more than to be Cawdor. Say from whence 75
You owe this strange intelligence, or why
Upon this blasted heath you stop our way
With such prophetic greeting? Speak, I charge you.
[WITCHES vanish.]
Banquo
The earth hath bubbles, as the water has,
And these are of them. Whither are they vanish’d? 80
Macbeth
Into the air; and what seem’d corporal melted
As breath into the wind. Would they had stay’d!
Banquo
Were such things here as we do speak about?
Or have we eaten on the insane root
That takes the reason prisoner? 85
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 receiv’d, Macbeth,
The news of thy success; and when he reads 90
Thy personal venture in the rebels’ 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’ th’ self-same day,
He finds thee in the stout Norweyan ranks, 95
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.
Angus
We are sent 100
To give thee, from our royal master, thanks;
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; 105
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?
Angus
Who was the Thane lives yet;
But under heavy judgment bears that life 110
Which he deserves to lose. Whether he was combin’d
With those of Norway, or did line the rebel
With hidden help and vantage, or that with both
He labour’d in his country’s wreck, I know not;
But treasons capital, confess’d and prov’d, 115
Have overthrown him.
Macbeth
[aside] Glamis, and Thane of Cawdor!
The greatest is behind. – Thanks for your pains.
[Aside to BANQUO] 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?
Banquo
[aside to MACBETH] That, trusted home, 120
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 125
In deepest consequence. –
Cousins, a word, I pray you.
Macbeth
[aside] Two truths are told,
As happy prologues to the swelling act
Of the imperial theme. – I thank you, gentlemen.
[Aside] This supernatural soliciting 130
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 135
And make my seated heart knock at my ribs
Against the use of nature? Present fears
Are
