Inverness. A Room in Macbeth's Castle.
 Enter LADY MACBETH, reading a letter.

Lady Macbeth	[Reads.]	"They met me in the day of success, and I have 
	learned by the perfect'st report they have more in them 
	than mortal knowledge. When I burned in desire to question 
	them further, they made themselves air, into which they 
	vanished. Whiles I stood rapt in the wonder of it, came 
	missives from the king, who all-hailed me 'Thane of 
	Cawdor', by which title before, these Weird sisters saluted 
	me, and referred me to the coming on of time with 'Hail, 
	king that shalt be!' This have I thought good to deliver 
	thee, my dearest partner of greatness, that thou mightst 
	not lose the dues of rejoicing by being ignorant of what 
	greatness is promised thee. Lay it to thy heart, and 
	farewell."

	Glamis thou art, and Cawdor, and shalt be
	What thou art promised. Yet do I fear thy nature;
	It is too full o'th' milk of human kindness
	To catch the nearest way. Thou wouldst be great,
	Art not without ambition, but without
	The illness should attend it. What thou wouldst highly,
	That wouldst thou holily; wouldst not play false,
	And yet wouldst wrongly win. Thou'dst have, great Glamis,
	That which cries 'Thus thou must do' if thou have it;
	And that which rather thou dost fear to do
	Than wishest should be undone. Hie thee hither,
	That I may pour my spirits in thine ear,
	And chastise with the valour of my tongue
	All that impedes thee from the golden round
	Which fate and metaphysical aid doth seem
	To have thee crowned withal.

                            Enter a MESSENGER.

								What is your tidings?

Messenger	The king comes here tonight.

Lady Macbeth										Thou'rt mad to say it.
	Is not thy master with him? - who, were't so,
	Would have informed for preparation.

Messenger	So please you, it is true. Our thane is coming;
	One of my fellows had the speed of him,
	Who, almost dead for breath, had scarcely more
	Than would make up his message.

Lady Macbeth										Give him tending;
	He brings great news.
												[Exit MESSENGER.
								The raven himself is hoarse
	That croaks the fatal entrance of Duncan
	Under my battlements. Come, you spirits
	That tend on mortal thoughts, unsex me here,
	And fill me, from the crown to the toe, top-full
	Of direst cruelty. Make thick my blood,
	Stop up th' access and passage to remorse,
	That no compunctious visitings of nature
	Shake my fell purpose nor keep peace between
	Th' effect and it. Come to my woman's breasts,
	And take my milk for gall, you murd'ring ministers,
	Wherever in your sightless substances
	You wait on nature's mischief. Come, thick night,
	And pall thee in the dunnest smoke of hell,
	That my keen knife see not the wound it makes,
	Nor heaven peep through the blanket of the dark
	To cry 'Hold, hold!'

                              Enter MACBETH.

							Great Glamis! Worthy Cawdor!
	Greater than both, by the all-hail hereafter!
	Thy letters have transported me beyond
	This ignorant present, and I feel now
	The future in the instant.

Macbeth									My dearest love,
	Duncan comes here tonight.

Lady Macbeth								And when goes hence?

Macbeth	Tomorrow, as he purposes.

Lady Macbeth									O, never
	Shall sun that morrow see!
	Your face, my thane, is as a book where men
	May read strange matters. To beguile the time,
	Look like the time; bear welcome in your eye,
	Your hand, your tongue; look like th' innocent flower,
	But be the serpent under't. He that's coming
	Must be provided for; and you shall put
	This night's great business into my dispatch,
	Which shall to all our nights and days to come
	Give solely sovereign sway and masterdom.

Macbeth	We will speak further.

Lady Macbeth								Only look up clear;
	To alter favour ever is to fear.
	Leave all the rest to me.
												[Exeunt.
