Scene V

[A heath.]

Thunder. Enter the three Witches, meeting Hecate.

FIRST WITCH:

Why, how now, Hecate? You look angerly.

FIRST WITCH:

Why, how are you, Hecate? You look angry.

HECATE:

Have I not reason, beldams as you are,
Saucy and overbold? How did you dare
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,
Spiteful and wrathful: who, as others do,
Loves for his own ends, not for you.
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(20)
Unto a dismal and a fatal end.
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
Shall raise such artificial sprites
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. Music, and a song
Hark! I am call'd; my little spirit, see,
Sits in a foggy cloud and stays for me.(35)

HECATE:

Don’t I have reason, hags that you are,
Impudent and overbold? How dare you
Trade and traffic with Macbeth
In riddles and affairs of death;
And I, the mistress of your charms,
The secret contriver of all harms,
Was never called to offer my part,
Or show the glory of our art?
And, which is worse, all you have done
Has been only for a wayward son,
Spiteful and wrathful, who, as others do,
Loves for his own ends, not for you.
But you can make amends now. Get going,
And, at the sunken place by the river Acheron,
Meet me in the morning. There he
Will come to know his destiny.
Provide your vessels and your spells,
Your charms, and everything else beside.
I am going into the air. I'll use this night
For an evil and a deadly end.
Great work must be done before noon.
A vaporous, profound drop hangs
On the corner of the moon.
I'll catch it before it hits the ground.
And that drop, distilled by magic tricks,
Shall raise such unnatural spirits,
That, by the strength of their deception,
Shall add to his confusion.
He shall spurn fate, scorn death, and bear
His hopes above wisdom, grace, and fear.
And you all know, security
Is the major enemy of humans.

Listen! I am being called. See, my little spirit
Sits in a foggy cloud and stays for me.

Sing within[:] Come away, Come away, etc.

FIRST WITCH:

Come, let's make haste; she'll soon be back
again.

FIRST WITCH:

Come, let's hurry up. She'll be back again soon.

Exeunt.