Dun. True, worthy Banquo; he is full so valiant,[3823]
And in his commendations I am fed; 55
It is a banquet to me. Let's after him,[3824]
Whose care is gone before to bid us welcome:
It is a peerless kinsman. [Flourish. Exeunt.[3825]
Scene V. Inverness. Macbeth's castle.[3826]
Enter Lady Macbeth, reading a letter.[3827]
Lady M. 'They met me in the day of success; and I[3828]
have learned by the perfectest report, they have more in[3829]
them than mortal knowledge. When I burned in desire to
question them further, they made themselves air, into which
they vanished. Whiles I stood rapt in the wonder of it,[3830] 5
came missives from the king, who all-hailed me "Thane[3831]
of Cawdor;" by which title, before, these weird sisters saluted[3832]
me, and referred me to the coming on of time, with
"Hail, king that shalt be!" This have I thought good to[3833]
deliver thee, my dearest partner of greatness, that thou 10
mightst not lose the dues of rejoicing, by being ignorant[3834]
of what greatness is promised thee. Lay it to thy heart,
and farewell.'
Glamis thou art, and Cawdor, and shalt be[3835]
What thou art promised: yet do I fear thy nature;[3836] 15
It is too full o' the milk of human kindness[3837]
To catch the nearest way: thou wouldst be great;
Art not without ambition, but without
The illness should attend it: what thou wouldst highly,
That wouldst thou holily; wouldst not play false, 20
And yet wouldst wrongly win: thou'ldst have, great Glamis,[3838][3839]
That which cries 'Thus thou must do, if thou have it;[3838][3839]
And that which rather thou dost fear to do[3839]
Than wishest should be undone.' Hie thee hither,[3839][3840]
That I may pour my spirits in thine ear, 25
And chastise with the valour of my tongue
All that impedes thee from the golden round,[3841]
Which fate and metaphysical aid doth seem[3842]
To have thee crown'd withal.[3843]
Enter a Messenger.[3844]
What is your tidings?
Mess. The king comes here to-night.
Lady M. Thou'rt mad to say it:[3845]30
Is not thy master with him? who, were't so,
Would have inform'd for preparation.
Mess. So please you, it is true: our thane is coming:[3845]
One of my fellows had the speed of him,
Who, almost dead for breath, had scarcely more 35
Than would make up his message.
Lady M. Give him tending;
He brings great news. [Exit Messenger.
The raven himself is hoarse[3846]
That croaks the fatal entrance of Duncan
Under my battlements. Come, you spirits[3847]
That tend on mortal thoughts, unsex me here,[3848] 40
And fill me, from the crown to the toe, top-full
Of direst cruelty! make thick my blood,[3849]
Stop up the access and passage to remorse,
That no compunctious visitings of nature
Shake my fell purpose, nor keep peace between[3850] 45
The effect and it! Come to my woman's breasts,[3851]
And take my milk for gall, you murdering ministers,[3852]
Wherever in your sightless substances
You wait on nature's mischief! Come, thick night,
And pall thee in the dunnest smoke of hell, 50
That my keen knife see not the wound it makes,
Nor heaven peep through the blanket of the dark,[3853]
To cry 'Hold, hold!'