William Shakespeare: The Complete Works 2nd Edition (438 page)
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Authors: William Shakespeare
Tags: #Drama, #Literary Criticism, #Shakespeare
BOOK: William Shakespeare: The Complete Works 2nd Edition
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KING DUNCAN
Dismayed not this our captains, Macbeth and
Banquo?
Banquo?
CAPTAIN
Yes, as sparrows eagles, or the hare the lion!
If I say sooth I must report they were
As cannons overcharged with double cracks,
So they doubly redoubled strokes upon the foe.
Except they meant to bathe in reeking wounds
Or memorize another Golgotha,
I cannot tell—
But I am faint. My gashes cry for help.
If I say sooth I must report they were
As cannons overcharged with double cracks,
So they doubly redoubled strokes upon the foe.
Except they meant to bathe in reeking wounds
Or memorize another Golgotha,
I cannot tell—
But I am faint. My gashes cry for help.
KING DUNCAN
So well thy words become thee as thy wounds:
They smack of honour both.—Go get him surgeons.
They smack of honour both.—Go get him surgeons.
Exit Captain with attendants
Enter Ross and Angus
Who comes here?
MALCOLM
The worthy Thane of Ross.
LENNOX
What haste looks through his eyes! So should he look
That seems to speak things strange.
That seems to speak things strange.
Ross
God save the King.
KING DUNCAN
Whence cam’st thou, worthy thane?
Ross
From Fife, great King,
Where the Norwegian banners flout the sky
And fan our people cold.
Norway himself, with terrible numbers,
Assisted by that most disloyal traitor
The Thane of Cawdor, began a dismal conflict,
Till that Bellona’s bridegroom, lapped in proof,
Confronted him with self-comparisons,
Point against point, rebellious arm ’gainst arm,
Curbing his lavish spirit; and to conclude,
The victory fell on us—
And fan our people cold.
Norway himself, with terrible numbers,
Assisted by that most disloyal traitor
The Thane of Cawdor, began a dismal conflict,
Till that Bellona’s bridegroom, lapped in proof,
Confronted him with self-comparisons,
Point against point, rebellious arm ’gainst arm,
Curbing his lavish spirit; and to conclude,
The victory fell on us—
KING DUNCAN
Great happiness.
Ross
That now
Sweno, the Norways’ king, craves composition;
Nor would we deign him burial of his men
Till he disbursed at Saint Colum’s inch
Ten thousand dollars to our general use.
Nor would we deign him burial of his men
Till he disbursed at Saint Colum’s inch
Ten thousand dollars to our general use.
KING DUNCAN
No more that Thane of Cawdor shall deceive
Our bosom interest. Go pronounce his present death,
And with his former title greet Macbeth.
Our bosom interest. Go pronounce his present death,
And with his former title greet Macbeth.
Ross I’ll see it done.
KING DUNCAN
What he hath lost, noble Macbeth hath won.
Exeunt severally
1.3Exeunt severally
Thunder. Enter the three Witches
FIRST WITCH
Where hast thou been, sister?
SECOND WITCH
Killing swine.
THIRD WITCH
Sister, where thou?
FIRST WITCH
A sailor’s wife had chestnuts in her lap,
And munched, and munched, and munched. ‘Give
And munched, and munched, and munched. ‘Give
me,’ quoth I.
‘Aroint thee, witch,’ the rump-fed runnion cries.
Her husband’s to Aleppo gone, master o’th’ 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.
And like a rat without a tail
I’ll do, I’ll do, and I’ll do.
SECOND WITCH
I’ll give thee a wind.
FIRST WITCH
Thou’rt 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’th’ shipman’s card.
I’ll drain him dry as hay.
Sleep shall neither night nor day
Hang upon his penthouse lid.
He shall live a man forbid.
Weary sennights nine times nine
Shall he dwindle, peak, and pine.
Though his barque cannot be lost,
Yet it shall be tempest-tossed.
Look what I have.
And the very ports they blow,
All the quarters that they know
I’th’ shipman’s card.
I’ll drain him dry as hay.
Sleep shall neither night nor day
Hang upon his penthouse lid.
He shall live a man forbid.
Weary sennights nine times nine
Shall he dwindle, peak, and pine.
Though his barque cannot be lost,
Yet it shall be tempest-tossed.
Look what I have.
SECOND WITCH
Show me, show me.
FIRST WITCH
Here I have a pilot’s thumb,
Wrecked as homeward he did come.
Wrecked as homeward he did come.
Drum within
THIRD WITCH
A drum, a drum—
Macbeth doth come.
Macbeth doth come.
ALL
(dancing in a ring)
(dancing in a ring)
The weird sisters hand in hand,
Posters of the sea and land,
Thus do go about, about,
Thrice to thine, and thrice to mine,
And thrice again to make up nine.
Peace! The charm’s wound up.
Posters of the sea and land,
Thus do go about, about,
Thrice to thine, and thrice to mine,
And thrice again to make up nine.
Peace! The charm’s wound up.
Enter Macbeth and Banquo
MACBETH
So foul and fair a day I have not seen.
BANQUO
How far is’t called to Forres?—What are these,
So withered, and so wild in their attire,
That look not like th‘inhabitants o’th’ earth
And yet are on’t?—Live you, or are you aught
That man may question? You seem to understand me
By each at once her choppy finger laying
Upon her skinny lips. You should be women,
And yet your beards forbid me to interpret
That you are so.
So withered, and so wild in their attire,
That look not like th‘inhabitants o’th’ earth
And yet are on’t?—Live you, or are you aught
That man may question? You seem to understand me
By each at once her choppy finger laying
Upon her skinny lips. You should be women,
And yet your beards forbid me to interpret
That you are so.
MACBETH (
to the Witches
)
to the Witches
)
Speak, if you can. What are you?
FIRST WITCH
All hail, Macbeth! Hail to thee, Thane of Glamis.
SECOND WITCH
All hail, Macbeth! Hail to thee, Thane of Cawdor.
THIRD WITCH
All hail, Macbeth, that shalt be king hereafter!
BANQUO
Good sir, why do you start and seem to fear
Things that do sound so fair? (
To the Witches
) I’th’
Things that do sound so fair? (
To the Witches
) I’th’
name of truth,
Are ye fantastical or that indeed
Which outwardly ye show? My noble partner
You greet with present grace and great prediction
Of noble having and of royal hope,
That he seems rapt withal. To me you speak not.
If you can look into the seeds of time
And say which grain will grow and which will not,
Speak then to me, who neither beg nor fear
Your favours nor your hate.
Which outwardly ye show? My noble partner
You greet with present grace and great prediction
Of noble having and of royal hope,
That he seems rapt withal. To me you speak not.
If you can look into the seeds of time
And say which grain will grow and which will not,
Speak then to me, who neither beg nor fear
Your favours nor your hate.
FIRST WITCH Hail!
SECOND WITCH Hail!
THIRD WITCH Hail!
FIRST WITCH
Lesser than Macbeth, and greater.
SECOND WITCH
Not so happy, yet much happier.
THIRD WITCH
Thou shalt get kings, though thou be none.
So all hail, Macbeth and Banquo!
So all hail, Macbeth and Banquo!
FIRST WITCH
Banquo and Macbeth, all hail!
MACBETH
Stay, you imperfect speakers, tell me more.
By Sinel’s death I know I am Thane of Glamis,
But how of Cawdor? The Thane of Cawdor lives,
A prosperous gentleman, and to be king
Stands not within the prospect of belief,
No more than to be Cawdor. Say from whence
You owe this strange intelligence, or why
Upon this blasted heath you stop our way
With such prophetic greeting. Speak, I charge you.
By Sinel’s death I know I am Thane of Glamis,
But how of Cawdor? The Thane of Cawdor lives,
A prosperous gentleman, and to be king
Stands not within the prospect of belief,
No more than to be Cawdor. Say from whence
You owe this strange intelligence, or why
Upon this blasted heath you stop our way
With such prophetic greeting. Speak, I charge you.
The Witches vanish
BANQUO
The earth hath bubbles, as the water has,
And these are of them. Whither are they vanished?
And these are of them. Whither are they vanished?
MACBETH
Into the air, and what seemed corporal
Melted as breath into the wind. Would they had stayed.
Melted as breath into the wind. Would they had stayed.
BANQUO
Were such things here as we do speak about,
Or have we eaten on the insane root
That takes the reason prisoner?
Or have we eaten on the insane root
That takes the reason prisoner?
MACBETH
Your children shall be kings.
BANQUO
You shall be king.
MACBETH
And Thane of Cawdor too. Went it not so?
BANQUO
To th’ self-same tune and words. Who’s here?
Enter Ross and Angus
ROSS
The King hath happily received, Macbeth,
The news of thy success, and when he reads
Thy personal venture in the rebels’ sight
His wonders and his praises do contend
Which should be thine or his; silenced with that,
In viewing o‘er the rest o’th’ self-same day
He finds thee in the stout Norwegian ranks,
Nothing afeard of what thyself didst make,
Strange images of death. As thick as hail
Came post with post, and every one did bear
Thy praises in his kingdom’s great defence,
And poured them down before him.
The news of thy success, and when he reads
Thy personal venture in the rebels’ sight
His wonders and his praises do contend
Which should be thine or his; silenced with that,
In viewing o‘er the rest o’th’ self-same day
He finds thee in the stout Norwegian ranks,
Nothing afeard of what thyself didst make,
Strange images of death. As thick as hail
Came post with post, and every one did bear
Thy praises in his kingdom’s great defence,
And poured them down before him.
ANGUS (
to Macbeth
)
to Macbeth
)
We are sent
To give thee from our royal master thanks;
Only to herald thee into his sight,
Not pay thee.
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.
He bade me from him call thee Thane of Cawdor,
In which addition, hail, most worthy thane,
For it is thine.
BANQUO
What, can the devil speak true?
MACBETH
The Thane of Cawdor lives. Why do you dress me
In borrowed robes?
In borrowed robes?
ANGUS
Who was the thane lives yet,
But under heavy judgement 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 laboured in his country’s wrack, I know not;
But treasons capital, confessed, and proved
Have overthrown him.
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 laboured in his country’s wrack, I know not;
But treasons capital, confessed, and proved
Have overthrown him.
MACBETH
(aside)
(aside)
Glamis, and Thane of Cawdor.
The greatest is behind. (
To Ross and Angus
) Thanks for
your pains.
To Ross and Angus
) Thanks for
your pains.
(
To Banquo)
Do you not hope your children shall be kings
When those that gave the thane of Cawdor to me
Promised no less to them?
To Banquo)
Do you not hope your children shall be kings
When those that gave the thane of Cawdor to me
Promised no less to them?
BANQUO
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.
(
To Ross and Angus
) Cousins, a word, I pray you.
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.
(
To Ross and Angus
) Cousins, a word, I pray you.
MACBETH
(aside)
Two truths are told
(aside)
Two truths are told
As happy prologues to the swelling act
Of the imperial theme. (
To Ross and Angus
) I thank
you, gentlemen.
Of the imperial theme. (
To Ross and Angus
) I thank
you, gentlemen.
(
Aside
) 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
And make my seated heart knock at my ribs
Against the use of nature? Present fears
Are less than horrible imaginings.
My thought, whose murder yet is but fantastical,
Shakes so my single state of man that function
Is smothered in surmise, and nothing is
But what is not.
Aside
) 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
And make my seated heart knock at my ribs
Against the use of nature? Present fears
Are less than horrible imaginings.
My thought, whose murder yet is but fantastical,
Shakes so my single state of man that function
Is smothered in surmise, and nothing is
But what is not.
BANQUO (
to Ross and Angus
)
to Ross and Angus
)
Look how our partner’s rapt.
MACBETH
(aside)
(aside)
If chance will have me king, why, chance may crown
me
Without my stir.
me
Without my stir.
BANQUO (
to Ross and Angus
)
to Ross and Angus
)
New honours come upon him,
Like our strange garments, cleave not to their mould
But with the aid of use.
Like our strange garments, cleave not to their mould
But with the aid of use.
MACBETH
(aside)
(aside)
Come what come may,
Time and the hour runs through the roughest day.
BANQUO
Worthy Macbeth, we stay upon your leisure.
MACBETH
Give me your favour. My dull brain was wrought
With things forgotten. (
To Ross and Angus
) Kind
gentlemen, your pains
Are registered where every day I turn
The leaf to read them. Let us toward the King.
(
Aside to Banquo
) Think upon what hath chanced, and
at more time,
The interim having weighed it, let us speak
Our free hearts each to other.
With things forgotten. (
To Ross and Angus
) Kind
gentlemen, your pains
Are registered where every day I turn
The leaf to read them. Let us toward the King.
(
Aside to Banquo
) Think upon what hath chanced, and
at more time,
The interim having weighed it, let us speak
Our free hearts each to other.
BANQUO Very gladly.
MACBETH
Till then, enough. (
To Ross and Angus
) Come, friends.
Exeunt
1.4To Ross and Angus
) Come, friends.
Exeunt
Flourish. Enter King Duncan, Lennox, Malcolm, Donalbain
,
and attendants
KING DUNCAN
Is execution done on Cawdor? Are not
Those in commission yet returned?
Those in commission yet returned?
MALCOLM
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 confessed his treasons,
Implored your highness’ pardon, and set forth
A deep repentance. Nothing in his life
Became him like the leaving it. He died
As one that had been studied in his death
To throw away the dearest thing he owed
As ’twere a careless trifle.
With one that saw him die, who did report
That very frankly he confessed his treasons,
Implored your highness’ pardon, and set forth
A deep repentance. Nothing in his life
Became him like the leaving it. He died
As one that had been studied in his death
To throw away the dearest thing he owed
As ’twere a careless trifle.
KING DUNCAN
There’s no art
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
(To Macbeth)
O worthiest cousin,
The sin of my ingratitude even now
Was heavy on me! Thou art so far before
That swiftest wing of recompense is slow
To overtake thee. Would thou hadst less deserved,
That the proportion both of thanks and payment
Might have been mine. Only I have left to say,
‘More is thy due than more than all can pay’.
He was a gentleman on whom I built
An absolute trust.
Enter Macbeth, Banquo, Ross
,
and Angus
(To Macbeth)
O worthiest cousin,
The sin of my ingratitude even now
Was heavy on me! Thou art so far before
That swiftest wing of recompense is slow
To overtake thee. Would thou hadst less deserved,
That the proportion both of thanks and payment
Might have been mine. Only I have left to say,
‘More is thy due than more than all can pay’.
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