Act 1 Scene 3


ROSS And, for an earnest of a greater honour, He bade me, from him, call thee Thane of Cawdor: In which addition, hail, most worthy thane! For it is thine. BANQUO


What, can the devil speak true? 110


MACBETH The Thane of Cawdor lives: why do you dress me In borrowed robes?42


ANGUS Who was the Thane lives yet; But under heavy judgement43 bears that life


Which he deserves to lose. Whether he was combined With those of Norway, or did line the rebel With hidden help and vantage, or that with both He laboured in his country's wrack,44


I know not;


But treasons capital,45 confessed and proved, Have overthrown him.


MACBETH [Aside] Glamis, and Thane of Cawdor!


120


The greatest is behind.46 [To ROSS and ANGUS] Thanks for your pains.


[To BANQUO] Do you not hope your children shall be kings, When those that gave the Thane of Cawdor to me Promised no less to them?


BANQUO Might yet enkindle48


That, trusted home,47 you unto the crown,


130


Besides the Thane of Cawdor. But 'tis strange: And oftentimes, to win us to our harm, The instruments of darkness tell us truths, Win us with honest trifles, to betray's In deepest consequence.49 Cousins, a word, I pray you.


MACBETH [Aside] Two truths are told, As happy prologues50 to the swelling act Of the imperial theme.51 – [Aloud] I thank you, gentlemen.


[Aside] This supernatural soliciting Cannot be ill, cannot be good. If ill, Why hath it given me earnest of success,


51 50


happy prologues: promising introductions


the swelling act / Of the imperial theme: the climax of Macbeth being crowned King


15


47 trusted home: trusted entirely 48 enkindle: encourage


46


The greatest is behind: The greatest thing (i.e. Kingship) is yet to come


45 43 heavy judgement: death sentence 44


laboured in his country’s wrack: worked to ruin/destroy Scotland


treasons capital: treason punishable by death


42


why do you dress me / In borrowed robes?: why do you call me by a title that is not mine?


Macbeth


49


And oftentimes…deepest consequence: Sometimes evil forces tell us half-truths to betray us, resulting in the worst consequences.


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