Page:Macbeth (1918) Yale.djvu/50

38

Till supper-time alone; while then, God be with you!

Sirrah, a word with you. Attend those men

Our pleasure?

Serv. They are, my lord, without the palace gate.

Macb. Bring them before us.

To be thus is nothing;

But to be safely thus. Our fears in Banquo

Stick deep, and in his royalty of nature

Reigns that which would be fear'd: 'tis much he dares,

And, to that dauntless temper of his mind,

He hath a wisdom that doth guide his valour

To act in safety. There is none but he

Whose being I do fear; and under him

My genius is rebuk'd, as it is said

Mark Antony's was by Cæsar. He chid the sisters

When first they put the name of king upon me,

And bade them speak to him; then, prophet-like,

They hail'd him father to a line of kings.

Upon my head they plac'd a fruitless crown,

And put a barren sceptre in my gripe,

Thence to be wrench'd with an unlineal hand,

No son of mine succeeding. If 't be so,

For Banquo's issue have I fil'd my mind;

For them the gracious Duncan have I murder'd;

Put rancours in the vessel of my peace

Only for them; and mine eternal jewel

Given to the common enemy of man,

To make them kings, the seed of Banquo kings!

Rather than so, come fate into the list,

 44 while then: till then

God be with you: i.e., good-bye

56 genius: guardian angel

rebuk'd: overawed

61 Fruitless: childless

65 fil'd: defiled

67 rancours: bitternesses

68 eternal jewel: soul

71 list: lists, tilting ground

