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 Whether he was combin'd with those of Norway; And vantage; or that with both he labour'd But treasons capital, confess'd, and prov'd, Macb. Ban. That, trusted home, Besides the thane of Cawdor. But 't is strange : Cousins, a word, I pray you. Macb. 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, Commencing in a truth? I am thane of Cawdor: My thought, whose murther yet is but fantastical, But what is not. Ban. Look, how our partner's rapt. Macb. 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. Come what come may, Time and the hour runs through the roughest day. My dull brain was wrought with things forgotten. Where every day I turn the leaf to read them.- Think upon what hath chanc'd; and, at more time, Ban. Very gladly. Macb. Till then, enough.--Come, friends. [Exeunt. SCENE IV.-Forres. A Room in the Palace. Flourish. Enter DUNCAN, MALCOLM, DONALBAIN, LENOX, and Attendants. Dun. Is execution done on Cawdor? Are not Mal. Became him like the leaving it; he died Dun. 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. To overtake thee. 'Would thou hadst less deserv'd; : Are to your throne and state, children and servants; Which do but what they should, by doing everything Safe toward your love and honour. Dun. Welcome hither: I have begun to plant thee, and will labour Ban. The harvest is your own. Dun. There if I grow, My plenteous joys, 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 Macb. The rest is labour, which is not us'd for you: So humbly take my leave. Dun. My worthy Cawdor! Macb. The prince of Cumberland!-That is a step On which I must fall down, or else o'er-leap, [Aside. 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. [Exit. Dun. True, worthy Banquo; he is full so valiant; And in his commendations I am fed ; Let's after him, Whose care is gone before to bid us welcome : It is a banquet to me. 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 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 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; highly, What thou wouldst That wouldst thou holily; wouldst not play false, That which cries, "Thus thou must do, if thou have it: Than wishest should be undone." Hie thee hither, Atten. The king comes here to-night. Lady M. Thou 'rt mad to say it : Is not thy master with him? who, wer 't so, Atten. So please you, it is true; our thane is coming: One of my fellows had the speed of him; Who, almost dead for breath, had scarcely more Than would make up his message. Lady M. He brings great news. Give him tending, The raven himself is hoarse [Exit Attendant. That croaks the fatal entrance of Duncan |