So, all hail, Macbeth and Banquo! First Witch. Banquo and Macbeth, all hail! Macb. Stay, you imperfect speakers, tell me more: No more than to be Cawdor. Say from whence Ban. The earth hath bubbles, as the water has, Ban. Were such things here as we do speak about? That takes the reason prisoner? Mac. Your children shall be kings. Ban. You shall be king. Macb. And thane of Cawdor too,-went it not so? Enter Ross and ANGUS. Ross. The king hath happily receiv'd, Macbeth, Which should be thine or his: silenc'd with that, We are sent Ang. Only to herald thee into his sight, Not pay thee. Ross. And, for an earnest of a greater honour, He bade me, from him, call thee thane of Cawdor: In which addition, hail, most worthy thane! For it is thine. Ban. What, can the devil speak true? Macb. The thane of Cawdor lives: why do you dress me In borrow'd robes? Ang. Who was the thane lives yet; But under heavy judgment bears that life Which he deserves to lose. Whether he was combin'd With those of Norway, or did line the rebel With hidden help and vantage, or that with both Have overthrown him. Macb. Glamis, and thane of Cawdor: The greatest is behind [aside].—Thanks for your pains.— Do you not hope your children shall be kings, When those that gave the thane of Cawdor to me Promis'd no less to them? Ban. That, trusted home, Might yet enkindle you unto the crown, Besides the thane of Cawdor. But 'tis strange : And oftentimes, to win us to our harm, The instruments of darkness tell us truths; Win us with honest trifles, to betray's In deepest consequence. Cousins, a word, I pray you. Macb. Two truths are told, As happy prologues to the swelling act Of the imperial theme [aside].—I thank you, gentlemen. — This supernatural soliciting Cannot be ill; cannot be good:-if ill, Why hath it given me earnest of success, Commencing in a truth? I am thane of Cawdor: If good, why do I yield to that suggestion. Whose horrid image doth unfix my hair, [Asile. And make my seated heart knock at my ribs, My thought, whose murder yet is but fantastical, But what is not. Ban. Look, how our partner's rapt. Macb. [aside] If chance will have me king, why, chance may crown me, Without my stir. Ban. New honours come upon him, Like our strange garments, cleave not to their mould But with the aid of use. Macb. [aside] Come what come may, Time and the hour runs through the roughest day. Ban. Worthy Macbeth, we stay upon your leisure. Macb. Give me your favour :-my dull brain was wrought With things forgotten. Kind gentlemen, your pains Are register'd where every day I turn The leaf to read them.-Let us toward the king.- Our free hearts each to other. Macb. Till then, enough.-Come, friends. [Exeunt. SCENE IV. Forres. A room in the palace. Flourish. Enter DUNCAN, MALCOLM, DONALBAIN, LENNOX, and Attendants. Dun. Is execution done on Cawdor? Are (12) not Those in commission yet return'd? My liege, Mal. A deep repentance: nothing in his life To find the mind's construction in the face: An absolute trust. Enter MACBETH, BANQUO, Ross, and ANGUS. O worthiest cousin! The sin of my ingratitude even now Was heavy on me: thou art so far before, That swiftest wing of recompense is slow To overtake thee. Would thou hadst less deserv'd; That the proportion both of thanks and payment Might have been mine! only I have left to say, More is thy due than more than all can pay. Macb. The service and the loyalty I owe, In doing it, pays itself. Your highness' part Is to receive our duties: and our duties Are to your throne and state, children and servants; Which do but what they should, by doing every thing Safe toward your love and honour. Dun. Welcome hither: I have begun to plant thee, and will labour To make thee full of growing.-Noble Banquo, That hast no less deserv'd, nor must be known No less to have done so: let me infold thee And hold thee to my heart. Wanton in fulness, seek to hide themselves Our eldest, Malcolm; whom we name hereafter The Prince of Cumberland: which honour must But signs of nobleness, like stars, shall shine On all deservers. From hence to Inverness, Macb. The rest is labour, which is not us'd for you: The hearing of my wife with your approach; So, humbly take my leave. Dun. My worthy Cawdor! Macb. [aside] The Prince of Cumberland! that is a step, On which I must fall down, or else o'erleap, For in my way it lies. Stars, hide your fires; Let not light see my black and deep desires: The eye wink at the hand; yet let that be, Which the eye fears, when it is done, to see. Dun. True, worthy Banquo,—he is full so valiant; And in his commendations I am fed, It is a banquet to me. Let's after him, Whose care is gone before to bid us welcome: [Exit. It is a peerless kinsman. [Flourish. Exeunt. SCENE V. Inverness. A room in MACBETH'S castle. Enter Lady MACBETH, reading a letter. Lady M. "They met me in the day of success; and I have learned by the perfectest report, they have more in them than mortal knowledge. When I burned in desire to question them further, they made themselves air, into which they vanished. Whiles I stood rapt in the wonder of it, came missives from the king, who all-hailed me, 'Thane of Cawdor;' by which title, before, these weird sisters saluted me, and referred me to the coming on of time, with Hail, king that shalt be!' This have I thought good to deliver thee, my dearest partner of greatness, that thou mightst not lose the dues of rejoicing, by being ignorant of what greatness is promised thee. Lay it to thy heart, and farewell." Glamis thou art, and Cawdor; and shalt be What thou art promis'd: yet do I fear thy nature; |