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→Act Three: Act Three
===Act Three===
===Act Three===
====Scene One====
Banquo, alone, voices congratulations to Macbeth, for he is Thane of Glamis, Thane of Cawdor, and king, and wonders if the witches' prophecy will prove well for him as well. When Macbeth and his lady arrive, he acts loyal yet speaks tersely. Macbeth requests his presence at a supper that night, and he accepts, though he will be riding away on his horse that night. Macbeth gleans that Fleance will be leaving with him, and that they will be gone for a long time. When Banquo and Fleance have gone, Macbeth orders a servant to follow them, for there is none other whom he fears more than the man who was told to beget a line of kings.
Another servant arrives with some murderers. Macbeths speaks to these murderers - they are barely men, like a mongrel is a dog; they are evil and corrupt beyond return; and thus they are perfect his task. They must eliminate Banquo and Fleance by that night.
====Scene Two====
Lady Macbeth begins to worry, observing that "Naught's had, all's spent, / where our desire is got without content / 'tis safer to be that which we destroy / than by destruction dwell in doubtful joy." She knows that Macbeth, having killed his way into the role of king, is not safe. She requests to speak with Macbeth. Macbeth tells her that while Duncan is dead, he is still afraid. She encourages him to be happy, at least in the presence of company that night, yet his mind is full of scorpions, and he fears that Fleance is alive.
====Scene Three====
The three murderers appear. A third one, not present before, is in fact sent by Macbeth to join them. They stand together, and spy horses. Banquo and Fleance are passing by, holding a light, and noticing the sky, Banquo observes, "It will be rain tonight."
"Let it come down!" shouts a murderer, and they attack. Banquo cries and dies, yet Fleance escapes and extinguishes his light so he cannot be seen. The murderers have half failed Macbeth, yet return to report that they have half succeeded.
====Scene Four====
Macbeth, Lady Macbeth, Ross, Lennox, other lords, and the ubiquitous attendants attend a banquet prepared at Macbeth's. He welcomes them all, and excuses himself to answer the door, where he greets a blood-stained murderer. The murderer tells him that it is Banquo's blood, for Banquo was killed, which relieves Macbeth; then he explains that Fleance has escaped, which ruins his mood. Macbeth ensured that Banquo is dead ("Safe in a ditch he lies / with twenty trenchèd gashes on his head / the least a death to nature.") (28-30) Macbeth figures that he has killed a father snake, and is waiting for its child to grow teeth to kill him.
Lady Macbeth returns his attention to the banquet and bids him to sit. He, and only he, sees an apparition in his chair: the ghost of Banquo. He does not sit as Lennox instructs, but rather yells at the ghost. The ghost does not speak, and the guests think Macbeth is sick and try to leave. Lady Macbeth bids them to stay. Macbeth tries to show her the ghost, but neither can see it. Yet after he sits, he sees it again, and it terrifies him. He bids it take any shape but that of Banquo, and threatens to draw his sword. Lady Macbeth allows Ross, Lennox, and others to leave while Macbeth babbles of blood and insomnia.
====Scene Five====
The witches meet Hecate, goddess of magic and patron of witches. She congratulates the witches on their progress with Macbeth, and tells them to meet her again, while the witches sing, "Come away! Come away!"<ref>The lines of the witches may have been written by playwright James Middleton in the 17th century.</ref>
====Scene Six====
Lennox counsels with another Lord, and they speak in fear of Macbeth. They decide, in the end, that Macbeth is in need of their prayers.
===Act Four===
===Act Four===
===Act Five===
===Act Five===