Act 3 — Scene V. A heath.[4275]
Reading edition
Scene V. A heath.[4275]
Thunder. Enter the three Witches, meeting Hecate.
First Witch. Why, how now, Hecate! you look angerly. Hec. Have I not reason, beldams as you are,[4276][4277] Saucy and over-bold? How did you dare[4277] To trade and traffic with Macbeth In riddles and affairs of death; 5 And I, the mistress of your charms, The close 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 10 Hath been but for a wayward son,[4278] Spiteful and wrathful; who, as others do,[4279] Loves for his own ends, not for you.[4280] But make amends now: get you gone, And at the pit of Acheron 15 Meet me i' the morning: thither he Will come to know his destiny: Your vessels and your spells provide, Your charms and every thing beside. I am for the air; this night I'll spend[4281] 20 Unto a dismal and a fatal end:[4282] 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: 25 And that distill'd by magic sleights[4283] Shall raise such artificial sprites[4284] As by the strength of their illusion Shall draw him on to his confusion: He shall spurn fate, scorn death, and bear 30 His hopes 'bove wisdom, grace and fear: And you all know security Is mortals' chiefest enemy.[4285]
[Music and a song within: 'Come away, come away,' &c.