Macbeth. Two truths are told, As happy prologues to the swelling act Of the imperial theme.-I thank you, gentlemen.— Cannot be ill; cannot be good :—If ill, Why hath it given me earnest of success, My thought, whose murder yet is but fantastical, But what is not. Banquo. Look, how our partner's rapt. Macbeth. If chance will have me king, why, chance may crown me, Without my stir. Banquo. New honours come upon him Like our strange garments, cleave' not to their mould, But with the aid of use. Macbeth. Come what come may; Time and the hours runs through the roughest day. Banquo. Worthy Macbeth we stay upon your leisure. Macbeth. Give me your favour:"—my dull brain was wrought With things forgotten. Kind gentlemen, your pains The leaf to read them.-Let us toward the king.— Our free hearts each to other. Banquo. Very gladly. Macbeth. Till then, enough.-Come, friends. [Exeunt. 6 Incitement. 8 Time and opportunity. i. e. Which cleave not. 9 Pardon. SCE IV.-FORES. A Room in the Palace. Flourish. Enter DUNCAN, MALCOLM, DONALBAIN, LENOX, and ATTENDANTS. Duncan. Is execution done on Cawdor? Are not Those in commission yet return'd? Malcolm. My liege, They are not yet come back. But I have spoke Duncan. There's no art, To find the mind's construction in the face: He was a gentleman on whom I built An absolute trust.-O worthiest cousin! Enter MACBETH, BANQUO, ROSSE, and ANGUS. The sin of my ingratitude even now That swiftest wing of recompense is slow To overtake thee. 'Would thou hadst less deserv'd: Are to your throne and state, children, and servants; Duncan. Welcome hither' I have begun to plant thee, and will labour 1 Owned, possessed, To make thee full of growing.-Noble Banquo, And hold thee to my heart. Banquo. The harvest is Duncan. your own. There if I grow, My plenteous joys, Wanton in fulness, seek to hide themselves Our eldest, Malcolm; whom we name hereafter, But signs of nobleness, like stars, shall shine Macbeth. The rest is labour, which is not us❜d for you: I'll be myself the harbinger, and make joyful The hearing of my wife with your approach; So, humbly take my leave. Duncan. My worthy Cawdor! Macbeth. The prince of Cumberland! That is a step, [Aside. On which I must fall down, or else o'er-leap, [Exit. It is a banquet to me. Let us after him, Whose care is gone before to bid us welcome: It is a peerless kinsman. [Flourish. Exeunt. 2 Full as valiant as described. SCENE V.-INVERNESS. A Room in MACBETH's Castle. Enter LADY MACBETH, reading a letter. 3 Lady Macbeth. 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 mightest 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 promised:-Yet do I fear thy nature; To catch the nearest way: Thou wouldst be great; The illness should attend it. What thou wouldst highly, That which cries, Thus thou must do, if thou have it; Attendant. The king comes here to-night. Lady Macbeth. Thou'rt mad to say it: 5 Supernatural. Is not thy master with him? who, wer't so, Attendant. So please you, it is true; our thane is coming: Cne of my fellows had the speed of him; Who, almost dead for breath, had scarcely more Than would make up his message. Lady Macbeth. He brings great news. Give him tending, The raven himself is hoarse, [Exit ATTENDANT. That croaks the fatal entrance of Duncan You wait on nature's mischief: Come, thick night, 8 That my keen knife see not the wound it makes; Enter MACBETH. Greater than both, by the all-hail hereafter! This ignorant present, and I feel now The future in the instant. Macbeth. Duncan comes here to-night. Lady Macbeth. Lady Macbeth. Macbeth. To-morrow, as he purposes. My dearest love, And when goes hence ? O, never 7 V Pity. Wrap as in a mantle. Shall sun that morrow see! Deadly murderous. |