A Halloween Must: The Witches' Spell From Shakespeare's Macbeth

 

The Witches Spell

Act IV, Scene 1

Macbeth (1606)

by William Shakespeare

A dark Cave. In the middle, a boiling Caldron. Thunder.

Enter three witches.

            WITCH 1. Thrice the brinded cat hath mew'd.

            WITCH 2. Thrice and once, the hedge-pig whin'd.

            WITCH 3. Harpier cries 'tis time! 'tis time!

 

WITCH 1.Round about the caldron go;

In the poison'd entrails throw

Toad, that under cold stone,

Days and nights has thirty-one;

Swelter'd venom sleeping got,

Boil thou first i' the charmed pot!