No Fear Shakespeare

Macbeth

William Shakespeare

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Act 1, Scene 3, Page 7

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145
My thought, whose murder yet is but fantastical,
Shakes so my single state of man
That function is smothered in surmise,
And nothing is but what is not.
Even though it’s just a fantasy so far, the mere thought of committing murder shakes me up so much that I hardly know who I am anymore. My ability to act is stifled by my thoughts and speculations, and the only things that matter to me are things that don’t really exist.

BANQUO
Look how our partner’s rapt.
BANQUO
Look at Macbeth—he’s in a daze.


MACBETH
(aside) If chance will have me king, why, chance may crown me
Without my stir.
MACBETH
(to himself) If fate wants me to be king, perhaps fate will just make it happen and I won’t have to do anything.


150
BANQUO
     New honors come upon him,
Like our strange garments, cleave not to their mold
But with the aid of use.
BANQUO
(to ROSS and ANGUS) Macbeth is not used to his new titles. They’re like new clothes: they don’t fit until you break them in over time.


MACBETH
(aside)      Come what come may,
Time and the hour runs through the roughest day.
MACBETH
(to himself) One way or another, what’s going to happen is going to happen.

BANQUO
Worthy Macbeth, we stay upon your leisure.
BANQUO
Good Macbeth, we’re ready when you are.

155




160
MACBETH
Give me your favor. My dull brain was wrought
With things forgotten. Kind gentlemen, your pains
Are registered where every day I turn
The leaf to read them. Let us toward the king.
(aside to BANQUO) Think upon what hath chanced, and, at more time,
The interim having weighed it, let us speak
Our free hearts each to other.
MACBETH
I beg your pardon; I was distracted. Kind gentlemen, I won’t forget the trouble you’ve taken for me whenever I think of this day. Let’s go to the king. (speaking so that only BANQUO can hear) Think about what happened today, and when we’ve both had time to consider things, let’s talk.

BANQUO
Very gladly.
BANQUO
Absolutely.

MACBETH
Till then, enough. (to ROSS and ANGUS) Come, friends.
MACBETH
Until then, we’ve said enough. (to ROSS and ANGUS) Let’s go, my friends.
Exeunt
They all exit.

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