Macbeth — Act 3, Scene 3in modern English, side by side

The same. A Park or Lawn, with a gate leading to the Palace · First Murderer, Second Murderer, Third Murderer, Banquo, Fleance

Macbeth has hired murderers to kill Banquo and his son Fleance as they ride back to the palace for tonight's banquet, because the witches promised the throne to Banquo's descendants. At dusk, the killers — now joined by a mysterious third — lie in wait near the palace gate.

Confused by a different line? Paste any Shakespeare — any play, any edition — and get it in modern English.

Matching colours pair each sentence with its translation. Hover (or tap) any word to light up the words that match it on the other side — archaic words show their meaning.

Enter three Murderers

First Murderer

But who did bid thee join with us?

But who told you to join us?

Third Murderer

Macbeth.

Second Murderer

He needs not our mistrust; since he delivers

Our offices and what we have to do

To the direction just.5

We have no reason to distrust him, since he lays out our duties, and exactly what we're to do, just as we were instructed.

First Murderer

Then stand with us.

The west yet glimmers with some streaks of day.

The west still glimmers with a few streaks of daylight.

Now spurs the lated traveller apace,

To gain the timely inn;

This is the hour when the late traveler spurs his horse to reach the inn in time

and near approaches

The subject of our watch.10

— and the man we're watching for is drawing near.

Third Murderer

Hark! I hear horses.

Listen! I hear horses.

Within.

Banquo

Give us a light there, ho!

Bring us a light over here!

Second Murderer

Then ’tis he;

Then it's him.

the rest

That are within the note of expectation

Already are i’ th’ court.15

The rest of the expected guests are already inside the court.

First Murderer

His horses go about.

His horses are being led the long way around.

Third Murderer

Almost a mile; but he does usually,

So all men do, from hence to the palace gate

Make it their walk.

Almost a mile around — but he usually walks from here to the palace gate, the way everyone does.

Enter Banquo and Fleance with a torch

Second Murderer

A light, a light!20

A light, a light!

Third Murderer

’Tis he.

It's him.

First Murderer

Stand to’t.

Get ready.

Banquo

It will be rain tonight.

It will rain tonight.

First Murderer

Let it come down.

_Assaults Banquo._

Banquo

O, treachery!25

Treachery!

Fly, good Fleance, fly, fly, fly!25

Run, good Fleance — run, run, run!

Thou mayst revenge—

You can take revenge someday.

O slave!

— Oh, you villain!

_Dies. Fleance escapes._

Third Murderer

Who did strike out the light?

Who knocked out the light?

First Murderer

Was’t not the way?

Wasn't that the plan?

Third Murderer

There’s but one down:

Only one of them is down.

the son is fled.

The son has fled.

Second Murderer

We have lost best half of our affair.30

Then we've lost the better half of our job.

First Murderer

Well, let’s away, and say how much is done.

Well, let's get away and report how much of it is done.

_Exeunt._

Famous lines in this scene

“Let it come down.” line 24

Banquo remarks that rain is coming; the First Murderer answers with this grim pun as he strikes — let the rain fall, and let the blows fall with it. The line is famous for its cold economy: four words turn small talk about the weather into the signal for Banquo's murder.

“O, treachery! Fly, good Fleance, fly, fly, fly! Thou mayst revenge—O slave!” line 25

Dying, Banquo's last thought is to save his son and charge him with future revenge. The moment is famous because Fleance's escape is the play's hinge: Macbeth's plan half fails, the witches' promise that Banquo's line will reign survives, and Macbeth is left "cabin'd, cribb'd, confin'd" by fear.

Confused by a different line? Paste any Shakespeare — any play, any edition — and get it in modern English.

Studying the language itself? Our Shakespearean English course teaches thou/thee, the verbs, and the meter — free through Unit 2. Or try the Shakespearean English translator.