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Shakespearean
Theatre: Stagecraft
and context

Year 7 English SoL

Compiled extracts

Extracts compiled by TBR (HAOC)

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Extract 1: The Tempest GONZALO

ACT I SCENE I. On a ship at sea: a tempestuous noise Nay, good, be patient.
of thunder and lightning heard. Boatswain
Enter a Master and a Boatswain When the sea is. Hence! What cares these roarers
Master for the name of king? To cabin: silence! trouble us not.
Boatswain! GONZALO
Boatswain Good, yet remember whom thou hast aboard.
Here, master: what cheer? Boatswain
Master None that I more love than myself. You are a
Good, speak to the mariners: fall to't, yarely, counsellor; if you can command these elements to
or we run ourselves aground: bestir, bestir. silence; use your authority: if you
Exit cannot, give thanks you have lived so long. Cheerly, good hearts!
Enter Mariners Out of our way, I say.
Boatswain Exit
Heigh, my hearts! cheerly, cheerly, my hearts! GONZALO
yare, yare! Take in the topsail. Tend to the I have great comfort from this fellow: methinks he
master's whistle. Blow, till thou burst thy wind, hath no drowning mark upon him; his complexion is
if room enough! perfect gallows. If he be not
Enter ALONSO, SEBASTIAN, ANTONIO, FERDINAND, GONZALO, and born to be hanged, our case is miserable.
others (noblemen) Exeunt
ALONSO Re-enter Boatswain
Good boatswain, have care. Where's the master? Boatswain
Play the men. Down with the topmast! yare! lower, lower! Bring
Boatswain her to try with main-course.
I pray now, keep below. A cry within
ANTONIO A plague upon this howling! they are louder than
Where is the master, boatswain? the weather or our office.
Boatswain Re-enter SEBASTIAN, ANTONIO, and GONZALO
Do you not hear him? You mar our labour: keep your Yet again! what do you here? Shall we give o'er
cabins: you do assist the storm. and drown? Have you a mind to sink?

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SEBASTIAN He'll be hang'd yet,

A pox o' your throat, you bawling, blasphemous, Though every drop of water swear against it
incharitable dog! And gape at widest to glut him.
Boatswain A confused noise within: 'Mercy on us!'-- 'We split, we split!'--
Work you then. 'Farewell, my wife and children!'-- 'Farewell, brother!'--'We split, we
ANTONIO split, we split!'
Hang, cur! hang, you whoreson, insolent noisemaker! ANTONIO
We are less afraid to be drowned than thou art. Let's all sink with the king.
GONZALO SEBASTIAN
I'll warrant him for drowning; though the ship were Let's take leave of him.
no stronger than a nutshell and as leaky as an Exeunt ANTONIO and SEBASTIAN
unstanched wench. GONZALO
Boatswain Now would I give a thousand furlongs of sea for an
Lay her a-hold, a-hold! set her two courses off to acre of barren ground, long heath, brown furze, any
sea again; lay her off. thing. The wills above be done! but I would fain
Enter Mariners wet die a dry death.
Mariners Exeunt
All lost! to prayers, to prayers! all lost!
Boatswain
What, must our mouths be cold?
GONZALO
The king and prince at prayers! let's assist them,
For our case is as theirs.
SEBASTIAN
I'm out of patience.
ANTONIO
We are merely cheated of our lives by drunkards:
This wide-chapp'd rascal--would thou mightst lie drowning
The washing of ten tides!
GONZALO

Extracts compiled by TBR (HAOC)

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Extract 2: Macbeth Which of you have done this?

Act 3 Scene 4 Lords
Banquo’s ghost What, my good lord?
Macbeth has murdered his best friend, Banquo. The ghost of MACBETH
(to the ghost) Thou canst not say I did it: never shake
Banquo comes back to haunt Macbeth during a banquet in his
Thy gory locks at me.
castle. Only Macbeth can see the ghost as only he is guilty of the
ROSS
crime (murder): Gentlemen, rise: his highness is not well
LADY MACBETH
SCENE 4. The same. Hall in the palace. Sit, worthy friends: my lord is often thus,
A banquet prepared. Enter MACBETH, LADY MACBETH, ROSS, And hath been from his youth: pray you, keep seat;
LENNOX, Lords, and Attendants The fit is momentary; upon a thought
MACBETH He will again be well.
At first and last the hearty welcome. (turning on Macbeth) Are you a man?
Lords MACBETH
Thanks to your majesty. Ay, and a bold one, that dare look on that
LADY MACBETH Which might appal the devil.
Sir, to all our friends; LADY MACBETH
For my heart speaks they are welcome. What, quite unmann'd in folly?
LENNOX (Ghost vanishes)
May't please your highness sit. MACBETH
The GHOST OF BANQUO enters, and sits in MACBETH's place If I stand here, I saw him.
MACBETH LADY MACBETH
The table's full. Fie, for shame!
LENNOX MACBETH
Here is a place reserved, sir. Blood hath been shed ere now: the times have been,
MACBETH That, when the brains were out, the man would die,
Where? And there an end; but now they rise again,
LENNOX With twenty mortal murders on their crowns,
Here, my good lord. What is't that moves your highness?
MACBETH

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And push us from our stools: this is more strange Why, so: being gone,
Than such a murder is. I am a man again. Pray you, sit still.
LADY MACBETH LADY MACBETH
My worthy lord, You have displaced the mirth, broke the good meeting,
Your noble friends do lack you. With most admired disorder.
MACBETH MACBETH
I do forget. You make me strange
Do not muse at me, my most worthy friends, When now I think you can behold such sights,
I have a strange infirmity, which is nothing And keep the natural ruby of your cheeks,
To those that know me. Give me some wine When mine is blanched with fear.
I drink to the general joy o' the whole table. ROSS
Lords What sights, my lord?
Our duties, and the pledge. LADY MACBETH
Re-enter GHOST OF BANQUO I pray you, speak not; he grows worse and worse;
MACBETH Question enrages him. At once, good night:
Avaunt! and quit my sight! let the earth hide thee! Stand not upon the order of your going,
Thy bones are marrowless, thy blood is cold; But go at once.
LADY MACBETH LENNOX
Think of this, good peers, Good night; and better health
But as a thing of custom: 'tis no other; Attend his majesty!
Only it spoils the pleasure of the time. LADY MACBETH
MACBETH A kind good night to all!
What man dare, I dare: Exeunt all but MACBETH and LADY MACBETH
Approach thou like the rugged Russian bear,
The arm'd rhinoceros,
Take any shape but that, and my firm nerves
Shall never tremble. Hence, horrible shadow!
Unreal mockery, hence!
GHOST OF BANQUO vanishes

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Extract 3: A Midsummer Night’s Dream
Puck, a mischievous sprite, and a fairy meet in the woods. Puck’s
master, Oberon, and the fairy’s mistress, Titania, have argued and
fallen out. Titania will not give Oberon a young, slave boy in her
service. Oberon decides to teach Titania a lesson for disobeying him.
ACT II SCENE I. A wood near Athens.
Enter, from opposite sides, a Fairy, and PUCK
PUCK
How now, spirit! whither wander you?
Fairy
Over hill, over dale,
Thorough bush, thorough brier,
Over park, over pale,
Thorough flood, thorough fire,
I do wander everywhere.
Farewell, thou lob of spirits; I'll be gone:
Our queen and all our elves come here anon.
PUCK
The king doth keep his revels here to-night:
Take heed the queen come not within his sight;
For Oberon is passing fell and wrath,
Because that she as her attendant hath
A lovely boy, stolen from an Indian king;
She never had so sweet a changeling;
And jealous Oberon would have the child
Knight of his train, to trace the forests wild;
But she perforce withholds the loved boy,
Crowns him with flowers and makes him all her joy:
And now they never meet in grove or green,
Extracts compiled by TBR (HAOC)
By fountain clear, or spangled starlight sheen,
But, they do square, that all their elves for fear
Creep into acorn-cups and hide them there.
Fairy
Either I mistake your shape and making quite,
Or else you are that shrewd and knavish sprite
Call'd Robin Goodfellow: are not you he
That frights the maidens of the villager?
Those that Hobgoblin call you and sweet Puck,
You do their work, and they shall have good luck:
Are not you he?
PUCK
Thou speak'st aright;
I am that merry wanderer of the night.
I jest to Oberon and make him smile
But, room, fairy! here comes Oberon.
Fairy
And here my mistress. Would that he were gone!
Enter, from one side, OBERON, with his train; from the other,
TITANIA, with hers
OBERON
Ill met by moonlight, proud Titania.
TITANIA
What, jealous Oberon! Fairies, skip hence:
I have forsworn his bed and company.
OBERON
Tarry, rash wanton: am not I thy lord?
TITANIA
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Then I must be thy lady: but I know
When thou hast stolen away from fairy land,
To your amorous mistress, Hippolyta!
OBERON
How canst thou thus for shame, Titania,
Glance at my credit with Hippolyta,
Knowing I know thy love to Theseus?
TITANIA
These are the forgeries of jealousy.
OBERON
Why should Titania cross her Oberon?
I do but beg a little changeling boy,
To be my henchman.
TITANIA
Set your heart at rest:
The fairy land buys not the child of me.
His mother was a votaress of my order:
But she, being mortal, of that boy did die;
And for her sake do I rear up her boy,
And for her sake I will not part with him.
OBERON
How long within this wood intend you stay?
TITANIA
Perchance till after Theseus' wedding-day.
If you will patiently dance in our round, go with us.
OBERON
Give me that boy, and I will go with thee.
TITANIA
Not for thy fairy kingdom. Fairies, away!
We shall chide downright, if I longer stay.
Extracts compiled by TBR (HAOC)
Exit TITANIA with her train
OBERON
Well, go thy way: thou shalt not from this grove
Till I torment thee for this injury.
My gentle Puck, come hither. Thou rememberest
I heard a mermaid on a dolphin's back?
PUCK
I remember.
OBERON
That very time I saw, but thou couldst not,,
Cupid all arm'd: a certain aim he took
And loosed his love-shaft smartly from his bow,
Yet mark'd I where the bolt of Cupid fell:
It fell upon a little western flower.
Fetch me that flower:
The juice of it on sleeping eye-lids laid
Will make or man or woman madly dote
Upon the next live creature that it sees.
Fetch me this herb.
Having once this juice,
I'll watch Titania when she is asleep,
And drop the liquor of it in her eyes.
The next thing then she waking looks upon,
Be it on lion, bear, or wolf, or bull,
She shall pursue it with the soul of love:
But who comes here? I am invisible;
And I will overhear their conference …
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Extract 4 King Lear Go seek the traitor Gloucester,

The Earl of Gloucester is in the hands of his enemies. They intend to Pinion him like a thief, bring him before us.
punish him for daring to help the King escape to Dover. Gloucester’s Exeunt other Servants
punishment is severe and bloody. Who's there? the traitor?
Enter GLOUCESTER, brought in by two or three
Act 3 Scene 7: The Duke of Gloucester's castle. REGAN
Enter CORNWALL, REGAN, GONERIL, EDMUND, and Servants Ingrateful fox! 'tis he.
CORNWALL CORNWALL
Seek out the villain Gloucester. Bind fast his corky arms.
Exeunt some of the Servants GLOUCESTER
REGAN What mean your graces? Good my friends, consider
Hang him instantly. You are my guests: do me no foul play, friends.
GONERIL CORNWALL
Pluck out his eyes. Bind him, I say.
CORNWALL Servants bind him
Leave him to my displeasure. REGAN
Enter OSWALD Hard, hard. O filthy traitor!
How now! where's the king? GLOUCESTER
OSWALD Unmerciful lady as you are, I'm none.
My lord of Gloucester hath convey'd him hence: CORNWALL
Some five or six and thirty of his knights, To this chair bind him. Villain, thou shalt find--
Are gone with him towards Dover; where they boast REGAN plucks his beard
To have well-armed friends. GLOUCESTER
CORNWALL By the kind gods, 'tis most ignobly done
Get horses for your mistress. To pluck me by the beard.
GONERIL REGAN
Farewell, sweet lord, and sister. So white, and such a traitor!
CORNWALL GLOUCESTER
Edmund, farewell. Naughty lady,
Exeunt GONERIL, EDMUND, and OSWALD These hairs, which thou dost ravish from my chin,

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Will quicken, and accuse thee: I am your host: Lest it see more, prevent it. Out, vile jelly!
With robbers' hands my hospitable favours (They gouge out his second eye)
You should not ruffle thus. What will you do? Where is thy lustre now?
REGAN GLOUCESTER
To whose hands have you sent the lunatic king? Speak. (bleeding and blind) All dark and comfortless.
CORNWALL REGAN
Where hast thou sent the king? Out, treacherous villain!.
GLOUCESTER GLOUCESTER
To Dover. O my follies!
REGAN REGAN
Wherefore to Dover? Wast thou not charged at peril-- Go thrust him out at gates, and let him smell his way to Dover.
CORNWALL Exit
Wherefore to Dover? Let him first answer that.
GLOUCESTER
I am tied to the stake, and I must stand the course.
REGAN
Wherefore to Dover, sir?
GLOUCESTER
Because I would not see thy cruel nails
Pluck out his poor old eyes; nor thy fierce sister
In his anointed flesh stick boarish fangs.
CORNWALL
See't shalt thou never. Fellows, hold the chair.
Upon these eyes of thine I'll set my foot.
GLOUCESTER
Give me some help! O cruel! O you gods!
(They gouge out his eye)
REGAN
One side will mock another; the other too.
CORNWALL

Extracts compiled by TBR (HAOC)

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Extract 5 Macbeth (Witches) ALL

SCENE I. A desert place. Fair is foul, and foul is fair:
Thunder and lightning. Enter three Witches Hover through the fog and filthy air.
First Witch Exeunt
When shall we three meet again
In thunder, lightning, or in rain?
Second Witch
When the hurlyburly's done,
When the battle's lost and won.
Third Witch
That will be ere the set of sun.
First Witch
Where the place?
Second Witch
Upon the heath.
Third Witch
There to meet with Macbeth.
First Witch
I come, Graymalkin!
Second Witch
Paddock calls.
Third Witch
Anon.
Extracts compiled by TBR (HAOC)
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Extract 6 Julius Caesar (Women in the plays)
Brutus is a good and noble Roman. He has been asked to
join a conspiracy against his friend Julius Caesar. Brutus is
divided and doesn’t know what to do. His wife has noticed
that Brutus is distracted and upset. She begs him to tell
her what is the matter.
Enter PORTIA (Brutus’ wife)
PORTIA
Brutus, my lord!
BRUTUS
Portia, what mean you? wherefore rise you now?
It is not for your health thus to commit
Your weak condition to the raw cold morning.
PORTIA
Nor for yours neither. You've ungently, Brutus,
Stole from my bed: and yesternight, at supper,
You suddenly arose, and walk'd about,
Musing and sighing, with your arms across,
And when I ask'd you what the matter was,
You stared upon me with ungentle looks;
I urged you further,
But, with an angry wafture of your hand,
Gave sign for me to leave you: so I did;
Hoping it was but an effect of humour,
Extracts compiled by TBR (HAOC)
Which sometime hath his hour with every man.
It will not let you eat, nor talk, nor sleep,
Dear my lord,
Make me acquainted with your cause of grief.
BRUTUS
I am not well in health, and that is all.
PORTIA
Brutus is wise, and, were he not in health,
He would embrace the means to come by it.
Is Brutus sick? No, my Brutus;
You have some sick offence within your mind,
Which, by the right and virtue of my place,
I ought to know of: and, upon my knees,
I charm you, by my once-commended beauty,
By all your vows of love
That you unfold to me, yourself, your half,
Why you are heavy, and what men to-night
Have had to resort to you: for here have been
Some six or seven, who did hide their faces
Even from darkness.
BRUTUS
Kneel not, gentle Portia.
PORTIA
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I should not need, if you were gentle Brutus.

Within the bond of marriage, tell me, Brutus,
Is it excepted I should know no secrets
That appertain to you? Dwell I but in the suburbs
Of your good pleasure? If it be no more,
Portia is Brutus' harlot, not his wife.
BRUTUS
You are my true and honourable wife,
PORTIA
If this were true, then should I know this secret.
I grant I am a woman; but withal
A woman that Lord Brutus took to wife:
I grant I am a woman; but withal
A woman well-reputed, Cato's daughter.
Think you I am no stronger than my sex,
Being so father'd and so husbanded?
Tell me your counsels, I will not disclose 'em:
BRUTUS
O ye gods,
Render me worthy of this noble wife!
Portia, go in awhile;
And by and by thy bosom shall partake
The secrets of my heart.
Exeunt

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Extract 7 Sword fighting Draw thy tool! here comes

(Romeo and Juliet Act 1 Scene 1) two of the house of the Montagues.
The play opens on the streets of Verona, Italy. Two families are at SAMPSON
war with one another: the Montagues and the Capulets. Servants My naked weapon is out: quarrel, I will back thee.
from both households meet on the streets and start a fight. GREGORY
I will frown as I pass by, and let them take it as
SCENE I. Verona. A public place. they list.
SAMPSON
Enter SAMPSON and GREGORY, of the house of Capulet, armed with
Nay, as they dare. I will bite my thumb at them;
swords and bucklers
which is a disgrace to them, if they bear it.
SAMPSON
Gregory, o' my word, we'll not carry coals. Enter ABRAHAM and BALTHASAR
GREGORY
No, for then we should be colliers. ABRAHAM
SAMPSON Do you bite your thumb at us, sir?
(seeing the Montagues) A dog of the house of Montague moves SAMPSON
me. I do bite my thumb, sir.
GREGORY ABRAHAM
To move is to stir; and to be valiant is to stand: Do you bite your thumb at us, sir?
therefore, if thou art moved, thou runn'st away. SAMPSON
SAMPSON [Aside to GREGORY] Is the law of our side, if I say
A dog of that house shall move me to stand. ay?
GREGORY GREGORY
The quarrel is between our masters and us their men. No.
SAMPSON SAMPSON
'Tis all one, I will show myself a tyrant: when I No, sir, I do not bite my thumb at you, sir, but I
have fought with the men, I will be cruel with the bite my thumb, sir.
maids, and cut off their heads. GREGORY
GREGORY

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Do you quarrel, sir? What, art thou drawn among these heartless hinds?
ABRAHAM Turn thee, Benvolio, look upon thy death.
Quarrel sir! no, sir. BENVOLIO
SAMPSON I do but keep the peace: put up thy sword,
If you do, sir, I am for you: I serve as good a man as you. Or manage it to part these men with me.
ABRAHAM TYBALT
No better. What, drawn, and talk of peace! I hate the word,
SAMPSON As I hate hell, all Montagues, and thee:
Well, sir. Have at thee, coward!
GREGORY
Say 'better:' here comes one of my master's kinsmen. They fight
SAMPSON Enter, several of both houses, who join the fray; then enter Citizens,
Yes, better, sir. with clubs
ABRAHAM
First Citizen
You lie.
Clubs, bills, and partisans! strike! beat them down!
SAMPSON
Down with the Capulets! down with the Montagues!
Draw, if you be men. Gregory, remember thy swashing blow.
Enter CAPULET in his gown, and LADY CAPULET
They fight
Enter BENVOLIO
CAPULET
What noise is this? Give me my long sword, ho!
BENVOLIO
LADY CAPULET
Part, fools!
Put up your swords; you know not what you do. A crutch, a crutch! why call you for a sword?
CAPULET
Beats down their swords My sword, I say! Old Montague is come,
Enter TYBALT And flourishes his blade in spite of me.

TYBALT Enter MONTAGUE and LADY MONTAGUE

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MONTAGUE
Thou villain Capulet,--Hold me not, let me go.
LADY MONTAGUE
Thou shalt not stir a foot to seek a foe.

Enter PRINCE, with Attendants

PRINCE
Rebellious subjects, enemies to peace,
By thee, old Capulet, and Montague,
Have thrice disturb'd the quiet of our streets,
If ever you disturb our streets again,
Your lives shall pay the forfeit of the peace.
Once more, on pain of death, all men depart.

Exeunt

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Extract 8 Henry Vth (Battles on stage) That those whom you call'd fathers did beget you.
Act 3 Scene 1 Be copy now to men of grosser blood,
In France upon the battlefield, King Henry Vth addresses his And teach them how to war. And you, good yeoman,
soldiers. Whose limbs were made in England, show us here
The mettle of your pasture: let us swear
King Henry: That you are worth your breeding; which I doubt not;
Once more unto the breach, dear friends, once more; For there is none of you so mean and base,
Or close the wall up with our English dead! That hath not noble lustre in your eyes.
In peace there's nothing so becomes a man, I see you stand like greyhounds in the slips,
As modest stillness and humility; Straining upon the start. The game's afoot:
But when the blast of war blows in our ears, Follow your spirit; and upon this charge,
Then imitate the action of the tiger: Cry 'God for Harry! England! and Saint George!'
Stiffen the sinews, conjure up the blood,
Disguise fair nature with hard-favoured rage:
Then lend the eye a terrible aspect;
Let it pry through the portage of the head,
Like the brass cannon; let the brow o'erwhelm it
As fearfully as doth a galled rock
O'erhang and jutty his confounded base,
Swill'd with the wild and wasteful ocean.
Now set the teeth and stretch the nostril wide;
Hold hard the breath and bend up every spirit
To his full height. On, on, you noblest English,
Whose blood is fet from fathers of war-proof!
Fathers that, like so many Alexanders,
Have in these parts from morn till even fought,
And sheathed their swords for lack of argument.
Dishonour not your mothers: now attest,

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Staging extract A: Hamlet (GHOSTS) Ghost

SCENE V. Another part of the platform. I am thy father's spirit,
The ghost of Hamlet’s father appears to him and tells him that he Doom'd for a certain term to walk the night,
was cruelly murdered by his own brother, Claudius (Hamlet’s uncle). Till the foul crimes done in my days of nature
Claudius then took the Queen for his wife. The ghost commands Are burnt and purged away.
Hamlet to take revenge upon Claudius. HAMLET
O God!
Enter GHOST and HAMLET
Ghost
HAMLET
Revenge his foul and most unnatural murder.
Where wilt thou lead me? speak; I'll go no further.
HAMLET
Ghost
Murder!
Mark me.
Ghost
HAMLET
Murder most foul, as in the best it is;
I will.
But this most foul, strange and unnatural.
Ghost
HAMLET
My hour is almost come,
Haste me to know't, that I,
When I to sulphurous and tormenting flames
May sweep to my revenge.
Must render up myself.
Ghost
HAMLET
Now, Hamlet, hear:
Alas, poor ghost!
'Tis given out that, sleeping in my orchard,
Ghost
A serpent stung me: but know, thou noble youth,
Pity me not, but lend thy serious hearing
The serpent that did sting thy father's life
To what I shall unfold.
Now wears his crown.
HAMLET
HAMLET
Speak; I am bound to hear.
O my prophetic soul! My uncle!
Ghost
Ghost
So art thou to revenge, when thou shalt hear.
Ay, that incestuous, that adulterate beast.
HAMLET
So to seduce!--won to his shameful lust
What?

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The will of my most seeming-virtuous queen:

O Hamlet, what a falling-off was there!
But, soft! methinks I scent the morning air;
Brief let me be.
Thus was I, sleeping, by a brother's hand
Of life, of crown, of queen, at once dispatch'd:
O, horrible! O, horrible! most horrible!
If thou hast nature in thee, bear it not;
Let not the royal bed of Denmark be
A couch for luxury and damned incest.
Fare thee well at once!
Adieu, adieu! Hamlet, remember me.
Exit GHOST

Extracts compiled by TBR (HAOC)

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Staging extract B: Macbeth (WITCHES) A drum, a drum!

Act 1 Scene 3. A heath near Forres. Macbeth doth come.
The three witches meet on the heath. They wait for Macbeth and ALL
his friend Banquo. They have messages for both about their futures. The weird sisters, hand in hand,
Posters of the sea and land,
Thunder. Enter the three Witches Thus do go about, about:
First Witch Thrice to thine and thrice to mine
Where hast thou been, sister? And thrice again, to make up nine.
Second Witch Peace! the charm's wound up.
Killing swine.
Third Witch Enter MACBETH and BANQUO
Sister, where thou?
Second Witch MACBETH
I'll give thee a wind. So foul and fair a day I have not seen.
First Witch BANQUO
Thou'rt kind. What are these
Third Witch So wither'd and so wild in their attire,
And I another. That look not like the inhabitants o' the earth,
First Witch And yet are on't? Live you? or are you aught
Look what I have. That man may question?
Second Witch MACBETH
Show me, show me. Speak, if you can: what are you?
First Witch First Witch
Here I have a pilot's thumb, All hail, Macbeth! hail to thee, thane of Glamis!
Wreck'd as homeward he did come. Second Witch
All hail, Macbeth, hail to thee, thane of Cawdor!
Drum within Third Witch
All hail, Macbeth, thou shalt be king hereafter!
Third Witch

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BANQUO BANQUO
Good sir, why do you start; and seem to fear Whither are they vanish'd?
Things that do sound so fair? MACBETH
If you can look into the seeds of time, Into the air
Speak then to me. Would they had stay'd!
First Witch
Hail!
Second Witch
Hail!
Third Witch
Hail!
First Witch
Lesser than Macbeth, and greater.
Second Witch
Not so happy, yet much happier.
Third Witch
Thou shalt get kings, though thou be none:
So all hail, Macbeth and Banquo!
First Witch
Banquo and Macbeth, all hail!
MACBETH
Stay, you imperfect speakers, tell me more:
Say from whence
You owe this strange intelligence?
Speak, I charge you.

Witches vanish

Extracts compiled by TBR (HAOC)

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Staging extract C: Macbeth (SWORD FIGHT) MACBETH

Luck has run out for our hero, Macbeth. His archenemy Macduff has Thou losest labour:
tracked him down on the battlefield. Macbeth has been told by the I bear a charmed life, which must not yield,
witches that no man born of woman can harm him. Here Macduff To one of woman born.
tells Macbeth that he was born by Caesarean section. Macbeth MACDUFF
realises the witches have tricked him but is determined to fight on Despair thy charm;
anyway. And let the angel whom thou still hast served
Tell thee, Macduff was from his mother's womb
SCENE VIII. Another part of the field.
Untimely ripp'd.
Enter MACBETH
MACBETH
MACBETH Accursed be that tongue that tells me so.
Why should I play the Roman fool, and die I'll not fight with thee.
On mine own sword? MACDUFF
Then yield thee, coward,
Enter MACDUFF And live to be the show and gaze o' the time:
We'll have thee, painted on a pole, and underwrit,
MACDUFF 'Here may you see the tyrant.'
Turn, hell-hound, turn! MACBETH
MACBETH I will not yield,
Of all men else I have avoided thee: To kiss the ground before young Malcolm's feet,
But get thee back; my soul is too much charged And to be baited with the rabble's curse.
With blood of thine already. Though Birnam wood be come to Dunsinane,
MACDUFF And thou opposed, being of no woman born,
I have no words: Yet I will try the last. Before my body
My voice is in my sword: thou bloodier villain I throw my warlike shield. Lay on, Macduff,
Than terms can give thee out! And damn'd be him that first cries, 'Hold, enough!'

They fight Exeunt, fighting. Alarum

Extracts compiled by TBR (HAOC)

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Staging extract D: Julius Caesar (BATTLE) March

Drum. Enter BRUTUS, CASSIUS, and their Army; LUCILIUS, TITINIUS,
Brutus and Cassius have conspired and killed Julius Caesar. Antony MESSALA, and others
and Octavius fight to avenge Julius Caesar’s death. At the end of the
play, the two sides bring armies to the battlefield at Philippi. They BRUTUS
meet, stand, parley and march. They stand, and would have parley.
CASSIUS
ACT V Stand fast, Titinius: we must out and talk.
SCENE I. The plains of Philippi. OCTAVIUS
Mark Antony, shall we give sign of battle?
Enter OCTAVIUS, ANTONY, and their army ANTONY
OCTAVIUS No, Caesar, we will answer on their charge.
Now, Antony, our hopes are answered:
Make forth; the generals would have some words.
You said the enemy would not come down, BRUTUS
It proves not so: their battles are at hand. Words before blows: is it so, countrymen?
ANTONY OCTAVIUS
Tut, thinking that by this face
Not that we love words better, as you do.
To fasten in our thoughts that they have courage; BRUTUS
But 'tis not so. Good words are better than bad strokes, Octavius.
ANTONY
Enter a Messenger
Villains, when your vile daggers
Messenger Hack'd in the sides of Caesar:
Prepare you, generals: You show'd your teeth like apes, kissing Caesar's feet;
The enemy comes on in gallant show; Whilst damned Casca, like a cur, behind
Their bloody sign of battle is hung out. Struck Caesar on the neck. O you flatterers!
ANTONY CASSIUS
Octavius, lead your battle softly on, Flatterers!
Upon the left hand of the even field.

Extracts compiled by TBR (HAOC)

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OCTAVIUS;
I draw a sword against conspirators;
When think you that the sword goes up again?
Never, till Caesar's three and thirty wounds
Be well avenged.
I was not born to die on Brutus' sword.
BRUTUS
Young man, thou couldst not die more honourable.
CASSIUS
A peevish schoolboy, worthless of such honour,
Join'd with a masker and a reveller!
ANTONY
Old Cassius still!
OCTAVIUS
Come, Antony, away!
(calling to the enemy) If you dare fight to-day, come to the field;
If not, when you have stomachs.

Exeunt OCTAVIUS, ANTONY, and their army

Extracts compiled by TBR (HAOC)