The presentation of the witches in this scene (as in 4.1.38 SD–43 and 141–48) differs from their presentation in the rest of the play. Most editors and scholars believe that neither this scene nor the passages in 4.1 were written by Shakespeare.
Thunder. Enter the three Witches, meeting Hecate.
FIRST WITCH 1387Why, how now, Hecate? You look angerly. HECATE 1388Have I not reason, beldams as you are? 1389Saucy and overbold, how did you dare 1390To trade and traffic with Macbeth 13915In riddles and affairs of death, 1392And I, the mistress of your charms, 1393The close contriver of all harms, 1394Was never called to bear my part 1395Or show the glory of our art? 139610And which is worse, all you have done 1397Hath been but for a wayward son, 1398Spiteful and wrathful, who, as others do, 1399Loves for his own ends, not for you. 1400But make amends now. Get you gone, 140115And at the pit of Acheron 1402Meet me i’ th’ morning. Thither he 1403Will come to know his destiny. 1404Your vessels and your spells provide, 1405Your charms and everything beside. 140620I am for th’ air. This night I’ll spend 1407Unto a dismal and a fatal end. 1408Great business must be wrought ere noon. 1409Upon the corner of the moon 1410There hangs a vap’rous drop profound. 141125I’ll catch it ere it come to ground, 1412And that, distilled by magic sleights, 1413Shall raise such artificial sprites 1414As by the strength of their illusion 1415Shall draw him on to his confusion. 141630He shall spurn fate, scorn death, and bear 1417His hopes ’bove wisdom, grace, and fear.
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1418And you all know, security 1419Is mortals’ chiefest enemy. Music and a song. 1420Hark! I am called. My little spirit, see, 142135Sits in a foggy cloud and stays for me.⌜Hecate exits.⌝ Sing within “Come away, come away,” etc. FIRST WITCH 1422Come, let’s make haste. She’ll soon be back again. They exit.
