Original: ‘They met me in the day of success: and I have
Modern: “They met me on the day we won the battle, and I’ve

Original: learned by the perfectest report, they have more in
Modern: found out from the most reliable sources that they know more

Original: them than mortal knowledge. When I burned in desire
Modern: than any human could possibly know. When I was dying

Original: to question them further, they made themselves air,
Modern: to ask them more questions, they turned into thin air

Original: into which they vanished. Whiles I stood rapt in
Modern: and disappeared. While I stood there, completely stunned by

Original: the wonder of it, came missives from the king, who
Modern: how amazing it was, messengers arrived from the King, who

Original: all-hailed me ‘Thane of Cawdor;’ by which title,
Modern: greeted me as ‘Thane of Cawdor.’ That’s the same title

Original: before, these weird sisters saluted me, and referred
Modern: these strange witches had just called me, and then they pointed

Original: me to the coming on of time, with ‘Hail, king that
Modern: me toward the future by saying, ‘Hail, you who will be

Original: shalt be!’ This have I thought good to deliver
Modern: King!’ I thought it was right to tell

Original: thee, my dearest partner of greatness, that thou
Modern: you this, my dearest partner in greatness, so that you

Original: mightst not lose the dues of rejoicing, by being
Modern: wouldn’t miss out on the celebrating you deserve by being

Original: ignorant of what greatness is promised thee. Lay it
Modern: unaware of the greatness that’s been promised to you. Keep this

Original: to thy heart, and farewell.’
Modern: close to your heart, and goodbye.”

Original: Glamis thou art, and Cawdor; and shalt be
Modern: You’re already Thane of Glamis, and now Cawdor, and you will be

Original: What thou art promised: yet do I fear thy nature;
Modern: what they promised you: King. But I’m worried about your personality.

Original: It is too full o’ the milk of human kindness
Modern: You’re too soft, too full of ordinary human gentleness,

Original: To catch the nearest way: thou wouldst be great;
Modern: to take the quickest route. You want to be powerful,

Original: Art not without ambition, but without
Modern: and you do have ambition, but you don’t have

Original: The illness should attend it: what thou wouldst highly,
Modern: the ruthlessness that should go with it. What you want most,

Original: That wouldst thou holily; wouldst not play false,
Modern: you want to get honestly. You don’t want to cheat,

Original: And yet wouldst wrongly win: thou’ldst have, great Glamis,
Modern: but you’d still take a win you didn’t earn fairly. What you want, great Glamis,

Original: That which cries ‘Thus thou must do, if thou have it;
Modern: is the crown, which is shouting at you, “This is what you have to do to get me.”

Original: And that which rather thou dost fear to do
Modern: And the thing you have to do is something you’re more afraid of doing

Original: Than wishest should be undone.’ Hie thee hither,
Modern: than you’d want to leave undone. Hurry home,

Original: That I may pour my spirits in thine ear;
Modern: so I can fill your head with my fire and determination,

Original: And chastise with the valour of my tongue
Modern: and use my bold words to beat down

Original: All that impedes thee from the golden round,
Modern: everything that’s keeping you from the golden crown,

Original: Which fate and metaphysical aid doth seem
Modern: which destiny and supernatural forces seem

Original: To have thee crown’d withal.
Modern: to have already placed on your head.

In Act I, Scene 1 of Macbeth, three witches meet on a heath during a thunderstorm. The scene opens with the First Witch asking when they shall meet again, and they agree to gather again when the battle currently being fought is over. They plan to encounter Macbeth at that time, chanting together about meeting him “upon the heath.” The witches speak in riddling language, declaring that “fair is foul, and foul is fair,” before preparing to depart through the fog and filthy air.

The brief scene establishes the supernatural presence that will influence the play’s events. The witches demonstrate their knowledge of current events, specifically referencing a battle and their intention to meet with Macbeth. They call to their familiar spirits - Graymalkin and Paddock - before vanishing. The scene serves as the play’s opening moment, introducing the witches who will later prophesy Macbeth’s fate and set the tragic events in motion.

Macbeth: Plot Summary

Macbeth, a Scottish general and Thane of Glamis, encounters three witches on a heath following a victorious battle against rebels and Norwegian invaders. The witches prophesy that Macbeth will become Thane of Cawdor and eventually King of Scotland, and that his companion Banquo’s descendants will inherit the throne. When King Duncan almost immediately grants Macbeth the title of Thane of Cawdor, Macbeth begins to contemplate the possibility of fulfilling the rest of the prophecy. Urged on by his wife, Lady Macbeth, he murders King Duncan in his sleep while the king is a guest at their castle. Macbeth frames Duncan’s chamberlains for the murder, and Duncan’s sons, Malcolm and Donalbain, flee the country out of fear for their own lives, which causes them to fall under suspicion for their father’s death. Macbeth is crowned King of Scotland.

As king, Macbeth grows increasingly paranoid and ruthless. Troubled by the witches’ prophecy that Banquo’s descendants will be kings, he arranges for Banquo and his son Fleance to be murdered. Banquo is killed, but Fleance escapes. At a royal banquet, Macbeth is visited by Banquo’s ghost, causing him to behave erratically in front of his assembled nobles. Lady Macbeth attempts to cover for her husband, but the dinner dissolves in confusion. Macbeth returns to the witches, who present him with new prophecies warning him to beware of Macduff, the Thane of Fife, but assuring him that no man born of woman can harm him, and that he will not be defeated until Birnam Wood marches to Dunsinane Hill. Taking comfort in what seem to be impossible conditions, Macbeth orders the massacre of Macduff’s castle, killing his wife and children.

Macduff has traveled to England to join Malcolm, Duncan’s son, and together they raise an army against Macbeth. Meanwhile, Lady Macbeth, tormented by guilt, descends into madness and ultimately dies, reportedly by her own hand. Malcolm’s army cuts down branches from Birnam Wood to use as camouflage as they march on Macbeth’s castle at Dunsinane, fulfilling one of the witches’ prophecies. In the ensuing battle, Macbeth encounters Macduff, who reveals that he was delivered by caesarean section and was therefore not, in the traditional sense, born of woman. Macduff kills Macbeth in combat. Malcolm is proclaimed the rightful King of Scotland and order is restored to the kingdom.