Act 3 Scene 1 BOTHMURDERERS


True, my lord. 120


MACBETH So is he mine; and in such bloody distance,57 That every minute of his being thrusts Against my near'st of life: and though I could With barefaced power sweep him from my sight58 And bid my will avouch59


it, yet I must not,


For certain friends that are both his and mine, Whose loves I may not drop, but wail his fall60 Whom I myself struck down; and thence it is, That I to your assistance do make love, Masking the business from the common eye For sundry weighty reasons.61


SECONDMURDERER We shall, my lord,


Perform what you command us. FIRSTMURDERER


Though our lives –


MACBETH Your spirits shine through you.Within this hour at most I will advise you where to plant62


yourselves; 130


Acquaint you with the perfect spy o' the time,63 The moment on't; for't must be done tonight, And something from the palace;64 That I require a clearness:65


and with him –


To leave no rubs nor botches in the work – Fleance his son, that keeps him company, Whose absence is no less material to me Than is his father's, must embrace the fate Of that dark hour. Resolve yourselves apart;66 I'll come to you anon.


SECONDMURDERER We are resolved, my lord.


140


MACBETH I'll call upon you straight:67


abide within.68


[ExeuntMurderers] It is concluded. Banquo, thy soul's flight, If it find heaven, must find it out tonight. [Exit]


67 straight: straight away 68 abide within: wait inside


always thought


62 plant: place 63


64 65 57


bloody distance: close enough to draw blood (as with a fencer)


barefaced…my sight: kill him openly /kill him with my absolute power 59 avouch: justify


58 60 wail his fall: would cry if he died 61


Masking the business…weighty reasons: hide the affair from the public gaze for a variety of serious reasons


Macbeth


Acquaint you…o’ the time: Find yourself a perfect place to watch from i.e. for an ambush.


something from the palace: away from the palace


always thought…clearness: Bear in mind that I need to be free of any suspicion in this matter.


66


Resolve yourselves apart: Go away and decide for yourselves.


61


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