The witches greet Macbeth as Thane of Glamis, Thane of Cawdor, and future king, while promising Banquo a royal line. Ross and Angus announce that Duncan has made Macbeth Thane of Cawdor, confirming part of the prophecy. Macbeth privately contemplates murder as a possible path to the crown.
SCENE IV. Forres. A Room in the Palace.
Flourish. Enter Duncan, Malcolm, Donalbain, Lennox and Attendants.
DUNCAN
Is execution done on Cawdor? Are notThose in commission yet return’d?
MALCOLM
My liege,They are not yet come back. But I have spokeWith one that saw him die, who did report,That very frankly he confess’d his treasons,Implor’d your Highness’ pardon, and set forthA deep repentance. Nothing in his lifeBecame him like the leaving it; he diedAs one that had been studied in his death,To throw away the dearest thing he ow’dAs ’twere a careless trifle.
DUNCAN
There’s no artTo find the mind’s construction in the face:He was a gentleman on whom I builtAn absolute trust.
Enter Macbeth, Banquo, Ross and Angus.
DUNCAN
O worthiest cousin!The sin of my ingratitude even nowWas heavy on me. Thou art so far before,That swiftest wing of recompense is slowTo overtake thee. Would thou hadst less deserv’d;That the proportion both of thanks and paymentMight 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’ partIs to receive our duties: and our dutiesAre to your throne and state, children and servants;Which do but what they should, by doing everythingSafe towardloyally and securely disposed towards. your love and honour.
DUNCAN
Welcome hither:I have begun to plant thee, and will labourTo make thee full of growing.—Noble Banquo,That hast no less deserv’d, nor must be knownNo less to have done so, let me infold theeAnd 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 themselvesIn drops of sorrow.—Sons, kinsmen, thanes,And you whose places are the nearest, know,We will establish our estate uponOur eldest, Malcolm; whom we name hereafterThe Prince of CumberlandThe title granted to the recognised heir to the Scottish throne.: which honour mustNot unaccompanied invest him only,But signs of nobleness, like stars, shall shineOn all deservers.—From hence to Inverness,And bind us further to you.
MACBETH
The rest is labour, which is not us’d for you:I’ll be myself the harbinger, and make joyfulThe hearing of my wife with your approach;So, humbly take my leave.
DUNCAN
My worthy Cawdor!
MACBETH
The Prince of Cumberland!—That is a stepOn 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’s after him,Whose care is gone before to bid us welcome:It is a peerless kinsman.
Flourish. Exeunta stage direction indicating that two or more characters leave the stage..