FIRST WITCH
Banquo and Macbeth, all hail!
FIRST WITCH
Banquo and Macbeth, all hail!
75
MACBETH
Stay, you imperfect speakers, tell me more.
By Sinel’s death I know I am thane of Glamis.
But how of Cawdor? The thane of Cawdor lives,
A prosperous gentleman, and to be king
Stands not within the prospect of belief,
No more than to be Cawdor. Say from whence
You owe this strange intelligence, or why
Upon this blasted heath you stop our way
With such prophetic greeting. Speak, I charge you.
MACBETH
Wait! You only told me part of what I want to know. Stay and tell me more. I already know I am the thane of Glamis because I inherited the position when my father, Sinel, died. But how can you call me the thane of Cawdor? The thane of Cawdor is alive, and he’s a rich and powerful man. And for me to be the king is completely impossible, just as it’s impossible for me to be thane of Cawdor. Tell me where you learned these strange things, and why you stop us at this desolate place with this prophetic greeting? Speak, I command you.
WITCHES vanish
The WITCHESvanish.
80
BANQUO
The earth hath bubbles, as the water has,
And these are of them. Whither are they vanished?
BANQUO
The earth has bubbles, just like the water, and these creatures must have come from a bubble in the earth. Where did they disappear to?
MACBETH
Into the air, and what seemed corporal
Melted, as breath into the wind. Would they had stayed.
MACBETH
Into thin air. Their bodies melted like breath in the wind. I wish they had stayed!
85
BANQUO
Were such things here as we do speak about?
Or have we eaten on the insane root
That takes the reason prisoner?
BANQUO
Were these things we’re talking about really here? Or are we both on drugs?
MACBETH
Your children shall be kings.
MACBETH
Your children will be kings.
BANQUO
You shall be king.
BANQUO
You will be the king.
MACBETH
And thane of Cawdor too: went it not so?
MACBETH
And thane of...