1    'They met me in the day of success: and I have
2    learned by the perfectest report, they have more in
3    them than mortal knowledge. When I burned in desire
4    to question them further, they made themselves air,
5    into which they vanished. Whiles I stood rapt in
6    the wonder of it, came missives from the king, who
7    all-hailed me 'Thane of Cawdor;' by which title,
8    before, these weird sisters saluted me, and referred
9    me to the coming on of time, with 'Hail, king that
10   shalt be!' This have I thought good to deliver
11   thee, my dearest partner of greatness, that thou
12   mightst not lose the dues of rejoicing, by being
13   ignorant of what greatness is promised thee. Lay it
14   to thy heart, and farewell.'
15   Glamis thou art, and Cawdor; and shalt be
16   What thou art promised: yet do I fear thy nature;
17   It is too full o' the milk of human kindness
18   To catch the nearest way: thou wouldst be great;
19   Art not without ambition, but without
20   The illness should attend it: what thou wouldst highly,
21   That wouldst thou holily; wouldst not play false,
22   And yet wouldst wrongly win: thou'ldst have, great Glamis,
23   That which cries 'Thus thou must do, if thou have it;
24   And that which rather thou dost fear to do
25   Than wishest should be undone.' Hie thee hither,
26   That I may pour my spirits in thine ear;
27   And chastise with the valour of my tongue
28   All that impedes thee from the golden round,
29   Which fate and metaphysical aid doth seem
30   To have thee crown'd withal.
Enter a Messenger
31   What is your tidings?

32   The king comes here to-night.

33   Thou'rt mad to say it:
34   Is not thy master with him? who, were't so,
35   Would have inform'd for preparation.

36   So please you, it is true: our thane is coming:
37   One of my fellows had the speed of him,
38   Who, almost dead for breath, had scarcely more
39   Than would make up his message.

40   Give him tending;
41   He brings great news.
Exit Messenger
42   The raven himself is hoarse
43   That croaks the fatal entrance of Duncan
44   Under my battlements. Come, you spirits
45   That tend on mortal thoughts, unsex me here,
46   And fill me from the crown to the toe top-full
47   Of direst cruelty! make thick my blood;
48   Stop up the access and passage to remorse,
49   That no compunctious visitings of nature
50   Shake my fell purpose, nor keep peace between
51   The effect and it! Come to my woman's breasts,
52   And take my milk for gall, you murdering ministers,
53   Wherever in your sightless substances
54   You wait on nature's mischief! Come, thick night,
55   And pall thee in the dunnest smoke of hell,
56   That my keen knife see not the wound it makes,
57   Nor heaven peep through the blanket of the dark,
58   To cry 'Hold, hold!'
Enter MACBETH
59   Great Glamis! worthy Cawdor!
60   Greater than both, by the all-hail hereafter!
61   Thy letters have transported me beyond
62   This ignorant present, and I feel now
63   The future in the instant.

64   My dearest love,
65   Duncan comes here to-night.

66   And when goes hence?

67   To-morrow, as he purposes.

68   O, never
69   Shall sun that morrow see!
70   Your face, my thane, is as a book where men
71   May read strange matters. To beguile the time,
72   Look like the time; bear welcome in your eye,
73   Your hand, your tongue: look like the innocent flower,
74   But be the serpent under't. He that's coming
75   Must be provided for: and you shall put
76   This night's great business into my dispatch;
77   Which shall to all our nights and days to come
78   Give solely sovereign sway and masterdom.

79   We will speak further.

80   Only look up clear;
81   To alter favour ever is to fear:
82   Leave all the rest to me.