Macbeth: Act 3, Scene 3 Translation

A side-by-side translation of Act 3, Scene 3 of Macbeth from the original Shakespeare into modern English.

Original Text	Translated Text
Source: Folger Shakespeare Library
Enter three Murderers. FIRST MURDERER But who did bid thee join with us? THIRD MURDERER Macbeth. SECOND MURDERER, to the First Murderer He needs not our mistrust, since he delivers Our offices and what we have to do To the direction just. 5 FIRST MURDERER Then stand with us.— The west yet glimmers with some streaks of day. Now spurs the lated traveler apace To gain the timely inn, and near approaches The subject of our watch. 10 THIRD MURDERER Hark, I hear horses. BANQUO, within Give us a light there, ho! SECOND MURDERER Then ’tis he. The rest That are within the note of expectation Already are i’ th’ court. 15 FIRST MURDERER His horses go about. THIRD MURDERER Almost a mile; but he does usually (So all men do) from hence to th’ palace gate Make it their walk.	At a park near the palace, the two murderers are joined by a third, which is a little fishy. He says Macbeth sent him, but the First and Second Murderers didn't seem to be expecting anyone else. Check out this fun blog post for some theories about who the Third Murderer may (and may not) be. As the murderers chat, Banquo and Fleance approach on horseback and dismount to walk the mile to the palace, as usual. Conveniently, they have a torch—good for seeing by.
Enter Banquo and Fleance, with a torch. SECOND MURDERER A light, a light! 20 THIRD MURDERER ’Tis he. FIRST MURDERER Stand to ’t. BANQUO, to Fleance It will be rain tonight. FIRST MURDERER Let it come down! The three Murderers attack.	Banquo starts up with a friendly "it looks like rain" conversation and is promptly stabbed.
BANQUO O treachery! Fly, good Fleance, fly, fly, fly! 25 Thou mayst revenge—O slave! He dies. Fleance exits. THIRD MURDERER Who did strike out the light? FIRST MURDERER Was ’t not the way? THIRD MURDERER There’s but one down. The son is fled. 30 SECOND MURDERER We have lost best half of our affair. FIRST MURDERER Well, let’s away and say how much is done. They exit.	While being stabbed, Banquo denounces the treachery and encourages Fleance to run away and eventually take revenge. In the meantime, the torch has gone out, and Fleance takes advantage of the darkness to escape. With Banquo dead and Fleance on the run, the murderers head off to the dinner party to report the half of the job they've done.