Reading Help THE TRAGEDY OF MACBETH
Thus do go about, about, `
` Thrice to thine, and thrice to mine, `
` And thrice again, to make up nine. `
` Peace! The charm's wound up. `
` `
` Enter Macbeth and Banquo. `
` `
` MACBETH. So foul and fair a day I have not seen. `
` BANQUO. How far is't call'd to Forres? What are these `
` So wither'd and so wild in their attire, `
` That look not like the inhabitants o' the earth, `
` And yet are on't? Live you? or are you aught `
` That man may question? You seem to understand me, `
` By each at once her choppy finger laying `
` Upon her skinny lips. You should be women, `
` And yet your beards forbid me to interpret `
` That you are so. `
` MACBETH. Speak, if you can. What are you? `
` FIRST WITCH. All hail, Macbeth, hail to thee, Thane of Glamis! `
` SECOND WITCH. All hail, Macbeth, hail to thee, Thane of Cawdor! `
` THIRD WITCH. All hail, Macbeth, that shalt be King hereafter! `
` BANQUO. Good sir, why do you start, and seem to fear `
` Things that do sound so fair? I' the name of truth, `
` Are ye fantastical or that indeed `
` Which outwardly ye show? My noble partner `
` You greet with present grace and great prediction `
` Of noble having and of royal hope, `
` That he seems rapt withal. To me you speak not. `
` If you can look into the seeds of time, `
` And say which grain will grow and which will not, `
` Speak then to me, who neither beg nor fear `
` Your favors nor your hate. `
` 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. `
` By Sinel's death I know I am Thane of Glamis; `
` But how of Cawdor? The Thane of Cawdor lives, `
` A prosperous gentleman; and to be King `
` Stands not within the prospect of belief, `
` No more than to be Cawdor. Say from whence `
` You owe this strange intelligence, or why `
` Upon this blasted heath you stop our way `
` With such prophetic greeting? Speak, I charge you. `
` Witches vanish. `
` BANQUO. The earth hath bubbles as the water has, `
` And these are of them. Whither are they vanish'd? `
` MACBETH. Into the air, and what seem'd corporal melted `
` As breath into the wind. Would they had stay'd! `
` BANQUO. Were such things here as we do speak about? `
` Or have we eaten on the insane root `
` That takes the reason prisoner? `
` MACBETH. Your children shall be kings. `
` BANQUO. You shall be King. `
` MACBETH. And Thane of Cawdor too. Went it not so? `
` BANQUO. To the selfsame tune and words. Who's here? `
` `
` Enter Ross and Angus. `
` `
` ROSS. The King hath happily received, Macbeth, `
` The news of thy success; and when he reads `
` Thy personal venture in the rebels' fight, `
` His wonders and his praises do contend `
` Which should be thine or his. Silenced with that, `
` In viewing o'er the rest o' the selfsame day, `
` He finds thee in the stout Norweyan ranks, `
` Nothing afeard of what thyself didst make, `
` Strange images of death. As thick as hail `
` Came post with post, and every one did bear `
` Thy praises in his kingdom's great defense, `
` And pour'd them down before him. `
` ANGUS. We are sent `
` To give thee, from our royal master, thanks; `
` Only to herald thee into his sight, `
` Not pay thee. `
` ROSS. And for an earnest of a greater honor, `
` He bade me, from him, call thee Thane of Cawdor. `
` In which addition, hail, most worthy Thane, `
` For it is thine. `
` BANQUO. What, can the devil speak true? `
` MACBETH. The Thane of Cawdor lives. Why do you dress me `
` In borrow'd robes? `
` ANGUS. Who was the Thane lives yet, `
` But under heavy judgement bears that life `
` Which he deserves to lose. Whether he was combined `
` With those of Norway, or did line the rebel `
` With hidden help and vantage, or that with both `
` He labor'd in his country's wreck, I know not; `
` But treasons capital, confess'd and proved, `
` Have overthrown him. `
` MACBETH. [Aside.] Glamis, and Thane of Cawdor! `
` The greatest is behind. [To Ross and Angus] Thanks for your `
` pains. `
` [Aside to Banquo] Do you not hope your children shall be `
` kings, `
` When those that gave the Thane of Cawdor to me `
` Promised no less to them? `
` BANQUO. [Aside to Macbeth.] 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. `
` MACBETH. [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, `
` 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 `
` And make my seated heart knock at my ribs, `
` Against the use of nature? Present fears `
` Are less than horrible imaginings: `
` My thought, whose murther yet is but fantastical, `
` Shakes so my single state of man that function `
` Is smother'd in surmise, and nothing is `
` But what is not. `
` BANQUO. Look, how our partner's rapt. `
` MACBETH. [Aside.] If chance will have me King, why, chance may `
` crown me `
` Without my stir. `
` BANQUO. New honors come upon him, `
` Like our strange garments, cleave not to their mould `
` But with the aid of use. `
` MACBETH. [Aside.] Come what come may, `
` Time and the hour runs through the roughest day. `
` BANQUO. Worthy Macbeth, we stay upon your leisure. `
` MACBETH. Give me your favor; 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. `
` Think upon what hath chanced, and at more time, `
` The interim having weigh'd it, let us speak `
` Our free hearts each to other. `
` BANQUO. Very gladly. `
` MACBETH. Till then, enough. Come, friends. Exeunt. `
` `
` `
` `
` `
` SCENE IV. `
` Forres. The palace. `
` `
` Flourish. Enter Duncan, Malcolm, Donalbain, Lennox, 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 `
` With one that saw him die, who did report `
` That very frankly he confess'd his treasons, `
` Implored your Highness' pardon, and set forth `
` A deep repentance. Nothing in his life `
` Became him like the leaving it; he died `
` As one that had been studied in his death, `
` To throw away the dearest thing he owed `
` As 'twere a careless trifle. `
` 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. `
` `
` 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 deserved, `
` 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. `
` MACBETH. The service and the loyalty lowe, `
` 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 everything `
` Safe toward your love and honor. `
` DUNCAN. Welcome hither. `
` I have begun to plant thee, and will labor `
` To make thee full of growing. Noble Banquo, `
` That hast no less deserved, nor must be known `
` No less to have done so; let me infold thee `
` And hold thee to my heart. `
` BANQUO. There if I grow, `
` The harvest is your own. `
` DUNCAN. My plenteous joys, `
` Wanton in fullness, seek to hide themselves `
` In drops of sorrow. Sons, kinsmen, thanes, `
` And you whose places are the nearest, know `
` We will establish our estate upon `
`
` Thrice to thine, and thrice to mine, `
` And thrice again, to make up nine. `
` Peace! The charm's wound up. `
` `
` Enter Macbeth and Banquo. `
` `
` MACBETH. So foul and fair a day I have not seen. `
` BANQUO. How far is't call'd to Forres? What are these `
` So wither'd and so wild in their attire, `
` That look not like the inhabitants o' the earth, `
` And yet are on't? Live you? or are you aught `
` That man may question? You seem to understand me, `
` By each at once her choppy finger laying `
` Upon her skinny lips. You should be women, `
` And yet your beards forbid me to interpret `
` That you are so. `
` MACBETH. Speak, if you can. What are you? `
` FIRST WITCH. All hail, Macbeth, hail to thee, Thane of Glamis! `
` SECOND WITCH. All hail, Macbeth, hail to thee, Thane of Cawdor! `
` THIRD WITCH. All hail, Macbeth, that shalt be King hereafter! `
` BANQUO. Good sir, why do you start, and seem to fear `
` Things that do sound so fair? I' the name of truth, `
` Are ye fantastical or that indeed `
` Which outwardly ye show? My noble partner `
` You greet with present grace and great prediction `
` Of noble having and of royal hope, `
` That he seems rapt withal. To me you speak not. `
` If you can look into the seeds of time, `
` And say which grain will grow and which will not, `
` Speak then to me, who neither beg nor fear `
` Your favors nor your hate. `
` 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. `
` By Sinel's death I know I am Thane of Glamis; `
` But how of Cawdor? The Thane of Cawdor lives, `
` A prosperous gentleman; and to be King `
` Stands not within the prospect of belief, `
` No more than to be Cawdor. Say from whence `
` You owe this strange intelligence, or why `
` Upon this blasted heath you stop our way `
` With such prophetic greeting? Speak, I charge you. `
` Witches vanish. `
` BANQUO. The earth hath bubbles as the water has, `
` And these are of them. Whither are they vanish'd? `
` MACBETH. Into the air, and what seem'd corporal melted `
` As breath into the wind. Would they had stay'd! `
` BANQUO. Were such things here as we do speak about? `
` Or have we eaten on the insane root `
` That takes the reason prisoner? `
` MACBETH. Your children shall be kings. `
` BANQUO. You shall be King. `
` MACBETH. And Thane of Cawdor too. Went it not so? `
` BANQUO. To the selfsame tune and words. Who's here? `
` `
` Enter Ross and Angus. `
` `
` ROSS. The King hath happily received, Macbeth, `
` The news of thy success; and when he reads `
` Thy personal venture in the rebels' fight, `
` His wonders and his praises do contend `
` Which should be thine or his. Silenced with that, `
` In viewing o'er the rest o' the selfsame day, `
` He finds thee in the stout Norweyan ranks, `
` Nothing afeard of what thyself didst make, `
` Strange images of death. As thick as hail `
` Came post with post, and every one did bear `
` Thy praises in his kingdom's great defense, `
` And pour'd them down before him. `
` ANGUS. We are sent `
` To give thee, from our royal master, thanks; `
` Only to herald thee into his sight, `
` Not pay thee. `
` ROSS. And for an earnest of a greater honor, `
` He bade me, from him, call thee Thane of Cawdor. `
` In which addition, hail, most worthy Thane, `
` For it is thine. `
` BANQUO. What, can the devil speak true? `
` MACBETH. The Thane of Cawdor lives. Why do you dress me `
` In borrow'd robes? `
` ANGUS. Who was the Thane lives yet, `
` But under heavy judgement bears that life `
` Which he deserves to lose. Whether he was combined `
` With those of Norway, or did line the rebel `
` With hidden help and vantage, or that with both `
` He labor'd in his country's wreck, I know not; `
` But treasons capital, confess'd and proved, `
` Have overthrown him. `
` MACBETH. [Aside.] Glamis, and Thane of Cawdor! `
` The greatest is behind. [To Ross and Angus] Thanks for your `
` pains. `
` [Aside to Banquo] Do you not hope your children shall be `
` kings, `
` When those that gave the Thane of Cawdor to me `
` Promised no less to them? `
` BANQUO. [Aside to Macbeth.] 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. `
` MACBETH. [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, `
` 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 `
` And make my seated heart knock at my ribs, `
` Against the use of nature? Present fears `
` Are less than horrible imaginings: `
` My thought, whose murther yet is but fantastical, `
` Shakes so my single state of man that function `
` Is smother'd in surmise, and nothing is `
` But what is not. `
` BANQUO. Look, how our partner's rapt. `
` MACBETH. [Aside.] If chance will have me King, why, chance may `
` crown me `
` Without my stir. `
` BANQUO. New honors come upon him, `
` Like our strange garments, cleave not to their mould `
` But with the aid of use. `
` MACBETH. [Aside.] Come what come may, `
` Time and the hour runs through the roughest day. `
` BANQUO. Worthy Macbeth, we stay upon your leisure. `
` MACBETH. Give me your favor; 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. `
` Think upon what hath chanced, and at more time, `
` The interim having weigh'd it, let us speak `
` Our free hearts each to other. `
` BANQUO. Very gladly. `
` MACBETH. Till then, enough. Come, friends. Exeunt. `
` `
` `
` `
` `
` SCENE IV. `
` Forres. The palace. `
` `
` Flourish. Enter Duncan, Malcolm, Donalbain, Lennox, 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 `
` With one that saw him die, who did report `
` That very frankly he confess'd his treasons, `
` Implored your Highness' pardon, and set forth `
` A deep repentance. Nothing in his life `
` Became him like the leaving it; he died `
` As one that had been studied in his death, `
` To throw away the dearest thing he owed `
` As 'twere a careless trifle. `
` 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. `
` `
` 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 deserved, `
` 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. `
` MACBETH. The service and the loyalty lowe, `
` 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 everything `
` Safe toward your love and honor. `
` DUNCAN. Welcome hither. `
` I have begun to plant thee, and will labor `
` To make thee full of growing. Noble Banquo, `
` That hast no less deserved, nor must be known `
` No less to have done so; let me infold thee `
` And hold thee to my heart. `
` BANQUO. There if I grow, `
` The harvest is your own. `
` DUNCAN. My plenteous joys, `
` Wanton in fullness, seek to hide themselves `
` In drops of sorrow. Sons, kinsmen, thanes, `
` And you whose places are the nearest, know `
` We will establish our estate upon `
`