Ban. To the self-same tune, and words. Who's here? Enter ROSSE and ANGUS. Rosse. The king hath happily received, Macbeth, The news of thy success: and when he reads In viewing o'er the rest o' the self-same day, Rosse. And, for an earnest of a greater honour, He bade me, from him, call thee thane of Cawdor: In which addition, hail, most worthy thane! 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 combined with those of Norway; Or did line the rebel with hidden help And vantage; or that with both he labour'd In his country's wreck, I know not; Macb. [aside.] Glamis, and thane of Cawdor: The greatest is behind.-[To ROSSE and ANGUS.] Thanks for your pains.— [To BAN.] Do you not hope your children shall be kings, When those that gave the thane of Cawdor to me, Promised no less to them? Ban. That, trusted home, Might yet enkindle you unto the crown, Besides the thane of Cawdor. But 'tis strange: In deepest consequence.- Two truths are told, As happy prologues to the swelling act Of the imperial theme.—I thank you, gentle men. [Aside.] This supernatural soliciting My thought, whose murder yet is but fantastical, Ban. Look, how our partner's rapt. Macb. [aside.] 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. [aside.] Come what come may, Time and the hour runs through the roughest day. Ban. Worthy Macbeth, we stay upon your leisure. Mach. 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. [To BAN.] Think upon what hath chanced; and, at more time, The interim having weigh'd it, let us speak Ban. Very gladly. Macb. Till then, enough.-Come, friends. SCENE IV.-Forres. [Exeunt. A Room in the Palace. Flourish. Enter DUNCAN, MALCOLM, DONALBAIN, LENOX, and Attendants. Dun. Is execution done on Cawdor? Are not Those in commission yet return'd? Mal. 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; Dun. There's no art To find the mind's construction in the face: Enter MACBETH, BANQUO, ROSSE, and ANGUS. O, worthiest cousin! The sin of my ingratitude even now Was heavy on me: thou art so far before, That the proportion both of thanks and payment Macb. The service and the loyalty I owe, 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 every thing Safe toward your love and honour. Dun. Welcome hither: I have begun to plant thee, and will labour 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 enfold thee, And hold thee to my heart. Ban. There if I grow, The harvest is your own. Dun. My plenteous joys, Our eldest, Malcolm; whom we name hereafter But signs of nobleness, like stars, shall shine Macb. The rest is labour, which is not used for you: I'll be myself the harbinger, and make joyful 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! 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 ; It is a banquet to me. Let's after him, Whose care is gone before to bid us welcome : It is a peerless kinsman. [Flourish. Exeunt. |