Read Macbeth Online

28 Macbeth [Act I 

of success; and I have learned by the perfectest re- 
port, they have more in them than mortal knowledge. 
When I burned in desire to question them further, 
they made themselves air, into which they vanished. 
Whiles I stood rapt in the wonder of it, came mis- 
sives from the king, zvho all-hailed me "Thane of 
Cazvdor;" by which title, before, these weird sisters 
saluted me, and referred me to the coming on of time, 
zvith "Hail, king that shalt be!" This have I thought 
good to deliver thee, my dearest partner of greatness, 
that thou mightst not lose the dues of rejoicing, by 
being ignorant of what greatness is promised thee. 
Lay it to thy heart, and farewell! 

Glamis thou art» and Cawdor, and shalt be 
What thou art promis'd. Yet do I fear thy nature ; 
It is too full o' the milk of human kindness 
To catch the nearest way : thou wouldst be great, 
Art not without ambition, but' without 20 

The illness should attend it : what thou wouldst highly. 
That wouldst thou holily ; wouldst not play false, 
And yet wouldst wrongly win : thou'dst have, 

great Glamis, 
That which cries, 'Thus thou must do, if thou have 

it,' 
And that which rather thou dost fear to do 
Than wishest should be undone. Hie thee hither, 
That I may pour my spirits in thine ear, 
And chastise with the valour of my tongue 

Is this letter a fragment?