# Macbeth (1918) Yale/Text/Act III

Notes originally placed at the bottom of each page appear below, following Act III. Where these notes gloss a word in the text, the gloss can also be found by hovering over the text.
Where these notes refer to an end note (cf. n. = confer notam; "consult note"), a link to the accompanying end note is provided from the Footnotes section. The end notes accompanying Act III begin on page 97 of the original volume.
Layout 2
ACT THIRD
Scene One
[Forres. A Room in the Palace]
Enter Banquo.
Ban. 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, 4 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, 8 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; Lennox, Ross, Lords, and Attendants.
Macb. Here's our chief guest.
Lady M. If he had been forgotten, It had been as a gap in our great feast, 12 And all-thing unbecoming.
Macb. To-night we hold a solemn supper, sir, And I'll request your presence.
Ban. Let your highness ​Command upon me; to the which my duties 16 Are with a most indissoluble tie For ever knit.
Macb. Ride you this afternoon?
Ban. Ay, my good lord. 20
Macb. 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 to-morrow. Is 't far you ride? 24
Ban. 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.
Macb. Fail not our feast. 28
Ban. My lord, I will not.
Macb. We hear our bloody cousins are bestow'd In England and in Ireland, not confessing Their cruel parricide, filling their hearers 32 With strange invention; but of that to-morrow, 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?
Ban. Ay, my good lord: our time does call upon 's.
Macb. 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 41 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 [all but Macbeth and a Servant]. Sirrah, a word with you. Attend those men 45 Our pleasure?
Serv. They are, my lord, without the palace gate.
Macb. Bring them before us. Exit Servant. To be thus is nothing; 48 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, 52 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 56 Mark Antony's was by Cæsar. 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. 60 Upon my head they plac'd a fruitless crown, And put a barren sceptre in my gripe, Thence to be wrench'd with an unlineal hand, No son of mine succeeding. If 't be so, 64 For Banquo's issue have I fil'd my mind; For them the gracious Duncan have I murder'd; Put rancours in the vessel of my peace Only for them; and mine eternal jewel 68 Given to the common enemy of man, To make them kings, the seed of Banquo kings! Rather than so, come fate into the list, ​And champion me to the utterance! Who's there? 72
Enter Servant, and two Murderers.
Now go to the door, and stay there till we call. Exit Servant. Was it not yesterday we spoke together?
Murderers. It was, so please your highness.
Macb. Well then, now Have you consider'd of my speeches? Know 76 That it was he in the times past which held you So under fortune, which you thought had been Our innocent self. This I made good to you In our last conference; pass'd in probation with you 80 How you were borne in hand, how cross'd, the instruments, Who wrought with them, and all things else that might To half a soul and to a notion craz'd Say, 'Thus did Banquo.'
First Mur. You made it known to us. 84
Macb. I did so; and went further, which is now Our point of second meeting. Do you find Your patience so predominant in your nature That you can let this go? Are you so gospell'd To pray for this good man and for his issue, 89 Whose heavy hand hath bow'd you to the grave And beggar'd yours for ever?
First Mur. We are men, my liege.
Macb. Ay, in the catalogue ye go for men; 92 As hounds and greyhounds, mongrels, spaniels, curs, ​Shoughs, water-rugs, and demi-wolves, are clept All by the name of dogs: the valu'd file Distinguishes the swift, the slow, the subtle, 96 The housekeeper, the hunter, every one According to the gift which bounteous nature Hath in him clos'd; whereby he does receive Particular addition, from the bill 100 That writes them all alike: and so of men. Now, if you have a station in the file, Not i' the worst rank of manhood, say it; And I will put that business in your bosoms, 104 Whose execution takes your enemy off, Grapples you to the heart and love of us, Who wear our health but sickly in his life, Which in his death were perfect.
Sec. Mur. I am one, my liege, 108 Whom the vile blows and buffets of the world Have so incens'd that I am reckless what I do to spite the world.
First Mur. And I another, So weary with disasters, tugg'd with fortune, 112 That I would set my life on any chance, To mend it or be rid on 't.
Macb. Both of you Know Banquo was your enemy.
Murderers. True, my lord.
Macb. So is he mine; and in such bloody distance 116 That every minute of his being thrusts Against my near'st of life: and though I could With bare-fac'd power sweep him from my sight ​And bid my will avouch it, yet I must not, 120 For certain friends that are both his and mine, Whose loves I may not drop, but wail his fall Who I myself struck down; and thence it is That I to your assistance do make love, 124 Masking the business from the common eye For sundry weighty reasons.
Sec. Mur. We shall, my lord, Perform what you command us.
First Mur. Though our lives—
Macb. Your spirits shine through you. Within this hour at most 128 I will advise you where to plant yourselves, Acquaint you with the perfect spy o' the time, The moment on 't; for 't must be done to-night, And something from the palace; always thought That I require a clearness: and with him— 133 To leave no rubs nor botches in the work— Fleance his son, that keeps him company, Whose absence is no less material to me 136 Than is his father's, must embrace the fate Of that dark hour. Resolve yourselves apart; I'll come to you anon.
Murderers. We are resolv'd, my lord.
Macb. I'll call upon you straight: abide within. It is concluded: Banquo, thy soul's flight, 141 If it find heaven, must find it out to-night. Exeunt.
Scene Two
[Another Room in the Palace]
Enter Macbeth's Lady, and a Servant.
Lady M. Is Banquo gone from court?
Serv. Ay, madam, but returns again to-night.
Lady M. Say to the king, I would attend his leisure For a few words.
Serv. Madam, I will. Exit.
Lady M. Nought's had, all's spent, 4 Where our desire is got without content: 'Tis safer to be that which we destroy Than by destruction dwell in doubtful joy.
Enter Macbeth.
How now, my lord! why do you keep alone, 8 Of sorriest fancies your companions making, Using those thoughts which should indeed have died With them they think on? Things without all remedy Should be without regard: what's done is done.
Macb. We have scotch'd the snake, not kill'd it: 13 She'll close and be herself, whilst our poor malice Remains in danger of her former tooth. But let the frame of things disjoint, both the worlds suffer, 16 Ere we will eat our meal in fear, and sleep In the affliction of these terrible dreams That shake us nightly. Better be with the dead, Whom we, to gain our peace, have sent to peace, Than on the torture of the mind to lie 21 In restless ecstasy. Duncan is in his grave; ​After life's fitful fever he sleeps well; Treason has done his worst: nor steel, nor poison, 24 Malice domestic, foreign levy, nothing Can touch him further.
Lady M. Come on; Gentle my lord, sleek o'er your rugged looks; Be bright and jovial among your guests to-night.
Macb. So shall I, love; and so, I pray, be you. Let your remembrance apply to Banquo; Present him eminence, both with eye and tongue: Unsafe the while that we 32 Must lave our honours in these flattering streams, And make our faces vizards to our hearts, Disguising what they are.
Lady M. You must leave this.
Macb. O! full of scorpions is my mind, dear wife; 36 Thou know'st that Banquo and his Fleance lives.
Lady M. But in them nature's copy's not eterne.
Macb. There's comfort yet; they are assailable; Then be thou jocund. Ere the bat hath flown 40 His cloister'd flight, ere to black Hecate's summons The shard-borne beetle with his drowsy hums Hath rung night's yawning peal, there shall be done A deed of dreadful note.
Lady M. What's to be done? 44
Macb. Be innocent of the knowledge, dearest chuck, Till thou applaud the deed. Come, seeling night, Scarf up the tender eye of pitiful day, And with thy bloody and invisible hand 48 ​Cancel and tear to pieces that great bond Which keeps me pale! Light thickens, and the crow Makes wing to the rooky wood; Good things of day begin to droop and drowse, Whiles night's black agents to their preys do rouse. 53 Thou marvell'st at my words: but hold thee still; Things bad begun make strong themselves by ill: So, prithee, go with me. Exeunt.
Scene Three
[A Park, with a Road leading to the Palace]
Enter three Murderers.
First Mur. But who did bid thee join with us?
Third Mur. Macbeth.
Sec. Mur. He needs not our mistrust, since he delivers Our offices and what we have to do To the direction just.
First Mur. Then stand with us. 4 The west yet glimmers with some streaks of day: Now spurs the lated traveller apace To gain the timely inn; and near approaches The subject of our watch.
Third Mur. Hark! I hear horses. 8
Ban within. Give us a light there, ho!
Sec. Mur. Then 'tis he: the rest That are within the note of expectation Already are i' the court.
First Mur. His horses go about.
Third Mur. Almost a mile; but he does usually, 12 ​So all men do, from hence to the palace gate Make it their walk.
Sec. Mur. A light, a light!
Third Mur. 'Tis he.
First Mur. Stand to 't.
Enter Banquo and Fleance, with a torch.
Ban. It will be rain to-night.
First Mur. Let it come down. 16
[They set upon Banquo.]
Ban. O, treachery! Fly, good Fleance, fly, fly, fly! Thou mayst revenge. O slave!
[Dies. Fleance escapes.]
Third Mur. Who did strike out the light?
First Mur. Was 't not the way?
Third Mur. There's but one down; the son is fled.
Sec. Mur. We have lost 20 Best half of our affair.
First Mur. Well, let's away, and say how much is done. Exeunt.
Scene Four
[A Room of State in the Palace]
Banquet prepared. Enter Macbeth, Lady, Ross, Lennox, Lords, and Attendants.
Macb. You know your own degrees; sit down: at first and last, The hearty welcome.
Lords. Thanks to your majesty.
Macb. Ourself will mingle with society And play the humble host. 4 Our hostess keeps her state, but in best time ​We will require her welcome.
Lady M. Pronounce it for me, sir, to all our friends; For my heart speaks they are welcome. 8
Enter First Murderer [to the door].
Macb. See, they encounter thee with their hearts' thanks; Both sides are even: here I'll sit i' the midst: Be large in mirth; anon, we'll drink a measure The table round. [Approaching the door.] There's blood upon thy face. 12
Mur. 'Tis Banquo's, then.
Macb. 'Tis better thee without than he within. Is he dispatch'd?
Mur. My lord, his throat is cut; that I did for him. 16
Macb. Thou art the best o' the cut-throats; yet he's good That did the like for Fleance: if thou didst it, Thou art the nonpareil.
Mur. Most royal sir, Fleance is 'scap'd. 20
Macb. Then comes my fit again: I had else been perfect; Whole as the marble, founded as the rock, As broad and general as the casing air: But now I am cabin'd, cribb'd, confin'd, bound in 24 To saucy doubts and fears. But Banquo's safe?
Mur. Ay, my good lord; safe in a ditch he bides, With twenty trenched gashes on his head; The least a death to nature.
Macb. Thanks for that. 28 ​There the grown serpent lies: the worm that's fled Hath nature that in time will venom breed, No teeth for the present. Get thee gone; to-morrow We'll hear ourselves again. Exit Murderer.
Lady M. My royal lord, 32 You do not give the cheer: the feast is sold That is not often vouch'd, while 'tis a-making, 'Tis given with welcome: to feed were best at home; From thence, the sauce to meat is ceremony; 36 Meeting were bare without it.
Macb. Sweet remembrancer! Now good digestion wait on appetite, And health on both!
Len. May it please your highness sit?
Enter the Ghost of Banquo, and sits in Macbeth's place.
Macb. Here had we now our country's honour roof'd, 40 Were the grac'd person of our Banquo present; Who may I rather challenge for unkindness Than pity for mischance!
Ross. His absence, sir, Lays blame upon his promise. Please 't your highness 44 To grace us with your royal company?
Macb. The table's full.
Len. Here is a place reserv'd, sir.
Macb. Where?
Len. Here, my good lord. What is 't that moves your highness? 48
Macb. Which of you have done this?
​Lords. What, my good lord?
Macb. Thou canst not say I did it: never shake Thy gory locks at me.
Ross. Gentlemen, rise; his highness is not well. 52
Lady M. Sit, worthy friends: my lord is often thus, And hath been from his youth: pray you, keep seat; The fit is momentary; upon a thought He will again be well. If much you note him 56 You shall offend him and extend his passion: Feed and regard him not. Are you a man?
Macb. Ay, and a bold one, that dare look on that Which might appal the devil.
Lady M. O proper stuff! 60 This is the very painting of your fear; This is the air-drawn dagger which, you said, Led you to Duncan. O! these flaws and starts— Impostors to true fear—would well become 64 A woman's story at a winter's fire, Authoriz'd by her grandam. Shame itself! Why do you make such faces? When all's done You look but on a stool. 68
Macb. Prithee, see there! behold! look! lo! how say you? Why, what care I? If thou canst nod, speak too. If charnel-houses and our graves must send Those that we bury back, our monuments 72 Shall be the maws of kites. [Exit Ghost.]
Lady M. What! quite unmann'd in folly?
Macb. If I stand here, I saw him.
Lady M. Fie, for shame!
​Macb. Blood hath been shed ere now, i' the olden time, Ere human statute purg'd the gentle weal; 76 Ay, and since too, murders have been perform'd Too terrible for the ear: the time has been, That, when the brains were out, the man would die, And there an end; but now they rise again, 80 With twenty mortal murders on their crowns, And push us from our stools: this is more strange Than such a murder is.
Lady M. My worthy lord, Your noble friends do lack you.
Macb. I do forget. 84 Do not muse at me, my most worthy friends; I have a strange infirmity, which is nothing To those that know me. Come, love and health to all; Then, I'll sit down. Give me some wine; fill full. I drink to the general joy of the whole table, 89 And to our dear friend Banquo, whom we miss; Would he were here! to all, and him, we thirst, And all to all.
Lords. Our duties, and the pledge. 92
Enter Ghost.
Macb. Avaunt! and quit my sight! Let the earth hide thee! Thy bones are marrowless, thy blood is cold; Thou hast no speculation in those eyes Which thou dost glare with.
Lady M. Think of this, good peers, But as a thing of custom: 'tis no other; 97 Only it spoils the pleasure of the time.
​Macb. What man dare, I dare: Approach thou like the rugged Russian bear, The arm'd rhinoceros, or the Hyrcan tiger; 101 Take any shape but that, and my firm nerves Shall never tremble: or be alive again, And dare me to the desert with thy sword; 104 If trembling I inhabit then, protest me The baby of a girl. Hence, horrible shadow! Unreal mockery, hence! [Exit Ghost.] Why, so; being gone, I am a man again. Pray you, sit still. 108
Lady M. You have displac'd the mirth, broke the good meeting, With most admir'd disorder.
Macb. Can such things be And overcome us like a summer's cloud, Without our special wonder? You make me strange 112 Even to the disposition that I owe, When now I think you can behold such sights, And keep the natural ruby of your cheeks, When mine are blanch'd with fear.
Ross. What sights, my lord? 116
Lady M. I pray you, speak not; he grows worse and worse; Question enrages him. At once, good-night: Stand not upon the order of your going, But go at once.
Len. Good-night; and better health 120 Attend his majesty!
Lady M. A kind good-night to all!
Exeunt Lords [and Attendants].
​Macb. It will have blood, they say; blood will have blood: Stones have been known to move and trees to speak; Augures and understood relations have 124 By maggot-pies and choughs and rooks brought forth The secret'st man of blood. What is the night?
Lady M. Almost at odds with morning, which is which.
Macb. How sayst thou, that Macduff denies his person 128 At our great bidding?
Lady M. Did you send to him, sir?
Macb. I hear it by the way; but I will send. There's not a one of them but in his house I keep a servant fee'd. I will to-morrow— 132 And betimes I will—to the weird sisters: More shall they speak; for now I am bent to know, By the worst means, the worst. For mine own good All causes shall give way: I am in blood 136 Stepp'd in so far, that, should I wade no more, Returning were as tedious as go o'er. Strange things I have in head that will to hand, Which must be acted ere they may be scann'd.
Lady M. You lack the season of all natures, sleep. 141
Macb. Come, we'll to sleep. My strange and self-abuse Is the initiate fear that wants hard use: We are yet but young in deed. Exeunt.
Scene Five
[A Heath]
Thunder. Enter the three Witches, meeting Hecate.
First Witch. Why, how now, Hecate! you look angerly.
Hec. Have I not reason, beldams as you are, Saucy and overbold? How did you dare To trade and traffic with Macbeth 4 In riddles and affairs of death; And I, the mistress of your charms, The close contriver of all harms, Was never call'd to bear my part, 8 Or show the glory of our art? And, which is worse, all you have done Hath been but for a wayward son, Spiteful and wrathful; who, as others do, 12 Loves for his own ends, not for you. But make amends now: get you gone, And at the pit of Acheron Meet me i' the morning: thither he 16 Will come to know his destiny: Your vessels and your spells provide, Your charms and every thing beside. I am for the air; this night I'll spend 20 Unto a dismal and a fatal end: Great business must be wrought ere noon: Upon the corner of the moon There hangs a vaporous drop profound; 24 I'll catch it ere it come to ground: And that distill' d by magic sleights ​Shall raise such artificial sprites As by the strength of their illusion 28 Shall draw him on to his confusion: He shall spurn fate, scorn death, and bear His hopes 'bove wisdom, grace, and fear; And you all know security 32 Is mortals' chiefest enemy. Song within, 'Come away, come away,' &c. Hark! I am call'd; my little spirit, see, Sits in a foggy cloud, and stays for me. [Exit]
First Witch. Come, let's make haste; she'll soon be back again. Exeunt.
Scene Six
[A Room]
Enter Lennox and another Lord.
Len. My former speeches have but hit your thoughts, Which can interpret further: only, I say, Things have been strangely borne. The gracious Duncan Was pitied of Macbeth: marry, he was dead: 4 And the right-valiant Banquo walk'd too late; Whom, you may say, if 't please you, Fleance kill'd, For Fleance fled: men must not walk too late. Who cannot want the thought how monstrous 8 It was for Malcolm and for Donalbain To kill their gracious father? damned fact! How it did grieve Macbeth! did he not straight In pious rage the two delinquents tear, 12 That were the slaves of drink and thralls of sleep? ​Was not that nobly done? Ay, and wisely too; For 'twould have anger'd any heart alive To hear the men deny 't. So that, I say, 16 He has borne all things well; and I do think That, had he Duncan's sons under his key,— As, an 't please heaven, he shall not,—they should find What 'twere to kill a father; so should Fleance. But, peace! for from broad words, and 'cause he fail'd 21 His presence at the tyrant's feast, I hear, Macduff lives in disgrace. Sir, can you tell Where he bestows himself?
Lord. The son of Duncan, 24 From whom this tyrant holds the due of birth, Lives in the English court, and is receiv'd Of the most pious Edward with such grace That the malevolence of fortune nothing 28 Takes from his high respect. Thither Macduff Is gone to pray the holy king, upon his aid To wake Northumberland and warlike Siward: That, by the help of these—with him above 32 To ratify the work—we may again Give to our tables meat, sleep to our nights, Free from our feasts and banquets bloody knives, Do faithful homage and receive free honours; All which we pine for now. And this report 37 Hath so exasperate the king that he Prepares for some attempt at war.
Len. Sent he to Macduff?
Lord. He did: and with an absolute, 'Sir, not I,' 40 The cloudy messenger turns me his back, And hums, as who should say, 'You'll rue the time ​That clogs me with this answer.'
Len. And that well might Advise him to a caution, to hold what distance His wisdom can provide. Some holy angel 45 Fly to the court of England and unfold His message ere he come, that a swift blessing May soon return to this our suffering country 48 Under a hand accurs'd!
Lord. I'll send my prayers with him!
Exeunt.
Footnotes to Act III
Scene One
​7 shine: are brilliantly confirmed 10 S. d. Sennet: trumpet call ​26 Cf. n. 30 bestow'd: 'located' 32 parricide: murder of a parent 34 therewithal: besides that cause of state: public business 43 sweeter: more sweetly ​44 while then: till then God be with you: i.e., good-bye 56 genius: guardian angel rebuk'd: overawed 61 Fruitless: childless 65 fil'd: defiled 67 rancours: bitternesses 68 eternal jewel: soul 71 list: lists, tilting ground ​72 champion: challenge utterance: finish (i.e., death) 78 under fortune: in distress 80 pass'd in probation: I reviewed in argument 81 borne in hand: deluded with false hopes 83 notion: understanding 88 gospell'd: full of Christian spirit 92–101 Cf. n. ​94 Shoughs, water-rugs: two kinds of poodle clept: called 95 file: list 116 distance: hostility 118 near'st of life: most vital parts ​120 avouch it: assume responsibility for it 121 For: for the sake of 130 spy o' the time: instructions as to time 132 something from: some distance from always thought: it being kept in mind 133 clearness: freedom from suspicion 134 rubs: mischances
Scene Two
​13 scotch'd: hacked 14 malice: capacity; cf. n. 16 frame . . . disjoint: universe fall to pieces 21 on the torture: i.e., as on the rack 22 ecstasy: distraction ​31 Present him eminence: do him honor 32 Unsafe: we being unsafe the while that: so long as 34 vizards: masks 38 copy: lease (of life) 42 shard-borne: borne on scaly wings 46 seeling: blindfolding (a term from falconry) ​49 bond; cf. n. 51 rooky: full of rooks 56 go with: trust in
Scene Three
​2 delivers: tells us 3 offices: duties 4 To the direction just: exactly according to directions 10 note of expectation: list of expected guests
Scene Four
​1 degrees: ranks at first and last: once for all 5 state: canopied chair ​14 thee without: outside thee 19 nonpareil: unequaled one 23 casing: surrounding 25 saucy: insistent 27 trenched: cut ​32 ourselves: each other 33–36 Cf. n. 40 roof'd: gathered under one roof ​55 upon a thought: in a moment 60 proper stuff: perfect nonsense 63 flaws: outbursts 64 Impostors to: mere counterfeits of 66 Authoriz'd by: told on the authority of 71 charnel-houses: tombs; cf. n. 73 maws: stomachs ​76 human statute: civilised law weal: commonwealth 85 muse: wonder 91 thirst: propose a toast 95 speculation: sight ​101 Hyrcan: Hyrcanian, trans-Caspian 105 inhabit: stay at home 106 baby of a girl; cf. n. 110 admir'd: wonderful 112, 113 strange . . . to; cf. n. 118 Question: talk ​124 Augures: auguries, interpretations of omens understood relations; cf. n. 125 maggot-pies: magpies choughs: jackdaws 128 How sayst thou: what sayst thou to this 142 strange and self-abuse: strange self-deception 143 initiate: novice's
Scene Five
​Scene Five; cf. n. 2 beldams: hags 7 close: secret 15 Acheron: a river of Hades 24 profound: of profound significance 26 sleights: arts ​27 artificial: skilful 29 confusion: ruin 32 security: over-confidence
Scene Six
​3 borne: managed 8 Who cannot want: who can lack 10 fact: deed 13 thralls: bondmen ​19 an: if 21 from broad words: because of his outspokenness 35 Free: keep away 38 exasperate: exasperated 41 turns me: turns