1.5.0.2348 Enter Macbeth's wife alone, with a letter. They met me in the day of success, and I have
350learned by the perfectest report they have more in them than
351mortal knowledge. When I burnt in desire to question them
352further, they made themselves air into which they vanished.
353Whiles I stood rapt in the wonder of it, came missives from
354the King, who all-hailed me Thane of Cawdor, by which title
355before these weird sisters saluted me, and referred me to
356the coming on of time with "Hail, king that shalt be." This
357have I thought good to deliver thee, my dearest partner of
358greatness, that thou mightst not lose the dues of rejoicing
359by being ignorant of what greatness is promised thee. Lay
360it to thy heart, and farewell.
1.5.2361Glamis thou art, and Cawdor, and shalt be
1.5.3362What thou art promised. Yet do I fear thy nature:
1.5.4363It is too full o'th' milk of human kindness
1.5.5364To catch the nearest way. Thou wouldst be great,
1.5.6365Art not without ambition, but without
1.5.7366The illness should attend it. What thou wouldst highly,
1.5.8367That wouldst thou holily, wouldst not play false,
1.5.9368And yet wouldst wrongly win.
369 Thou'dst have, great Glamis,
1.5.10That which cries,
370"Thus thou must do" if thou have it,
1.5.11371And that which rather thou dost fear to do,
1.5.12372Than wishest should be undone. Hie thee hither,
1.5.13373That I may pour my spirits in thine ear
1.5.14374And chastise with the valor of my tongue
1.5.15375All that impedes thee from the golden round,
1.5.16376Which fate and metaphysical aid doth seem
To have thee crowned withal. 378What is your tidings?
The King comes here tonight.
The King comes here tonight. Thou'rt mad to say it.
1.5.19381Is not thy master with him, who, were't so,
1.5.20382Would have informed for preparation?
So please you, it is true our thane is coming.
1.5.22384One of my fellows had the speed of him,
1.5.23385Who, almost dead for breath, had scarcely more
Than would make up his message. Give him tending,
He brings great news. 389The raven himself is hoarse
1.5.26390That croaks the fatal entrance of Duncan
1.5.27391Under my battlements. Come, you spirits
1.5.28392That tend on mortal thoughts, unsex me here
1.5.29393And fill me from the crown to the toe top-full
1.5.30394Of direst cruelty. Make thick my blood,
1.5.31395Stop up th'access and passage to remorse
1.5.32396That no compunctious visitings of nature
1.5.33397Shake my fell purpose nor keep peace between
1.5.34398Th'effect and it. Come to my woman's breasts
1.5.35399And take my milk for gall, you murd'ring ministers,
1.5.36400Wherever in your sightless substances
1.5.37401You wait on nature's mischief. Come, thick night,
1.5.38402And pall thee in the dunnest smoke of hell
1.5.39403That my keen knife see not the wound it makes,
1.5.40404Nor heaven peep through the blanket of the dark
To cry, "Hold, hold." 406Great Glamis, worthy Cawdor,
1.5.42407Greater than both by the all-hail hereafter,
1.5.43408Thy letters have transported me beyond
1.5.44409This ignorant present and I feel now
The future in the instant. My dearest love,
Duncan comes here tonight. And when goes hence?
Tomorrow, as he purposes.
Tomorrow, as he purposes. Oh, never
1.5.49417Your face, my thane, is as a book where men
1.5.50418May read strange matters. To beguile the time,
1.5.51419Look like the time, bear welcome in your eye,
1.5.52420Your hand, your tongue. Look like th'innocent flower
1.5.53421But be the serpent under't. He that's coming
1.5.54422Must be provided for, and you shall put
1.5.55423This night's great business into my dispatch,
1.5.56424Which shall to all our nights and days to come
1.5.57425Give solely sovereign sway and masterdom.
We will speak further.
We will speak further. Only look up clear,