Banquo is starting to wonder if Macbeth is up to no good. He even suspects (quite rightly) that Macbeth is the king’s murderer. After all, he witnessed the witches’ prophecy, so he knows what Macbeth stood to gain. When Macbeth, the newly crowned king, arrives on the scene with all his attendant lords—and his wife—Banquo plays nice and then promptly leaves. Left alone, Macbeth begins to worry out loud about Banquo. Macbeth knows he’s a good guy, but he also knows that Banquo heard the prophecy. He thinks Banquo might figure things out. Plus there’s the fact that the witches foretold that Banquo’s descendants would one day be kings—not Macbeth’s. All this adds up to one thing: Macbeth wants Banquo and his son dead. With Banquo and Fleance both dead, the prophecy for Banquo couldn’t possibly come true. He has his servant bring in two men he had waiting at the gates, convinces these men that Banquo is their enemy, and hires them to do away with his one-time friend.
Banquo
Now you have it all, Macbeth. You’re king, Lord of Cawdor, and Lord of Glamis. Everything the witches promised, yet I’m afraid you might have engaged in foul play for it. But they said your children would not be kings, and that instead I would be the father to many kings. If they really spoke the truth – as it seems clear they did from your case, Macbeth – perhaps what they said about me will come true as well. But hush, I better be quiet!
Macbeth
Here's our most important guest.
Lady Macbeth
If he had been forgotten, it would have been a loss to our great feast, and everything would have been unsuitable.
Macbeth
Tonight we are having a ceremonial banquet, sir, and I request your presence.
Banquo
Whatever your highness commands me to do, it is my duty to always obey.
Macbeth
Are you planning to go out riding this afternoon?
Banquo
Yes, my good lord.
Macbeth
I would have liked to get your advice, which has always been thoughtful and beneficial, at the council today. But I’ll get it tomorrow. Are you riding far?
Banquo
As far as I can go between now and dinnertime. Unless my horse goes faster than expected, I’ll get back an hour or two after dark.
Macbeth
Don’t miss our feast.
Banquo
My lord, I won’t.
Macbeth
We hear our murderous cousins are staying in England and in Ireland, not confessing that they savagely killed their father, and telling strange lies to everyone who listens. But we’ll talk about that tomorrow when we discuss matters of state that concern us both. Get to your horse. Until later tonight! Is Fleance going with you?
Banquo
Yes, my lord. We should hurry.
Macbeth
May your horses be fast and sure-footed. With that, I entrust you to them. Farewell.
Let everyone have free time until seven tonight. I’ll be alone until dinner so that anticipating your company will make it even better. Till then, God be with you!
You, there: are those men waiting for me?
Attendant
They are waiting outside the palace gate, my lord.
Macbeth
Bring them to me.
To be king is nothing, if I am not safely king. My fears about Banquo run deep. There’s something royal about him that’s worth worrying about.
He’s not afraid to do anything. And along with his fearlessness, he has wisdom to guide his valor and make him cautious. He’s the only one I’m afraid of, the only one my guardian angel can’t protect me from, as they say Mark Antony could not protect Caesar. He scolded the sisters when they called me king, and asked them to speak to him! Then they prophesied that he’d be father to a line of kings. They put a childless crown on my head, and a barren sceptre in my hands, only to be ripped away by someone unrelated to me - no sons of my own will get the throne.
If it’s true, then I have defiled my soul for Banquo’s sons, I’ve killed gracious Duncan for them, I’ve filled my heart with filth for them. I’ve given my soul – my eternal jewel – to Satan, just to make them kings – to make Banquo’s sons kings! Anything rather than that: I’ll challenge fate itself in battle! Who’s that?
Now go to the door, and wait there till I call you.
Wasn’t it yesterday when we talked?
First Murderer
It was, your highness.
Macbeth
Well now, have you thought about what I said? You know it was Banquo who brought you your troubles, not me, as you originally thought? I told you this in our last meeting. I showed you proof of how you’d been manipulated, how you’d been thwarted, how it was done, and by whom. I gave you so much proof that even a halfwit or a madman would have to admit, “Banquo did this.”
First Murderer
You made it clear to us.
Macbeth
I did, and I went further, which is why we’re now meeting again. Is patience such a big part of your character that you can let all this go? Are you such good Christians that you can pray for this man and for his family, the very man who has pushed you almost to the grave, and who’s brought poverty to your families?
First Murderer
We are men, my king.
Macbeth
Yes, of course you belong to the species of men, just as hounds and greyhounds, mongrels, spaniels, mutts, lapdogs, water dogs and half-wolves are called “dogs.”
Macbeth
But if you rank dogs by their qualities, you can distinguish which kinds are fast or slow, which are clever, which are house dogs and which hunters. Each dog is classified by the natural gifts that distinguish it from the common traits of all other dogs – and the same goes for men. Now, if you’re any better than the worst of mankind, say so. And I’ll give you a job to do that will not only get rid of your enemy, but will also bring you closer to me and to my favor. I’m unhealthy and stressed knowing Banquo’s alive, his death would restore my vigor.
Second Murderer
My king, I’m the kind of man that the world has kicked around and enraged. I’m willing to risk anything for revenge.
First Murderer
And I’m just like him. I’m so tired of troubles, been dragged down by so much bad luck, that I’d stake my life on anything that would either fix it, or put an end to it.
Macbeth
Both of you know Banquo is your enemy.
Both Murderers
True, my lord.
Macbeth
He’s also mine. So much so that that every minute he’s alive drains away my life. I have the royal power and impunity to openly have him killed and endorse it publicly. But I shouldn’t because of the mutual friends we share who would lament him - I depend on them and can’t lose their trust. That’s why I am asking for your help, and keeping this business out of the public eye for various important reasons.
Second Murderer
We’ll do what you command, my Lord.
First Murderer
Even if our lives –
Macbeth
Yes, yes, I can see it in your eyes. Within the next hour at the latest, I’ll show you where to hide. Decide who will be the lookout and the perfect moment to do it. It must be done tonight, done far from the palace, and done so that I don’t look suspicious. To make sure there are no kinks in the plan, you must kill Fleance in that moment as well. The boy’s death is just as important to me as his father’s. You should each think over all of this separately, I will come get you soon.
Both Murderers
We’ve already decided, my lord.
Macbeth
I'll call you in a moment: wait inside.
It’s decided. Banquo, if your soul is headed towards heaven, it will arrive tonight.
