What need I fear of thee? 90 But yet I’ll make assurance double sure, And take a bond of fate. Thou shalt not live, That I may tell pale-hearted fear it lies, And sleep in spite of thunder.

Two or three messengers arrived, bringing you the news that Macduff has run away to England. We already knew this, but it’s possible Macbeth is only hearing of it now.

MACBETH. Had I three ears, I'd hear thee. APPARITION. Be bloody, bold, and resolute; laugh to scorn The power of man, for none of woman born Shall harm Macbeth. [Descends.] MACBETH. Then live, Macduff: what need I fear of thee? But yet I'll make assurance double sure, And take a bond of fate: thou shalt not live; That I may tell pale-hearted ...

Had I ... hear thee, if I had more ears than I have, I'd listen to you with all of them; a figurative way of saying that Macbeth is listening with eager attention.

[Descends] Macbeth. Then live, Macduff: what need I fear of thee? 1645 But yet I'll make assurance double sure, And take a bond of fate: thou shalt not live; That I may tell pale-hearted fear it lies, And sleep in spite of thunder. [Thunder. Third Apparition: a Child crowned, with a tree in his hand] 1650 What is this That rises like the issue ...

Then live, Macduff: what need I fear of thee? And sleep in spite of thunder.

Enter the three WITCHES. 1. brinded: brindled, streaked. 1 Thrice the brinded cat hath mew'd. 2. hedge-pig: hedgehog. 2 Thrice and once the hedge-pig whined. 3. Harpier: Apparently the name of the familiar spirit of Third Witch.

By Sinel's death I know I am thane of Glamis;... As breath into the wind. Would they had stay'd! Your children shall be kings. And thane of Cawdor too: went it not so? In borrow'd robes? [Aside] Glamis, and thane of Cawdor! The greatest is behind.... [Aside]. Two truths are told, As happy prologues to the swelling act... Without my stir.

And his punning reply to the Second Apparition's "Macbeth, Macbeth, Macbeth" — "Had I three ears, I'd hear thee" — displays a comic arrogance. Apart from the first, all the apparitions, including the fourth and final one of a procession of future kings, contain children.

And damned all those that trust them. I did hear The galloping of horse; who was't came by?