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SCENE VI
Before Macbeth's castle.

Hautboys¹ and torches. Enter DUNCAN, MALCOLM, DONALBAIN, BANQUO, LENNOX, MACDUFF, ROSS, ANGUS, and Attendants.

DUNCAN
This castle hath a pleasant seat;² the air
Nimbly and sweetly recommends itself
Unto our gentle³ senses.

BANQUO
This guest of summer,
The temple-haunting martlet, does approve,
By his loved mansionry,⁴ that the heaven's breath
Smells wooingly here: no jutty, frieze, ⁵
Buttress, nor coign of vantage,⁶ but this bird
Hath made his pendent bed and procreant cradle: ⁷
Where they most breed and haunt, I have observed,
The air is delicate. ⁸

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.

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 house⁹: for those of old,
And the late dignities heap'd up to them,
We rest your hermits.¹⁰

DUNCAN
Where's the thane of Cawdor?
We coursed him at the heels, and had a purpose
To be his purveyor: ¹¹ 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.

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. ¹²

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.

Exeunt.


FOOTNOTES

¹ instruments similar to the oboe.
² This castle has a good location.
³ noble
⁴ A martlet is a tiny swallow which likes to build its nest on top of churches.
⁵ jutty is the overhang of a building, while a frieze is a decorative band on an outside wall
⁶ "no coign of vantage" = no handy corner.
⁷ he has made his hanging nest for his babies.
⁸ the air is pleasant
⁹ "If everything we have done for you could be done twice and twice again, it would still be inadequate ('poor and single'; 'single' = 'simple') compared to the honours that your majesty has given to our family."
¹⁰ Because of their feelings of gratitude, she and her husband will pray so hard for Duncan that his almsmen won't have to pray for him. (Almsmen are hired to pray for the welfare of King Duncan.)
¹¹ I desired to help him as he travelled.
¹² "My husband and I are your servants; and our servants, and everything in our name you can have when you feel appropriate. We are ready to return what is yours." (Note that since Duncan is king, he already owns the entire realm.)

SUMMARY

King Duncan, the Scottish lords, and their attendants, arrive outside Macbeth's castle. Duncan praises the beautiful castle and its surroundings. Lady Macbeth emerges and he thanks her for her hospitality. She replies that it is her duty to do so, because she and her husband owe so much to the king. Duncan then asks to be taken inside to Macbeth, whom he professes to love dearly.