And meet i’th’ hall together.

ALL

Well contented.

Exeunt all but Malcolm and Donalbain

MALCOLM

What will you do? Let’s not consort with them.

To show an unfelt sorrow is an office

Which the false man does easy. I’ll to England.

DONALBAIN

To Ireland, I. Our separated fortune

Shall keep us both the safer. Where we are

There’s daggers in men’s smiles. The nea’er in blood,

The nearer bloody.

MALCOLM

This murderous shaft that’s shot

Hath not yet lighted, and our safest way

Is to avoid the aim. Therefore to horse,

And let us not be dainty of leave-taking,

But shift away. There’s warrant in that theft

Which steals itself when there’s no mercy left. Exeunt

2.4 Enter Ross with an Old Man

OLD MAN

Threescore and ten I can remember well,

Within the volume of which time I have seen

Hours dreadful and things strange, but this sore night

Hath trifled former knowings.

Ross Ha,

good father,

Thou seest the heavens, as troubled with man’s act,

Threatens his bloody stage. By th’ clock ’tis day,

And yet dark night strangles the travelling lamp.

Is’t night’s predominance or the day’s shame

That darkness does the face of earth entomb

When living light should kiss it?

OLD MAN

’Tis unnatural,

Even like the deed that’s done. On Tuesday last

A falcon, tow’ring in her pride of place,

Was by a mousing owl hawked at and killed.

ROSS

And Duncan’s horses—a thing most strange and

certain—

Beauteous and swift, the minions of their race,

Turned wild in nature, broke their stalls, flung out,

Contending ’gainst obedience, as they would

Make war with mankind.

OLD MAN

’Tis said they ate each other.

ROSS

They did so, to th’amazement of mine eyes

That looked upon’t.

Enter Macduff

Here comes the good Macduff.

How goes the world, sir, now?

MACDUFF

Why, see you not?

ROSS

Is’t known who did this more than bloody deed?

MACDUFF

Those that Macbeth hath slain.

Ross

Alas the day,

What good could they pretend?

MACDUFF

They were suborned.

Malcolm and Donalbain, the King’s two sons,

Are stol’n away and fled, which puts upon them

Suspicion of the deed.

Ross

’Gainst nature still.

Thriftless ambition, that will raven up

Thine own life’s means! Then ’tis most like

The sovereignty will fall upon Macbeth.

MACDUFF

He is already named and gone to Scone

To be invested.

Ross Where is Duncan’s body?

MACDUFF Carried to Colmekill,

The sacred storehouse of his predecessors,

And guardian of their bones.

Ross

Will you to Scone?

MACDUFF

No, cousin, I’ll to Fife.

ROSS

Well, I will thither.

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 severally

3.1 Enter Banquo

BANQUO

Thou hast it now: King, Cawdor, Glamis, all

As the weird women promised; and I fear

Thou played’st 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, 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 (to Banquo)

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 desired your good advice,

Which still hath been both grave and prosperous,

In this day’s council; but we’ll talk 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 bestowed

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