Page:Macbeth (1918) Yale.djvu/19

Macbeth, I. iii

Of noble having and of royal hope,

That he seems rapt withal: to me you speak not.

If you can look into the seeds of time,

And say which grain will grow and which will not,

Speak then to me, who neither beg nor fear

Your favours nor your hate.

First Witch. Hail!

Sec. Witch. Hail!

Third Witch. Hail!

First Witch. Lesser than Macbeth, and greater.

Sec. Witch. Not so happy, yet much happier.

Third Witch. Thou shalt get kings, though thou be none:

So, all hail, Macbeth and Banquo!

First Witch. Banquo and Macbeth, all hail!

Macb. Stay, you imperfect speakers, tell me more:

By Sinel's death I know I am Thane of Glamis;

But how of Cawdor? the Thane of Cawdor lives,

A prosperous gentleman; and to be king

Stands not within the prospect of belief

No more than to be Cawdor. Say, from whence

You owe this strange intelligence? or why

Upon this blasted heath you stop our way

With such prophetic greeting? Speak, I charge you.

Witches vanish.

Ban. The earth hath bubbles, as the water has,

And these are of them. Whither are they vanish'd?

Macb. Into the air, and what seem'd corporal melted

As breath into the wind. Would they had stay'd!

 56 noble having; cf. n.

57 rapt: transported

withal: therewith

67 get: be father of

71 Sinel: Macbeth's father

76 owe: possess

intelligence: information

81 corporal: substantial

