First Witch. Where hast thou been, sister? Sec. Witch. Killing swine. Third Witch. Sister, where thou? First Witch. A sailor's wife had chestnuts in her lap, And mounch'd, and mounch'd, and mounch'd:-"Give me,' quoth I: "Aroint thee, witch!" the rump-fed ronyon cries. Her husband's to Aleppo gone, master o' the Tiger: But in a sieve I'll thither sail, And, like a rat without a tail, I'll do, I'll do, and I'll do. Sec. Witch. I'll give thee a wind. First Witch. Thou art kind. Third Witch. And I another. First Witch. I myself have all the other; And the very ports they blow, All the quarters that they know I' the shipman's card.(9) I will drain him dry as hay: Sec. Witch. Show me, show me. First Witch. Here I have a pilot's thumb, Wreck'd as homeward he did come. Third Witch. A drum, a drum! Macbeth doth come. All. The weird sisters, hand in hand, Posters of the sea and land, Thus do go about, about: [Drum within. Thrice to thine, and thrice to mine, Enter MACBETH and BANQUO. Macb. So foul and fair a day I have not seen. Ban. How far is't call'd to Forres ? (10)-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, Upon her skinny lips :-you should be women, And yet your beards forbid me to interpret you are so. That Speak, if you can ;-what are you? First Witch. All hail, Macbeth! hail to thee, thane of Glamis ! Sec. Witch. All hail, Macbeth! hail to thee, thane of Cawdor! Third Witch. All hail, Macbeth, that shalt be king hereafter! Ban. Good sir, why do you start; and seem to fear 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, First Witch. Hail! Sec. Witch. Hail! Third Witch. Hail! First Witch. Lesser than Macbeth, and greater. Sec. 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! Macb. Stay, you imperfect speakers, tell me more: Ban. The earth hath bubbles, as the water has, Ban. Were such things here as we do speak about? That takes the reason prisoner? Mac. 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; Only to herald thee into his sight, Not pay thee. Ross. 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! For it is thine. Ban. What, can the devil speak true? Macb. The thane of Cawdor lives: why do you dress 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. 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 Promis'd no less to them? Ban. 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. Macb. Two truths are told, As happy prologues to the swelling act Of the imperial theme [aside].-I thank you, gentlemen. 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, me [Aside. And make my seated heart knock at my ribs, 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. 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. 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. Macb. 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 (12) not Those in commission yet return'd? Mal. My liege, They are not yet come back. But I have spoke |