Macb. Stay, you imperfect speakers, tell me more: By Sinel's death I know I'm thane of Glamis; But how of Cawdor? the thane of Cawdor lives, No more than to be Cawdor. Say from whence With such prophetic greeting? Speak, I charge you. Ban. The earth hath bubbles, as the water has, Ban. Were such things here as we do speak about ? That takes the reason prisoner? Macb. 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, Ang. We are sent To give thee, from our royal master, thanks; thee.(19) Ross. And, for an earnest of a greater honour, He bade me, from him, call thee thane of Cawdor: Ban. [aside] 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. [aside] Glamis, and thane of Cawdor! pains. your [Aside to Ban.] 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. [aside to Macb.] That, trusted home, Might yet enkindle unto the crown, you Besides the thane of Cawdor. But 'tis strange: And oftentimes, to win us to our harm, Cousins, a word, I pray you. Macb. [aside] Two truths are told, As happy prologues to the swelling act Of the imperial theme. I thank you, gentlemen.— [Aside] This supernatural soliciting Cannot be ill; cannot be good :—if ill, Are less than horrible imaginings: 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. Bun. New honours come upon him, Like our strange garments, cleave not to their mould. Macb. [aside] Come what come may, Time and the hour runs through the roughest day.(20) 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.— [Aside to Ban.] Think upon what hath chanc'd; and, at more time, The interim having weigh'd it, let us speak Our free hearts each to other. Ban. [aside to Mach.] Very gladly. Macb. [aside to Ban.] 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 not(21) Those in commission yet return'd? Mal. My liege, They are not yet come back. But I have spoke Enter MACBETH, BANQUO, Ross, and ANGUS. The sin of my ingratitude even now To overtake thee. Would thou hadst less deserv'd, Are to your Dun. Welcome hither: I have begun to plant thee, and will labour And hold thee to Ban. my heart. There if I grow, My plenteous joys, (22) Wanton in fulness, seek to hide themselves But signs of nobleness, like stars, shall shine Macb. The rest is labour, which is not us'd for you:(23) I'll be myself the harbinger, and make joyful The hearing of my wife with your approach: 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; 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; It is too full o' the milk of human kindness To catch the nearest way: thou wouldst be great ; |