Speak, if you can;-what are you? 1 Witch. All hail, Macbeth! hail to thee, Thane of Glami 2 Witch. All hail, Macbeth! hail to thee, Thane of Cawdo 3 Witch. All hail, Macbeth! that shalt be king hereafte Ban. 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 That he seems rapt withal:-to me you speak not: And say which grain will grow, and which will not, Speak then to me, who neither beg nor fear 1 Witch. Hail! 2 Witch. Hail! 3 Witch. Hail! 1 Witch. Lesser than Macbeth, and greater. 2 Witch. Not so happy, yet much happier. 3 Witch. Thou shalt get kings, though thou be none: So, all hail, Macbeth and Banquo! 1 Witch. Banquo and Macbeth, all hail! Macb. Stay, you imperfect speakers, tell me more: No more than to be Cawdor. Say from whence [Witches vanish. Ban. The earth hath bubbles, as the water has, And these are of them:-whither are they vanish'd? Macb. Into the air; and what seem'd corporal melted As breath into the wind.-Would they had stay'd! Ban. Were such things here as we do speak about? Or have we eaten on the insane root That takes the reason prisoner? You shall be king. Macb. Your children shall be kings. Enter Ross and ANGUS. Who's here? Ross. The king hath happily receiv'd, Macbeth, Which should be thine or his: silenc'd with that, Ang. We are sent What, can the devil speak true? Macb. The Thane of Cawdor lives: why do you di 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 Is smother'd in surmise; and nothing is But what is not. Ban. Look, how our partner's rapt. Macb. [aside.] If chance will have me king, why, chance New honours come upon him, 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. Ban. [Exeunt. SCENE IV.-Forres. A Room in the Palace. Flourish. Enter DUNCAN, MALCOLM, DONALBAIN, Dun. Is execution done on Cawdor? Are not Mal. 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, To overtake thee. Would thou hadst less deserv'd; Are to your throne and state children and servants; Dun. Welcome hither: I have begun to plant thee, and will labour Ban. The harvest is your own. There if I grow, My plenteous joys, Our eldest, Malcolm; whom we name hereafter But signs of nobleness, like stars, shall shine On all deservers. From hence to Inverness, And bind us further to you. Macb. 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. Dun. My worthy Cawdor! Macb. [aside.] The Prince of Cumberland!-That is a step, On which I must fall down, or else o'er-leap, For in my way it lies. Stars, hide your fires! Dun. True, worthy Banquo,-he is full so valiant; [Exit. |