Original
Modern English
Thrice the brinded cat hath mew’d.
The cat with the brindled fur has meowed three times.
Thrice and once the hedge-pig whined.
The hedgehog has whined three times and once more.
Harpier cries ’Tis time, ’tis time.
Harpier (a spirit) cries, "It’s time, it’s time."
Round about the cauldron go; In the poison’d entrails throw. Toad, that under cold stone Days and nights has thirty-one Swelter’d venom sleeping got, Boil thou first i’ the charmed pot.
Walk around the cauldron; Throw things into the poisoned guts. Toad, that lies under a cold rock, Has been there for thirty-one days and nights, Gathering venom while it sleeps, Boil first in the enchanted pot.
Double, double toil and trouble; Fire burn, and cauldron bubble.
Double, double, trouble and work; Fire burn, and cauldron bubble.
Fillet of a fenny snake, In the cauldron boil and bake; Eye of newt and toe of frog, Wool of bat and tongue of dog, Adder’s fork and blind-worm’s sting, Lizard’s leg and owlet’s wing, For a charm of powerful trouble, Like a hell-broth boil and bubble.
Fillet of a swamp snake, Boil and bake in the cauldron; Eye of newt and toe of frog, Wool of bat and tongue of dog, Adder’s fork and blind-worm’s sting, Lizard’s leg and owlet’s wing, For a charm of powerful trouble, Like a hellish brew, boil and bubble.
Double, double toil and trouble; Fire burn and cauldron bubble.
Double, double, toil and trouble; Fire burn and cauldron bubble.
Scale of dragon, tooth of wolf, Witches’ mummy, maw and gulf Of the ravin’d salt-sea shark, Root of hemlock digg’d i’ the dark, Liver of blaspheming Jew, Gall of goat, and slips of yew Silver’d in the moon’s eclipse, Nose of Turk and Tartar’s lips, Finger of birth-strangled babe Ditch-deliver’d by a drab, Make the gruel thick and slab: Add thereto a tiger’s chaudron, For the ingredients of our cauldron.
Scale of dragon, tooth of wolf, Witches’ mummy, and the gullet Of a ravenous sea shark, Root of hemlock dug in the dark, Liver of a blaspheming Jew, Gall of goat, and twigs of yew Shined in the moon’s eclipse, Nose of a Turk and Tartar’s lips, Finger of a baby strangled at birth, Delivered from the ditch by a prostitute, Make the mixture thick and lumpy: Add a tiger’s heart, For the ingredients of our cauldron.
Double, double toil and trouble; Fire burn and cauldron bubble.
Double, double, toil and trouble; Fire burn and cauldron bubble.
Cool it with a baboon’s blood, Then the charm is firm and good.
Cool it with a baboon’s blood, Then the spell will be strong and true.
O well done! I commend your pains; And every one shall share i’ the gains; And now about the cauldron sing, Live elves and fairies in a ring, Enchanting all that you put in.
Well done! I praise your hard work; And each of you will share in the reward; Now, gather around the cauldron and sing, Live elves and fairies in a circle, Enchanting everything you put in.
By the pricking of my thumbs, Something wicked this way comes. Open, locks, Whoever knocks!
By the pricking of my thumbs, Something evil is coming this way. Open, locks, Whoever knocks!
How now, you secret, black, and midnight hags! What is’t you do?
What’s this, you secret, dark, and midnight witches! What are you doing?
A deed without a name.
A deed without a name.
I conjure you, by that which you profess, Howe’er you come to know it, answer me: Though you untie the winds and let them fight Against the churches; though the yesty waves Confound and swallow navigation up; Though bladed corn be lodged and trees blown down; Though castles topple on their warders’ heads; Though palaces and pyramids do slope Their heads to their foundations; though the treasure Of nature’s germens tumble all together, Even till destruction sicken; answer me To what I ask you.
I summon you, by whatever power you serve, However you know it, answer me: Even if you make the winds fight Against the churches; even if the stormy seas Destroy ships; even if the wheat in the fields is ruined and trees fall down; Even if castles collapse on their guards; Even if palaces and pyramids lean Toward their foundations; even if nature’s treasures All collapse together, Even until everything is destroyed; answer me To the question I ask.
Speak.
Speak.
Demand.
Ask.
We’ll answer.
We’ll answer.
Say, if thou’dst rather hear it from our mouths, Or from our masters?
Tell us, would you rather hear it from us, Or from our masters?
Call ’em; let me see ’em.
Call them; let me see them.
Pour in sow’s blood, that hath eaten Her nine farrow; grease that’s sweaten From the murderer’s gibbet throw Into the flame.
Pour in the blood of a sow that’s eaten Her nine piglets; grease from the murderer’s gallows Throw into the fire.
Come, high or low; Thyself and office deftly show!
Come, whether high or low; Show your true self and skillfully do your job!
Tell me, thou unknown power,--
Tell me, you unknown force,—
He knows thy thought: Hear his speech, but say thou nought.
He knows what you’re thinking: Listen to what he says, but don’t say anything.
Macbeth! Macbeth! Macbeth! beware Macduff; Beware the thane of Fife. Dismiss me. Enough.
Macbeth! Macbeth! Macbeth! Be careful of Macduff; Watch out for the Thane of Fife. That’s all. Enough.
Whate’er thou art, for thy good caution, thanks; Thou hast harp’d my fear aright: but one word more,--
No matter who you are, thanks for the warning; You’ve made my fears clear: but just one more word--
He will not be commanded: here’s another, More potent than the first.
He won’t listen to you: here comes another one, Stronger than the first.
Macbeth! Macbeth! Macbeth!
Macbeth! Macbeth! Macbeth!
Had I three ears, I’ld hear thee.
If I had three ears, I’d listen to you.
Be bloody, bold, and resolute; laugh to scorn The power of man, for none of woman born Shall harm Macbeth.
Be violent, brave, and determined; laugh at the power of men, because no one born of a woman will ever harm Macbeth.
Then live, Macduff: what need I fear of thee? But yet I’ll make assurance double sure, And take a bond of fate: thou shalt not live; That I may tell pale-hearted fear it lies, And sleep in spite of thunder.
Then let Macduff live: why should I be afraid of you? But just to be extra sure, I’ll take fate’s guarantee: you won’t survive; That way I can tell my scared heart to relax, and sleep even with the thunder.
What is this That rises like the issue of a king, And wears upon his baby-brow the round And top of sovereignty?
What’s this That rises like the child of a king, And wears a crown on its baby head as if it were sovereign?
Listen, but speak not to’t.
Listen, but don’t speak to it.
Be lion-mettled, proud; and take no care Who chafes, who frets, or where conspirers are: Macbeth shall never vanquish’d be until Great Birnam wood to high Dunsinane hill Shall come against him.
Be brave and proud; don’t worry about who is angry, upset, or plotting against you: Macbeth will never be defeated until Birnam Wood moves to high Dunsinane Hill to fight him.
That will never be Who can impress the forest, bid the tree Unfix his earth-bound root? Sweet bodements! good! Rebellion’s head, rise never till the wood Of Birnam rise, and our high-placed Macbeth Shall live the lease of nature, pay his breath To time and mortal custom. Yet my heart Throbs to know one thing: tell me, if your art Can tell so much: shall Banquo’s issue ever Reign in this kingdom?
That will never happen. Who can force the forest, tell the tree To pull its roots out of the earth? What a lovely prophecy! Good! The head of the rebellion will never rise until the wood Of Birnam rises, and our high-ranking Macbeth Will live out his natural life, breathe his last According to time and human customs. But still, my heart Beats to know one thing: tell me, if your magic Can reveal this: will Banquo’s descendants ever Rule this kingdom?
Seek to know no more.
Don’t ask any more questions.
I will be satisfied: deny me this, And an eternal curse fall on you! Let me know. Why sinks that cauldron? and what noise is this?
I will be satisfied: deny me this, And an eternal curse fall on you! Tell me. Why is that cauldron sinking? And what is that noise?
Show!
Show us!
Show!
Show us!
Show!
Show us!
Show his eyes, and grieve his heart; Come like shadows, so depart!
Show his eyes, and make his heart ache; Come like shadows, and leave just as quickly!
Thou art too like the spirit of Banquo: down! Thy crown does sear mine eye-balls. And thy hair, Thou other gold-bound brow, is like the first. A third is like the former. Filthy hags! Why do you show me this? A fourth! Start, eyes! What, will the line stretch out to the crack of doom? Another yet! A seventh! I’ll see no more: And yet the eighth appears, who bears a glass Which shows me many more; and some I see That two-fold balls and treble scepters carry: Horrible sight! Now, I see, ’tis true; For the blood-bolter’d Banquo smiles upon me, And points at them for his.
You look too much like Banquo’s spirit: go away! Your crown burns my eyes. And your hair, You, with the golden crown, look just like the first. A third looks like the second. Filthy witches! Why are you showing me this? A fourth! My eyes, stop! What, will this line stretch out to the end of time? Another one! A seventh! I can’t watch anymore: And yet the eighth appears, holding a glass That shows me even more; and some I see Carry double crowns and triple scepters: Horrible sight! Now I see, it’s true; For bloody Banquo smiles at me, And points at them as his heirs.
What, is this so?
What, is this real?
Ay, sir, all this is so: but why Stands Macbeth thus amazedly? Come, sisters, cheer we up his sprites, And show the best of our delights: I’ll charm the air to give a sound, While you perform your antic round: That this great king may kindly say, Our duties did his welcome pay.
Yes, it’s all true: but why Does Macbeth stand there so stunned? Come, sisters, let’s cheer him up, And show him the best of our pleasures: I’ll make the air hum with sound, While you perform your wild dance: So that this great king may kindly say, Our service has made him feel welcome.
Where are they? Gone? Let this pernicious hour Stand aye accursed in the calendar! Come in, without there!
Where did they go? Gone? Let this cursed hour Be marked forever in the calendar! Come in, someone!
What’s your grace’s will?
What is your grace’s wish?
Saw you the weird sisters?
Did you see the weird sisters?
No, my lord.
No, my lord.
Came they not by you?
Didn’t they come by you?
No, indeed, my lord.
No, truly, my lord.
Infected be the air whereon they ride; And damn’d all those that trust them! I did hear The galloping of horse: who was’t came by?
May the air they ride on be poisoned; And curse all those who trust them! I heard The sound of galloping horses: who was it that passed by?
’Tis two or three, my lord, that bring you word Macduff is fled to England.
It’s two or three, my lord, who bring word That Macduff has fled to England.
Fled to England!
Fled to England!
Ay, my good lord.
Yes, my good lord.
Time, thou anticipatest my dread exploits: The flighty purpose never is o’ertook Unless the deed go with it; from this moment The very firstlings of my heart shall be The firstlings of my hand. And even now, To crown my thoughts with acts, be it thought and done: The castle of Macduff I will surprise; Seize upon Fife; give to the edge o’ the sword His wife, his babes, and all unfortunate souls That trace him in his line. No boasting like a fool; This deed I’ll do before this purpose cool. But no more sights!--Where are these gentlemen? Come, bring me where they are.
Time, you are ahead of me with my worst actions: My fleeting plans are never caught up with Unless the action follows through; from now on The first impulse of my heart will be The first impulse of my hand. And right now, To turn my thoughts into action, I’ll think it and do it: I will surprise Macduff’s castle; Take over Fife; kill his wife, his children, and all the poor souls Who are part of his family. No need for foolish boasting; I’ll do this before my resolve weakens. But no more talking!--Where are those men? Bring me to them.