Page:Stories from Old English Poetry-1899.djvu/255

Rh was already awaiting their coming in the castle of Forres. These were too intent upon delivering their message, to notice the distraught manners of Macbeth and Banquo, but greeted them instantly with congratulations on their brave services that day to the Scottish throne. They told Macbeth that the king had appointed them to signify his value of his knightly deeds by investing him with the titles of the Thane of Cawdor, who had proved disloyal, and was thus stripped of his titles and estates, that they might be conferred upon more deserving shoulders.

Macbeth was astonished almost beyond speech at the sudden fulfillment of the witches’ prophecy. What if they had indeed spoken truth? He should be king hereafter! Might not the powers which had divined his greatness, which had put the crown into his thoughts, help now to place it on his head? His quick-kindled ambition rose higher at the thought, and with a powerful effort he shook off his abstraction, and rode hastily forward to greet his sovereign.

The battle of Forres had been a decisive one in the long civil war, and Duncan’s kingdom now promised to return to peace and security. Macbeth purposed returning to his castle at Inverness, to recruit from his bloody exploits in the field, and the old monarch, loth to part with his loved kinsman and subject, anxious also to show