The Tragedy of Macbeth, Part II: The Seed of Banquo

SCENE III

  Balcony.

  Malcolm, pacing.

  Enter Lady Malcolm.

  LADY MALCOLM My lord? You are unwell.

  MALCOLM I shall never

  be well, so long as I wear this blood

  of Donalbain’s. See, it won’t come out.

  LADY MALCOLM ‘Tis not your brother’s blood, my lord.

  ’Tis but

  a drop of wine.

  MALCOLM Then what a potent drop

  it is! I will not set foot in that room

  again.

  LADY MALCOLM Nor need you, ever.

  MALCOLM I begin

  to calm, with you here by my side. This night

  air does me rightful good. Already the scene

  begins to lift.

  LADY MALCOLM You are well in health

  but not in spirit. I charge you: light a candle

  for your dear brother, and join me in my nightly

  prayers. Tomorrow we’ll to the chapel, where you

  can make rightful amends.

  MALCOLM Cawdor alone

  can touch. But I am he.

  LADY MALCOLM My lord?

  MALCOLM I must

  know how it ends.

  LADY MALCOLM What ends, my lord?

  MALCOLM Why,

  my life. Or, rather, Cawdor’s. They spoke of Birnam,

  and so it was. They spoke of Ireland; from there

  he came. They must amend my prophecy!

  LADY MALCOLM Heaven forfend! Did you not vow to ne’er

  see them again?

  MALCOLM An oath I made in haste.

  I needs must know that I cannot be touched.

  Forgive, my love: their drug sits deep. I crave

  yet one last dose.

  LADY MALCOLM Vile creatures! Satan’s

  puppets! I pray you, do not break your vow

  on our wedding night.

  MALCOLM I will promise

  other things, and those I will keep.

  Hark! The bell invites. We will have other nights.

  Exit Malcolm.

  LADY MALCOLM I fear not as many as we may wish.

  Exit.

  SCENE IV

  Witches’ place.

  Enter Malcolm.

  MALCOLM This place is too cold for hell. Cursed

  sisters! Where hide you?

  VOICE Here, Malcolm!

  MALCOLM A voice! As the breath of a demon

  Crossed with a dog’s. From whence came this? The fog

  my vision blinds.

  VOICE Descend, Malcolm!

  MALCOLM The trail

  leads down.

  Cavern.

  MALCOLM What place is this? ‘Tis darker than the depths

  of night.

  Enter Three Witches, with torch.

  FIRST WITCH Hail, King of Scotland!

  SECOND WITH Thane of Cawdor, hail!

  THIRD WITCH Hail, Malcolm, who shall be touched by no

  man

  but Cawdor!

  MALCOLM (aside) Again do they speak thus. I feel settled

  already.

  (to them) No man, say you?

  FIRST WITCH Bid us summon our devils

  and you shall know further.

  MALCOLM I bid you.

  Enter First Apparition.