Act I, Scene IV
Forres. A Room in the Palace. [Flourish. Enter Duncan, Malcolm, Donalbain, Lennox, and Attendants.] DUNCAN. Is execution done on Cawdor? Are not Those in commission yet return'd? MALCOLM. My liege, They are not yet come back. But I have spoke With one that saw him die: who did report, That very frankly he confess'd his treasons; Implor'd your highness' pardon; and set forth A deep repentance: nothing in his life Became him like the leaving it; he died As one that had been studied in his death, To throw away the dearest thing he ow'd As 'twere a careless trifle. DUNCAN. There's no art To find the mind's construction in the face: He was a gentleman on whom I built An absolute trust.-- [Enter Macbeth, Banquo, Ross, and Angus.] O worthiest cousin! The sin of my ingratitude even now Was heavy on me: thou art so far before, That swiftest wing of recompense is slow To overtake thee. Would thou hadst less deserv'd; That the proportion both of thanks and payment Might have been mine! only I have left to say, More is thy due than more than all can pay. MACBETH. The service and the loyalty I owe, In doing it, pays itself. Your highness' part Is to receive our duties: and our duties Are to your throne and state, children and servants; Which do but what they should, by doing everything Safe toward your love and honor. DUNCAN. Welcome hither: I have begun to plant thee, and will labor To make thee full of growing.--Noble Banquo, That hast no less deserv'd, nor must be known No less to have done so,let me infold thee And hold thee to my heart. BANQUO. There if I grow, The harvest is your own. DUNCAN. My plenteous joys, Wanton in fulness, seek to hide themselves In drops of sorrow.--Sons, kinsmen, thanes, And you whose places are the nearest, know, We will establish our estate upon Our eldest, Malcolm; whom we name hereafter The Prince of Cumberland: which honor must Not unaccompanied invest him only, But signs of nobleness, like stars, shall shine On all deservers.--From hence to Inverness, And bind us further to you. MACBETH. The rest is labor, which is not us'd for you: I'll be myself the harbinger, and make joyful The hearing of my wife with your approach; So, humbly take my leave. DUNCAN. My worthy Cawdor! MACBETH. [Aside.] The Prince of Cumberland!--That is a step, On which I must fall down, or else o'erleap, For in my way it lies. Stars, hide your fires! Let not light see my black and deep desires: The eye wink at the hand! yet let that be, Which the eye fears, when it is done, to see. [Exit.] DUNCAN. True, worthy Banquo!--he is full so valiant; And in his commendations I am fed,-- It is a banquet to me. Let us after him, Whose care is gone before to bid us welcome: It is a peerless kinsman. [Flourish. Exeunt.]
Macbeth - Complete TextMacbeth e-text contains the full text of Macbeth.
E-Text on Macbeth
- Persons Represented
- Act I, Scene I
- Act I, Scene II
- Act I, Scene III
- Act I, Scene IV
- Act I, Scene V
- Act I, Scene VI
- Act I, Scene VII
- Act II, Scene I
- Act II, Scene II
- Act III, Scene I
- Act III, Scene II
- Act III, Scene III
- Act III, Scene IV
- Act III, Scene V
- Act III, Scene VI
- Act IV, Scene I
- Act IV, Scene II
- Act IV, Scene III
- Act V, Scene I
- Act V, Scene II
- Act V, Scene III
- Act V, Scene IV
- Act V, Scene V
- Act V, Scene VI
- Act V, Scene VII
- Act V, Scene VIII
- Sources
ClassicNote on Macbeth
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