First folio
| Modern text
| Definitions
| Key line
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Enter Lenox, and another Lord. | Enter Lennox and another Lord | | Mac III.vi.1.1 | |
Lenox. | LENNOX | | | |
My former Speeches, / Haue but hit your Thoughts | My former speeches have but hit your thoughts, | speech (n.)conversation, talk, discourse | Mac III.vi.1 | |
| | hit (v.)match, fall in [with], coincide [with] | | |
Which can interpret farther: Onely I say | Which can interpret further. Only I say | | Mac III.vi.2 | |
Things haue bin strangely borne. The gracious Duncan | Things have been strangely borne. The gracious Duncan | bear (v.), past forms bore, bornecarry on, manage, conduct [an affair] | Mac III.vi.3 | |
Was pittied of Macbeth: marry he was dead: | Was pitied of Macbeth: marry, he was dead! | marry (int.)[exclamation] by Mary | Mac III.vi.4 | |
And the right valiant Banquo walk'd too late, | And the right valiant Banquo walked too late; | | Mac III.vi.5 | |
Whom you may say (if't please you) Fleans kill'd, | Whom you may say, if't please you, Fleance killed, | | Mac III.vi.6 | |
For Fleans fled: Men must not walke too late. | For Fleance fled. Men must not walk too late. | | Mac III.vi.7 | |
Who cannot want the thought, how monstrous | Who cannot want the thought how monstrous | want (v.)lack, need, be without | Mac III.vi.8 | |
It was for Malcolme, and for Donalbane | It was for Malcolm and for Donalbain | | Mac III.vi.9 | |
To kill their gracious Father? Damned Fact, | To kill their gracious father? Damned fact, | fact (n.)evil deed, wicked act, crime | Mac III.vi.10 | |
How it did greeue Macbeth? Did he not straight | How it did grieve Macbeth! Did he not straight – | straight (adv.)straightaway, immediately, at once | Mac III.vi.11 | |
In pious rage, the two delinquents teare, | In pious rage – the two delinquents tear, | pious (adj.)religious, holy; or: dutiful, loyal | Mac III.vi.12 | |
That were the Slaues of drinke, and thralles of sleepe? | That were the slaves of drink, and thralls of sleep? | thrall (n.)slave, subject, captive | Mac III.vi.13 | |
Was not that Nobly done? I, and wisely too: | Was not that nobly done? Ay, and wisely too; | | Mac III.vi.14 | |
For 'twould haue anger'd any heart aliue | For 'twould have angered any heart alive | | Mac III.vi.15 | |
To heare the men deny't. So that I say, | To hear the men deny't. So that I say | | Mac III.vi.16 | |
He ha's borne all things well, and I do thinke, | He has borne all things well; and I do think | | Mac III.vi.17 | |
That had he Duncans Sonnes vnder his Key, | That had he Duncan's sons under his key – | | Mac III.vi.18 | |
(As, and't please Heauen he shall not) they should finde | As, an't please heaven, he shall not – they should find | | Mac III.vi.19 | |
What 'twere to kill a Father: So should Fleans. | What 'twere to kill a father – so should Fleance. | | Mac III.vi.20 | |
But peace; for from broad words, and cause he fayl'd | But, peace! For from broad words, and 'cause he failed | word (n.)(plural) speech, talk, utterance | Mac III.vi.21 | |
| | broad (adj.)plain, candid, frank | | |
His presence at the Tyrants Feast, I heare | His presence at the tyrant's feast, I hear | | Mac III.vi.22 | |
Macduffe liues in disgrace. Sir, can you tell | Macduff lives in disgrace. Sir, can you tell | | Mac III.vi.23 | |
Where he bestowes himselfe? | Where he bestows himself? | | Mac III.vi.24.1 | |
Lord. | LORD | | | |
The Sonnes of Duncane | The son of Duncan, | | Mac III.vi.24.2 | |
(From whom this Tyrant holds the due of Birth) | From whom this tyrant holds the due of birth, | | Mac III.vi.25 | |
Liues in the English Court, and is receyu'd | Lives in the English court, and is received | | Mac III.vi.26 | |
Of the most Pious Edward, with such grace, | Of the most pious Edward with such grace | | Mac III.vi.27 | |
That the maleuolence of Fortune, nothing | That the malevolence of fortune nothing | | Mac III.vi.28 | |
Takes from his high respect. Thither Macduffe | Takes from his high respect. Thither Macduff | respect (n.)esteem, status, honour | Mac III.vi.29 | |
Is gone, to pray the Holy King, vpon his ayd | Is gone to pray the holy king, upon his aid, | | Mac III.vi.30 | |
To wake Northumberland, and warlike Seyward, | To wake Northumberland and warlike Seyward, | wake (v.)urge, arouse; or: trouble, disturb | Mac III.vi.31 | |
That by the helpe of these (with him aboue) | That by the help of these – with Him above | | Mac III.vi.32 | |
To ratifie the Worke) we may againe | To ratify the work – we may again | | Mac III.vi.33 | |
Giue to our Tables meate, sleepe to our Nights: | Give to our tables meat, sleep to our nights, | | Mac III.vi.34 | |
Free from our Feasts, and Banquets bloody kniues; | Free from our feasts and banquets bloody knives, | | Mac III.vi.35 | |
Do faithfull Homage, and receiue free Honors, | Do faithful homage and receive free honours – | | Mac III.vi.36 | |
All which we pine for now. And this report | All which we pine for now. And this report | | Mac III.vi.37 | |
Hath so exasperate their King, that hee | Hath so exasperate the King that he | | Mac III.vi.38 | |
Prepares for some attempt of Warre. | Prepares for some attempt of war. | attempt (n.)attack, assault | Mac III.vi.39.1 | |
Len. | LENNOX | | | |
Sent he to Macduffe? | Sent he to Macduff? | | Mac III.vi.39.2 | |
Lord. | LORD | | | |
He did: and with an absolute Sir, not I | He did. And with an absolute ‘ Sir, not I!’ | absolute (adj.)curt, peremptory, blunt | Mac III.vi.40 | |
The clowdy Messenger turnes me his backe, | The cloudy messenger turns me his back | cloudy (adj.)sullen, gloomy, scowling | Mac III.vi.41 | |
And hums; as who should say, you'l rue the time | And hums, as who should say ‘ You'll rue the time | hum (v.)say ‘hum’ [as a sign of displeasure, dissatisfaction, impatience, etc] | Mac III.vi.42 | |
That clogges me with this Answer. | That clogs me with this answer.’ | clog (v.)impede, hinder, obstruct [progress] | Mac III.vi.43.1 | |
Lenox. | LENNOX | | | |
And that well might | And that well might | | Mac III.vi.43.2 | |
Aduise him to a Caution, t' hold what distance | Advise him to a caution to hold what distance | | Mac III.vi.44 | |
His wisedome can prouide. Some holy Angell | His wisdom can provide. Some holy angel | | Mac III.vi.45 | |
Flye to the Court of England, and vnfold | Fly to the court of England and unfold | | Mac III.vi.46 | |
His Message ere he come, that a swift blessing | His message ere he come, that a swift blessing | | Mac III.vi.47 | |
May soone returne to this our suffering Country, | May soon return to this our suffering country, | | Mac III.vi.48 | |
Vnder a hand accurs'd. | Under a hand accursed! | | Mac III.vi.49.1 | |
Lord | LORD | | | |
Ile send my Prayers with him. | I'll send my prayers with him. | | Mac III.vi.49.2 | |
Exeunt | Exeunt | | Mac III.vi.49 | |