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Thou hast it now: king, Cawdor, Glamis, all, As the weird women promised, and, I fear, Thou play’dst most foully for’t: yet it was said It should not stand in thy posterity, But that myself should be the root and father Of many kings. If there come truth from them-- As upon thee, Macbeth, their speeches shine-- Why, by the verities on thee made good, May they not be my oracles as well, And set me up in hope? But hush! no more.
You’ve got it now: king, Cawdor, Glamis, everything, Just like the weird sisters said, and, I’m afraid, You played very foully to get it: but they said It wouldn’t pass on to your children, But that I would be the root and father Of many kings. If their predictions are true-- Like they seem to be for you, Macbeth-- Then, by the truths they spoke about you, Couldn’t they also apply to me, And give me hope for the future? But hush, no more.
Here’s our chief guest.
Here’s our guest of honor.
If he had been forgotten, It had been as a gap in our great feast, And all-thing unbecoming.
If he had been forgotten, It would have been like a hole in our great feast, And just not right at all.
To-night we hold a solemn supper sir, And I’ll request your presence.
Tonight we’re holding a formal dinner, sir, And I’d be honored if you could attend.
Let your highness Command upon me; to the which my duties Are with a most indissoluble tie For ever knit.
Your highness can give any command you wish, I am bound to you forever, By a bond that can never be broken.
Ride you this afternoon?
Will you be riding this afternoon?
Ay, my good lord.
Yes, my lord.
We should have else desired your good advice, Which still hath been both grave and prosperous, In this day’s council; but we’ll take to-morrow. Is’t far you ride?
We would have asked for your advice today, Which has always been both wise and successful, In today’s meeting; but we’ll wait until tomorrow. Is it far you’ll be riding?
As far, my lord, as will fill up the time ’Twixt this and supper: go not my horse the better, I must become a borrower of the night For a dark hour or twain.
As far, my lord, as will take up the time Between now and dinner: if my horse holds up, I’ll have to borrow some time from the night For an hour or two.
Fail not our feast.
Don’t miss our dinner.
My lord, I will not.
I won’t, my lord.
We hear, our bloody cousins are bestow’d In England and in Ireland, not confessing Their cruel parricide, filling their hearers With strange invention: but of that to-morrow, When therewithal we shall have cause of state Craving us jointly. Hie you to horse: adieu, Till you return at night. Goes Fleance with you?
We hear that our murderous relatives are now in England and Ireland, not admitting to their brutal crime of killing their father, filling their listeners with unbelievable stories: but we’ll talk about that tomorrow, when we will have a political reason to meet together. Hurry up and get on your horse: goodbye, until you return tonight. Is Fleance coming with you?
Ay, my good lord: our time does call upon ’s.
Yes, my good lord: our time requires us to leave.
I wish your horses swift and sure of foot; And so I do commend you to their backs. Farewell.
I wish your horses speed and sure footing; And I trust you to them. Farewell.
Let every man be master of his time Till seven at night: to make society The sweeter welcome, we will keep ourself Till supper-time alone: while then, God be with you!
Let each man control his own time until seven at night: to make our gathering more enjoyable, I’ll stay by myself until supper-time: until then, God be with you!
Sirrah, a word with you: attend those men Our pleasure?
Sirrah, a word with you: make sure those men know what we want?
They are, my lord, without the palace gate.
They are, my lord, outside the palace gate.
Bring them before us.
Bring them to us.
To be thus is nothing; But to be safely thus.--Our fears in Banquo Stick deep; and in his royalty of nature Reigns that which would be fear’d: ’tis much he dares; And, to that dauntless temper of his mind, He hath a wisdom that doth guide his valour To act in safety. There is none but he Whose being I do fear: and, under him, My Genius is rebuked; as, it is said, Mark Antony’s was by Caesar. He chid the sisters When first they put the name of king upon me, And bade them speak to him: then prophet-like They hail’d him father to a line of kings: Upon my head they placed a fruitless crown, And put a barren sceptre in my gripe, Thence to be wrench’d with an unlineal hand, No son of mine succeeding. If ’t be so, For Banquo’s issue have I filed my mind; For them the gracious Duncan have I murder’d; Put rancours in the vessel of my peace Only for them; and mine eternal jewel Given to the common enemy of man, To make them kings, the seed of Banquo kings! Rather than so, come fate into the list. And champion me to the utterance! Who’s there!
To be in this position means nothing; But to be in this position and safe.--Our fear of Banquo runs deep; and in his noble nature lives what we should be afraid of: he dares a lot; and with his fearless mind, he has a wisdom that guides his courage to act cautiously. There is no one but him whose existence I fear: and, under him, my spirit is humbled; as, it is said, Mark Antony’s was by Caesar. He scolded the witches when they first called me king, and told them to speak to him: then, like a prophet, they hailed him as the father of a line of kings: They placed a useless crown on my head, and gave me a worthless sceptre, which will be taken from me by someone not related to me, with no son of mine succeeding. If that’s the case, then I’ve corrupted my mind for Banquo’s children; For them, I murdered the good Duncan; poured poison into the vessel of my peace only for them; and sold my soul to the devil, to make them kings, Banquo’s descendants kings! I’d rather face fate in a fight and be a champion for myself! Who’s there!
Now go to the door, and stay there till we call.
Now go to the door, and wait there until we call.
Was it not yesterday we spoke together?
Was it not yesterday we spoke together?
It was, so please your highness.
It was, so please your highness.
Well then, now Have you consider’d of my speeches? Know That it was he in the times past which held you So under fortune, which you thought had been Our innocent self: this I made good to you In our last conference, pass’d in probation with you, How you were borne in hand, how cross’d, the instruments, Who wrought with them, and all things else that might To half a soul and to a notion crazed Say ’Thus did Banquo.’
Well then, now Have you thought about what I said? Know That it was him in the past who kept you So down on your luck, which you thought had been Our innocent self: this I proved to you In our last meeting, where we discussed it, How you were manipulated, how betrayed, the people, Who worked with them, and everything else that might To half a mind and a confused idea Say ’This is what Banquo did.’
You made it known to us.
You made it clear to us.
I did so, and went further, which is now Our point of second meeting. Do you find Your patience so predominant in your nature That you can let this go? Are you so gospell’d To pray for this good man and for his issue, Whose heavy hand hath bow’d you to the grave And beggar’d yours for ever?
I did, and went further, which is now Our point of second meeting. Do you find Your patience so strong in your nature That you can just let this go? Are you so holy That you pray for this good man and his children, Whose cruel actions have pushed you to the edge And ruined yours forever?
We are men, my liege.
We are men, my liege.
Ay, in the catalogue ye go for men; As hounds and greyhounds, mongrels, spaniels, curs, Shoughs, water-rugs and demi-wolves, are clept All by the name of dogs: the valued file Distinguishes the swift, the slow, the subtle, The housekeeper, the hunter, every one According to the gift which bounteous nature Hath in him closed; whereby he does receive Particular addition. from the bill That writes them all alike: and so of men. Now, if you have a station in the file, Not i’ the worst rank of manhood, say ’t; And I will put that business in your bosoms, Whose execution takes your enemy off, Grapples you to the heart and love of us, Who wear our health but sickly in his life, Which in his death were perfect.
Yes, in the list of men you go; Just like dogs—hounds, greyhounds, mutts, spaniels, curs, Shoughs, water-dogs, and half-wolves—all called Dogs: the good ones are separated The fast, the slow, the clever, The homebody, the hunter, each one According to what nature has given him And what he has achieved; this is how he is ranked. Now, if you have a place in the list, Not at the bottom of manhood, say it; And I will give you a task that will make you feel like You are deeply connected to us, Who are sick because of him, And would be better off with him dead.
I am one, my liege, Whom the vile blows and buffets of the world Have so incensed that I am reckless what I do to spite the world.
I am one, my liege, Whom the cruel blows and hardships of the world Have so enraged that I don’t care what I do to get back at the world.
And I another So weary with disasters, tugg’d with fortune, That I would set my lie on any chance, To mend it, or be rid on’t.
And I am another So worn out by misfortune, pushed by fate, That I would lie about anything To change it, or to escape it.
Both of you Know Banquo was your enemy.
Both of you Know Banquo was your enemy.
True, my lord.
True, my lord.
So is he mine; and in such bloody distance, That every minute of his being thrusts Against my near’st of life: and though I could With barefaced power sweep him from my sight And bid my will avouch it, yet I must not, For certain friends that are both his and mine, Whose loves I may not drop, but wail his fall Who I myself struck down; and thence it is, That I to your assistance do make love, Masking the business from the common eye For sundry weighty reasons.
So is he mine; and our hatred is so strong, That every moment of his life attacks My own life: and even though I could With open power remove him from my sight And make my will the law, I must not, Because of certain friends who are both his and mine, Whose trust I cannot betray, even though I mourn his death Which I myself caused; and that’s why, I turn to you for help, Hiding the plan from the public eye For several important reasons.
We shall, my lord, Perform what you command us.
We will, my lord, Do what you command us.
Though our lives--
Even though our lives--
Your spirits shine through you. Within this hour at most I will advise you where to plant yourselves; Acquaint you with the perfect spy o’ the time, The moment on’t; for’t must be done to-night, And something from the palace; always thought That I require a clearness: and with him-- To leave no rubs nor botches in the work-- Fleance his son, that keeps him company, Whose absence is no less material to me Than is his father’s, must embrace the fate Of that dark hour. Resolve yourselves apart: I’ll come to you anon.
Your determination shows. In less than an hour, I will tell you where to wait; Let you know the exact time, The moment for it; it must be done tonight, And something from the palace; always remember That I need everything to be clear: and with him-- So there are no mistakes in the job-- Fleance, his son, who keeps him company, Whose absence is as important to me As his father’s, must share the same fate As that dark hour. Decide amongst yourselves: I’ll come to you soon.
We are resolved, my lord.
We are ready, my lord.
I’ll call upon you straight: abide within.
I’ll call you right away: stay here.
It is concluded. Banquo, thy soul’s flight, If it find heaven, must find it out to-night.
It’s settled. Banquo, when your soul leaves your body, If it makes it to heaven, it must do so tonight.