I will drain him dry as hay: 2 Witch. Show me, show me. [A March at a Distance. 3 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. 2 Witch. Thrice to thine, 3 Witch. And thrice to mine,— 1 Witch. And thrice again,— All. To make up nine. 1 Witch. Peace;-the charm's wound up. Enter MACBETH, BANQUO, and the Army. Macb. Command they make a halt upon the heath. [Within.] Halt,-halt,-halt. Macb. So foul and fair a day I have not seen. That look not like the inhabitants o'the earth, you are so. Macb. Speak, if you can;-What are you? 1 Witch. All hail, Macbeth! hail to thee, thane of Glamis ! 2 Witch. All hail, Macbeth! hail to thee, thane of Cawdor! 3 Witch. All hail, Macbeth! that shall be king hereafter. Ban. Good sir, why do you start; and seem to fear Things that do sound so fair? I'the 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: And say, which grain will grow, and which will not; Speak then to me, who neither beg, nor fear, Your favours, nor your hate. 1 Witch. Hail! 2 Witch. Hail! 3 Witch. Hail! 1 Witch. Lesser than Macbeth, and greater. 2 Witch. Not so happy, yet much happier. 3 Witch. Thou shalt get kings, though thou be none. All. So, all hail, Macbeth, and Banquo! Banquo, and Macbeth, all hail! [Going. Macb. Stay, you imperfect speakers, tell me more: By Sinel's death, I know, I am thane of Glamis ; No more than to be Cawdor. Say, from whence With such prophetic greeting? [Thunder and Lightning.-WITCHES vanish. Speak, I charge you. Ban. The earth hath bubbles, as the water has, And these are of them :-Whither are they vanish'd ? Macb. Into the air; and what seem'd corporal, melted As breath into the wind.-'Would they had staid! Macb. Your children shall be kings. Macb. And thane of Cawdor too; went it not so? Enter MACDUFF and LENOX. Macd. The king hath happily receiv'd, Macbeth, The news of thy success: and, when he reads Thy personal venture in the rebel's fight, His wonders and his praises do contend, Which should be thine or his : Silenc'd with that, In viewing o'er the rest o'the self-same day, He finds thee in the stout Norweyan ranks, Nothing afeard of what thyself didst make, Strange images of death. As thick as tale, Came post with post; and every one did bear Thy praises in his kingdom's great defence, And pour'd them down before him. Len. We are sent, To give thee, from our royal master, thanks; Not pay thee. Macd. And, for an earnest of a greater honour, He hade me, from him, call thee thane of Cawdor: In which addition, hail, most worthy thane! For it is thine. C Ban. What! can the devil speak true? Macb. The thane of Cawdor lives; Why do dress me In borrow'd robes? Macd. Who was the thane, lives yet; For treasons capital, confess'd, and prov'd, Macb. Glamis, and thane of Cawdor: you The greatest is behind.-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, The instruments of darkness tell us truths; Win us with honest trifles, to betray us In deepest consequence.-Cousins, a word, I pray you. Mach. Two truths are told, As happy prologues to the swelling act Of the imperial theme. I thank you, gentlemen.— Cannot be ill; cannot be good:-If ill, My thought, whose murder yet is but fantastical, But what is not. Ban. Look, how our partner's rapt. Macb. 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. Come what come may, Time and the hour runs through the roughest day. Ban. Worthy Macbeth, we stay upon your lei sure. 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.— Think upon what hath chanc'd; and, at more time, The interim having weigh'd it, let us speak Our free hearts each to other. Ban. Very gladly. Macb. Till then, enough.-Come, friends. [March.-Exeunt. SCENE IV. The Palace, at Fores. Flourish of Trumpets and Drums. Enter KING DUNCAN, DONALBAIN, MALCOLM, ROSSE, and Two CHAMBERLAINS. King. 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, |