Act 1
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MACBETH Speak, if you can: what are you?
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MACBETH Speak, if you can. What kind of creatures are you?
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FIRST WITCH All hail, Macbeth! Hail to thee, thane of Glamis!
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FIRST WITCH All hail, Macbeth! Hail to you, thane of Glamis!
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SECOND WITCH
50All hail, Macbeth! Hail to thee, thane of Cawdor!
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SECOND WITCH All hail, Macbeth! Hail to you, thane of Cawdor!
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THIRD WITCH All hail, Macbeth, that shalt be king hereafter!
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THIRD WITCH All hail, Macbeth, the future king!
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BANQUO Good sir, why do you start and seem to fear
Things that do sound so fair? (to
the WITCHES) I'
th' name of truth,
Are ye fantastical, or that indeed
55Which outwardly ye show? My noble partner
You greet with present grace and great prediction
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
60And say which grain will grow and which will not,
Speak, then, to me, who neither beg nor fear
Your favors nor your hate.
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BANQUO My dear Macbeth, why do you look so startled and afraid of these
nice things they’re saying? (to
the WITCHES) Tell me
honestly, are you illusions, or are you really what you seem to be?
You’ve greeted my noble friend with honors and talk of a
future so glorious that you’ve made him speechless. But you
don’t say anything to me. If you can see the future and say
how things will turn out, tell me. I don’t want your favors
and I’m not afraid of your hatred.
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FIRST WITCH Hail!
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FIRST WITCH Hail!
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SECOND WITCH Hail!
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SECOND WITCH Hail!
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THIRD WITCH
65Hail!
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THIRD WITCH Hail!
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FIRST WITCH Lesser than Macbeth and greater.
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FIRST WITCH You are lesser than Macbeth but also greater.
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SECOND WITCH Not so happy, yet much happier.
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SECOND WITCH You are not as happy as Macbeth, yet much happier.
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THIRD WITCH Thou shalt get kings, though thou be none.
So all hail, Macbeth and Banquo!
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THIRD WITCH Your descendants will be kings, even though you will not be one.
So all hail, Macbeth and Banquo!
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More Help
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Character List
CHARACTERS -
Macbeth: Character Analysis
CHARACTERS -
Plot Analysis
MAIN IDEAS -
Is Lady Macbeth a Villain or a Victim?
MAIN IDEAS -
Quotes by Theme
QUOTES -
Themes
MAIN IDEAS -
Review Quiz
FURTHER STUDY
