, enough.—Come, friends.

They exit.

Scene 4

Flourish. Enter King ⌜Duncan,⌝ Lennox, Malcolm,

Donalbain, and Attendants.

DUNCAN

 Is execution done on Cawdor? ⌜Are⌝ not

 Those in commission yet returned?

MALCOLM

 My liege,

 They are not yet come back. But I have spoke

 With one that saw him die, who did report

 That very frankly he confessed his treasons,

 Implored your Highness’ pardon, and set forth

 A deep repentance. Nothing in his life

 Became him like the leaving it. He died

 As one that had been studied in his death

 To throw away the dearest thing he owed

 As ’twere a careless trifle.

DUNCAN

 There’s no art

 To find the mind’s construction in the face.

 He was a gentleman on whom I built

 An absolute trust.

Enter M*cb*th, Banquo, Ross, and Angus.

 O worthiest cousin,

 The sin of my ingratitude even now

 Was heavy on me. Thou art so far before

 That swiftest wing of recompense is slow

 To overtake thee. Would thou hadst less deserved,

 That the proportion both of thanks and payment

 Might have been mine! Only I have left to say,

 More is thy due than more than all can pay.

M*cb*th

 The service and the loyalty I owe

 In doing it pays itself. Your Highness’ part

 Is to receive our duties, and our duties

 Are to your throne and state children and servants,

 Which do but what they should by doing everything

 Safe toward your love and honor.

DUNCAN

 Welcome hither.

 I have begun to plant thee and will labor

 To make thee full of growing.—Noble Banquo,

 That hast no less deserved nor must be known

 No less to have done so, let me enfold thee

 And hold thee to my heart.

BANQUO

 There, if I grow,

 The harvest is your own.

DUNCAN

 My plenteous joys,

 Wanton in fullness, seek to hide themselves

 In drops of sorrow.—Sons, kinsmen, thanes,

 And you whose places are the nearest, know

 We will establish our estate upon

 Our eldest, Malcolm, whom we name hereafter

 The Prince of Cumberland; which honor must

 Not unaccompanied invest him only,

 But signs of nobleness, like stars, shall shine

 On all deservers.—From hence to Inverness

 And bind us further to you.

M*cb*th

 The rest is labor which is not used for you.

 I’ll be myself the harbinger and make joyful

 The hearing of my wife with your approach.

 So humbly take my leave.

DUNCAN

 My worthy Cawdor.

M*cb*th

, ⌜aside⌝ 

 The Prince of Cumberland! That is a step

 On which I must fall down or else o’erleap,

 For in my way it lies. Stars, hide your fires;

 Let not light see my black and deep desires.

 The eye wink at the hand, yet let that be

 Which the eye fears, when it is done, to see.

He exits.

DUNCAN

 True, worthy Banquo. He is full so valiant,

 And in his commendations I am fed:

 It is a banquet to me.—Let’s after him,

 Whose care is gone before to bid us welcome.

 It is a peerless kinsman.

Flourish. They exit.

Scene 5

Enter M*cb*th’s Wife, alone, with a letter.

the absolute QUEEN who SLAYS

, ⌜reading the letter⌝  

They met me in the

 day of success, and I have learned by the perfect’st

 report they have more in them than mortal knowledge.

 When I burned in desire to question them further, they

 made themselves air, into which they vanished.

 Whiles I stood rapt in the wonder of it came missives

 from the King, who all-hailed me “Thane of Cawdor,”

 by which title, before, these Weïrd Sisters saluted me

 and referred me to the coming on of time with “Hail,

 king that shalt be.” This have I thought good to deliver

 thee, my dearest partner of greatness, that thou

 might’st not lose the dues of rejoicing by being ignorant

 of what greatness is promised thee. Lay it to thy

 heart, and farewell.

 Glamis thou art, and Cawdor, and shalt be

 What thou art promised. Yet do I fear thy nature;

 It is too full o’ th’ milk of human kindness

 To catch the nearest way. Thou wouldst be great,

 Art not without ambition, but without

 The illness should attend it. What thou wouldst

 highly,

 That wouldst thou holily; wouldst not play false

 And yet wouldst wrongly win. Thou ’dst have, great

 Glamis,

 That which cries “Thus thou must do,” if thou have

 it,

 And that which rather thou dost fear to do,

 Than wishest should be undone. Hie thee hither,

 That I may pour my spirits in thine ear

 And chastise with the valor of my tongue

 All that impedes thee from the golden round,

 Which fate and metaphysical aid doth seem

 To have thee crowned withal.

Enter Messenger.

 What is your tidings?

MESSENGER

 The King comes here tonight.

the absolute QUEEN who SLAYS

 Thou ’rt mad to say it.

 Is not thy master with him, who, were ’t so,

 Would have informed for preparation?

MESSENGER

 So please you, it is true. Our thane is coming.

 One of my fellows had the speed of him,

 Who, almost dead for breath, had scarcely more

 Than would make up his message.

the absolute QUEEN who SLAYS

 Give him tending.

 He brings great news.

Messenger exits.

 The raven himself is hoarse

 That croaks the fatal entrance of Duncan

 Under my battlements. Come, you spirits

 That tend on mortal thoughts, unsex me here,

 And fill me from the crown to the toe top-full

 Of direst cruelty. Make thick my blood.

 Stop up th’ access and passage to remorse,

 That no compunctious visitings of nature

 Shake my fell purpose, nor keep peace between

 Th’ effect and it. Come to my woman’s breasts

 And take my milk for gall, you murd’ring ministers,

 Wherever in your sightless substances

 You wait on nature’s mischief. Come, thick night,

 And pall thee in the dunnest smoke of hell,

 That my keen knife see not the wound it makes,

 Nor heaven peep through the blanket of the dark

 To cry “Hold, hold!”

Enter M*cb*th.

 Great Glamis, worthy Cawdor,

 Greater than both by the all-hail hereafter!

 Thy letters have transported me beyond

 This ignorant present, and I feel now

 The future in the instant.

M*cb*th

 My dearest love,

 Duncan comes here tonight.

the absolute QUEEN who SLAYS

 And when goes hence?

M*cb*th

 Tomorrow, as he purposes.

the absolute QUEEN who SLAYS

 O, never

 Shall sun that morrow see!

 Your face, my thane, is as a book where men

 May read strange matters. To beguile the time,

 Look like the time. Bear welcome in your eye,

 Your hand, your tongue. Look like th’ innocent

 flower,

 But be the serpent under ’t. He that’s coming

 Must be provided for; and you shall put

 This night’s great business into my dispatch,

 Which shall to all our nights and days to come

 Give solely sovereign sway and masterdom.

M*cb*th

 We will speak further.

the absolute QUEEN who SLAYS

 Only look up clear.

 To alter favor ever is to fear.

 Leave all the rest to me.

They exit.

Scene 6

Hautboys and Torches. Enter King ⌜Duncan,⌝ Malcolm,

Donalbain, Banquo, Lennox, Macduff, Ross, Angus, and

Attendants.

DUNCAN

 This castle hath a pleasant seat. The air

 Nimbly and sweetly recommends itself

 Unto our gentle senses.

BANQUO

 This guest of summer,

 The temple-haunting ⌜martlet,⌝ does approve,

 By his loved ⌜mansionry,⌝ that the heaven’s breath

 Smells wooingly here. No jutty, frieze,

 Buttress, nor coign of vantage, but this bird

 Hath made his pendant bed and procreant cradle.

 Where they ⌜most⌝ breed and haunt, I have

 observed,

 The air is delicate.

Enter Lady ⌜M*cb*th.⌝

DUNCAN

See, see our honored hostess!—

 The love that follows us sometime is our trouble,

 Which still we thank as love. Herein I teach you

 How you shall bid God ’ild us for your pains

 And thank us for your trouble.

the absolute QUEEN who SLAYS

 All our service,

 In every point twice done and then done double,

 Were poor and single business to contend

 Against those honors deep and broad wherewith

 Your Majesty loads our house. For those of old,

 And the late dignities heaped up to them,

 We rest your hermits.

DUNCAN

 Where’s the Thane of Cawdor?

 We coursed him at the heels and had a purpose

 To be his purveyor; but he rides well,

 And his great love, sharp as his spur, hath helped

 him

 To his home before us. Fair and noble hostess,

 We are your guest tonight.

the absolute QUEEN who SLAYS

 Your servants ever

 Have theirs, themselves, and what is theirs in compt

 To make their audit at your Highness’ pleasure,

 Still to return your own.

DUNCAN

 Give me your hand.

⌜Taking her hand.⌝

 Conduct me to mine host. We love him highly

 And shall continue our graces towards him.

 By your leave, hostess.

They exit.

Scene 7

Hautboys. Torches. Enter a Sewer and divers Servants

with dishes and service over the stage. Then enter

M*cb*th.

M*cb*th

 If it were done when ’tis done, then ’twere well

 It were done quickly. If th’ assassination

 Could trammel up the consequence and catch

 With his surcease success, that but this blow

 Might be the be-all and the end-all here,

 But here, upon this bank and ⌜shoal⌝ of time,

 We’d jump the life to come. But in these cases

 We still have judgment here, that we but teach

 Bloody instructions, which, being taught, return

 To plague th’ inventor. This even-handed justice

 Commends th’ ingredience of our poisoned chalice

 To our own lips. He’s here in double trust:

 First, as I am his kinsman and his subject,

 Strong both against the deed; then, as his host,

 Who should against his murderer shut the door,

 Not bear the knife myself. Besides, this Duncan

 Hath borne his faculties so meek, hath been

 So clear in his great office, that his virtues

 Will plead like angels, trumpet-tongued, against

 The deep damnation of his taking-off;

 And pity, like a naked newborn babe

 Striding the blast, or heaven’s cherubin horsed

 Upon the sightless couriers of the air,

 Shall blow the horrid deed in every eye,

 That tears shall drown the wind. I have no spur

 To prick the sides of my intent, but only

 Vaulting ambition, which o’erleaps itself

 And falls on th’ other—

Enter Lady ⌜M*cb*th.⌝

 How now, what news?

the absolute QUEEN who SLAYS

 He has almost supped. Why have you left the

 chamber?

M*cb*th

 Hath he asked for me?

the absolute QUEEN who SLAYS

 Know you not he has?

M*cb*th

 We will proceed no further in this business.

 He hath honored me of late, and I have bought

 Golden opinions from all sorts of people,

 Which would be worn now in their newest gloss,

 Not cast aside so soon.

the absolute QUEEN who SLAYS

 Was the hope drunk

 Wherein you dressed yourself? Hath it slept since?

 And wakes it now, to look so green and pale

 At what it did so freely? From this time

 Such I account thy love. Art thou afeard

 To be the same in thine own act and valor

 As thou art in desire? Wouldst thou have that

 Which thou esteem’st the ornament of life

 And live a coward in thine own esteem,

 Letting “I dare not” wait upon “I would,”

 Like the poor cat i’ th’ adage?

M*cb*th

 Prithee, peace.

 I dare do all that may become a man.

 Who dares ⌜do⌝ more is none.

the absolute QUEEN who SLAYS

 What beast was ’t,

 then,

 That made you break this enterprise to me?

 When you durst do it, then you were a man;

 And to be more than what you were, you would

 Be so much more the man. Nor time nor place

 Did then adhere, and yet you would make both.

 They have made themselves, and that their fitness

 now

 Does unmake you. I have given suck, and know

 How tender ’tis to love the babe that milks me.

 I would, while it was smiling in my face,

 Have plucked my NIPPLE from his boneless gums

 And dashed the brains out, had I so sworn as you

 Have done to this.

M*cb*th

 If we should fail—

the absolute QUEEN who SLAYS

 We fail?

 But screw your courage to the sticking place

 And we’ll not fail. When Duncan is asleep

 (Whereto the rather shall his day’s hard journey

 Soundly invite him), his two chamberlains

 Will I with wine and wassail so convince

 That memory, the warder of the brain,

 Shall be a fume, and the receipt of reason

 A limbeck only. When in swinish sleep

 Their drenchèd natures lies as in a death,

 What cannot you and I perform upon

 Th’ unguarded Duncan? What not put upon

 His spongy officers, who shall bear the guilt

 Of our great quell?

M*cb*th

 Bring forth men-children only,

 For thy undaunted mettle should compose

 Nothing but males. Will it not be received,

 When we have marked with blood those sleepy two

 Of his own chamber and used their very daggers,

 That they have done ’t?

the absolute QUEEN who SLAYS

 Who dares receive it other,

 As we shall make our griefs and clamor roar

 Upon his death?

M*cb*th

 I am settled and bend up

 Each corporal agent to this terrible feat.

 Away, and mock the time with fairest show.

 False face must hide what the false heart doth

 know.

They exit.

Ummm... Thank you I guess.

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Inspiration For Hard Times

Inspiration for hard times is a fitting theme for our current world situation!

I love the word Autumn…it just sings to me of the richness of the season: the colours – golds, crimsons, the subtler ochres and soft russets; the sounds – the wild geese, the acorns and chestnuts cracking underfoot, the rustle of leaves. Oh, and the smells and the quality of the air! Autumn is definitely my favourite time of year!

For those interested in the way the earth turns, here’s EarthSky on the September Equinox. The EarthSky site offers lots of cool, starry stuff! Scroll down a bit to find signs of Equinox in Nature and some lovely Equinox images.

I offer the following piece by Howard Zinn, about hope in hard times, as inspiration for this time and season:

“To be hopeful in bad times is not just foolishly romantic. It is based on the fact that human history is a history not only of cruelty, but also of compassion, sacrifice, courage, kindness.

What we choose to emphasize in this complex history will determine our lives. If we see only the worst, it destroys our capacity to do something. If we remember those times and places—and there are so many—where people have behaved magnificently, this gives us the energy to act, and at least the possibility of sending this spinning top of a world in a different direction.

And if we do act, in however small a way, we don’t have to wait for some grand utopian future. The future is an infinite succession of presents, and to live now as we think human beings should live, in defiance of all that is bad around us, is itself a marvelous victory.”

This autumn, let us hold all those struggling and suffering with the devastating events and aftermath of war, terrorism, hunger, loss, uncertainty, as well as the disastrous effects of climate chaos, unprecedented storms, fires, floods, and more.  May we all experience healing, inner and outer, find courage to speak out for what matters, and is important to us, find the resources to live with peace, gratitude, generosity, and compassion in these challenging times.

Abundant autumn blessings, encouragement and love, and active hope for positive outcomes in the important elections to come,

If you would like to delve further into how hope can help us in such times as these, here are some resources:

Active Hope. a book by Johanna Macy, about finding, and offering, our best response when facing concerns about our world situation.

Hope is a Verb. an inspiring podcast by Angus Harvey, of Fix the News

Hope is a Verb: Six Steps to Radical Optimist When the World Seems Broken, a book by Emily Ehlers

PSS As a bonus, September 21 is World Gratitude Day!  How perfect!

Some posts relevant for these times:

Do a Little Bit of Good  On an inspirational quote from Desmond Tutu about doing good…very fitting, even inspiring, for our current times.

What Are We Living: Fear or Hope?  An essay tackling this thorny question, offering perspectives and resources for your consideration.

Stonehenge at Autumn Equinox.

What wonders our precious world contains!

Jill Schroder is the author of BECOMING: Journeying Toward Authenticity. BECOMING invites self-reflection and to mine our memorable moments for insights, meaning, and growth. Check the website for a sample chapter or see the reviews to get a flavor for the volume. Your feedback, forwards, tweets, and likes are most welcome.

[hindibali]

Trending Searches in the US: Celebrity Deaths, Fourth of July, Blockbusters, and More

Recently, a number of famous persons, including Tony Bennett, Sinead O'Connor, Angus Cloud, and Paul Reubens, have vanished, which has resulted in a large increase in the number of people searching for their names on the internet. There was an increase in the number of searches that were conducted during the time period that was immediately preceding Independence Day. During these searches, Joey Chestnut, fireworks, and other activities that are specifically associated with the Fourth of July were taken into consideration. Within the sphere of the entertainment industry, the Barbie movie, Sound of Freedom, and Wonka were among the searches that were the most sought after. Additionally, the audience had a positive reaction to both the album "Utopia" by Travis Scott and the nominees for the Emmy Awards. ðŸ’μ There were millions of people who inquired about the Powerball and Mega Millions prizes, particularly after the Powerball jackpot surpassed one billion dollars. As soon as the prize reached more than one billion dollars, this became very prominent. The Women's World Cup, Inter Miami (when Messi was signed), and the Major League Baseball Home Run Derby were among the sports that were researched. Other sports that were looked into included the Major League Baseball Home Run Derby. We took into account each of them. with only one line of text Just a quick rundown In recent times, there have been a diverse range of subjects that have been the focal point of searches that have been trending in the United States. Notable celebrity deaths, Fourth of July festivities, blockbuster movies, large lottery awards, and significant athletic events are some of the themes that fall under this category. Read the full article

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29/3/2024 - Lunch and Drink

📍 Marymount Bakehouse, Thompson

🥧🥩 Shepherd's Pie ($16.90)

Angus beef tail for the filling with quenelle of potato and egg tatare on top. The filling was super tasty and the beef was tender. The touch of something slightly tangy in the potatoes also made it different from the usual shepherd pies. Individually, they tasted great but together, not so much. The tangy element in the potatoes does go well with the beef. Topped with Jamon croquetas and japanese mayo. I loved the presentation of this pie!

🥧🍗 Drunken Chicken Pot Pie ($18.80)

Chicken cooked in Shaoxing wine with butter fried chestnuts, shiitake and morel mushrooms. The truffle taste was pretty decent in this one!

🥧🍎 Apple and Rhubarb Custard Pie ($15.90)

Cinnamon apple pie with rhubarb puree and custard. Overall a rather tangy type of pie. Somehow it feels like something is missing. Ate this with ice cream. Maybe the cold is the missing element.

The crusts for all the pies were all extremely well done!! While I acknowledge the effort and thoughtful elements in the bakes here, the taste does not justify the price. That being said, I would probably still drop by to try other items.

📍 COBO Coffee

☕️ Iced Sea Salt Caramel Latte ($7.50)

The hot version was $6.50. Add $1 for the iced version. The coffee was generally pleasant, especially with the added sweetness of the caramel. Was it worth it? Not really. It was such a small cup but at least the coffee was potent.

[fionacle]

*sophomore year

Under cut because it is LONG. I’m not proofreading this. Content warning for the shit Shakespeare wrote about

The Great Chain of Being - Hierarchy from Elizabethan period including all living things, if you disrupt one part the whole thing gets messed up Macbeth - Thane of Glamis “Fair is foul, foul is fair” - good is bad, bad is good, thing aren’t always as they seem Starts with witches, people liked witchcraft Younger son doesn’t matter lol

King Duncan came to see how things were going, they see a bloody Sargent being carried away and the older son asks him what is happening, he says Macbeth slashed his way through men, violently killed the enemy’s leader by “unseeming” him & stuck his head on a pike, the Irish & Norwegian retreated, Norway came back but Macbeth & the others fought twice as hard & won

Thane of Cawdor was a traitor (king liked him so he rly hurt), Norway brought tons of troops but Macbeth handled it, gave Thane’s land & title to Macbeth (we know but he doesn’t, dramatic irony, tells us the witches has prophetic powers)

Witches gon almost kill husband of lady who wouldn’t give one chestnuts bc they angy and can’t kill with magic (shows they’re mean), Macbeth calls them ugly men as a haha they’re played by men, they say all hail Macbeth Thane and later king (he gets prophecies, we know the first bit is true so we believe the second), Shakespeare wants us to associate the witches with Macbeth, “Why do you start, and seem to fear things that sounds so fair” fair means foul omg evil is here woah, Banquo tells them to predict his future and they say you’ll be lesser than Macbeth yet greater and not so happy yet happier and you’ll never be king but your offspring will, Banquo just laughs but Macbeth has an ego and entertains the thought, stay here lol no disappears, Ross comes & tells him yo king heard about how awesome you were and he’s excited af you’re the thane of Cawdor now, Banquo is shocked and believes the witches are devils but Macbeth is like wait wait the thane’s alive why are you giving me his title and Angus is like idfk he committed treason somehow I don’t know the details but he’s not the thane anymore and Macbeth thinks hmm I’m thane now imma be king and tells Banquo yo aren’t you excited they were right about be becoming thane so your kids will probably be king (he says they gave him the title and promised the king kids, he forgets that his loyalty n stuff got him the title and just gives all the credit to the witches and already believes everything they said must happen), Banquo is like dude they could have tempted you by saying a truth so they can hurt you in the long run don’t jump in headfirst buddy, Macbeth is like but broski they told me a good thing would happen and a good thing happened tho honestly idk if it’s so good because for me to become king Duncan’s gotta die (starts trying to talk himself out it, I won’t murder him yet, no no nvm I ain’t gonna kill him if chance makes me king it’ll happen, he had thoughts of murder :0), Banquo & Macbeth are v close

Malcom says the only good thing the old Thane of Cawdor did with his life was dying, the king says he’s a bad judge of character man’s gullible af, Macbeth is a suck-up (serving you is payment enough, teehee <3), king praises Banquo too but he is way more modest, Malcome gets named the next king and Macbeth gets angy, Duncan���s like yooooo party at Macbeth’s house and Macbeth is irritated af and says he’s gonna go home now and tell his wife and Duncan’s like everybody look how cool this dude is (he cannot read emotions omg sweet stupid baby), Macbeth thinks I’m gonna kill him and his son omg Macbeth sends Lady Macbeth a letter asking for guidance because he trusts her, Macbeth is like they promised me the king titleee (no they didn’t it was a prophesy calm down buddy), she complains that he’s too nice to commit murder, she says if he forced himself to kill the king he wouldn’t regret it, poor her spirits in his ear is reference to Hamlet where Hamlet’s uncle poured poison into his dad’s ear - her words are poison, he sent the letter bc he wants her to convince him to do it - they know each other well and he knows she can do it and she knows he can but they both want it so, she’s like damn king gotta die and then messenger comes like yo king is coming and she likes omgg, asking sprites to make her less feminine & motherly and more like a masculine assassin & make her emotionless and evil, she likes when he leave he like well he plans to leave tomorrow and she like haha we got kill him he’ll never see another sunrise, he shocked she really wants to & says it outright Viewers thinking Duncan you gonna dieeeee and he just like ooh pretty castle, Lady Macbeth is like aww we just love having you here don’t worry it’s safe :), Macbeth thinks killing him will be bad since it will come back to bite you and stuff so he’s like no I won’t kill him and Lady Macbeth is like >:0, she’s like u don’t do it ur not a man & he’s like doing it would make me less of a man & she’s like well then you’re not being loyal like dude if you wanted me to I would literally bash the brains in of our child while he’s nursing

Banquo is uneasy, Macbeth & Lady Macbeth said they wish the stars would snuff out so the heavens wouldn’t be able to see what they did & Banquo says the stars are gone & the night is dark so the audience is like oh no Duncan gon die, Banquo can’t sleep & has a bad feelings & keeps getting nightmares despite being tired, Banquo wakes up & pulls & his sword & talks with Macbeth & tries to convince him to not hurt Duncan, Macbeth seems sus & Banquo gets suspicious and & tells him the king is sleeping & says he dreampt of the witches last night & Macbeth says he never thinks of them (lie, he’s gonna kill the king & disrupt everything because of them), Macbeth says if Banquo listens to him when he’s king he’ll be on his good side & Banquo says we can talk about it as long as it’s not treaserous you’re on thin ice, Banquo says he’s going to sleep so Macbeth should sleep too, Macbeth tells a servant to tell Lady Macbeth to ring the bell when his “drink” (everything is set up) is ready, Macbeth hallucinates a dagger that he follows to Duncan’s room & it goes bloody & it’s all creepy, he grabs for it & can’t grab it & he’s like are you real or not & wow ur like my actual dagger I’m gonna kill him with & he’s like damn my eyes suck or maybe they’re better than my other senses, the longer he talks about it the longer Duncan lives & he’s like talking himself out of it, he hears the bell, beginning to end of soliloquy he goes ehh should I -> no no I can’t -> Duncan is dead that’s the bell that means you’re gonna die buddy whether you’re going to heaven or hell (scary)

Murder is off-screen to leave it to imagination & also it would be treasonous to show a king’s death to a king

Lady Macbeth gets drunk too for courage & gets panicked by an owl, freaks out about like omg is he doing it did he do it did just attempting it get us in trouble he has to do it soon I set everything up aaaaaaa, she says if sleeping Duncan didn’t look so much like her dad she would have killed him herself but she couldn’t bring herself to kill him so she does have kindness and care deep down she’s not as heartless as she wanted to be, Macbeth hears people (implied it’s Duncan’s sons) praying but can’t say amen bc he’s done something so horrible, Macbeth looks at his bloody hands & Lady Macbeth says they can just wash off the dirty liquid & he’s like can the seas wash it off no I’d turn the seas red, she takes his hand to bring him to the sink and noticed he still has the daggers and tells him to put them back by the guards (he’s bloody and holding thr murder weapons) but he says he can’t go back so she does it herself & says she’ll dig into the wounds to smear blood on them if she has to, Macbeth knew there would be consequences but Lady Macbeth didn’t, Macbeth worries about how easy it was to kill him & no one ever sleeps again & him not sleeping adds to his paranoia, they hear knocking & Lady Macbeth says they have to get to bed because they’re both covered in blood now, as they walk away the noise continues & Macbeth says he wishes the sound would wake Duncan (opposite of scene like 10 minutes ago when he was saying the sound of the bell meant Duncan would die)

The Porter jokingly says that when he opens the door he’ll will be let loose (dramatic irony shows that’s actually gonna happen but he doesn’t know), he’s comic relief & talks about current events, Macduff comes to wake the king, Macbeth takes Macduff to Duncan’s room but doesn’t go in, Macduff says the weather was horrible last night & the people said the winds were saying laments & buildings were broken & Macbeth says it was a rough night (Macduff thinks he’s just talking about the weather, but Macbeth is talking about how he killed the king), Macduff goes in to wake the king & sees he’s dead & yells murder & one of the first people he calls is Banquo showing he’s respected, Lady Macbeth comes in asking why he’s yelling & Macduff says he can’t tell her because it would kill her since she’s a dainty lady (she’s not), he tells Banquo the king died & Lady Macbeth is like in our house?! and Banquo’s like umm it would be bad anywhere??, Macbeth comes in & is WAY over-dramatic so he seems sus, Malcom comes in & Macbeth keeps going all fancy but Macduff is just like ur dad’s dead. & Malcom just calmly asks who did it (sus bc he’s too calm & emotionless & next in line to the throne, audience knows he’s acting that way bc he’s in shock & worried he’ll be killed too), the guards have been drugged & are drunk so they’re all slave & confused, Macbeth comes in like uh sorry I got mad I killed them & everyone looks at him like ..what- (he’s acting on emotion), he says he was just so upset seeing his king’s body he had to like who wouldn’t & he goes on & on and everyone else is like.. everyone wouldn’t, she pretends to faint to get the attention away from him, Malcom & his brother run away because they know the murder is there so they can’t trust anyone & they don’t wanna end up murdered too (they’re better at reading character than their dad they’re less gullible & trusting, since they ran & weren’t there to discuss the potential guilty party they looked sus, the unnamed characters at the beginning & end of acts in short scenes are to summarize what’s happened & the one here is an old man talking to Ross & it says everything that happened but we learn some time has passed & the world is in chaos, it’s daytime & predators & prey have swapped places but it’s dark because the order of the universe has been disturbed, Duncan’s hours es went mad & started eating each other, Macduff & Ross talk & Ross asks if they know who did it & Macduff says he doesn’t know but Macbeth seems suspicious (now Banquo & Macduff are suspicious of him), since the sons ran away there’s no heir to the throne so the Thanes will get together & pick one of themselves to be the new king & since Macbeth just got all this stuff they’ll choose him, Macduff says he’s not going to the coronation & he’s just going home so we know he’s suspicious & everyone will notice since he’s a high general, Ross says well I’m going & Macduff’s like good for you

Banquo talks aloud about how he’s suspicious & Macbeth had gotten both things the witches promised but he worries he’ll want more, Banquo says Macbeth getting all this is fair but he fears he may have done something foul to get it, he says he should hush now because Macbeth is coming, Macbeth comes and says he wants Banquo to come to dinner tonight, Banquo says he can be ordered to come as he’s loyal to the king (jab at how Macbeth wasn’t loyal to the king), Macbeth asks him to speak with him now, Banquo says he’s gonna be riding, Macbeth asks how far (meaning where are you going), Banquo says as far as it takes till dinner time (avoiding the question), Macbeth tells him he’d like to speak to him, Banquo says he’s late & must go, Macbeth says don’t be late, Macbeth speaks with 2 murderers asking if they’ve decided if they’ll kill Banquo (shows he’s been thinking about having him killed since the day before), Macbeth says Banquo is respected & he fears him since he’s the only person who can make people suspicious of him, Macbeth is jealous that Banquo can have kids but he can’t bc he’s infertile, I didn’t kill the king just so Banquo’s kids can be king I only like my future prediction >:(, Macbeth says the reason they never got promoted wasn’t him it was actually Banquo, they say yea u told us also we have nothing to lose bc we’re down on our luck & you’ll probably reward us, Macbeth says they have to kill Banquo tonight, Macbeth says he’ll tell them where to hide & wants them to kill Banquo away from the palace so he’s not associated with it, keep it quiet & make it look like a random robbery or somethin, he tells them to kill Fleance too, the murderers are taken aback by him saying to kill a child

Lady Macbeth knows her husband is acting strange, she realizes she has no control over him, she knows they got everything but have nothing, Macbeth is too paranoid to sleep & has nightmares & he’s scared to eat, he says Malcom is a serpent they only burned it it will come back stronger, he says Banquo & Fleance are gonna mess everything up they’re all scorpions like poison and stings in his head, Lady Macbeth is like so what??, Macbeth is like I wish we were dead like Duncan, Lady Macbeth is like ooookay ur goin down a deep rabbit hole let’s calm down buddy, it doesn’t work & this is when she realizes she lost influence over her husband and he’s just like off on his own, Lady Macbeth is like tf are you talking about, Macbeth says he’s gonna do a bad thing, she’s like ?????, Macbeth is like it’s a surprise~!, Macbeth says he wants her to give her remembrance to Banquo (used to mean doing a toast, also means like ‘in remembrance of’ since he’ll be dead, pun), he says once you do one bad thing you gotta stay on that road & keep doing bad things, she’s like Jesus Christ it was just supposed to be the one thing first you kill the guards now you’re goin all crazy what the hell bro oh my god

There’s a third murderer :0 (different versions change who it is, no matter what it just shows Macbeth is so paranoid he sent a 3rd guy to check up on the 1st 2), second murderer is like uhh we didn’t need a third he gave us really specific instructions but come join us ig, they all see Banquo coming, Banquo realizes these are payed assassins & tells his son to “take revenge”, this implies that Banquo already had a convo with him about how something might happen, Banquo dies but Fleance escapes (he’s never in the play again)

Macbeth says he’s gonna come sit amongst the people (the king & queen usually sit above them), a murderer comes & Macbeth is like brb & goes to him & asks if the deed is done like u have blood on ur face, he’s like yea we got him, Macbeth says the blood looks better on the outside of him than it did on the inside of Banquo, the murderer says he’s dead in a ditch, Macbeth is like what about Fleance whoever killed him is the best, he’s like uhhhh yea he got away, Macbeth freaks out but is like but the big one’s dead?, he’s like yea, Macbeth is like aaaaaaa the snake is dead but the worm got away & it’s gonna grow fangs & come back for me Fleance is gonna come back for me now I’m even more paranoid oh god I cannot trust anyone, he goes back & Lady Macbeth is like oi u gotta give a toast otherwise everyone may as well be eating at home, Macbeth goes to the people & says ah Banquo’s late I hope nothing happened to him oooh he’s so lazy & late haha (he just learned he’s dead), Macbeth comes to sit & the people are like ok there’s an empty seat here & Macbeth is like the table’s full and they’re like no?? it isn’t????, he screams “WHICH OF YOU HAVE DONE THIS?!” & everyone looks at him like he’s crazy, Macbeth sees Banquo sitting there (20 gashes, brain matter in his hair, a scary & gory sight, shows up any time Macbeth says his name, either Banquo’s ghost or Macbeth hallucinating), Lady Macbeth is like uhhhhhh yea this happens all the time just leave him alone or else you’ll make it worse hahaha look awayyy, she pulls him aside & is like WHAT R U DOING?! ur making a fool of urself why are you making faces wth & she can’t calm him down, he had told her about the dagger but not about this, he’s like LOOK AT THE STOOL WHY CANT HE JUST BE DEAD worse murders have happened it used to be when you killed someone they disappeared but not anymore he’s yelling in front of everyone (everyone’s gonna question him when they find out Banquo died), she’s like bro everyone’s looking at u & he gets himself together & toasts to Banquo again, Banquo comes again & Macbeth screams at it again like GET OUT OF HERE GO, the ghost disappears & he’s like bro did ya’ll not see that??, they’re looking at him weird like what???, Lady Macbeth is like ok everyone just go goodnight leave get out, he’s freaking out about blood like when Duncan died (makes you compare the scenes, you see Lady Macbeth was naive & shows how dynamic they & their relationship is, before when he said it he was saying he’s gonna keep going & killing & making blood & she didn’t think he was right but now we see he was), he’s like YOU KNOW THEY SAY BLOOD WILL HAVE BLOOD WHAT TIME IS IT, she’s like idk midnight??, he’s going off about how he wants to kill Macduff next, she’s like u need sleep, he has spies watching everyone, he says he’s gonna go see the witches tomorrow, he says he’s in a river of blood & he’s in the middle so going forward & backward are equally as hard so he’s like we gotta keep killing I’ll get hardened to it eventually we gotta keep going

Nameless lord recap time~!, Duncan died & Banquo died too, sarcastically says Fleance must have done it since he ran away the same way Malcom & Donaldbane ran way & oh of course who couldn’t have killed those guards (everyone knows what Macbeth is now, talking about it without talking about it to avoid treason, he’s saying of course Fleance ran way out of fear rather than guilt so it calls Malcom & Donalbane into question), Macduff joined Malcom in England & the English king is so exasperated at what he heard that he’s helping Malcom prepare for war, Macbeth is called a tyrant for the first time, we learn Malcom isn’t a coward he’s actually a legendary leader

The witches put some weird crap in a cauldron, “Something wicked this way comes” (Macbeth is wicked), he’s like sup ugly hags I know you can do a lot of powerful destruction but just tell me what I wanna know, they’re like ok do u wanna ask us or the evil spirits, Macbeth’s like call them, a head in armor appears (unspecified who’s head, probably Macbeth), he’s gonna talk to it but they’re like don’t speak it already knows all ur thoughts, it tells him to beware Macbeth & he’s like AHA I KNEW IT I WAS THINKING ABOUT THAT, another apparition appears it’s a bloody child it tells him he can’t be harmed by any man born from women, Macbeth is like then why am I worrying about Macduff.. eh I’ll kill him anyway, a crowned child with a tree in his hand appears (either Malcom or Fleance) & says u won’t die until the forest comes to ur castle, he’s like oh wow I’m not gonna die until I’m old I feel AWESOME, he’s like cool cool but pls tell me if Banquo’s sons will ever be kings here, they’re like SHOW & 7 of Banquo’s descendants starting with Fleance walk out & the 7th one puts a mirror in front of the actual king in the audience’s face to show he’s the 8th descendant, Banquo’s ghost is off to the side to show that these kings are his descendants, he asks someone if they saw the witches and they say no (possible theory that he’s just hallucinating bc he’s paranoid & also trying to justify his plan, or maybe the witches are just able to disappear & they’re making him look crazy)

Macbeth knew Macduff wasn’t coming to the coronation thanks to a messenger so he knew Macduff wasn’t with him but now he knows he went to England so he knows he’s against him, now he’s like frick it I’m gonna just do all my first thoughts no second more guessing, Macbeth thinks he’ll kill everyone in Macduff’s castle & he does, Lady Macduff is upset that Macduff left, she’s like can you believe he just left us here?!, Ross is like maybe he didn’t leave out of fear maybe he left out of wisdom, wisdom?! He left us here! Where the danger is! He doesn’t love us, even the wren would fight against an owl to protect its babies (bird imagery), Ross is like calm down your husband is a smart man & he leaves (Ross may be connected to the murderers as he leaves just before they come in), she talks to her sassy 7yo son, she’s like what are you gonna do now that ur dad’s dead?, he’s like I’ll be like a bird, she’s like what eat bug and worms?, he’s like birds live with whatever they can get, she’s like you have no fear birds fear traps, he’s like why would someone set a trap for this little bird, she’s like he is dead what are you gonna do?, he’s like what are you gonna do without a husband?, she’s like eh I can get a new one easily, he’s like was my dad a traitor?, she’s like yes, he’s like what’s a traitor, she’s like someone who lies they must all be hanged, he’s like they all have to be hanged?, she’s like yea, he’s like there’s more traitors in the world they should all hang the truthful men, she’s like Jesus Christ what are you going to do without ur father?, he’s like he’s not dead you’d be crying & if you weren’t I’d know you already found a new one, yadayadayada cute banter this is literally the only love shown in the play & they’re about to die, someone comes in like I know you don’t know me but a murderer is coming run I hate to scare you but, she’s like I haven’t done anything wrong what, murderers come & ask where Macduff is, she’s like idk I hope no where you’ll find him, the son calls him a villain, the murderer calls him and egg (bird imagery) stabs him, he says he killed me & tells his mom to run & dies, she runs away calling murder & the scene ends, murderers kill Macduff’s wife and many children and servants and oh god it’s bloody and horrible and his most terrible & unjustifiable murder

Malcom’s like let’s go talk & Macduff’s like we can’t just talk we gotta discuss this to stop Macbeth he’s killing more people every day, Malcom says he’ll mourn but only over the things he believes to be true bc he can’t trust Macduff, he learned his lesson from what happened to his father so we know he’s gonna be a good king, Malcom says Macbeth hasn’t hurt you you once trusted him how do I know you’re not just here to sacrifice me to him (actually he has hurt him he killed his family but they don’t know yet), Malcom doesn’t trust anyone he just wants to find the truth, Malcom asks Macduff why he left his wife & kids don’t get offended I’m just asking for my safety, Macduff says oh well I’d you’re not gonna help I can’t convince you I’ll just leave (avoided the question), Malcom says calm down I know my country is in pain but I’d be a worse king than Macbeth, Macduff thinks he’s insane or sarcastic Iike bro no you wouldn’t, he’s like I’m too horny to rule I’d r-word all the women, Macduff is like broski there’s gonna be a lot of women who will want to sleep with you you’ll be fine, Malcom’s like I’m too greedy the more I get the more I’ll want, Macduff’s like ok that’s worse than your high sex drive but you ok bro we just won a war you’ll have tons of money as long as you have other kingly qualities you’ll be ok, Malcom’s like I don’t have those tho I’d only cause chaos, Macduff is like ur dad was a saint and ur mom prayed everyday u should be ashamed, Malcom’s like you passed the test I trust you you’re one of many who’s tried to bring me back I was lying to see how you’d react I take back everything I said I’m a virgin I like never want anything and I’ve never broken my faith saying all this crap was the only lie I’ve ever told I’m about to go into Scotland with my men - why are you so quiet?, Macduff’s like uh you just said a lot of good and bad things I’m kinda overwhelmed & confused, the doctor says Malcom will cure his country of Macbeth, Ross comes, Macduff asks how’s Scotland, he says that the only happy people are ignorant & everyone is desensitized to the pain, Malcom asks what the newest grief is, Ross says there’s a new one every minute so anything he says now will already be old news, Macduff asks how his wife is, Ross says well, Macduff asks how his kids are, Ross says they’re well too, Macduff is like the tyrant didn’t disturb their peace?? (shows he knew Macbeth would bother thank but left anyway), Ross says nope they were at peace when I left them (play on words), Ross says all of Scotland even women would fight for Malcom if he came back, Malcom tells him that the king of England gave him 10000 men & he’s coming, Ross says he has bad news, Macduff asks if it’s for someone specific, Ross says it’s for him - his castle & family were murdered (he waited to know Malcom was coming before he told him the news in case it changed his mind) and treated like murdered deer (bodies dragged in front of the casket & burned), Macduff is in grief & disbelief he keeps asking because he can’t quite process it & Ross is like he’s I told you they’re gone, Malcom is like let’s take revenge to heal this grief face this like a man!, Macduff is like you have no kids oh my god you’re being cold I need to feel emotions & mourn first I’m being a man but experiencing emotions, Macduff asks did God not help them?, Malcom is trying to get Macduff to get riled up & use his anger (he’s very smart but unempathetic), Shakespeare had to turn Malcolm around & make him seem a worthy king since he was a very good king irl

The doctor asks her when Lady Macbeth last walked, the gentlewoman says she opens a cabinet & takes a letter & writes on it & reads it & puts it back & she talks to herself, he asks what she says, she says she can’t repeat it because it would be treason with no one to back up her story, Lady Macbeth comes with a candle & the gentlewoman says she’s scared of the dark, in her dream she has blood on her hands that she can never wash off, she says who would have known the old man has this much blood (the blood won’t stop coming because of her husband’s deed), she knows he killed all these people including Macduff’s wife & it’s making her loose it she’s like you’re ruining everything, all the perfumes in Arabia won’t make the smell go away (compare to all the oceans won’t wash away the blood, roles are reversed she can’t take it, all of this is stuff she did when we first saw her so we compare how much she’s changed, she’s a shadow of her former self), the doctor says this is a disease of the mind not something I can give medicine for, she’s saying put on your nightgown wash your hands they’re dead we can’t undo what’s been done let’s go to bed, he says take away anything she can use to kill herself

The army is near Birnam wood (the witches mentioned that, Macbeth is gonna be taken down??), Macbeth is fortifying his castle he knows they’re coming, Caithness says some say he’s crazy some say he’s really angry, Angus mentions Macbeth’s robe hanging loosely (callback to “why do you dress me in borrowed robes?”, says Macbeth could never fill Duncan’s spot), those under Macbeth only do it out of fear or because they’re being payed not love

Macbeth says he’s not afraid because Malcom was born of a woman and the witches said no man born of woman can kill him, he thinks he’ll be fine because his fighters can ward them off until they all die one way or another, Macbeth is sad because his life is falling apart & he caused his own downfall he lost so much & has nothing to live for & nothing means anything & he has nothing to live for, Macbeth asks for his armor, he asks the doctor how his wife is and the doctor says not so physically sick as she has something in her head that keeps her from rest, he says cure her can’t you pull that out of her head, Macbeth says to find the disease his country has & give it a laxative to poop out the English (calling them sh*t lol), he says he won’t be afraid until the forest comes to the castle, the doctor says if he were away he wouldn’t come back he wants to leave

They put on woods as camouflage so they can’t tell how many men are coming (later when Macbeth sees it looks like the woods is moving, and bits of it are, it’s the prophesy coming true)

Macbeth is like alright I hear them coming we’ll just get people fighting against them, huh i’m not afraid nothing there’s so much bad stuff in my head that nothing shocks me anymore (he basically became what Lady Macbeth wanted to become), he ears Lady Macbeth scream she killed herself (we just heard of her with that callback, and now she’s dead), Macbeth has a speech about how all his days are meaningless and everything has led to this he’s depressed, he says “out out brief candle” (reference to Lady Macbeth with her candle saying out damn spot), a messenger comes and says he saw the woods coming, Macbeth says you’re lying someone must have payed you to say this! (No one else heard the witches bro), the guy says if you don’t see them I’ll endure your wrath, Macbeth says if you’re lying I’ll hang you on the nearest tree until you starve but if you’re telling the truth you may as well do the same to me because I’m gonna die, he’s doubting the apparitions & tired of fighting

Malcom is using the royal plural meaning he’s inserting himself into the slot of king, they arrange who will go in to fight first Macbeth is desperately hanging on to the “born of a woman” prophesy,

The young siward comes to Macbeth & fights him & he’s just a kid so he’s bad at fighting so that’s why Macbeth won but he believes it’s because of the pOwEr the witches gave him, Macduff says he has to kill Macbeth otherwise the ghosts of his family will haunt him forever if he can’t get him his sword is going back in its sheath he only wants Macbeth, the siward comes & says some people from Macbeth’s side came to our side we barely lost anyone, Macbeth considers killing himself but decides against it, he tells Macduff he avoided him because he killed his family so he already basically killed him but he also probably avoided him because of the first apparition, he taunts Macduff & says he has a charmed life he can’t bleed because he’s woman born so he can’t hurt him Macduff shouldn’t waste his energy, Macduff says he technically wasn’t born because he was a preeme & was just taken out of the room the apparition had a very specific definition of born, you don’t know I’d Macbeth lost because hearing that made him loose his edge or if he was just normally overpowered, Macbeth says I don’t wanna fight you, Macduff says oh we can have you dragged around the country as a freak show, Macbeth is like never mind I will not surrender FIGHT TO THE DEATH, Malcom says I’m sorry if we lost a lot of people, Siward says actually they didn’t loose a lot of men, Malcom says one of the people who died was his son, Siward asks if his wounds were on the front (front = fought back = ran away), Malcom says front, Siward says then he’s not sad he died a warrior’s death, Macduff comes with Macbeth’s head, Malcom summarizes all that happened & promises rewards to all who helped him & invites them all to the coronation

i feel like people would love my notes on shakespeare plays

[bob-belcher]

It’s one of those “lose, lose, lose” situations where everybody wins. Except you! And me… AND CHYNA!

[alwaysrideafasthorse]

[xytaes]

I just posted my first fic ever! I've been writing for years, but I've never had the courage to post any of my work. I'm certainly not the best, but I enjoy writing alot!

It's based on a RP I've been doing with my wife based on my Warden Allison and Alistair growing up together! It was a collab between myself and my wife @seraatonin! Its not my canon at all, but it was an interesting concept to me! Hope you enjoy!

Huffing, he peered away as his uncle spoke to the Teyrn of Highever, apologising softly for the fuss his nephew was making. He crossed his arms, and gave an even louder huff, dramatically making his annoyance known.

__________________

Alistair was not in the mood for meeting new people. It didn’t matter that he’d been told there was another child his age, he’d rather be anywhere else.

And then, he saw it - the big, bright mess of flames. His eye widened, fearing briefly, before he realized… It was hair - a bright red, unruly mess of curls. He stared, unable to ignore the curiosity burning through him.

The little girl rushed at her fathers legs, and would’ve surely toppled him over… but Clearly, the man was expecting this, lifting his daughter into his arms, smothering her giggling, freckled face in kisses.

“Ah, here the little spitfire is! Pup, this is Arl Eamon,” the Teryn spoke, settling her on his hip. The girl gave a bashful “hello”, pressing her face into her fathers neck.

The Teryn stepped over to Alistair, who’d stopped pouting and was gawking at the two, kneeling down to his height. “And this is Alistair, Arl Eamon’s nephew. He’s about your age, I believe.” As he spoke, he set his daughter down beside the boy ruffling her hair before stepping back to allow the children to have their own introductions, while the adults spoke of business.

The girl stared at him with bright, green eyes. “Hi,” she said curiously, her voice thick with an accent. She beamed as she spoke, a toothy, warm smile.

…Alistair was sure he’d never seen anyone so pretty in his life. His angry pout wobbled as he tried to fight her infectious smile. “Hello,” he said softly, still uncertain. His crossed arms unfurled, and he held out his hand, just as he’d seen his uncle do when introducing himself.

The Teryn and Arl watched them with amusement, eyeing one another. “Careful, Allison. He’s moody, that one,” Eamon chided.

“They’ll get along wonderfully, then,” the Teryn promised, giving a soft snort.

Alistair shot his uncle a look…was he trying to ruin his shot at making a friend? Before he could retort, Allison was grabbing his hand… and she was dragging him out of the main hall.

Alistair’s eyes went wide in surprise and shock, and all he could do was stumble after her. “Wh- Hey! Where are we going?” he cried, almost falling over as she all but dragged the poor boy.

“I wanna show you something really cool!” she giggled, zooming past staff and her confused mother. Eventually, she raced into the sleeping sector of the castle. The room she bounded into wasn’t exactly a bedroom - it was too open, with a wide archway in lieu of a door. She bounded inside, shockingly quiet, and put a finger to her lips. Alistair did his best to stay quiet too, peering around…

It was impossible not to see what she was showing him. By one of the room’s large windows, sat the biggest, plushest dog bed he had ever seen… Granted, he hadn’t seen many dog beds, but still. What was really impressive was the incredibly small puppy, curled up right in the centre of the bed. The tiny chestnut body rose and fell with deep breaths, eyes closed.

“This is Angus,” she told him, almost silent with how low she kept her voice. Her voice was laced with utter adoration.

“…Is he asleep?” Alistair asked, just as careful as he settled beside her. Really, it was a silly question to ask - a blind man could see this dog was asleep, but he wasn’t really sure what else to say.

“Mmhm!” she nodded. “Cause he’s so little, he has to sleep aaaaaaall the time, so he can grow up! One day, he’s going to be huge, because he’s a Mabari!” As she spoke, she leant down to kiss the puppy’s tiny head. The puppy blinked slowly awake, before giving a yawn that seemed almost bigger than he was, but totally silent.

“…But Mabari are so big!” he gasped, before leaning in to gaze directly at the puppy, speaking directly to him. “And… you’re so little!’

“Of course he is! He’s just a baby!” The girl laughed loudly, lifting the now awoken puppy into her arms.

“…Oh. I guess that does make sense.” Poor Alistair felt silly for thinking otherwise, but he’d never seen a baby Mabari, and Arl Eamon would never have considered getting him a puppy. “Can… can I pet him?” he asked shyly.

“Of course! Do you want to hold him? He’s really heavy!” Allison was shoving him into his arms before waiting for an answer. The young boy almost dropped the puppy, totally unprepared for the sudden weight shoved into his arms. Thankfully, he managed.

“Whoa… he is really heavy,” he agreed, giving the pup a snuggle, sniffing at his fur. He smelt… fresh. A little bit like raw meat, and perfume. It was an odd combination… But he kind of liked it.

For a while, they stayed seated like that, passing the tiny puppy between them. Occasionally, Alistair would ask Allison questions about the puppy, to which she’d excitedly reply, but for the most part? It was soft silence between them.

Eventually, though, Angus was letting out another yawn, right in Alistair’s face. He grimaced a little at the smell of raw meat on his breath. “Is it time for a nap?” he asked the puppy curiously. He got a soft blink in response, which made Allison giggle.

“C’mon, pup,” she cooed, speaking to Angus in the same tone her father would speak to her. “It’s time for bed.”

With that, she gently took Angus from Alistair’s arms, kissed his tiny little head, and set him back in the dog bed. The puppy seemed to be asleep before she’d even let him go.

The pair stayed watching him for a long moment, seeming fascinated even with the simple act of sleeping, before Allison was standing. “So… Wanna play dragons?” she asked, grinning at him as she moved to what may have been the largest dollhouse Alistair had ever seen. It was clear that, if he didn’t want to join her? She was more than happy to play on her own.

“… How do you play?” he asked excitedly, pulling himself to his feet to rush over. This was the first time he’d ever had a friend his own age, and many of the staff back at Redcliffe didn’t have time to play games with him.

Allison gave him a sweet smile, and patiently explained the strange rules she’d painstakingly created herself. She guided him through every step, and was kind whenever he made a mistake or had a question. He took every word she said as law, fascinated with her. It felt like they’d played for hours, only stopping when their eyes grew heavy and their movements were sluggish.

When a staff member came to collect the pair for dinner? They had curled up on Angus’ bed, fast asleep, with the puppy comfortably squished between them.

Dinner came and went, and it was clear that one afternoon had formed a powerful bond between them. The pair didn’t leave each other’s sides, Allison begged for Alistair to have a sleepover in her room instead of the guest room he was supposed to share with his uncle. It had took some pleading, and even bribery in the form of Alistair eating his vegetables… But the adults eventually relented.

Despite a mattress being dragged in for the young boy, Alistair spent the night on Allison’s incredibly comfortable bed, listening to her talk about whatever came to her mind. He found her voice soothing, and she told the most interesting stories. His favourite ones involved princesses and knights, slaying evil dragons together.

This went on for years. Alistair would beg to go to Highever whenever the Arl needed to go. The pair would spend every moment of the trip together, totally inseparable. They’d play, nap together, play again, tell stories and secrets, stay up way past their bedtimes…

And then, Alistair would have to leave. Every single time, he was carried or even dragged away from her, and both would wail and scream, begging for even five more minutes. When they were separated, they would write each other letters, with… varying levels of success, and a bit more sporadically.

The last letter Allison received from Alistair before he was due for his next visit? Spoke of the Arl’s new wife, his distaste for her and the baby he seemed convinced was being had to replace him. She’d planned to comfort him when he came, had their day all planned out to cheer him up… but then, when Arl Eamon came? Alistair wasn’t with him. Instead, he brought his new wife, and their tiny newborn baby.

He explained that he’d been sent to the Chantry, to learn to be a Templar. The adults carefully framed it to her as something exciting, an adventure, but Allison wouldn’t have it. She cried and screamed, throwing things about as she demanded they go get Alistair back. She was furious with them, horrified that they would ever just send him away.

When her father tried to settle her, she ran off, as fast as her legs would carry her, locking herself in her room for the rest of the day and the entire night. Angus kept her company, licked away her tears and curled up loyally by his best friend’s side, whining softly with her, grieving with her.

She never spoke to the Arl during his visits again.

[renee-writer]

The Contractor Chapter 14 Meeting Geillis

AO3

He hears the lad’s cries before he exits his truck. Angus mumbles under his breath. Jamie shots him a look. “Babies cry.”

 

“Aye, another reason he shouldn’t be here.”

 

“This is his home.”  Firmly said as he steps out of the truck. Angus and Rupert join him.

 

“A cute wee laddie, he is too.” Rupert adds. Jamie grins. That he is. Home a week now, he is growing into a real baby, chubby cheeks and all.

 

“A right pain be what he is.” Angus grabs equipment and heads in. He has yet to lay eyes on the baby and likes that just fine.

 

“Your just a grumpy auld man.” Rupert says.

 

“I am only a year older then you.” Angus replies. Jamie follows them up the path. He notes that her garden is starting to come out as he waits for Rupert’s reply.

 

“Aye, but several decades in your attitude.” Jamie chuckles. Perfect, he thinks.

 

They hear Claire talking to someone as they walk in. “He just doesn’t know you. He will get to.”

 

“Aye, he shall. Auntie Geillis will be spending a lot of time with him.”  The other lass had a strong Scottish accent.

 

“Yes, you shall. Fergus, this is your Auntie Geillis. She will be your Godmother. You can’t be screaming whenever she touches you.”

 

The men try to enter quietly but they carry a lot of equipment.

 

“The contractor, I presume.” The other lass, Geillis, they assume, says.

 

“Yes, let me introduce you.”

 

The lads stop.  The door opens and Claire steps out, the baby against her chest. The lass that follows her is tall with chestnut hair. Her eyes are  an intriguing green. Angus doesn’t see the baby, Claire, or anyone else. Only the lass. She freezes him in his tracks.

 

“Jamie, Rupert, and Angus, this is my best mate, Geillis Duncan. Geillis, my contractor, Jamie Fraser and his crew.”

 

“Nice to meet you lass.” Jamie offers his hand.

 

“You too, my lad. He is quite a fox.” She adds to Claire.

 

“Nice to make your acquaintance lass.” Rupert steps up. He also takes her hand.

 

“Thank you Rupert.”

 

Angus stands slack-jawed, his eyes wide. The others look at each other and Jamie nudges him. Claire is smiling against Fergus ‘ blanket.

 

“Hi.” He offers. She takes his hand.  His heart leaps in his chest.

 

“Hello Angus. It is very nice to meet you.”