First folio
| Modern text
| Definitions
| Key line
| |
Enter Banquo. | Enter Banquo | | Mac III.i.1 | |
Banq. | BANQUO | | | |
Thou hast it now, King, Cawdor, Glamis, all, | Thou hast it now: King, Cawdor, Glamis, all | | Mac III.i.1 | |
As the weyard Women promis'd, and I feare | As the weird women promised; and I fear | weird (adj.)controlling human fate or destiny, a weird sister was one of the Fates; only with reference to the witches in Macbeth | Mac III.i.2 | |
Thou playd'st most fowly for't: yet it was saide | Thou playedst most foully for't. Yet it was said | | Mac III.i.3 | |
It should not stand in thy Posterity, | It should not stand in thy posterity | posterity (n.)family, line of descendants, succession | Mac III.i.4 | |
| | stand (v.)continue, remain, wait, stay put | | |
But that my selfe should be the Roote, and Father | But that myself should be the root and father | | Mac III.i.5 | |
Of many Kings. If there come truth from them, | Of many kings. If there come truth from them, | | Mac III.i.6 | |
As vpon thee Macbeth, their Speeches shine, | As upon thee, Macbeth, their speeches shine, | | Mac III.i.7 | |
Why by the verities on thee made good, | Why by the verities on thee made good | verity (n.)truth, reality, actuality | Mac III.i.8 | |
May they not be my Oracles as well, | May they not be my oracles as well | | Mac III.i.9 | |
And set me vp in hope. But hush, no more. | And set me up in hope? But hush! No more. | | Mac III.i.10 | |
Senit sounded. Enter Macbeth as King, Lady | Sennet sounded. Enter Macbeth, as King, Lady Macbeth, | | Mac III.i.11.1 | |
Lenox, Rosse, Lords, and Attendants | Lennox, Ross, Lords, and Attendants | | Mac III.i.11.2 | |
Macb. | MACBETH | | | |
Heere's our chiefe Guest. | Here's our chief guest. | | Mac III.i.11.1 | |
La. | LADY | | | |
If he had beene forgotten, | If he had been forgotten | | Mac III.i.11.2 | |
It had bene as a gap in our great Feast, | It had been as a gap in our great feast | | Mac III.i.12 | |
And all-thing vnbecomming. | And all-thing unbecoming. | all-thing (adv.)completely, altogether, wholly | Mac III.i.13 | |
Macb. | MACBETH | | | |
To night we hold a solemne Supper sir, | Tonight we hold a solemn supper, sir, | solemn (adj.)formal, ceremonious, stately | Mac III.i.14 | |
And Ile request your presence. | And I'll request your presence. | | Mac III.i.15.1 | |
Banq. | BANQUO | | | |
Let your Highnesse | Let your highness | | Mac III.i.15.2 | |
Command vpon me, to the which my duties | Command upon me, to the which my duties | | Mac III.i.16 | |
Are with a most indissoluble tye | Are with a most indissoluble tie | | Mac III.i.17 | |
For euer knit. | For ever knit. | | Mac III.i.18 | |
Macb. | MACBETH | | | |
Ride you this afternoone? | Ride you this afternoon? | | Mac III.i.19.1 | |
Ban. | BANQUO | | | |
I, my good Lord. | Ay, my good lord. | | Mac III.i.19.2 | |
Macb. | MACBETH | | | |
We should haue else desir'd your good aduice | We should have else desired your good advice, | | Mac III.i.20 | |
(Which still hath been both graue, and prosperous) | Which still hath been both grave and prosperous, | prosperous (adj.)profitable, beneficial, leading to a successful outcome | Mac III.i.21 | |
| | still (adv.)constantly, always, continually | | |
| | grave (adj.)respected, revered, wise | | |
In this dayes Councell: but wee'le take to morrow. | In this day's council; but we'll take tomorrow. | | Mac III.i.22 | |
Is't farre you ride? | Is't far you ride? | | Mac III.i.23 | |
Ban. | BANQUO | | | |
As farre, my Lord, as will fill vp the time | As far, my lord, as will fill up the time | | Mac III.i.24 | |
'Twixt this, and Supper. Goe not my Horse the better, | 'Twixt this and supper. Go not my horse the better, | | Mac III.i.25 | |
I must become a borrower of the Night, | I must become a borrower of the night | | Mac III.i.26 | |
For a darke houre, or twaine. | For a dark hour or twain. | | Mac III.i.27.1 | |
Macb. | MACBETH | | | |
Faile not our Feast. | Fail not our feast. | | Mac III.i.27.2 | |
Ban. | BANQUO | | | |
My Lord, I will not. | My lord, I will not. | | Mac III.i.28 | |
Macb. | MACBETH | | | |
We heare our bloody Cozens are bestow'd | We hear our bloody cousins are bestowed | bestow (v.)accommodate, lodge, quarter | Mac III.i.29 | |
In England, and in Ireland, not confessing | In England and in Ireland, not confessing | | Mac III.i.30 | |
Their cruell Parricide, filling their hearers | Their cruel parricide, filling their hearers | parricide (n.)patricide, murder of a father | Mac III.i.31 | |
With strange inuention. But of that to morrow, | With strange invention. But of that tomorrow, | invention (n.)fiction, fabrication, contrivance | Mac III.i.32 | |
When therewithall, we shall haue cause of State, | When therewithal we shall have cause of state | cause (n.)affair, business, subject | Mac III.i.33 | |
Crauing vs ioyntly. Hye you to Horse: Adieu, | Craving us jointly. Hie you to horse. Adieu | hie (v.)hasten, hurry, speed | Mac III.i.34 | |
| | crave (v.)beg, entreat, request | | |
till you returne at Night. Goes Fleance with you? | Till you return at night. Goes Fleance with you? | | Mac III.i.35 | |
Ban. | BANQUO | | | |
I, my good Lord: our time does call vpon's. | Ay, my good lord; our time does call upon's. | | Mac III.i.36 | |
Macb. | MACBETH | | | |
I wish your Horses swift, and sure of foot: | I wish your horses swift and sure of foot; | | Mac III.i.37 | |
And so I doe commend you to their backs. | And so I do commend you to their backs. | commend (v.)commit, entrust, hand over | Mac III.i.38 | |
Farwell. | Farewell. | | Mac III.i.39 | |
Exit Banquo. | Exit Banquo | | Mac III.i.39 | |
Let euery man be master of his time, | Let every man be master of his time | | Mac III.i.40 | |
Till seuen at Night, | Till seven at night. | | Mac III.i.41 | |
to make societie / The sweeter welcome: | To make society the sweeter welcome, | society (n.)companionship, fellowship, association | Mac III.i.42 | |
We will keepe our selfe till Supper time alone: | We will keep ourself till supper-time alone. | | Mac III.i.43 | |
While then, God be with you. | While then, God be with you! | | Mac III.i.44.1 | |
Exeunt Lords. | Exeunt Lords and Lady Macbeth | | Mac III.i.44 | |
Sirrha, | Sirrah! | | Mac III.i.44.2 | |
a word with you: Attend those men / Our pleasure? | A word with you. Attend those men our pleasure? | attend (v.)await, wait for, expect | Mac III.i.45 | |
Seruant. | SERVANT | | | |
They are, my Lord, without the Pallace Gate. | They are, my lord, without the palace gate. | | Mac III.i.46 | |
Macb. | MACBETH | | | |
Bring them before vs. | Bring them before us. | | Mac III.i.47.1 | |
Exit Seruant. | Exit Servant | | Mac III.i.47 | |
To be thus, is nothing, | To be thus is nothing; | | Mac III.i.47.2 | |
but to be safely thus / Our feares in Banquo | But to be safely thus! – Our fears in Banquo | | Mac III.i.48 | |
sticke deepe, / And in his Royaltie of Nature | Stick deep; and in his royalty of nature | nature (n.)personality, innate disposition, character | Mac III.i.49 | |
| | stick (v.)pierce, stab, wound | | |
| | royalty (n.)regal quality, majestic character, lordliness | | |
reignes that / Which would be fear'd. 'Tis much he dares, | Reigns that which would be feared. 'Tis much he dares, | | Mac III.i.50 | |
And to that dauntlesse temper of his Minde, | And to that dauntless temper of his mind | | Mac III.i.51 | |
He hath a Wisdome, that doth guide his Valour, | He hath a wisdom that doth guide his valour | | Mac III.i.52 | |
To act in safetie. There is none but he, | To act in safety. There is none but he | safety (n.)prudent course of action, best safeguard | Mac III.i.53 | |
Whose being I doe feare: and vnder him, | Whose being I do fear; and under him | | Mac III.i.54 | |
My Genius is rebuk'd, as it is said | My genius is rebuked as, it is said, | rebuke (v.)repress, put down, check | Mac III.i.55 | |
| | genius (n.)attendant spirit, guardian spirit | | |
Mark Anthonies was by Caesar. He chid the Sisters, | Mark Antony's was by Caesar. He chid the sisters | chide (v.), past form chidscold, rebuke, reprove | Mac III.i.56 | |
| | Antony, MarkRoman leader in 1st-c BC | | |
| | Julius Caesar[pron: 'seezer] Roman politician and general, 1st-c BC | | |
When first they put the Name of King vpon me, | When first they put the name of king upon me, | | Mac III.i.57 | |
And bad them speake to him. Then Prophet-like, | And bade them speak to him. Then prophet-like, | | Mac III.i.58 | |
They hayl'd him Father to a Line of Kings. | They hailed him father to a line of kings. | | Mac III.i.59 | |
Vpon my Head they plac'd a fruitlesse Crowne, | Upon my head they placed a fruitless crown | | Mac III.i.60 | |
And put a barren Scepter in my Gripe, | And put a barren sceptre in my grip, | gripe (n.)grip, hold, grasp | Mac III.i.61 | |
Thence to be wrencht with an vnlineall Hand, | Thence to be wrenched with an unlineal hand, | unlineal (adj.)not of the same family, of different descent | Mac III.i.62 | |
No Sonne of mine succeeding: if't be so, | No son of mine succeeding. If it be so, | | Mac III.i.63 | |
For Banquo's Issue haue I fil'd my Minde, | For Banquo's issue have I filed my mind, | issue (n.)child(ren), offspring, family, descendant | Mac III.i.64 | |
| | file (v.)defile, corrupt, taint | | |
For them, the gracious Duncan haue I murther'd, | For them the gracious Duncan have I murdered, | gracious (adj.)filled with divine grace, godly, devout | Mac III.i.65 | |
Put Rancours in the Vessell of my Peace | Put rancours in the vessel of my peace, | rancour (n.)bitterness, hatred, malice | Mac III.i.66 | |
Onely for them, and mine eternall Iewell | Only for them; and mine eternal jewel | eternal (adj.)immortal, everlasting | Mac III.i.67 | |
Giuen to the common Enemie of Man, | Given to the common enemy of man, | | Mac III.i.68 | |
To make them Kings, the Seedes of Banquo Kings. | To make them kings, the seeds of Banquo kings! | | Mac III.i.69 | |
Rather then so, come Fate into the Lyst, | Rather than so, come fate into the list | list (n.)(usually plural) combat arena at a tournament | Mac III.i.70 | |
And champion me to th'vtterance. Who's there? | And champion me to the utterance! Who's there? | champion (v.)challenge, defy, face | Mac III.i.71 | |
| | utterance, to theto the bitter end, to the death | | |
Enter Seruant, and two Murtherers. | Enter Servant and two Murderers | | Mac III.i.71 | |
Now goe to the Doore, and stay there till we call. | Now go to the door, and stay there till we call. | | Mac III.i.72 | |
Exit Seruant. | Exit Servant | | Mac III.i.72 | |
Was it not yesterday we spoke together? | Was it not yesterday we spoke together? | | Mac III.i.73 | |
Murth. | MURDERERS | | | |
It was, so please your Highnesse. | It was, so please your highness. | | Mac III.i.74.1 | |
Macb. | MACBETH | | | |
Well then, Now | Well then now, | | Mac III.i.74.2 | |
haue you consider'd of my speeches: / Know, | Have you considered of my speeches? Know | | Mac III.i.75 | |
that it was he, in the times past, / Which held you | That it was he in the times past which held you | | Mac III.i.76 | |
so vnder fortune, / Which you thought had been | So under fortune, which you thought had been | fortune (n.)good fortune, success | Mac III.i.77 | |
our innocent selfe. / This I made good to you, | Our innocent self. This I made good to you | | Mac III.i.78 | |
in our last conference, / Past in probation with you: | In our last conference; passed in probation with you | probation (n.)proof, demonstration | Mac III.i.79 | |
| | pass (v.)go through, go over | | |
| | conference (n.)conversation, talk, discourse | | |
How you were borne in hand, how crost: / The Instruments: | How you were borne in hand, how crossed, the instruments, | instrument (n.)agent, means, method | Mac III.i.80 | |
| | cross (v.)afflict, plague, go against | | |
| | bear in handabuse, take advantage of, delude, deceive | | |
who wrought with them: / And all things else, that might | Who wrought with them, and all things else that might | work (v.), past form wroughtpractise, proceed, plot | Mac III.i.81 | |
To halfe a Soule, and to a Notion craz'd, | To half a soul and to a notion crazed | notion (n.)understanding, awareness, intellect | Mac III.i.82 | |
| | soul, half ahalf-wit, cretin, simpleton | | |
Say, Thus did Banquo. | Say, ‘ Thus did Banquo.’ | | Mac III.i.83.1 | |
1.Murth. | FIRST MURDERER | | | |
You made it knowne to vs. | You made it known to us. | | Mac III.i.83.2 | |
Macb. | MACBETH | | | |
I did so: / And went further, which is now | I did so; and went further, which is now | | Mac III.i.84 | |
Our point of second meeting. / Doe you finde | Our point of second meeting. Do you find | | Mac III.i.85 | |
your patience so predominant, / In your nature, | Your patience so predominant in your nature | predominant (adj.)[astrology] in the ascendant, ruling | Mac III.i.86 | |
that you can let this goe? / Are you so Gospell'd, | That you can let this go? Are you so gospelled, | gospelled (adj.)converted to the gospel, Christian | Mac III.i.87 | |
to pray for this good man, / And for his Issue, | To pray for this good man and for his issue, | issue (n.)child(ren), offspring, family, descendant | Mac III.i.88 | |
whose heauie hand / Hath bow'd you to the Graue, | Whose heavy hand hath bowed you to the grave, | heavy (adj.)brutal, oppressive, wicked | Mac III.i.89 | |
and begger'd / Yours for euer? | And beggared yours for ever? | | Mac III.i.90.1 | |
1.Murth. | FIRST MURDERER | | | |
We are men, my Liege. | We are men, my liege. | liege (n.)lord, sovereign | Mac III.i.90.2 | |
Macb. | MACBETH | | | |
I, in the Catalogue ye goe for men, | Ay, in the catalogue ye go for men, | catalogue (n.)list, register, roll-call | Mac III.i.91 | |
As Hounds, and Greyhounds, Mungrels, Spaniels, Curres, | As hounds and greyhounds, mongrels, spaniels, curs, | cur (n.)dog, mastiff, watch-dog [without a contemptuous sense] | Mac III.i.92 | |
Showghes, Water-Rugs, and Demy-Wolues are clipt | Shoughs, water-rugs, and demi-wolves are clept | water-rug (n.)rough-haired water-dog | Mac III.i.93 | |
| | shough (n.)[pron: shok] shaggy-haired Icelandic dog | | |
| | demi-wolf (n.)dog/wolf cross-breed | | |
| | clepe (v.), past forms clept, yclept[archaism] call, name, style | | |
All by the Name of Dogges: the valued file | All by the name of dogs. The valued file | file (n.)register, list, roll | Mac III.i.94 | |
| | valued (adj.)showing value, discriminating | | |
Distinguishes the swift, the slow, the subtle, | Distinguishes the swift, the slow, the subtle, | | Mac III.i.95 | |
The House-keeper, the Hunter, euery one | The housekeeper, the hunter, every one | housekeeper, house-keeper (n.)domestic watchdog, housedog | Mac III.i.96 | |
According to the gift, which bounteous Nature | According to the gift which bounteous nature | | Mac III.i.97 | |
Hath in him clos'd: whereby he does receiue | Hath in him closed; whereby he does receive | close (v.)enclose, include, contain | Mac III.i.98 | |
Particular addition, from the Bill, | Particular addition from the bill | addition (n.)attribute, mark of honour, distinction [as if added to a coat--of-arms] | Mac III.i.99 | |
| | bill (n.)inventory, list, catalogue | | |
That writes them all alike: and so of men. | That writes them all alike. And so of men. | | Mac III.i.100 | |
Now, if you haue a station in the file, | Now, if you have a station in the file, | file (n.)rank of soldiers, formation | Mac III.i.101 | |
Not i'th' worst ranke of Manhood, say't, | Not i'the worst rank of manhood, say't, | | Mac III.i.102 | |
And I will put that Businesse in your Bosomes, | And I will put that business in your bosoms, | | Mac III.i.103 | |
Whose execution takes your Enemie off, | Whose execution takes your enemy off, | | Mac III.i.104 | |
Grapples you to the heart; and loue of vs, | Grapples you to the heart and love of us, | | Mac III.i.105 | |
Who weare our Health but sickly in his Life, | Who wear our health but sickly in his life, | | Mac III.i.106 | |
Which in his Death were perfect. | Which in his death were perfect. | perfect (adj.)in a state of complete satisfaction, totally content | Mac III.i.107.1 | |
2.Murth. | SECOND MURDERER | | | |
I am one, my Liege, | I am one, my liege, | | Mac III.i.107.2 | |
Whom the vile Blowes and Buffets of the World | Whom the vile blows and buffets of the world | | Mac III.i.108 | |
Hath so incens'd, that I am recklesse what I doe, | Hath so incensed that I am reckless what I do | | Mac III.i.109 | |
To spight the World. | To spite the world. | spite (n.)irritate, mortify, vex | Mac III.i.110.1 | |
1.Murth. | FIRST MURDERER | | | |
And I another, | And I another | | Mac III.i.110.2 | |
So wearie with Disasters, tugg'd with Fortune, | So weary with disasters, tugged with fortune, | disaster (n.)misfortune, instance of bad luck | Mac III.i.111 | |
| | tugged (adj.)battered, mauled, knocked about | | |
That I would set my Life on any Chance, | That I would set my life on any chance | set (v.)rate, stake, gamble | Mac III.i.112 | |
To mend it, or be rid on't. | To mend it or be rid on't. | | Mac III.i.113.1 | |
Macb. | MACBETH | | | |
Both of you | Both of you | | Mac III.i.113.2 | |
know Banquo was your Enemie. | Know Banquo was your enemy. | | Mac III.i.114.1 | |
Murth. | MURDERERS | | | |
True, my Lord. | True, my lord. | | Mac III.i.114.2 | |
Macb. | MACBETH | | | |
So is he mine: and in such bloody distance, | So is he mine, and in such bloody distance | distance (n.)[fencing: see sense 1] enmity, discord, dissension | Mac III.i.115 | |
That euery minute of his being, thrusts | That every minute of his being thrusts | | Mac III.i.116 | |
Against my neer'st of Life: and though I could | Against my near'st of life; and though I could | near (adj.)closely affecting, intimately touching | Mac III.i.117 | |
With bare-fac'd power sweepe him from my sight, | With bare-faced power sweep him from my sight | power (n.)force, strength, might | Mac III.i.118 | |
And bid my will auouch it; yet I must not, | And bid my will avouch it, yet I must not, | avouch (v.)justify, warrant, defend | Mac III.i.119 | |
For certaine friends that are both his, and mine, | For certain friends that are both his and mine, | | Mac III.i.120 | |
Whose loues I may not drop, but wayle his fall, | Whose loves I may not drop, but wail his fall | wail (v.)bewail, lament, grieve [for] | Mac III.i.121 | |
Who I my selfe struck downe: and thence it is, | Who I myself struck down. And thence it is | | Mac III.i.122 | |
That I to your assistance doe make loue, | That I to your assistance do make love, | | Mac III.i.123 | |
Masking the Businesse from the common Eye, | Masking the business from the common eye | eye (n.)sight, view, presence | Mac III.i.124 | |
For sundry weightie Reasons. | For sundry weighty reasons. | | Mac III.i.125.1 | |
2.Murth. | SECOND MURDERER | | | |
We shall, my Lord, | We shall, my lord, | | Mac III.i.125.2 | |
Performe what you command vs. | Perform what you command us. | | Mac III.i.126.1 | |
1.Murth. | FIRST MURDERER | | | |
Though our Liues--- | Though our lives – | | Mac III.i.126.2 | |
Macb. | MACBETH | | | |
Your Spirits shine through you. / Within this houre, at most, | Your spirits shine through you. Within this hour, at most, | | Mac III.i.127 | |
I will aduise you where to plant your selues, | I will advise you where to plant yourselves, | | Mac III.i.128 | |
Acquaint you with the perfect Spy o'th' time, | Acquaint you with the perfect spy o'the time, | spy (n.)[unclear meaning] opportunity to spy, watch-keeping | Mac III.i.129 | |
The moment on't, for't must be done to Night, | The moment on't; for't must be done tonight; | | Mac III.i.130 | |
And something from the Pallace: alwayes thought, | And something from the palace; always thought | something (adv.)somewhat, rather | Mac III.i.131 | |
That I require a clearenesse; and with him, | That I require a clearness; and with him, | clearness (n.)freedom from suspicion, appearance of innocence | Mac III.i.132 | |
To leaue no Rubs nor Botches in the Worke: | To leave no rubs nor botches in the work, | rub (n.)roughness, unevenness, inequality | Mac III.i.133 | |
| | botch (n.)flaw, blemish, clumsy result | | |
Fleans, his Sonne, that keepes him companie, | Fleance his son, that keeps him company, | | Mac III.i.134 | |
Whose absence is no lesse materiall to me, | Whose absence is no less material to me | | Mac III.i.135 | |
Then is his Fathers, must embrace the fate | Than is his father's, must embrace the fate | | Mac III.i.136 | |
Of that darke houre: resolue your selues apart, | Of that dark hour. Resolve yourselves apart; | resolve (v.)decide, make up one's mind | Mac III.i.137 | |
| | apart (adv.)away from here; or: separately; [in stage directions] to one side | | |
Ile come to you anon. | I'll come to you anon. | anon (adv.)soon, shortly, presently | Mac III.i.138.1 | |
Murth. | MURDERERS | | | |
We are resolu'd, my Lord. | We are resolved, my lord. | | Mac III.i.138.2 | |
Macb. | MACBETH | | | |
Ile call vpon you straight: abide within, | I'll call upon you straight. Abide within. | straight (adv.)straightaway, immediately, at once | Mac III.i.139 | |
| | abide (v.)stay, remain, stop [in a position] | | |
| Exeunt Murderers | | Mac III.i.139 | |
It is concluded: Banquo, thy Soules flight, | It is concluded! Banquo, thy soul's flight, | conclude (v.)decide, resolve, settle | Mac III.i.140 | |
If it finde Heauen, must finde it out to Night. | If it find heaven, must find it out tonight. | | Mac III.i.141 | |
Exeunt. | Exit | | Mac III.i.141 | |