BANQUO enters.
BANQUO
Now you have it all: you're the king, the thane of Cawdor, and the thane of Glamis, just like the weird women promised you. And I suspect you cheated to win these titles. But it was also prophesied that the crown would not go to your descendants, and that my sons and grandsons would be kings instead. If the witches tell the truth—which they did about you—maybe what they said about me will come true too. But shhh! I'll shut up now.
A trumpet plays. MACBETH enters dressed as king, and LADY MACBETH enters dressed as queen, together with LENNOX, ROSS, LORDS, LADIES, and their attendants.
MACBETH
(indicating BANQUO) Here's our most important guest.
LADY MACBETH
If we forgot him, our big celebration wouldn't be complete, and that wouldn't be any good.
MACBETH
(to BANQUO) Tonight we're having a ceremonial banquet, and I want you to be there.
BANQUO
Whatever your highness commands me to do, it is always my duty to do it.
MACBETH
Are you going riding this afternoon?
BANQUO
Yes, my good lord.
MACBETH
We would have liked to have heard your good advice, which has always been serious and helpful, at the council today, but we'll wait until tomorrow. Are you riding far?
BANQUO
I'm going far enough that I'll be riding from now until dinner. Unless my horse goes faster than expected, I will be back an hour or two after sunset.
MACBETH
Don't miss our feast.
BANQUO
My lord, I won't miss it.
MACBETH
We hear that the princes, those murderers, have hidden in England and Ireland. They haven't confessed to cruelly murdering their own father, and they've been making up strange lies to tell their hosts. But we can talk more about that tomorrow, when we'll discuss matters of state that concern us both. Hurry up and get to your horse. Good-bye, until you return tonight. Is Fleance going with you?
BANQUO
Yes, my good lord. It's time we hit the road.
MACBETH
I hope your horses are fast and surefooted. And with that, I send you to them. Farewell.
BANQUO exits.
Everybody may do as they please until seven o'clock tonight. In order to make your company even more enjoyable, I'm going to keep to myself until suppertime. Until then, God be with you!
Everyone exits except MACBETH and a SERVANT
Sirrah, a word with you. Attend those men
Our pleasure?
(to the SERVANT) You there, let me have a word with you. Are those men waiting for me?
SERVANT
They're waiting outside the palace gate, my lord.
MACBETH
Bring them to me.
The SERVANT exits.
To be the king is nothing if I'm not safe as the king. I'm very afraid of Banquo. There's something noble about him that makes me fear him. He's willing to take risks, and his mind never stops working. He has the wisdom to act bravely but also safely. I'm not afraid of anyone but him. Around him, my guardian angel is frightened, just as Mark Antony's angel supposedly feared Octavius Caesar. Banquo chided the witches when they first called me king, asking them to tell him his own future. Then, like prophets, they named him the father to a line of kings. They gave me a crown and a scepter that I can't pass on. Someone outside my family will take these things away from me, since no son of mine will take my place as king. If this is true, then I've tortured my conscience and murdered the gracious Duncan for Banquo's sons. I've ruined my own peace for their benefit. I've handed over my everlasting soul to the devil so that they could be kings. Banquo's sons, kings! Instead of watching that happen, I will challenge fate to battle and fight to the death. Who's there!
The SERVANT comes back in with two MURDERERS.
Now go to the door and stay there until I call for you.
The SERVANT exits.
Wasn't it just yesterday that we spoke to each other?
FIRST MURDERER
It was yesterday, your highness.
MACBETH
Well, did you think about what I said? You should know that it was Banquo who made your lives hell for so long, which you always thought was my fault. But I was innocent. I showed you the proof at our last meeting. I explained how you were deceived, how you were thwarted, the things that were used against you, who was working against you, and a lot of other things that would convince even a half-wit or a crazy person to say, "Banquo did it!"
FIRST MURDERER
You explained it all.
MACBETH
I did that and more, which brings me to the point of this second meeting. Are you so patient and forgiving that you're going to let him off the hook? Are you so pious that you would pray for this man and his children, a man who has pushed you toward an early grave and put your family in poverty forever?
FIRST MURDERER
We are men, my lord.
MACBETH
Yes, you're part of the species called men. Just as hounds and greyhounds, mongrels, spaniels, mutts, shaggy lapdogs, swimming dogs, and wolf-dog crossbreeds are all dogs. But if you list the different kinds of dogs according to their qualities, you can distinguish which breeds are fast or slow, which ones are clever, which ones are watchdogs, and which ones hunters. You can classify each dog according to the natural gifts that separate it from all other dogs. It's the same with men. Now, if you occupy some place in the list of men that isn't down at the very bottom, tell me. Because if that's the case, I will tell you a plan that will get rid of your enemy and bring you closer to me. As long as Banquo lives, I am sick. I'll be healthy when he is dead.
SECOND MURDERER
My lord, I've been so kicked around by the world, and I'm so angry, that I don't even care what I do.
FIRST MURDERER
I'm the same. I'm so sick of bad luck and trouble that I'd risk my life on any bet, as long as it would either fix my life or end it once and for all.
MACBETH
You both know Banquo was your enemy.
BOTH MURDERERS
It's true, my lord.
MACBETH
He's my enemy too, and I hate him so much that every minute he's alive it eats away at my heart. Since I'm king, I could simply use my power to get rid of him. But I can't do that, because he and I have friends in common whom I need, so I have to be able to moan and cry over his death in public even though I'll be the one who had him killed. That's why I need your help right now. I have to hide my real plans from the public eye for many important reasons.
SECOND MURDERER
We'll do what you want us to, my lord.
FIRST MURDERER
Though our lives—
MACBETH
(interrupts him) I can see the determination in your eyes. Within the next hour I'll tell you where to go and exactly when to strike. It must be done tonight, away from the palace. Always remember that I must be free from suspicion. For the plan to work perfectly, you must kill both Banquo and his son, Fleance, who keeps him company. Getting rid of Fleance is as important to me as knocking off Banquo. Each of you should make up your own mind about whether you're going to do this. I'll come to you soon.
BOTH MURDERERS
We have decided, my lord. We're in.
MACBETH
I'll call for you soon. Stay inside.
The MURDERERS exit.
The deal is closed. Banquo, if your soul is going to make it to heaven, tonight's the night.
He exits.