by Noah Lukeman
SCENE III
Balcony.
Malcolm, pacing.
Enter Lady Malcolm.
LADY MALCOLM My lord? You are unwell.
MALCOLM I shall never
be well, so long as I wear this blood
of Donalbain’s. See, it won’t come out.
LADY MALCOLM ‘Tis not your brother’s blood, my lord.
’Tis but
a drop of wine.
MALCOLM Then what a potent drop
it is! I will not set foot in that room
again.
LADY MALCOLM Nor need you, ever.
MALCOLM I begin
to calm, with you here by my side. This night
air does me rightful good. Already the scene
begins to lift.
LADY MALCOLM You are well in health
but not in spirit. I charge you: light a candle
for your dear brother, and join me in my nightly
prayers. Tomorrow we’ll to the chapel, where you
can make rightful amends.
MALCOLM Cawdor alone
can touch. But I am he.
LADY MALCOLM My lord?
MALCOLM I must
know how it ends.
LADY MALCOLM What ends, my lord?
MALCOLM Why,
my life. Or, rather, Cawdor’s. They spoke of Birnam,
and so it was. They spoke of Ireland; from there
he came. They must amend my prophecy!
LADY MALCOLM Heaven forfend! Did you not vow to ne’er
see them again?
MALCOLM An oath I made in haste.
I needs must know that I cannot be touched.
Forgive, my love: their drug sits deep. I crave
yet one last dose.
LADY MALCOLM Vile creatures! Satan’s
puppets! I pray you, do not break your vow
on our wedding night.
MALCOLM I will promise
other things, and those I will keep.
Hark! The bell invites. We will have other nights.
Exit Malcolm.
LADY MALCOLM I fear not as many as we may wish.
Exit.
SCENE IV
Witches’ place.
Enter Malcolm.
MALCOLM This place is too cold for hell. Cursed
sisters! Where hide you?
VOICE Here, Malcolm!
MALCOLM A voice! As the breath of a demon
Crossed with a dog’s. From whence came this? The fog
my vision blinds.
VOICE Descend, Malcolm!
MALCOLM The trail
leads down.
Cavern.
MALCOLM What place is this? ‘Tis darker than the depths
of night.
Enter Three Witches, with torch.
FIRST WITCH Hail, King of Scotland!
SECOND WITH Thane of Cawdor, hail!
THIRD WITCH Hail, Malcolm, who shall be touched by no
man
but Cawdor!
MALCOLM (aside) Again do they speak thus. I feel settled
already.
(to them) No man, say you?
FIRST WITCH Bid us summon our devils
and you shall know further.
MALCOLM I bid you.
Enter First Apparition.