Act 1, Scene 4

What's Happening
[Forres, the royal palace. Trumpets. Enter Duncan, Malcolm, Donalbain, Lennox, and Attendants.]

Duncan

Is execution done on Cawdor? Are not
Those in commission yet returned?

Malcolm

                                                            My liege,
They are not yet come back. But I have spoke
With one that saw him die, who did report
That very frankly he confessed his treasons,
Implored your highness' pardon, and set forth
A deep repentance. Nothing in his life
Became him like the leaving it. He died
As one that had been studied in his death —
To throw away the dearest thing he owed
As 'twere a careless trifle.

Duncan

                                            There's no art
To find the mind's construction in the face.
He was a gentleman on whom I built
An absolute trust.    
[Enter Macbeth, Banquo, Ross, and Angus]
                              O worthiest cousin,
The sin of my ingratitude even now
Was heavy on me. Thou art so far before,
That swiftest wing of recompense is slow
To overtake thee. Would thou hadst less deserved,
That the proportion both of thanks and payment
Might have been mine. Only I have left to say:
More is thy due, than more than all can pay.

Macbeth

The service and the loyalty I owe,
In doing it, pays itself.
Your highness' part is to receive our duties,
And our duties are, to your throne and state—
Children and servants, which do but what they should,
By doing every thing safe toward your love
And honor.

Duncan

                   Welcome hither.
I have begun to plant thee, and will labour
To make thee full of growing. Noble Banquo,
That hast no less deserved, nor must be known
No less to have done so. Let me enfold thee
And hold thee to my heart.

Banquo

                                                There, if I grow,
The harvest is your own.

Duncan

                                        My plenteous joys,
Wanton in fulness, seek to hide themselves
In drops of sorrow. Sons, kinsmen, thanes,
And you whose places are the nearest, know
We will establish our estate upon
Our eldest, Malcolm, whom we name hereafter
The Prince of Cumberland; which honor must
Not unaccompanied invest him only,
But signs of nobleness, like stars, shall shine
On all deservers. [To Macbeth] From hence to Inverness,
And bind us further to you.

Macbeth

The rest is labour, which is not used for you.
I'll be myself the harbinger and make joyful
The hearing of my wife with your approach.
So, humbly take my leave.

Duncan

                                            My worthy Cawdor.

Macbeth

[Aside] The Prince of Cumberland — that is a step
On which I must fall down, or else overleap,
For in my way it lies. Stars, hide your fires,
Let not light see my black and deep desires.
The eye wink at the hand; yet let that be
Which the eye fears, when it is done, to see.
[Exit]

Duncan

[In the middle of a conversaion with Banquo]
True, worthy Banquo, he is full so valiant,
And in his commendations I am fed;
It is a banquet to me. Let's after him,
Whose care is gone before to bid us welcome.
It is a peerless kinsman.
[Flourish. Exit]
Character Interview: Duncan and Malcolm
Character Interview: Macbeth
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