【Macbeth】 Act 1, Scene 4

Flourish.

Enter DUNCAN, MALCOLM, DONALBAIN, LENNOX, with Attendants, and the previous Thane of Cawdor’s executioners.

Trumpet fanfare. Enter DUNCAN, MALCOLM, DONALBAIN, LENNOX, with Attendants, and the previous Thane of Cawdor’s executioners.

The trumpet fanfare indicates a royal and important occasion, setting the tone for the scene. The presence of Duncan and his sons, along with other nobles and executioners, suggests a significant event, likely related to the recent treason and the rise of Macbeth.

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DUNCAN:
Is execution done on Cawdor? Are not
Those in commission yet return’d?

Has the execution of Cawdor been carried out? Haven’t
Those in charge come back yet?

Has the execution of Cawdor been carried out? Haven’t the officials returned yet?

Duncan’s inquiry about the execution reflects his concern with justice and the swift punishment of treason. It underscores the serious consequences of betrayal and sets up the confirmation of Macbeth’s new title.

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MALCOLM:
My liege (lord),
They are not yet come back. But I have spoke
With one that saw him die: who did report
That very frankly he confess’d his treasons,
Implored your highness’ pardon and set forth
A deep repentance: nothing in his life
Became him like the leaving it; he died
As one that had been studied in his death
To throw away the dearest thing he owed,
As ‘twere a careless trifle.

My lord,
They haven’t come back yet. But I spoke
With someone who saw him die, who reported
That he confessed his treasons very frankly,
Asked your highness for forgiveness, and showed
A deep repentance. Nothing in his life
Became him like the leaving it; he died
As if he had prepared for it,
Throwing away the most precious thing he owned,
As if it were a mere trifle.

My lord, they haven’t come back yet. But I spoke with someone who saw him die. He reported that Cawdor confessed his treasons openly, begged for your pardon, and showed deep repentance. Nothing in his life became him as much as how he left it. He died as if he had prepared for it, throwing away his life as if it were nothing.

Malcolm’s report highlights Cawdor’s repentance and dignity in death, contrasting with his previous betrayal. This moment underscores the themes of honor and redemption, and it also sets a high standard for loyalty and integrity, which will be starkly contrasted by Macbeth’s actions later in the play.

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DUNCAN:
There’s no art
To find the mind’s construction in the face:
He was a gentleman on whom I built
An absolute trust.

There’s no way
To read someone’s mind by looking at their face:
He was a gentleman I trusted completely.

There’s no way to read a person’s mind by looking at their face. I completely trusted him.

Duncan’s reflection on the difficulty of judging character by appearances foreshadows the deceptive nature of Macbeth. This line emphasizes the theme of appearance versus reality and highlights Duncan’s trusting and perhaps naive nature, which will be tragically exploited by Macbeth.

Enter MACBETH, BANQUO, ROSS, and ANGUS.

DUNCAN:
O worthiest cousin!
The sin of my ingratitude even now
Was heavy on me: thou art so far before
That swiftest wing of recompense is slow
To overtake thee: would thou hadst less deserved,
That the proportion both of thanks and payment
Might have been mine! only I have left to say,
More is thy due than more than all can pay.

O worthiest cousin!
The sin of my ingratitude was weighing heavily on me:
You are so far ahead in your service
That the swiftest rewards are slow
To catch up to you: I wish you had deserved less,
So I could thank and reward you properly.
All I can say is that you deserve more
Than I can ever repay.

Oh, my most worthy cousin! I was just feeling guilty for not thanking you enough. You’ve achieved so much that even the quickest rewards can’t catch up to you. I wish you had deserved less so I could properly thank and reward you. All I can say is, you deserve more than I can ever repay.

Duncan’s lavish praise of Macbeth highlights his generosity and trust. This moment is filled with dramatic irony, as the audience knows Macbeth’s future betrayal. Duncan’s gratitude and admiration contrast sharply with the dark ambitions stirring within Macbeth.

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MACBETH:
The service and the loyalty I owe,
In doing it, pays itself. Your highness’ part
Is to receive our duties: and our duties
Are to your throne and state children and servants;
Which do but what they should, by doing everything
Safe toward your love and honour.

The service and loyalty I owe you,
In doing it, is its own reward. Your highness’ role
Is to receive our duties: and our duties
Are to your throne and state as children and servants;
We do only what we should, by doing everything
To ensure your love and honor.

Serving you and being loyal is its own reward. Your role is to accept our duties, and our duties are to serve and protect your throne. We are like your children and servants, doing everything to ensure your safety, love, and honor.

Macbeth’s response is full of respectful and dutiful language, masking his true ambitions. This line showcases his ability to play the loyal subject while secretly harboring thoughts of power. The comparison of duties to those of children and servants hints at the manipulation and deception he will employ.

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DUNCAN:
Welcome hither:
I have begun to plant thee, and will labour
To make thee full of growing. Noble Banquo,
That hast no less deserved, nor must be known
No less to have done so, let me enfold thee
And hold thee to my heart.

Welcome here:
I have begun to nurture you, and will work
To help you grow. Noble Banquo,
Who deserves no less and must be known
To have done no less, let me embrace you
And hold you to my heart.

Welcome here. I’ve started to help you grow and will work to ensure you flourish. Noble Banquo, who has also deserved just as much, let me embrace you and hold you close to my heart.

Duncan’s metaphor of planting and nurturing Macbeth underscores his role as a benevolent and trusting king. His equal praise for Banquo highlights the king’s fairness and generosity. This moment emphasizes the deep bonds of loyalty and trust, which will soon be shattered by Macbeth’s ambition.

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BANQUO:
There if I grow,
The harvest is your own.

If I grow there,
The harvest will be yours.

If I grow, the harvest is yours.

Banquo’s humble response reinforces his loyalty and dedication to the king. It contrasts with Macbeth’s hidden ambitions, highlighting Banquo’s honorable nature. This moment foreshadows Banquo’s role as a moral counterpoint to Macbeth throughout the play.

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DUNCAN:
My plenteous joys,
Wanton in fulness, seek to hide themselves
In drops of sorrow. Sons, kinsmen, thanes,
And you whose places are the nearest, know:
We will establish our estate upon
Our eldest, Malcolm, whom we name hereafter
The Prince of Cumberland; which honour must
Not unaccompanied invest him only,
But signs of nobleness, like stars, shall shine
On all deservers. From hence to Inverness,
And bind us further to you.

My abundant joys,
Overflowing, seek to hide themselves
In tears of sorrow. Sons, kinsmen, thanes,
And you who are nearest to me, know this:
We will establish our estate upon
Our eldest, Malcolm, whom we name hereafter
The Prince of Cumberland; which honor must
Not only invest him,
But signs of nobleness, like stars, shall shine
On all who deserve it. From here to Inverness,
And bind us further to you.

My overflowing joy is so great it brings tears to my eyes. Sons, kinsmen, thanes, and those closest to me, know this: we will establish our kingdom on my eldest son, Malcolm, whom we name the Prince of Cumberland. This honor will be accompanied by signs of nobility shining like stars on all who deserve it. Let’s head to Inverness and strengthen our bond with you.

Duncan’s declaration of Malcolm as the Prince of Cumberland officially names him as heir to the throne, creating a new obstacle for Macbeth’s ambition. This announcement heightens the stakes and urgency for Macbeth, as he now sees Malcolm as a rival. Duncan’s emotional speech and the imagery of stars shining on deserving nobles emphasize the themes of honor and legitimacy, contrasting with Macbeth’s impending treachery.

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MACBETH:
The rest is labour, which is not used for you:
I’ll be myself the harbinger and make joyful
The hearing of my wife with your approach;
So humbly take my leave.

The rest is work, which is not used for you:
I’ll be your messenger and make joyful
The hearing of my wife with your approach;
So I humbly take my leave.

Anything else would be work not done for you. I’ll go ahead myself and bring the joyful news to my wife about your arrival. So, I humbly take my leave.

Macbeth’s statement that he will personally go ahead to inform his wife of the king’s arrival shows his eagerness and the importance he places on this event. It also subtly indicates his desire to prepare for what’s to come, setting the stage for his and Lady Macbeth’s plotting. His humble tone masks his underlying ambition and the dark intentions he is beginning to embrace.

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DUNCAN:
My worthy Cawdor!

My worthy Cawdor!

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MACBETH:
[Aside] The Prince of Cumberland! that is a step
On which I must fall down, or else o’erleap,
For in my way it lies. Stars, hide your fires;
Let not light see my black and deep desires:
The eye wink at the hand; yet let that be,
Which the eye fears, when it is done, to see.

[Aside] The Prince of Cumberland! That is a step
On which I must fall down, or else leap over,
For it lies in my way. Stars, hide your fires;
Let not light see my dark and deep desires:
Let the eye wink at the hand; yet let that happen,
Which the eye fears to see, when it is done.

[Aside] The Prince of Cumberland! That’s a hurdle I need to overcome or give up, because it’s in my way. Stars, hide your light; don’t let anyone see my dark and deep desires. Let my eye close and ignore what my hand does, but still let it happen, even though my eye fears to see it done.

Macbeth’s aside reveals his immediate reaction to Malcolm’s new title and his dark intentions. His desire for darkness to hide his ambitions highlights the theme of appearance versus reality. This passage marks a turning point where Macbeth begins to fully embrace his sinister aspirations, foreshadowing his descent into moral corruption and violence.

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DUNCAN:
True, worthy Banquo; he is full so valiant,
And in his commendations I am fed;
It is a banquet to me. Let’s after him,
Whose care is gone before to bid us welcome:
It is a peerless kinsman.

True, worthy Banquo; he is so valiant,
And in his commendations I am nourished;
It is like a banquet to me. Let’s follow him,
Whose care has gone ahead to bid us welcome:
He is a peerless kinsman.

True, worthy Banquo; he is so valiant, and his praises feed me; it’s like a banquet to me. Let’s follow him, who has already gone ahead to prepare our welcome. He is an unmatched kinsman.

Duncan’s continued praise of Macbeth and his comparison of commendations to a banquet emphasize his trust and admiration. This moment underscores the dramatic irony, as the audience knows of Macbeth’s dark thoughts. Duncan’s reference to Macbeth as a peerless kinsman highlights the tragic betrayal that will come from someone he holds in such high regard.

They exit.

Summary

This scene shows Duncan expressing his gratitude to Macbeth and Banquo for their bravery and loyalty. Duncan announces his decision to make his son Malcolm the Prince of Cumberland, a step that makes Macbeth realize he must overcome this obstacle to achieve his ambition. Macbeth begins to harbor dark thoughts about his path to the throne.

Insights

• “There’s no art to find the mind’s construction in the face” (Duncan): This famous line highlights the theme of deceptive appearances and the difficulty of discerning true intentions.
• “Stars, hide your fires; Let not light see my black and deep desires” (Macbeth): Macbeth’s internal conflict and his desire to hide his dark ambitions are beautifully expressed in this line.
• “The Prince of Cumberland! That is a step on which I must fall down, or else o’erleap” (Macbeth): This line marks the beginning of Macbeth’s contemplation of treachery to achieve his goals.