William Shakespeare
Macbeth Edit Brancheau Mulka Smith Tuck Williams
Brancheau Mulka Smith Tuck Williams

Macbeth: Act 3, Scene 4

Banquet prepar'd. Enter MACBETH, LADY [MACBETH],
ROSS, LENNOX,.

MACBETH
You know your own degrees; sit down. At first
And last the hearty welcome.



Enter the GHOST OF BANQUO and sits
in Macbeth's place.


MACBETH
Here had we now our country's honour roof'd,
Were the graced person of our Banquo present,

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?

LADY MACBETH (aside to Macbeth)
This is the very painting of your fear:
This is the air-drawn dagger which, you said,
Led you to Duncan.
Why do you make such faces? When all's done,
You look but on a stool.

[enter Murderer]
[Macbeth goes to the door.]

Macbeth
There's blood on thy face.

First Murderer
'Tis Banquo's then.

MACBETH
Is he dispatch'd?

First Murderer
My lord, his throat is cut;

[Exit GHOST.]

MACBETH
Thou art the best o' the cut-throats

First Murderer
Ay, my good lord: safe in a ditch he bides,
With twenty trenched gashes on his head;
The least a death to nature.

MACBETH
Thanks for that:
Get thee gone; to-morrow
We'll hear, ourselves, again.

[Exit Murderer. ]


[Enter GHOST. ]


MACBETH
Which of you have done this?

Lords
What, my good lord?

MACBETH
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.

MACBETH
Prithee, see there!
Behold! look! lo! how say you?
If thou canst nod, speak too.


LADY MACBETH
Fie, for shame!


MACBETH
Blood hath been shed ere now,

ROSS
What, 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.


[Exeunt Lords [and all but Macbeth and Lady Macbeth].

MACBETH
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
It spoils the pleasure of the time.

MACBETH
Hence, horrible shadow!
Unreal mockery, hence!
[Exit Ghost.]

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
It will have blood; they say, blood will have 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 will to-morrow,
And betimes I will, to the weird sisters:
I am in blood
Stepp'd in so far that, should I wade no more,
Returning were as tedious as go o'er.

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.

Exeunt.