Original: To be thus is nothing;
Modern: Being king means nothing to me;

Original: But to be safely thus.–Our fears in Banquo
Modern: What matters is being king safely.–My fears about Banquo

Original: Stick deep; and in his royalty of nature
Modern: Run very deep; and in his noble character

Original: Reigns that which would be fear’d: ‘tis much he dares;
Modern: There’s something that should be feared: he’s very brave;

Original: And, to that dauntless temper of his mind,
Modern: And, combined with his fearless nature,

Original: He hath a wisdom that doth guide his valour
Modern: He has wisdom that controls his courage

Original: To act in safety. There is none but he
Modern: To keep him safe. There’s no one except him

Original: Whose being I do fear: and, under him,
Modern: Whose existence I fear: and, compared to him,

Original: My Genius is rebuked; as, it is said,
Modern: My guardian spirit is made weak; just like, they say,

Original: Mark Antony’s was by Caesar. He chid the sisters
Modern: Mark Antony’s was weakened by Caesar. He scolded the witches

Original: When first they put the name of king upon me,
Modern: When they first called me king,

Original: And bade them speak to him: then prophet-like
Modern: And told them to speak to him: then like prophets

Original: They hail’d him father to a line of kings:
Modern: They called him the father of a line of kings:

Original: Upon my head they placed a fruitless crown,
Modern: On my head they put a crown that won’t pass to my children,

Original: And put a barren sceptre in my gripe,
Modern: And put a royal staff in my hand that will bear no heirs,

Original: Thence to be wrench’d with an unlineal hand,
Modern: Only to be torn away by someone not related to me,

Original: No son of mine succeeding. If ‘t be so,
Modern: With no son of mine taking over. If this is true,

Original: For Banquo’s issue have I filed my mind;
Modern: I have corrupted my soul for Banquo’s children;

Original: For them the gracious Duncan have I murder’d;
Modern: For them I have murdered the good Duncan;

Original: Put rancours in the vessel of my peace
Modern: I’ve filled my peaceful heart with bitterness

Original: Only for them; and mine eternal jewel
Modern: All for them; and I’ve given my immortal soul

Original: Given to the common enemy of man,
Modern: To the devil, humanity’s enemy,

Original: To make them kings, the seed of Banquo kings!
Modern: Just to make them kings, Banquo’s descendants kings!

Original: Rather than so, come fate into the list.
Modern: Rather than let that happen, let fate enter the battle arena.

Original: And champion me to the utterance!
Modern: And fight for me to the death!

In Act III, Scene i of Macbeth, the scene opens at Forres in the palace, where Banquo reflects in soliloquy on the witches’ prophecies and his suspicions about how Macbeth achieved the crown. Macbeth enters as King, accompanied by Lady Macbeth as Queen, Lennox, Ross, lords, and attendants. Macbeth announces his intention to hold a solemn supper that evening and specifically invites Banquo as the chief guest. When Macbeth inquires about Banquo’s afternoon plans, Banquo reveals he intends to go riding with his son Fleance and will return in time for the feast. Macbeth emphasizes the importance of Banquo’s attendance and dismisses the court, asking Banquo to remain briefly for counsel before letting him depart.

After Banquo leaves with Fleance, Macbeth dismisses his attendants except for a servant, whom he instructs to bring two men waiting at the palace gate. Alone, Macbeth delivers a soliloquy expressing his fear of Banquo, acknowledging Banquo’s noble nature and the witches’ prophecy that Banquo’s descendants will be kings. The servant returns with two murderers, whom Macbeth has previously met and convinced of Banquo’s supposed wrongs against them. Macbeth reminds them of Banquo’s alleged offenses and persuades them to kill both Banquo and Fleance that evening during their ride, promising them rewards and positioning the murders as acts of justified revenge rather than his own treacherous command.

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.