Act I, Scene 5

Inverness. Macbeth’s castle.

[Enter LADY MACBETH, reading a letter]

• Lady Macbeth. 'They met me in the day of success: and I have 345
  learned by the perfectest report, they have more in
  them than mortal knowledge. When I burned in desire
  to question them further, they made themselves air,
  into which they vanished. Whiles I stood rapt in
  the wonder of it, came missives from the king, who 350
  all-hailed me 'Thane of Cawdor;' by which title,
  before, these weird sisters saluted me, and referred
  me to the coming on of time, with 'Hail, king that
  shalt be!' This have I thought good to deliver
  thee, my dearest partner of greatness, that thou 355
  mightst not lose the dues of rejoicing, by being
  ignorant of what greatness is promised thee. Lay it
  to thy heart, and farewell.'
  Glamis thou art, and Cawdor; and shalt be
  What thou art promised: yet do I fear thy nature; 360
  It is too full o' the milk of human kindness
  To catch the nearest way: thou wouldst be great;
  Art not without ambition, but without
  The illness should attend it: what thou wouldst highly,
  That wouldst thou holily; wouldst not play false, 365
  And yet wouldst wrongly win: thou'ldst have, great Glamis,
  That which cries 'Thus thou must do, if thou have it;
  And that which rather thou dost fear to do
  Than wishest should be undone.' Hie thee hither,
  That I may pour my spirits in thine ear; 370
  And chastise with the valour of my tongue
  All that impedes thee from the golden round,
  Which fate and metaphysical aid doth seem
  To have thee crown'd withal.
  [Enter a Messenger] 375
  What is your tidings?

• Messenger. The king comes here to-night.

• Lady Macbeth. Thou'rt mad to say it:
  Is not thy master with him? who, were't so,
  Would have inform'd for preparation. 380

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

• Lady Macbeth. Give him tending; 385
  He brings great news.
  [Exit Messenger]
  The raven himself is hoarse
  That croaks the fatal entrance of Duncan
  Under my battlements. Come, you spirits 390
  That tend on mortal thoughts, unsex me here,
  And fill me from the crown to the toe top-full
  Of direst cruelty! make thick my blood;
  Stop up the access and passage to remorse,
  That no compunctious visitings of nature 395
  Shake my fell purpose, nor keep peace between
  The effect and it! Come to my woman's breasts,
  And take my milk for gall, you murdering ministers,
  Wherever in your sightless substances
  You wait on nature's mischief! Come, thick night, 400
  And pall thee in the dunnest smoke of hell,
  That my keen knife see not the wound it makes,
  Nor heaven peep through the blanket of the dark,
  To cry 'Hold, hold!'
  [Enter MACBETH] 405
  Great Glamis! worthy Cawdor!
  Greater than both, by the all-hail hereafter!
  Thy letters have transported me beyond
  This ignorant present, and I feel now
  The future in the instant. 410

• Macbeth. My dearest love,
  Duncan comes here to-night.

• Lady Macbeth. And when goes hence?

• Macbeth. To-morrow, as he purposes.

• Lady Macbeth. O, never 415
  Shall sun that morrow see!
  Your face, my thane, is as a book where men
  May read strange matters. To beguile the time,
  Look like the time; bear welcome in your eye,
  Your hand, your tongue: look like the innocent flower, 420
  But be the serpent under't. He that's coming
  Must be provided for: and you shall put
  This night's great business into my dispatch;
  Which shall to all our nights and days to come
  Give solely sovereign sway and masterdom. 425

• Macbeth. We will speak further.

• Lady Macbeth. Only look up clear;
  To alter favour ever is to fear:
  Leave all the rest to me.

[Exeunt]