MACDUFF.Well, may you see things well done there,—adieu!—
Lest our old robes sit easier than our new!
ROSS.
Farewell, father.
OLD MAN.
God’s benison go with you; and with those
That would make good of bad, and friends of foes!
[Exeunt.]
ACT III.
SCENE I. Forres. A Room in the Palace.
[Enter Banquo.]
BANQUO.
Thou hast it now,—king, Cawdor, Glamis, all,
As the weird women promis’d; 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.
[Sennet sounded. Enter Macbeth as King, Lady Macbeth as Queen; Lennox, Ross, Lords, Ladies, and Attendants.]
MACBETH.
Here’s our chief guest.
LADY MACBETH.
If he had been forgotten,
It had been as a gap in our great feast,
And all-thing unbecoming.
MACBETH.
Tonight we hold a solemn supper, sir,
And I’ll request your presence.
BANQUO.
Let your highness
Command upon me; to the which my duties
Are with a most indissoluble tie
For ever knit.
MACBETH.
Ride you this afternoon?
BANQUO.
Ay, my good lord.
MACBETH.
We should have else desir’d your good advice,—
Which still hath been both grave and prosperous,—
In this day’s council; but we’ll take tomorrow.
Is’t far you ride?
BANQUO.
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.
MACBETH.
Fail not our feast.
BANQUO.
My lord, I will not.
MACBETH.
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 tomorrow;
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?
BANQUO.
Ay, my good lord: our time does call upon’s.
MACBETH.
I wish your horses swift and sure of foot;
And so I do commend you to their backs.
Farewell.—
[Exit Banquo.]
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!
[Exeunt Lady Macbeth, Lords, Ladies, &c.]
Sirrah, a word with you: attend those men
Our pleasure?
ATTENDANT.
They are, my lord, without the palace gate.
MACBETH.
Bring them before us.
[Exit Attendant.]
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 rebuk’d; 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:
