SCENE II. The sun. Enter Autolycus, and a Gentleman. Aut. 'Beseech you, sir, were you present at this relation? 1 Gent. I was by at the opening of the farthel, heard the old shepherd deliver the manner how he found it: whereupon, after a little amazedness, we were all commanded out of the chamber: only this, methought, I heard the shepherd say, he found the child. 5 [with clipping' her; now he thanks the old shep herd, which stands by, like a weather-beaten conduit of many kings' reigns. I never heard of such another encounter, which lames report to follow it, and undoes description to do it. 2 Gent. What, pray you, became of Antigonus, that carry'd hence the child? 3 Gent. Like an old tale still; which will have matters to rehearse, though credit be asleep, and 10not an ear open: He was torn to pieces with a bear; this avouches the shepherd's son ; who has not only his innocence (which seems much) to justify him, but a handkerchief, and rings, of his, that Paulina knows. Aut. I would most gladly know the issue of it. 1 Gent. I make a broken delivery of the business;-but the changes I perceiv'd in the king, and Camillo, were very notes of admiration; they 15 seem'd almost, with staring on one another, to tear the cases of their eyes; there was speech in their dumbness, language in their very gesture; they look'd, as they had heard of a world ransom'd, or one destroy'd: A notable passion of 20 wonder appear'd in them: but the wisest beholder that knew no more but seeing, could not say if the importance were joy, or sorrow; but in the extremity of the one, it must needs be. Enter a second Gentleman. Here comes a gentleman, that, happily, knows more: The news, Rogero? 25 2 Gent. Nothing but bonfires: The oracle is fulfill'd; the king's daughter is found: such a deal of wonder is broken out within this hour, 30 that ballad-makers cannot be able to express it. Enter a third Gentleman. Here comes the lady Paulina's steward, he can deliver you more:-How goes it now, sir? this news, which is call'd true, is so like an old tale, 35 that the verity of it is in strong suspicion: Has the king found his heir? 3 Gent. Most true; if ever truth were pregnant by circumstance: that, which you hear, you'!! swear you see, there is such unity in the proofs. 40 The mantle of queen Hermione;-her jewel about the neck of it-the letters of Antigonus, found with it, which they know to be his character;the majesty of the creature in resemblance of the mother-the affection of nobleness, which nature 45 shews above her breeding,—and many other evidences, proclaim her, with all certainty, to be the king's daughter. Did you see the meeting of the two kings? 2 Gent. No. 1 Gent. What became of his bark, and his fol lowers? 3 Gent. Wreck'd, the same instant of their master's death; and in the view of the shepherd: so that all the instruments, which aided to expose the child, were even then lost, when it was found. But, oh, the noble combat, that, 'twixt joy and Sorrow, was fought in Paulina! She had one eye declin'd for the loss of her husband; another ele, vated that the oracle was fulfill'd: She lifted the princess from the earth; and so locks her in em, bracing, as if she would pin her to her heart, that she might no more be in danger of losing. 1Gent. The dignity of this act was worth the audi ence of kings and princes; for by such was it acted. 3 Gent. One of the prettiest touches of all, and that which angled for mine eyes, (caught the water, though not the fish) was, when at the relation of the queen's death, with the manner how she came to it, (bravely confess'd, and lamented by the king) how attentiveness wounded his daughter; 'till, from one sign of dolour to another, she did, with an alas! I would fain say, bleed tears; for, I am sure, my heart wept blood. Who was most marble there', chang'd colour; some swooned, all sorrowed: if all the world could have seen it, the woe had been universal. 1 Gent. Are they returned to the court? 3 Gent. No: The princess hearing of her mo ther's statue, which is in the keeping of Paulina,a piece many years in doing, and now newly perform'd by that rare Italian master, Julia Romano; who, had he himself eternity', and could put breath into his work, would beguile nature of her custom, so perfectly he is her ape: he so near 50 to Hermione hath done Hermione, that, they say, one would speak to her, and stand in hope of an swer: thither, with all greediness of affection, are they gone; and there they intend to sup. 3 Gent. Then have you lost a sight, which was to be seen, cannot be spoken of. There might| you have beheld one joy crown another; so, and in such manner, that, it seem'd, sorrow wept to take leave of them; for their joy waded in tears. 55 There was casting up of eyes, holding up of hands; with countenance of such distraction, that they were to be known by garment, not by favour. Our king, bing ready to leap out of himself for joy of his found daughter; as if that joy were now become a loss, cries, Oh, thy mother, thy mother! then asks Bohemia forgiveness; then embraces his son-in-law; then again worries he his daughter, 2 Gent. I thought, she had some great matter there in hand; for she hath privately, twice or thrice a day, ever since the death of Hermione, visited that removed house. Shall we thither, and with our company piece the rejoicing? 1 Gent. Who would be thence, that has the be 60nefit of access? every wink of an eye, some new grace will be born: our absence makes us unthrifty to our knowledge. Let's along. [Exeunt. Aut. Now, had I not the dash of my former That is, embracing her. i. e. most insensible. would draw her customers from her. i. e. immortality. i, e. of her trade,— life life in me, would preferment drop on my head.] Enter Shepherd and Clown. Here come those I have done good to against my will, and already appearing in the blossoms of their fortune. Shep. Come, boy; I ain past more children; but thy sons and daughters will be all gentlemen born. 15 Clo. You are well met, sir: You denied to fight with me this other day, because I was no gentleman born: See you these clothes? say, you see 20 them not, and think me still no gentleman born you were best say, these robes are not gentlemen born Give me the lie; do; and try whether I am now a gentleman born. : Aut. I know, you are now, sir, a gentleman 25 born. Clo. Ay, and have been so any time these four hours. Shep. And so have I, boy. 30 Clo. So you have:-but I was a gentleman born before my father, for the king's son took me by the hand, and call'd me brother; and then the two kings call'd my father, brother; and then the prince, my brother, and the princess, my sister, call'd my father, father; and so we wept: and 35 there was the first gentleman-like tears that ever we shed. Shep. We may live, son, to shed many more. Clo. Ay; or else 'twere hard luck, being in so preposterous estate as we are. Aut. I humbly beseech you, sir, to pardon me all the faults I have committed to your worship, and to give me your good report to the prince my master. Shep. Pr'ythee, son, do; for we must be gentle, now we are gentlemen. Clo. Thou wilt amend thy life? Aut. Ay, an it like your good worship. Clo. Give me thy hand: I will swear to the prince, thou art as honest a true fellow as any is in Bohemia, Shep. You may say it, but not swear it. Clo. Not swear it, now I am a gentleman? boors and franklins say it, I'll swear it. Shep. How if it be false, son? 40 45 Leo. Paulina, We honour you with trouble: But we came Paul. As she liv'd peerless, So her dead likeness, I do well believe, Or hand of man hath done; therefore I keep it Leo. Her natural posture ! Chide me, dear stone; that I may say, indeed, Pol. Oh, not by much. Paul. Somuch the more our carver's excellence; Leo. As now she might have done, As now it coldly stands) when first I woo'd her! Clo. If it be ne'er so false, a true gentleman may 55 swear it, in the behalf of his friend :-And Pil swear to the prince, thou art a tall fellow of thy hands, and that thou wilt not be drunk; but I know, thou art no tall fellow of thy hands, and that thou wilt be drunk; but I'll swear it: and I would, 60 thou would'st be a tall fellow of thy hands. Aut. I will prove so, sir, to my power. * Clo. Ay, by any means prove a tall fellow: If I do not wonder, how thou dar'st venture to be drunk, not being a tall fellow, trust me not.-65 I kneel, and then implore her blessing.-Lady, The statue is but newly fix'd, the colour's 1 Franklin is a freeholder, or yeoman, a man above a villain, but not a gentleman. i. e. stay a while, be not so eager, i. e. stout. I'll fill your grave up: stir; nay, come away; 5 Start not; her actions shall be holy, as, You kill her double: Nay, present your hand: When she was young, you woo'd her: now, in age, 10 Is she become the suitor. Paul. No longer shall you gaze-on't; lest your 15 May think anon, it moves. Leo. Let be, let be. Would I were dead, but that, methinks, alreadyWhat was he, that did make it ?—See, my lord, Would you not deem, it breath'd? and that those 20 Did verily bear blood?. Pol. Masterly done : The very life seems warm upon her lip. [veins Leo. The fixture of her eye has motion in't, As we are mock'd with art. Paul. I'll draw the curtain; My lord's almost so far transported, that Leo. O sweet Paulina, Make me to think so twenty years together; The pleasure of that madness. Let 't alone. [but Leo. Do, Paulina; For this affliction has a taste as sweet As any cordial comfort.-Still, methinks, Paul. Good my lord, forbear: You'll mar it, if you kiss it; stain your own Per. So long could I Stand by, a looker on. Paul. Either forbear, Quit presently the chapel; or resolve you For more amazement: If you can behold it, Leo. What you can make her do, I am content to look on: what to speak, Paul. It is requir'd, You do awake your faith: Then, all stand still; Leo. Proceed; No foot shall stir. Leo. Oh, she's warm! If this be magic, let it be an art Lawful as eating. Pol. She embraces him. [Embracing her. Cam. She hangs about his neck; Pol. Ay, and mak't manifest where she has liv'd, Or how stol'n from the dead? Paul. That she is living, Were it but told you, should be hooted at Like an old tale; but it appears, she lives, Though yet she speak not. Mark a little while. Please you to interpose, fair madam; kneel, And pray your mother's blessing.-Turn, good 25 Our Perdita is found. [lady; [Presenting Perdita, who kneels to Hermione. Her. You gods, look down, And from your sacred vials pour your graces Upon my daughter's head!—Tell me, mine own, 30 Where hast thou been preserv'd? where liv'd? how found Thy father's court? for thou shalt hear, that I,— Paul. There's time enough for that; Will wing me to some wither'd bough; and there mine; Thou hast found But how, is to be question'd: for I saw her, 50 As I thought, dead; and have, in vain, said many A prayer upon her grave: I'll not seek far (For him, I partly know his mind) to find thee An honourable husband:-Come, Camillo, And take her by the hand; whose worth, and ho55 Is richly noted; and here justified [nesty, By us, a pair of kings.—Let's from this place.— What?-Look upon my brother?-both your pardons, That e'er I put between your holy looks 60 My ill suspicion.-This your son-in-law, And son unto the king; who, heavens directing, Is troth-plight to your daughter.-Good Paulina, Lead us from hence; where we may leisurely Each one demand, and answer to his part Perform'd in this wide gap of time, since first We were dissever'd: Hastily lead away. Paul. Musick; awake her: strike.— [Musick. 65 "Tis time; descend; be stone no more; approach; Strike all that look upon with marvel. Come; [Exeunt omnes. MACBETH. ROSSE, Noblemen of Scotland. MENTETH, ANGUS, CATHNESS, FLEANCE, Son to Banguo. SIWARD, General of the English forces. SEYTON, an Officer attending on Macbeth. An English Doctor. A Scotch Doctor. A Captain. A Porter. An old Man. Lady MACBETH. Lady MACDUFF. Gentlewoman attending on Lady Macbeth. Lords, Gentlemen, Officers, Soldiers, Murderers, Attendants, and Messengers. The Ghost of Banquo, and several other Apparitions. SCENE, in the end of the fourth Act, lies in England; through the rest of the play in Scotland; and, chiefly, at Macbeth's Castle. 1 Witch. SCENE I. Thunder and Lightning. Enter three Witches. ACT I. WHEN shall we three meet again In thunder, lightning, or in rain? 2 Witch. When the hurly-burly's done, When the battle's lost and won: 3 Witch. That will be ere th' set of sun. 1 Witch. Where the place? 2 Witch. Upon the heath : 3 Witch. There to meet with Macbeth. 1 Witch. I come, Gray-malkin! All. Paddock calls:-Anon'. Fair is foul, and foul is fair2; Hover through the fog and filthy air. Gainst my captivity: Hail, brave friend! Cap. Doubtful it stood; 5 As two spent swimmers that do cling together, The multiplying villanies of nature Alarum within. Enter King Duncan, Malcolm, Donalbain, Lenox, with Attendants, meeting a 20 bleeding Captain. King. What bloody man is that? He can report, As seeneth by his plight, of the revolt The newest state. Mal. This is the serjeant, Who like a good and hardy soldier fought 1 Like valour's minion, carved out his passage, And ne'er shook hands, nor bid farewell to him, King. Oh, valiant cousin! worthy gentleman! 1 Mr. Upton observes, that to understand this passage, we should suppose one familiar calling with 2i. e. we make these sudden changes of the voice of a cat, and another with the croaking of a toad. the weather, Warburton thinks we should read, from the nape to the chops; i. e. cut the skull in two. i. e. the east. Compell'd Who comes here? Mal. The worthy thane of Rosse. Len. What a haste looks through his eyes! So That seems to speak things strange. King. Whence cam'st thou, worthy thane? Where the Norweyan banners flout' the sky, Norway himself, with terrible numbers, King. Great happiness! 3 Witch. Sister, where thou? 1 Witch. A sailor's wife had chesnuts in her lap, And mouncht, and mouncht, and mouncht;Give me, quoth I. 5 Aroint thee, witch! the rump-fed' ronyon' cries. And, like a rat without a tail, 3 Witch. And I another. 1 Witch. I myself have all the other; I will drain him dry as hay: 25 Look what I have. 2 Witch. Shew me, shew me. 1 Witch. Here I have a pilot's thumb, Wreck'd, as homeward he did come. [Drumwithin, 3 Witch. A drum, a drum; 30 Macbeth doth come. All. The weird sisters', hand in hand, Thus do go about, about; Enter Macbeth and Banquo. Sweno, the Norways' king, craves composition; King. What he hath lost, noble Macbeth hath won. SCENE III. 1 Witch. Where hast thou been, sister? 2 Witch. Killing swine. 5 2 That you are so. 1 Memorize, for make memorable, To flout is to mock or insult. i. e. gave him as good as he brought, shew'd he was his equal. Colme's inch, now called Inchcomb, a small island lying in the Firth of Edinburgh, with an abbey upon it, dedicated to St. Columb; called by Camden Inch Colm, or the Isle of Columba. Aroint, or avaunt, be gone. The weird sister here alludes to the poverty of a woman who had called her witch, as not being able to procure better provision than rumps and i. e. scabby or mangy woman; from rogneux, royne, scurf. i. e. the true exact points. 'i. e, as one under a curse, an interdiction. Weird is derived from an AngloSaxon word signifying a prophecy. The weird sisters here mean the Fates, or Destinies, of the northern nations. "i. e. may hold converse with, Witches were supposed always to have hair on their chins, other offals. 8 Things |