Macbeth

Act 3, Scene 3

Enter three MURDERERS

The two MURDERERS enter with a third MURDERER.

FIRST MURDERER

But who did bid thee join with us?

FIRST MURDERER

But who told you to come here and join us?

THIRD MURDERER

Macbeth.

THIRD MURDERER

Macbeth.

SECOND MURDERER

He needs not our mistrust, since he delivers

Our offices and what we have to do

To the direction just.

SECOND MURDERER

We can trust this guy. He was given exactly the same orders we were.

FIRST MURDERER

Then stand with us.

The west yet glimmers with some streaks of day.

Now spurs the lated traveler apace

To gain the timely inn, and near approaches

The subject of our watch.

FIRST MURDERER

Then stay with us. There’s still a bit of daylight in the sky. Now all the late travellers are hurrying to reach their inns. Banquo is almost here.

THIRD MURDERER

Hark, I hear horses.

THIRD MURDERER

Listen! I hear horses.

BANQUO

(within) Give us a light there, ho!

BANQUO

(from offstage) Hey, give us some light here!

SECOND MURDERER

Then ’tis he: the rest

That are within the note of expectation

Already are i’ th’ court.

SECOND MURDERER

That must be him. The rest of the king’s guests are already inside.

FIRST MURDERER

His horses go about.

FIRST MURDERER

You can hear his horses moving around as the servants take them to the stables.

THIRD MURDERER

Almost a mile; but he does usually—

So all men do—from hence to the palace gate

Make it their walk.

THIRD MURDERER

It’s almost a mile to the palace gate, but Banquo, like everybody else, usually walks from here to the palace.

Enter BANQUO and FLEANCE with a torch

BANQUO and FLEANCE enter with a torch.

SECOND MURDERER

A light, a light!

SECOND MURDERER

Here comes a light! Here comes a light!

THIRD MURDERER

’Tis he.

THIRD MURDERER

That’s him.

FIRST MURDERER

Stand to ’t.

FIRST MURDERER

Prepare yourselves.

BANQUO

It will be rain tonight.

BANQUO

It will rain tonight.

FIRST MURDERER

Let it come down.

FIRST MURDERER

Then let the rain come down.

The MURDERERS attack BANQUO

The MURDERERS attack BANQUO.

BANQUO

O treachery! Fly, good Fleance, fly, fly, fly!

Thou may ’st revenge —O slave!

BANQUO

Oh, this is treachery! Get out of here, good Fleance, run, run, run! Someday you can get revenge.—Oh, you bastard!

BANQUO dies. Exit FLEANCE

BANQUO dies. FLEANCE escapes.

THIRD MURDERER

Who did strike out the light?

THIRD MURDERER

Who put out the light?

FIRSTMURDERER

Was ’t not the way?

FIRSTMURDERER

Wasn’t that the best thing to do?

THIRD MURDERER

There’s but one down. The son is fled.

THIRD MURDERER

There’s only one body here. The son ran away.

SECOND MURDERER

We have lost best half of our affair.

SECOND MURDERER

We failed in half of our mission.

FIRST MURDERER

Well, let’s away and say how much is done.

FIRST MURDERER

Well, let’s get out of here and tell Macbeth what we did accomplish.

Exeunt

They exit.