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MACBETH
(in 10 Minutes)
Abridged by
Joachim Emilio B. Antonio
THE PLAY:
ROSS God save the King! The Thane of Cawdor began a dismal conflict till that
Bellonas bridegroom confronted him and victory fell on us.
KING No more that Thane of Cawdor shall deceive our bosom interest. Go
pronounce his present death and with his former title greet Macbeth.
Exeunt.
BANQUO What are these that look not like the inhabitants o the earth?
WITCH 3 Thou shalt get kings, though thou be none. All hail, Macbeth and Banquo!
3
Enter ROSS.
ROSS The King hath happily received, Macbeth, the news of thy success;
he bade me, from him, call thee Thane of Cawdor; for it is thine.
MACBETH [Aside.] Glamis, and Thane of Cawdor! The greatest is behind. If chance
will have me King, why, chance may crown me without my stir.
KING Sons, kinsmen, thanes, know we will establish our estate upon our eldest,
Malcolm, whom we name hereafter the Prince of Cumberland. From hence to
Inverness, and bind us further to you.
MACBETH Ill myself be the harbinger; [Aside.] The Prince of Cumberland! That is
a step on which I must fall down, or else oerleap, for in my way it lies.
Exit.
LADY Glamis thou art, and Cawdor, and shalt be what thou art promised. Yet I
do fear thy nature. It is too full o the milk of human kindness to catch the nearest
way. Come you spirits that tend on mortal thoughts, unsex me here, and fill me
top-full of direst cruelty.
4
Enter MACBETH.
MACBETH I have no spur to prick the sides of my intent but only vaulting ambition
We will proceed no further in this business.
LADY Wouldst thou have that which thou esteemst the ornament of life and live
a coward in thine own esteem?
LADY But screw your courage to the sticking place, and well not fail.
Exeunt.
LADY That which hath made them drunk hath made me bold; Hark! Peace!
LADY Why did you bring the daggers from the place? Go carry them and smear
the sleeping grooms with blood.
MALCOLM O, by whom?
BANQUO Let us meet and question this most bloody piece of work,
Exeunt [all but MALCOLM].
MALCOLM Ill to England. This murderous shaft thats shot hath not yet lighted, and
our safest way is to avoid the aim.
Exeunt.
Enter ROSS. Enter MACDUFF.
MACDUFF Malcolm are stolen away and fled, which puts upon suspicion of the deed.
ROSS Then tis most like the sovereignty will fall upon Macbeth.
MACBETH Our fears in Banquo stick deep. He chid the Sisters then prophet-like,
they hailed him father to a line of kings. Upon my head they placed a fruitless
crown for them the gracious Duncan have I murdered.
Enter MURDERERS.
7
MACBETH Know that Banquo was your enemy. To leave no rubs nor botches in the
work, Fleance his son, must embrace the fate of that dark hour.
MACBETH Be innocent of the knowledge, dearest chuck, till thou applaud the deed.
Exeunt.
Enter THREE MURDERERS. Enter BANQUO and FLEANCE.
[They set upon BANQUO.]
BANQUO O, treachery! Fly good Fleance--O slave!
[Dies. FLEANCE escapes.]
MURDERER 3 There is but one down; the son is fled.
MACBETH Is he dispatched?
MACBETH Never shake thy gory locks at me. Avaunt and quit my sight!
Exit GHOST.
8
Why, so! Being gone I am a man again. I will tomorrow to the Weird
Sisters. More shall they speak; for now I am bent to know by the worst means the
worst. I am in blood stepped in so far that returning were as tedious as go oer.
Exeunt.
ALL Double, double, toil and trouble, fire burn, and cauldron bubble.
Enter MACBETH.
WITCH 1 Say, if th hadst rather hear it from our mouths or from our masters.
MACBETH Then live, Macduff. What need I fear of thee? But yet Ill make
assurance double sure thou shalt not live!
9
APPARITION 3 Macbeth shall never vanquished be until Great Birnham Wood to high
Dunsinane Hill shall come against him. Descends.
MACBETH Sweet bodements, good! Shall Banquos issue ever reign in this kingdom?
WITCH 3 Show!
Hautboys.
A show of eight KINGS, and BANQUO last.
MACDUFF Let us hold fast the mortal sword and, like good men, bestride our
downfalln birthdom.
10
MALCOLM Macduff, this noble passion, reconciled my thoughts to thy good truth and
honor. Now well together.
Enter ROSS.
ROSS Your castle is surprised; your wife and babes savagely slaughtered.
MACDUFF But gentle heavens, front to front bring thou the fiend of Scotland and
myself. Within my swords length set him.
LADY Out, damned spot, out, I say! What need we fear who knows it, when none
can call our power to account? Yet who would have thought the old man to have
had so much blood in him? The Thane of Fife had a wife. Where is she now?
What, will these hands neer be clean? Banquos buried; he cannot come out ons
grave. Wash your hands. Whats done cannot be undone. To bed, to bed.
Lady Macbeth exits.
Enter MACBETH, SEYTON.
A cry within of women.
SEYTON The Queen, my lord, is dead.
MACBETH She should have died hereafter; tomorrow, and tomorrow, and tomorrow
Enter a MESSENGER.
MESSENGER Gracious, my lord, I should report that which I say I saw. I looked toward
Birnham, and anon methought the wood began to move.
11
MACBETH I begin to doubt the equivocation of the fiend, that lies like truth. Fear
not, till Birnham Wood do come to Dunsinane! Ring the alarum bell!
Enter MACDUFF
MACBETH Though Birnam Wood come to Dunsinane and thou opposed, being of no
woman born, I will try to the last. Lay on, Macduff; and damned be him who first
cries, hold, enough!
MACDUFF Hail King! For so thou art. Behold where stands the usurpers cursed
head.
MALCOLM Thanks to all at once and to each one, whom we invite to see us crowned
at Scone.
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