Macbeth
Text Circles Dramatis Personae Synopsis All Definitions

Share
All
text
First folio
Modern text
Definitions
Key line
Thunder. Enter the three Witches.Thunder. Enter the three Witches Mac I.iii.1.1
1.FIRST WITCH 
Where hast thou beene, Sister?Where hast thou been, sister? Mac I.iii.1
2.SECOND WITCH 
Killing Swine.Killing swine. Mac I.iii.2
3.THIRD WITCH 
Sister, where thou?Sister, where thou? Mac I.iii.3
1.FIRST WITCH 
A Saylors Wife had Chestnuts in her Lappe,A sailor's wife had chestnuts in her lap, Mac I.iii.4
And mouncht, & mouncht, and mouncht: Giue me, quoth I.And munched and munched and munched. ‘ Give me,’ quoth I.quoth (v.)
said		Mac I.iii.5
Aroynt thee, Witch, the rumpe-fed Ronyon cryes.‘ Aroint thee, witch!’ the rump-fed ronyon cries.ronyon (n.)
[term of abuse for a woman] mangy creature		Mac I.iii.6
aroint (v.)

old form: Aroynt
be gone, away with you
Her Husband's to Aleppo gone, Master o'th' Tiger:Her husband's to Aleppo gone, master o'the Tiger. Mac I.iii.7
But in a Syue Ile thither sayle,But in a sieve I'll thither sail, Mac I.iii.8
And like a Rat without a tayle,And like a rat without a tail Mac I.iii.9
Ile doe, Ile doe, and Ile doe.I'll do, I'll do, and I'll do.do (v.)

old form: doe
do harm, cause trouble		Mac I.iii.10
2.SECOND WITCH 
Ile giue thee a Winde.I'll give thee a wind. Mac I.iii.11
1.FIRST WITCH 
Th'art kinde.Th'art kind. Mac I.iii.12
3.THIRD WITCH 
And I another.And I another. Mac I.iii.13
1.FIRST WITCH 
I my selfe haue all the other,I myself have all the other. Mac I.iii.14
And the very Ports they blow,And the very ports they blow Mac I.iii.15
All the Quarters that they know,All the quarters that they knowquarter (n.)
direction, bearing, point [of the compass]		Mac I.iii.16
I'th' Ship-mans Card.I'the shipman's card.card (n.)
[compass-card, on which the 32 points of the compass are marked] model, accurate guide		Mac I.iii.17
Ile dreyne him drie as Hay:I will drain him dry as hay; Mac I.iii.18
Sleepe shall neyther Night nor DaySleep shall neither night nor day Mac I.iii.19
Hang vpon his Pent-house Lid:Hang upon his penthouse lid.penthouse, pent-house (adj.)
like a lean-to shed		Mac I.iii.20
He shall liue a man forbid:He shall live a man forbid. Mac I.iii.21
Wearie Seu'nights, nine times nine,Weary sev'n-nights nine times ninesennight, se'nnight, seven-night (n.)

old form: Seu'nights
[seven night] week		Mac I.iii.22
Shall he dwindle, peake, and pine:Shall he dwindle, peak, and pine,peak (v.)

old form: peake
waste away, grow thin, become emaciated		Mac I.iii.23
Though his Barke cannot be lost,Though his bark cannot be lost,bark, barque (n.)

old form: Barke
ship, vessel		Mac I.iii.24
Yet it shall be Tempest-tost.Yet it shall be tempest-tossed. Mac I.iii.25
Looke what I haue.Look what I have! Mac I.iii.26.1
2.SECOND WITCH 
Shew me, shew me.Show me, show me! Mac I.iii.26.2
1.FIRST WITCH 
Here I haue a Pilots Thumbe,Here I have a pilot's thumb, Mac I.iii.27
Wrackt, as homeward he did come.Wracked as homeward he did come.wrack (v.)

old form: Wrackt
wreck, shipwreck, lose at sea		Mac I.iii.28
Drum within.Drum within Mac I.iii.28
3.THIRD WITCH 
A Drumme, a Drumme:A drum! a drum! Mac I.iii.29
Macbeth doth come.Macbeth doth come. Mac I.iii.30
All.ALL 
The weyward Sisters, hand in hand,The Weird Sisters, hand in hand,weird (adj.)

old form: weyard, weyward
controlling human fate or destiny, a weird sister was one of the Fates; only with reference to the witches in Macbeth		Mac I.iii.31
Posters of the Sea and Land,Posters of the sea and land,poster (n.)
fast traveller, speedy rover		Mac I.iii.32
Thus doe goe, about, about,Thus do go, about, about; Mac I.iii.33
Thrice to thine, and thrice to mine,Thrice to thine, and thrice to mine, Mac I.iii.34
And thrice againe, to make vp nine.And thrice again, to make up nine. Mac I.iii.35
Peace, the Charme's wound vp.Peace! The charm's wound up .wind up (v.)

old form: vp
prepare for action, set in readiness		Mac I.iii.36
Enter Macbeth and Banquo.Enter Macbeth and Banquo Mac I.iii.36
Macb.MACBETH 
So foule and faire a day I haue not seene.So foul and fair a day I have not seen. Mac I.iii.37
Banquo.BANQUO 
How farre is't call'd to Soris? What are these,How far is't called to Forres? What are these,call (v.)

old form: call'd
reckon, say to be		Mac I.iii.38
So wither'd, and so wilde in their attyre,So withered and so wild in their attire, Mac I.iii.39
That looke not like th' Inhabitants o'th' Earth,That look not like the inhabitants o'the earth, Mac I.iii.40
And yet are on't? Liue you, or are you aughtAnd yet are on't? Live you? Or are you aughtaught (n.)
anything, [with negative word] nothing		Mac I.iii.41
That man may question? you seeme to vnderstand me,That man may question? You seem to understand me Mac I.iii.42
By each at once her choppie finger layingBy each at once her choppy finger layingchoppy (adj.)

old form: choppie
chapped, cracked, rough		Mac I.iii.43
Vpon her skinnie Lips: you should be Women,Upon her skinny lips. You should be women; Mac I.iii.44
And yet your Beards forbid me to interpreteAnd yet your beards forbid me to interpret Mac I.iii.45
That you are so.That you are so. Mac I.iii.46.1
Mac.MACBETH 
Speake if you can: what are you?Speak if you can! What are you? Mac I.iii.46.2
1.FIRST WITCH 
All haile Macbeth, haile to thee Thane of Glamis.All hail, Macbeth! Hail to thee, Thane of Glamis! Mac I.iii.47
2.SECOND WITCH 
All haile Macbeth, haile to thee Thane of Cawdor.All hail, Macbeth! Hail to thee, Thane of Cawdor! Mac I.iii.48
3.THIRD WITCH 
All haile Macbeth, that shalt be King hereafter.All hail, Macbeth, that shalt be king hereafter! Mac I.iii.49
Banq.BANQUO 
Good Sir, why doe you start, and seeme to feareGood sir, why do you start, and seem to fearstart (v.)
jump, recoil, flinch		Mac I.iii.50
Things that doe sound so faire? i'th' name of truthThings that do sound so fair? – I'the name of truth, Mac I.iii.51
Are ye fantasticall, or that indeedAre ye fantastical, or that indeedfantastical (adj.)

old form: fantasticall
imaginary, unreal, illusory		Mac I.iii.52
Which outwardly ye shew? My Noble PartnerWhich outwardly ye show? My noble partner Mac I.iii.53
You greet with present Grace, and great predictionYou greet with present grace, and great prediction Mac I.iii.54
Of Noble hauing, and of Royall hope,Of noble having and of royal hopehaving (n.)

old form: hauing
fortune, estate, means		Mac I.iii.55
That he seemes wrapt withall: to me you speake not.That he seems rapt withal. To me you speak not. Mac I.iii.56
If you can looke into the Seedes of Time,If you can look into the seeds of time Mac I.iii.57
And say, which Graine will grow, and which will not,And say which grain will grow and which will not, Mac I.iii.58
Speake then to me, who neyther begge, nor feareSpeak then to me who neither beg nor fear Mac I.iii.59
Your fauors, nor your hate.Your favours nor your hate. Mac I.iii.60
1.FIRST WITCH 
Hayle.Hail! Mac I.iii.61
2.SECOND WITCH 
Hayle.Hail! Mac I.iii.62
3.THIRD WITCH 
Hayle.Hail! Mac I.iii.63
1.FIRST WITCH 
Lesser than Macbeth, and greater.Lesser than Macbeth, and greater. Mac I.iii.64
2.SECOND WITCH 
Not so happy, yet much happyer.Not so happy, yet much happier. Mac I.iii.65
3.THIRD WITCH 
Thou shalt get Kings, though thou be none:Thou shalt get kings, though thou be none.get (v.)
beget, conceive, breed		Mac I.iii.66
So all haile Macbeth, and Banquo.So all hail, Macbeth and Banquo! Mac I.iii.67
1.FIRST WITCH 
Banquo, and Macbeth, all haile.Banquo and Macbeth, all hail! Mac I.iii.68
Macb.MACBETH 
Stay you imperfect Speakers, tell me more:Stay, you imperfect speakers! Tell me more!imperfect (adj.)
unclear, equivocal, inexplicit		Mac I.iii.69
By Sinells death, I know I am Thane of Glamis,By Sinell's death I know I am Thane of Glamis; Mac I.iii.70
But how, of Cawdor? the Thane of Cawdor liuesBut how of Cawdor? The Thane of Cawdor lives Mac I.iii.71
A prosperous Gentleman: And to be King,A prosperous gentleman. And to be king Mac I.iii.72
Stands not within the prospect of beleefe,Stands not within the prospect of belief –prospect (n.)
field of view, vista, outlook		Mac I.iii.73
No more then to be Cawdor. Say from whenceNo more than to be Cawdor. Say from whence Mac I.iii.74
You owe this strange Intelligence, or whyYou owe this strange intelligence; or whyintelligence (n.)
information, news, communication		Mac I.iii.75
owe (v.)
own, possess, have
Vpon this blasted Heath you stop our wayUpon this blasted heath you stop our wayblasted (adj.)
blighted, withered; accursed, malevolent		Mac I.iii.76
With such Prophetique greeting? Speake, I charge you.With such prophetic greeting? Speak, I charge you!charge (v.)
order, command, enjoin		Mac I.iii.77
Witches vanish.Witches vanish Mac I.iii.77
Banq.BANQUO 
The Earth hath bubbles, as the Water ha's,The earth hath bubbles as the water has, Mac I.iii.78
And these are of them: whither are they vanish'd?And these are of them. Whither are they vanished? Mac I.iii.79
Macb.MACBETH 
Into the Ayre: and what seem'd corporall,Into the air; and what seemed corporalcorporal (adj.)

old form: corporall
corporeal, material, physical		Mac I.iii.80
Melted, as breath into the Winde. Would they had stay'd.Melted, as breath into the wind. Would they had stayed! Mac I.iii.81
Banq.BANQUO 
Were such things here, as we doe speake about?Were such things here as we do speak about? Mac I.iii.82
Or haue we eaten on the insane Root,Or have we eaten on the insane rootinsane (adj.)
causing madness, producing insanity		Mac I.iii.83
That takes the Reason Prisoner?That takes the reason prisoner? Mac I.iii.84
Macb.MACBETH 
Your Children shall be Kings.Your children shall be kings. Mac I.iii.85.1
Banq.BANQUO 
You shall be King.You shall be king. Mac I.iii.85.2
Macb.MACBETH 
And Thane of Cawdor too: went it not so?And Thane of Cawdor too, went it not so? Mac I.iii.86
Banq.BANQUO 
Toth' selfe-same tune and words: who's here?To the selfsame tune and words. Who's here? Mac I.iii.87
Enter Rosse and Angus.Enter Ross and Angus Mac I.iii.87
Rosse.ROSS 
The King hath happily receiu'd, Macbeth,The King hath happily received, Macbeth, Mac I.iii.88
The newes of thy successe: and when he readesThe news of thy success; and when he reads Mac I.iii.89
Thy personall Venture in the Rebels sight,Thy personal venture in the rebels' fight,venture (n.)
risky enterprise, hazardous attempt		Mac I.iii.90
His Wonders and his Prayses doe contend,His wonders and his praises do contendwonder (n.)
feeling of wonder, astonishment, marvelling		Mac I.iii.91
contend (v.)
fight, engage in combat, struggle
Which should be thine, or his: silenc'd with that,Which should be thine, or his. Silenced with that, Mac I.iii.92
In viewing o're the rest o'th' selfe-same day,In viewing o'er the rest o'the selfsame day Mac I.iii.93
He findes thee in the stout Norweyan Rankes,He finds thee in the stout Norweyan ranks,Norweyan (adj.)
Norwegian		Mac I.iii.94
Nothing afeard of what thy selfe didst makeNothing afeard of what thyself didst make,afeard (adj.)
afraid, frightened, scared		Mac I.iii.95
Strange Images of death, as thick as TaleStrange images of death. As thick as hail Mac I.iii.96
Can post with post, and euery one did beareCame post with post; and every one did bearpost (n.)
express messenger, courier		Mac I.iii.97
Thy prayses in his Kingdomes great defence,Thy praises, in his kingdom's great defence, Mac I.iii.98
And powr'd them downe before him.And poured them down before him. Mac I.iii.99.1
Ang.ANGUS 
Wee are sent,We are sent Mac I.iii.99.2
To giue thee from our Royall Master thanks,To give thee from our royal master thanks; Mac I.iii.100
Onely to harrold thee into his sight,Only to herald thee into his sight, Mac I.iii.101
Not pay thee.Not pay thee. Mac I.iii.102
Rosse.ROSS 
And for an earnest of a greater Honor,And, for an earnest of a greater honour,earnest (n.)
pledge, instalment, deposit, payment in advance		Mac I.iii.103
He bad me, from him, call thee Thane of Cawdor:He bade me from him call thee Thane of Cawdor Mac I.iii.104
In which addition, haile most worthy Thane,In which addition, hail, most worthy thane,addition (n.)
title, name		Mac I.iii.105
For it is thine.For it is thine. Mac I.iii.106.1
Banq.BANQUO 
What, can the Deuill speake true?What! Can the devil speak true? Mac I.iii.106.2
Macb.MACBETH 
The Thane of Cawdor liues: / Why doe you dresse meThe Thane of Cawdor lives. Why do you dress me Mac I.iii.107
in borrowed Robes?In borrowed robes? Mac I.iii.108.1
Ang.ANGUS 
Who was the Thane, liues yet,Who was the Thane lives yet, Mac I.iii.108.2
But vnder heauie Iudgement beares that Life,But under heavy judgement bears that lifeheavy (adj.)

old form: heauie
grave, serious, weighty		Mac I.iii.109
Which he deserues to loose. / Whether he was combin'dWhich he deserves to lose. Whether he was combined Mac I.iii.110
with those of Norway, / Or did lyne the RebellWith those of Norway, or did line the rebelline (v.)

old form: lyne
strengthen, support, fortify		Mac I.iii.111
with hidden helpe, / And vantage; or that with bothWith hidden help and vantage, or that with bothvantage (n.)
advantage, benefit, advancement, profit		Mac I.iii.112
he labour'd / In his Countreyes wracke, I know not:He laboured in his country's wrack, I know not;wrack (n.)

old form: wracke
destruction, ruin		Mac I.iii.113
But Treasons Capitall, confess'd, and prou'd,But treasons capital, confessed, and proved Mac I.iii.114
Haue ouerthrowne him.Have overthrown him. Mac I.iii.115.1
Macb.MACBETH  
(aside) Mac I.iii.115
Glamys, and Thane of Cawdor:Glamis, and Thane of Cawdor! Mac I.iii.115.2
The greatest is behinde. Thankes for your paines.The greatest is behind. – Thanks for your pains. Mac I.iii.116
Doe you not hope your Children shall be Kings,(to Banquo) Do you not hope your children shall be kings, Mac I.iii.117
When those that gaue the Thane of Cawdor to me,When those that gave the Thane of Cawdor to me Mac I.iii.118
Promis'd no lesse to them.Promised no less to them? Mac I.iii.119.1
Banq.BANQUO 
That trusted home,That trusted homehome (adv.)
fully, thoroughly, unsparingly		Mac I.iii.119.2
Might yet enkindle you vnto the Crowne,Might yet enkindle you unto the crown Mac I.iii.120
Besides the Thane of Cawdor. But 'tis strange:Besides the Thane of Cawdor. But 'tis strange; Mac I.iii.121
And oftentimes, to winne vs to our harme,And oftentimes, to win us to our harm, Mac I.iii.122
The Instruments of Darknesse tell vs Truths,The instruments of darkness tell us truths; Mac I.iii.123
Winne vs with honest Trifles, to betray'sWin us with honest trifles, to betray'sbetray (v.)
deceive, seduce, mislead		Mac I.iii.124
In deepest consequence.In deepest consequence.deep (adj.)
solemn, weighty, important		Mac I.iii.125
Cousins, a word, I pray you.Cousins, a word, I pray you. Mac I.iii.126.1
They walk apart Mac I.iii.126
Macb.MACBETH  
(aside) Mac I.iii.126
Two Truths are told,Two truths are told, Mac I.iii.126.2
As happy Prologues to the swelling ActAs happy prologues to the swelling Actswelling (adj.)
magnificent, grand, resplendent		Mac I.iii.127
act (n.)
performance, staging, production
Of the Imperiall Theame. I thanke you Gentlemen:Of the imperial theme. – I thank you, gentlemen.theme (n.)

old form: Theame
subject, subject-matter, topic of discourse		Mac I.iii.128
This supernaturall solliciting(aside) This supernatural solicitingsoliciting (n.)
importuning, entreaty, urging [not necessarily immoral]		Mac I.iii.129
Cannot be ill; cannot be good. If ill?Cannot be ill, cannot be good. If ill,ill (adj.)
bad, adverse, unfavourable		Mac I.iii.130
why hath it giuen me earnest of successe,Why hath it given me earnest of successearnest (n.)
pledge, instalment, deposit, payment in advance		Mac I.iii.131
Commencing in a Truth? I am Thane of Cawdor.Commencing in a truth? I am Thane of Cawdor. Mac I.iii.132
If good? why doe I yeeld to that suggestion,If good, why do I yield to that suggestionsuggestion (n.)
temptation, instigation, prompting towards evil		Mac I.iii.133
Whose horrid Image doth vnfixe my Heire,Whose horrid image doth unfix my hair, Mac I.iii.134
And make my seated Heart knock at my Ribbes,And make my seated heart knock at my ribsseated (adj.)
firmly placed, fixed		Mac I.iii.135
Against the vse of Nature? Present FearesAgainst the use of nature? Present fearsnature (n.)
natural powers, normal state [of mind and body]		Mac I.iii.136
use (n.)

old form: vse
usual practice, habit, custom
Are lesse then horrible Imaginings:Are less than horrible imaginings. Mac I.iii.137
My Thought, whose Murther yet is but fantasticall,My thought, whose murder yet is but fantastical,fantastical (adj.)

old form: fantasticall
imaginary, unreal, illusory		Mac I.iii.138
Shakes so my single state of Man,Shakes so my single state of mansingle (adj.)
individual, particular		Mac I.iii.139
That Function is smother'd in surmise,That function is smothered in surmise,surmise (n.)
idea, imagining, conjecture		Mac I.iii.140
function (n.)
activity, action, performance
And nothing is, but what is not.And nothing is but what is not. Mac I.iii.141
Banq.BANQUO 
Looke how our Partner's rapt.Look how our partner's rapt. Mac I.iii.142
Macb.MACBETH  
(aside) Mac I.iii.143
If Chance will haue me King, / Why Chance may Crowne me,If chance will have me king, why chance may crown me Mac I.iii.143
Without my stirre.Without my stir.stir (n.)

old form: stirre
acting, stirring, activity		Mac I.iii.144.1
Banq.BANQUO 
New Honors come vpon himNew honours come upon him Mac I.iii.144.2
Like our strange Garments, cleaue not to their mould,Like our strange garments, cleave not to their mould Mac I.iii.145
But with the aid of vse.But with the aid of use. Mac I.iii.146.1
Macb.MACBETH  
(aside) Mac I.iii.146
Come what come may,Come what come may,come what come may
come what may, whatever happens		Mac I.iii.146.2
Time, and the Houre, runs through the roughest Day.Time and the hour runs through the roughest day. Mac I.iii.147
Banq.BANQUO 
Worthy Macbeth, wee stay vpon your leysure.Worthy Macbeth, we stay upon your leisure.stay on / upon (v.)

old form: vpon
wait for, await		Mac I.iii.148
Macb.MACBETH 
Giue me your fauour: / My dull Braine was wroughtGive me your favour. My dull brain was wroughtfavour (n.)

old form: fauour
pardon, leave, kind indulgence		Mac I.iii.149
work (v.), past form wrought
affect, stir, act upon
with things forgotten. / Kinde Gentlemen, your painesWith things forgotten. Kind gentlemen, your pains Mac I.iii.150
are registred, / Where euery day I turneAre registered where every day I turn Mac I.iii.151
the Leafe, / To reade them. Let vs toward the King:The leaf to read them. Let us toward the King. Mac I.iii.152
thinke vpon / What hath chanc'd: and at more time,(to Banquo) Think upon what hath chanced, and at more time, Mac I.iii.153
The Interim hauing weigh'd it, let vs speakeThe interim having weighed it, let us speak Mac I.iii.154
Our free Hearts each to other.Our free hearts each to other.free (adj.)
frank, undisguised, open		Mac I.iii.155.1
Banq.BANQUO 
Very gladly.Very gladly. Mac I.iii.155.2
Macb.MACBETH 
Till then enough: Come friends.Till then, enough! – Come, friends. Mac I.iii.156
Exeunt.Exeunt Mac I.iii.156
 Previous Act I, Scene III Next  
x

Jump directly to