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  • Title: Macbeth (Folio 1, 1623)
  • Editor: Anthony Dawson

    • ISBN: 978-1-55058-528-5

    Copyright Anthony Dawson. This text may be freely used for educational, non-profit purposes; for all other uses contact the Editor.
    Author: William Shakespeare
    Editor: Anthony Dawson
    Not Peer Reviewed

    Macbeth (Folio 1, 1623)

    Scena Quarta.
    Flourish. Enter King, Lenox, Malcolme,
    Donalbaine, and Attendants.
    280King. Is execution done on Cawdor?
    Or not those in Commission yet return'd?
    Mal. My Liege, they are not yet come back.
    But I haue spoke with one that saw him die:
    Who did report, that very frankly hee
    285Confess'd his Treasons, implor'd your Highnesse Pardon,
    And set forth a deepe Repentance:
    Nothing in his Life became him,
    Like the leauing it. Hee dy'de,
    As one that had beene studied in his death,
    290To throw away the dearest thing he ow'd,
    As 'twere a carelesse Trifle.
    King. There's no Art,
    To finde the Mindes construction in the Face:
    He was a Gentleman, on whom I built
    295An absolute Trust.
    Enter Macbeth, Banquo, Rosse, and Angus.
    O worthyest Cousin,
    The sinne of my Ingratitude euen now
    Was heauie on me. Thou art so farre before,
    300That swiftest Wing of Recompence is slow,
    To ouertake thee. Would thou hadst lesse deseru'd,
    That the proportion both of thanks, and payment,
    Might haue beene mine: onely I haue left to say,
    More is thy due, then more then all can pay.
    305Macb. The seruice, and the loyaltie I owe,
    In doing it, payes it selfe.
    Your Highnesse part, is to receiue our Duties:
    And our Duties are to your Throne, and State,
    Children, and Seruants; which doe but what they should,
    310By doing euery thing safe toward your Loue
    And Honor.
    King. Welcome hither:
    I haue begun to plant thee, and will labour
    To make thee full of growing. Noble Banquo,
    315That hast no lesse deseru'd, nor must be knowne
    No lesse to haue done so: Let me enfold thee,
    And hold thee to my Heart.
    Banq. There if I grow,
    The Haruest is your owne.
    320King. My plenteous Ioyes,
    Wanton in fulnesse, seeke to hide themselues
    In drops of sorrow. Sonnes, Kinsmen, Thanes,
    And you whose places are the nearest, know,
    We will establish our Estate vpon
    325Our eldest, Malcolme, whom we name hereafter,
    The Prince of Cumberland: which Honor must
    Not vnaccompanied, inuest him onely,
    But signes of Noblenesse, like Starres, shall shine
    On all deseruers. From hence to Envernes,
    330And binde vs further to you.
    Macb. The Rest is Labor, which is not vs'd for you:
    Ile be my selfe the Herbenger, and make ioyfull
    The hearing of my Wife, with your approach:
    So humbly take my leaue.
    335King. My worthy Cawdor.
    Macb. The Prince of Cumberland: that is a step,
    On which I must fall downe, or else o're-leape,
    mm For
    134 The Tragedie of Macbeth.
    For in my way it lyes. Starres hide your fires,
    Let not Light see my black and deepe desires:
    340The Eye winke at the Hand; yet let that bee,
    Which the Eye feares, when it is done to see. Exit.
    King. 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,
    345Whose care is gone before, to bid vs welcome:
    It is a peerelesse Kinsman. Flourish. Exeunt.
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