ACT 3
[Enter three Murderers]
FIRST MURDERER
But who did bid thee join with us?
Who said that you should come with us?
THIRD MURDERER
Macbeth.
Macbeth.
SECOND MURDERER
He needs not our mistrust, since he delivers
We don’t need to distrust him, for he states
Our offices and what we have to do
Our obligations and our course of action
To the direction just.
Exactly as Macbeth said.
FIRST MURDERER
Then stand with us.
Come with us, then.
The west yet glimmers with some streaks of day:
The remnants of the sunlight fade out west;
Now spurs the lated traveller apace
Spurring the tardy travellers on apace
To gain the timely inn; and near approaches
To seek refuge in time; and soon, approaching
The subject of our watch.
Will be the one we’re here for.
THIRD MURDERER
Hark! I hear horses.
Listen! Horses!
BANQUO
[Within]
Give us a light there, ho!
Hey, shine a light!
SECOND MURDERER
Then 'tis he: the rest
It must be him. The others
That are within the note of expectation
That we might have expected to be with him
Already are i' the court.
Are in the court.
FIRST MURDERER
His horses go about.
His horses turn and stop.
THIRD MURDERER
Almost a mile: but he does usually,
Almost a mile from home; he usually,
So all men do, from hence to the palace gate
As all men do, from here up to the palace,
Make it their walk.
Decides to walk.
SECOND MURDERER
A light, a light!
A light, a light!
[Enter BANQUO, and FLEANCE with a torch]
THIRD MURDERER
'Tis he.
It’s him.
FIRST MURDERER
Stand to't.
Get ready.
BANQUO
It will be rain to-night.
It’s going to rain tonight.
FIRST MURDERER
Let it come down.
Then let it rain!
[They set upon BANQUO]
BANQUO
O, treachery! Fly, good Fleance, fly, fly, fly!
I’ve been betrayed! Run, Fleance, son! Run, run!
Thou mayst revenge. O slave!
You might get our revenge! You slave!
[Dies. FLEANCE escapes]
THIRD MURDERER
Who did strike out the light?
How come it turned so dark?
FIRST MURDERER
Wast not the way?
Did we intend that?
THIRD MURDERER
There's but one down; the son is fled.
We killed just one; the son is fled.
SECOND MURDERER
We have lost
We’ve lost
Best half of our affair.
The best half of our task.
FIRST MURDERER
Well, let's away, and say how much is done.
Well, let’s depart, and say how much we’ve done.
[Exeunt]
