SCENE V. [A heath]_ACT III_THE TRAGEDY OF MACBETH_ELIZABETHAN DRAMA

Directory:ELIZABETHAN DRAMA I

SCENE V. [A heath]〖This scene is probably the interpolation of a later dramatist.〗

Thunder. Enter the three WITCHES, meeting HECATE

1. WITCH. Why, how now, Hecate! you look angerly.

HEC. Have I not reason, beldams〖Hags.〗 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〖Secret.〗 contriver of all harms,

Was never call’d 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’ the morning; thither he

Will come to know his destiny.

Your vessels and your spells provide,

Your charms and everything beside.

I am for the 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 vaporous drop profound;

I’ll catch it ere it come to ground;

And that distill’d 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〖Over-confidence.〗

Is mortals’ chiefest enemy. Music, and a song.

Hark! I am call’d; my little spirit, see,

Sits in a foggy cloud, and stays for me. [Exit.]

(Sing within:“Come away, come away,” etc.

1. WITCH. Come, let’s make haste; she’ll soon be back again. Exeunt.

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