MACBETH	You know your own degrees; sit down: at first
	And last the hearty welcome.
Lords	Thanks to your majesty.
MACBETH	Ourself will mingle with society,
	And play the humble host.
	Our hostess keeps her state, but in best time
	We will require her welcome.
LADY MACBETH	Pronounce it for me, sir, to all our friends;
	For my heart speaks they are welcome.
[First Murderer appears at the door]
MACBETH	See, they encounter thee with their hearts' thanks.
	Both sides are even: here I'll sit i' the midst:	10
	Be large in mirth; anon we'll drink a measure
	The table round.
[Approaching the door]
	There's blood on thy face.
First Murderer	Tis Banquo's then.
MACBETH	Tis better thee without than he within.
	Is he dispatch'd?
First Murderer	My lord, his throat is cut; that I did for him.
MACBETH	Thou art the best o' the cut–throats: yet he's good
	That did the like for Fleance: if thou didst it,
	Thou art the nonpareil.
First Murderer	Most royal sir,
	Fleance is 'scaped.	20
MACBETH	Then comes my fit again: I had else been perfect,
	Whole as the marble, founded as the rock,
	As broad and general as the casing air:
	But now I am cabin'd, cribb'd, confined, bound in
	To saucy doubts and fears. But Banquo's safe?
First Murderer	Ay, my good lord: safe in a ditch he bides,
	With twenty trenched gashes on his head;
	The least a death to nature.
MACBETH	Thanks for that:
	There the grown serpent lies; the worm that's fled
	Hath nature that in time will venom breed,	30
	No teeth for the present. Get thee gone: to–morrow