Macbeth: Act 4

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?

But my heart is still throbbing to know one thing. Tell me, if your dark powers can see this far: will Banquo's sons ever reign in this kingdom?

Macbeth! Macbeth! Macbeth! Beware Macduff. Beware the thane of Fife. Dismiss me. Enough.

First Apparition Macbeth! Macbeth! Macbeth! Beware Macduff. Beware the thane of Fife. Let me go. Enough.

He had none. His flight was madness. When our actions do not, Our fears do make us traitors.

He had no patience. He was crazy to run away. Even if you're not a traitor, you're going to look like one if you run away.

Fathered he is, and yet he's fatherless.

He has a father, and yet he is fatherless.

Wisdom! To leave his wife, to leave his babes, His mansion and his titles in a place From whence himself does fly? He loves us not; He wants the natural touch. For the poor wren, The most diminutive of birds, will fight, Her young ones in her nest, against the owl. All is the fear and nothing is the love, As little is the wisdom, where the flight So runs against all reason.

LADY MACDUFF How could it be wisdom! To leave his wife, his children, his house, and his titles in a place so unsafe that he himself flees it! He doesn't love us. He lacks the natural instinct to protect his family. Even the fragile wren, the smallest of birds, will fight against the owl when it threatens her young ones in the nest. His running away has everything to do with fear and nothing to do with love. And since it's so unreasonable for him to run away, it has nothing to do with wisdom either.

Whither should I fly? I have done no harm. But I remember now I am in this earthly world, where to do harm Is often laudable, to do good sometime Accounted dangerous folly. Why then, alas, Do I put up that womanly defense, To say I have done no harm?

LADY MACDUFF Where should I go? I haven't done anything wrong. But I have to remember that I'm here on Earth, where doing evil is often praised, and doing good is sometimes a stupid and dangerous mistake. So then why should I offer this womanish defense that I'm innocent?

Sirrah, your father's dead. And what will you do now? How will you live?

LADY MACDUFF Young man, your father's dead. What are you going to do now? How are you going to live?

'Tis two or three, my lord, that bring you word Macduff is fled to England.

LENNOX Two or three men, my lord, who brought the message that Macduff has fled to England.

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.

MACBETH From now on, as soon as I decide to do something I'm going to act immediately. In fact, I'll start following up my thoughts with actions right now. I'll raid Macduff's castle, seize the town of Fife, and kill his wife, his children, and anyone else unfortunate enough to stand in line for his inheritance.

I will be satisfied. Deny me this, And an eternal curse fall on you! Let me know. Why sinks that cauldron? And what noise is this?

MACBETH I demand to be satisfied. If you refuse, let an eternal curse fall on you. Let me know. Why is that cauldron sinking? And what is that music?

I conjure you by that which you profess— Howe'er you come to know it—answer me.

MACBETH I don't know how you know the things you do, but I insist that you answer my questions.

That will never be. Who can impress the forest, bid the tree Unfix his earthbound root? Sweet bodements! Good!

MACBETH That will never happen. Who can command the forest and make the trees pull their roots out of the earth? These were sweet omens! Good!

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?

MACBETH The air on which they ride is infected. Damn all those who trust them! I heard the galloping of horses. Who was it that came here?

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.

MACBETH Then I don't need to kill Macduff. I have no reason to fear him. But even so, I'll make doubly sure. I'll guarantee my own fate by having you killed, Macduff. That way I can conquer my own fear and sleep easy at night.

Whate'er thou art, for thy good caution, thanks. Thou hast harped my fear aright. But one word more—

MACBETH Whatever you are, thanks for your advice. You have guessed exactly what I feared. But one word more—

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.

MACBETH You look too much like the ghost of Banquo. Go away! (to the first) Your crown hurts my eyes. (to the second) Your blond hair, which looks like another crown underneath the one you're wearing, looks just like the first king's hair. Now I see a third king who looks just like the second. Filthy hags! Why are you showing me this? A fourth! My eyes are bulging out of their sockets! Will this line stretch on forever? Another one! And a seventh! I don't want to see any more. And yet an eighth appears, holding a mirror in which I see many more men. And some are carrying double balls and triple scepters, meaning they're kings of more than one country! Horrible sight! Now I see it is true, they are Banquo's descendants. Banquo, with his blood-clotted hair, is smiling at me and pointing to them as his.

Child of integrity, hath from my soul Wiped the black scruples, reconciled my thoughts To thy good truth and honor.

MALCOLM Macduff, this passionate outburst, which proves your integrity, has removed my doubts about you and made me realize that you really are trustworthy and honorable.

Bless you, fair dame! I am not to you known, Though in your state of honor I am perfect. I doubt some danger does approach you nearly. If you will take a homely man's advice, Be not found here. Hence with your little ones. To fright you thus methinks I am too savage; To do worse to you were fell cruelty, Which is too nigh your person. Heaven preserve you! I dare abide no longer.

MESSENGER Bless you, fair lady! You don't know me, but I know you're an important person. I'm afraid something dangerous is coming toward you. If you'll take a simple man's advice, don't be here when it arrives. Go away and take your children. I feel bad for scaring you like this, but it would be much worse for me to let you come to harm. And harm is getting close! Heaven keep you safe!

Be bloody, bold, and resolute. Laugh to scorn The power of man, for none of woman born Shall harm Macbeth.

SECOND APPARITION Be violent, bold, and firm. Laugh at the power of other men, because nobody born from a woman will ever harm Macbeth.

With what I get, I mean, and so do they.

SON I mean I will live on whatever I get, like birds do.

As birds do, Mother.

SON I will live the way birds do, Mother.

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.

THIRD APPARITION Be brave like the lion and proud. Don't even worry about who hates you, who resents you, and who conspires against you. Macbeth will never be defeated until Birnam Wood marches to fight you at Dunsinane Hill.

Then the liars and swearers are fools, for there are liars and swearers enough to beat the honest men and hang up them.

Then the liars are fools, for there are enough liars in the world to beat up the honest men and hang them.

A deed without a name.

Witches: Something there isn't a word for.

By the pricking of my thumbs, Something wicked this way comes. Open, locks, Whoever knocks.

Witches: I can tell that something wicked is coming by the tingling in my thumbs. Doors, open up for whoever is knocking!