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232 him all possible honor, decided to accompany him to his castle and spend a night there before journeying to the royal palace. Macbeth had hastily dispatched a messenger informing his wife of his new title of Cawdor, and giving the details of his encounter with the witches. As soon as Duncan announced his intention of becoming his guest for a night, he sent another messenger, bidding her make preparations for their arrival. Then the royal train set out for Inverness.

At the head rode Duncanwhite-haired and benignant old monarchwhose enemies called him weak and doting, but whose friends knew him honorable and brave, though credulously trustful, and guileless as a child. Beside him rode his two sons, Malcolm and Donalbain, both in the early dawn of manhood, noble and refined in aspect, but inheriting a trifle too much of their father’s gentle spirit to cope well with the rude exigencies of the times. Near them, the grave and reticent Banquo, attended by his young son Fleance, the hope and promise of his age. In the midst of the train was the noble Macduff, one of the most noted thanes of Scotland: temperate in his judgment, enthusiastic in his loves and hates; not the equal of Macbeth in elegance of bearing and in polish of manners, but no whit behind him in absolute bravery; as trustworthy in the council hall as in the battle-field; who