Page:Macbeth (1918) Yale.djvu/71

Macbeth, IV. i. 

What is this,

That rises like the issue of a king,

And wears upon his baby brow the round

And top of sovereignty?

All. Listen, but speak not to 't.

Third App. Be lion-mettled, proud, and take no care

Who chafes, who frets, or where conspirers are:

Macbeth shall never vanquish'd be until

Great Birnam wood to high Dunsinane hill

Shall come against him.

Macb. That will never be:

Who can impress the forest, bid the tree

Unfix his earth-bound root? Sweet bodements! good!

Rebellious dead, rise never till the wood

Of Birnam rise, and our high-plac'd Macbeth

Shall live the lease of nature, pay his breath

To time and mortal custom. 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?

All. Seek to know no more.

Macb. 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?

Hautboys.

First Witch. Show!

Sec. Witch. Show!

Third Witch. Show!

 95 impress: force into military service

96 bodements: predictions

97 Rebellious dead; cf. n.

