Macbeth | Page 6

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 ow'd As 'twere a careless trifle.
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.]
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 deserv'd; 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.
MACBETH. The service and the loyalty I owe, In doing it, pays itself.
Your highness' part Is to receive our duties: and our duties Are to your
throne and state, children and servants; Which do but what they should,
by doing everything Safe toward your love and honor.
DUNCAN. Welcome hither: I have begun to plant thee, and will labor
To make thee full of growing.--Noble Banquo, That hast no less
deserv'd, nor must be known No less to have done so,let me infold thee
And hold thee to my heart.
BANQUO. There if I grow, The harvest is your own.

DUNCAN. My plenteous joys, Wanton in fulness, seek to hide
themselves In drops of sorrow.--Sons, kinsmen, thanes, And you whose
places are the nearest, know, We will establish our estate upon Our
eldest, Malcolm; whom we name hereafter The Prince of Cumberland:
which honor must Not unaccompanied invest him only, But signs of
nobleness, like stars, shall shine On all deservers.--From hence to
Inverness, And bind us further to you.
MACBETH. The rest is labor, which is not us'd for you: I'll be myself
the harbinger, and make joyful The hearing of my wife with your
approach; So, humbly take my leave.
DUNCAN. My worthy Cawdor!
MACBETH. [Aside.] The Prince of Cumberland!--That is a step, On
which I must fall down, or else o'erleap, For in my way it lies. Stars,
hide your fires! Let not light see my black and deep desires: The eye
wink at the hand! yet let that be, Which the eye fears, when it is done,
to see.
[Exit.]
DUNCAN. True, worthy Banquo!--he is full so valiant; And in his
commendations I am fed,-- It is a banquet to me. Let us after him,
Whose care is gone before to bid us welcome: It is a peerless kinsman.
[Flourish. Exeunt.]

SCENE V. Inverness. A Room in Macbeth's Castle.
[Enter Lady Macbeth, reading a letter.]
LADY MACBETH. "They met me in the day of success; and I have
learned by the perfectest report they have more in 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, came missives from the king, who all-hailed me,

'Thane of Cawdor'; by which title, before, these weird sisters saluted
me, and referred me to the coming on of time, with 'Hail, king that shalt
be!' This have I thought good to deliver thee, my dearest partner of
greatness; that thou mightst not lose the dues of rejoicing, by being
ignorant of what greatness is promised thee. Lay it to thy heart, and
farewell."
Glamis thou art, and Cawdor; and shalt be What thou art promis'd; yet
do I fear thy nature; It is too full o' the milk of human kindness 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, And yet wouldst
wrongly win: thou'dst have, great Glamis, That which cries, "Thus thou
must do, if thou have it: And that which rather thou dost fear to do
Than wishest should be undone." Hie thee hither, That I may pour my
spirits in thine ear; And chastise with the valor of my tongue All that
impedes thee from the golden round, Which fate and metaphysical aid
doth seem To have thee crown'd withal.
[Enter an Attendant.]
What is your tidings?
ATTENDANT. The king comes here tonight.
LADY MACBETH. Thou'rt mad to say it: Is not thy master with him?
who, were't so, Would have inform'd for preparation.
ATTENDANT. So please you, it is true:--our thane is coming: One of
my fellows had the speed of him; Who, almost dead for breath, had
scarcely more Than would make up his message.
LADY MACBETH. Give him tending; He brings great news.
[Exit Attendant.]
The raven himself is hoarse That croaks the fatal entrance of Duncan
Under my