Macbeth Act 1 Scene 6
Before Macbeth's castle.
The Original
Plain Modern English
Hautboys and torches. Enter Duncan, Malcolm, Donalbain, Banquo, Lennox, Macduff, Ross, Angus, and Attendants.
Duncan
This castle hath a pleasant seat; the air
Nimbly and sweetly recommends itself
Unto our gentle senses.
Duncan
What a lovely location for a castle. The air
is so light and sweet
it practically sells itself.
Banquo
This guest of summer,
The temple-haunting martlet, does approve,
By his loved mansionry, that the heaven's breath
Smells wooingly here: no jutty, frieze,
Buttress, nor coign of vantage, but this bird
Hath made his pendent bed and procreant cradle:
Where they most breed and haunt, I have observed,
The air is delicate.
Banquo
This summer visitor —
the house martin, the bird that loves nesting in churches —
proves it by building here: heaven's own breath
must smell inviting in this place. There isn't a ledge, molding,
buttress, or cozy corner where this bird
hasn't hung its nest and raised its chicks.
And I've noticed: wherever they breed and gather,
the air is delicate. (Narrator: the air was not delicate.)
Enter Lady Macbeth.
Duncan
See, see, our honour'd hostess!
The love that follows us sometime is our trouble,
Which still we thank as love. Herein I teach you
How you shall bid God 'ild us for your pains,
And thank us for your trouble.
Duncan
Look — our honored hostess!
Sometimes the love people show a king is a hassle,
but we thank it as love anyway. My point being:
you should thank God for the trouble we cause you,
and thank us for the bother — because it means we love you. (Kings can turn anything into a compliment.)
Lady Macbeth
All our service
In every point twice done and then done double
Were poor and single business to contend
Against those honours deep and broad wherewith
Your majesty loads our house: for those of old,
And the late dignities heap'd up to them,
We rest your hermits.
Lady Macbeth
Everything we could possibly do for you,
done twice over and then doubled again,
would still be thin and feeble compared to
the deep, broad honors
Your Majesty keeps piling on our house. For the old honors,
and the brand-new ones stacked on top,
we'll pray for you forever, like devoted hermits.
Duncan
Where's the thane of Cawdor?
We coursed him at the heels, and had a purpose
To be his purveyor: but he rides well;
And his great love, sharp as his spur, hath holp him
To his home before us. Fair and noble hostess,
We are your guest to-night.
Duncan
Where's the Thane of Cawdor?
We chased him the whole way here, hoping
to arrive first and announce him. But he rides well,
and his great love, sharp as his spurs, carried him
home ahead of us. Fair and noble hostess,
we're your guests tonight.
Lady Macbeth
Your servants ever
Have theirs, themselves and what is theirs, in compt,
To make their audit at your highness' pleasure,
Still to return your own.
Lady Macbeth
As your servants, everything we have —
our people, ourselves, our property — is held in trust,
ready for your inspection whenever you please.
It's all really yours anyway.
Duncan
Give me your hand;
Conduct me to mine host: we love him highly,
And shall continue our graces towards him.
By your leave, hostess.
Duncan
Give me your hand,
and take me to my host. We love him dearly,
and the favors will keep on coming.
After you, hostess.
Exeunt.