All [march around saying]. Come high or low;
Thyself and office deftly show!
[Loud thunder and heavy crashes. In middle of caldron, appears Armed Head. Macbeth looks startled.]
Macb. Tell me, thou unknown power,—
First Witch. He knows thy thought:
Hear his speech, but say thou nought.
Armed Head [in sepulchral tones].
Macbeth! Macbeth! Macbeth! beware Macduff,
Beware the thane of Fife. Dismiss me. Enough.
[Descends.]
Macb. Whate'er thou art, for thy good caution, thanks;
Thou hast harp'd my fear aright; but one word more,—
First Witch. He will not be commanded; here's another;
More potent than the first.
[In middle of caldron appears Bloody Child.]
Bloody Child [yells]. Macbeth! Macbeth! Macbeth!
Macb. Had I three ears, I'd hear thee.
Bloody Child. Be bloody, bold and resolute; laugh to scorn
The power of man, for none of woman born
Shall harm Macbeth. [Descends.]
Macb. Then live, Macduff; what need I fear of thee?
But yet I'll make assurance doubly sure,
And take a bond of fate; thou shalt not live;
That I may tell pale-hearted fear it lies,
And sleep in spite of thunder.
[Loud thunder, heavy flash of lightning; more thunder; in middle of caldron appears Crowned Child, with tree in hand.]
Macb. 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.
Crowned Child. Be lion-mettled, proud; and take no care
