Ralph Holinshed ( -1580?)

CHRONICLES OF ENGLAND,
SCOTLAND, AND IRELAND

MACBETH AND THE WEIRD SISTERS

of them spake and said: 'All hail Macbeth, thane of Glammis' (for he had lately entered into that dignity and office by the death of his father Sinell). The second of them said; 5 'Hail Macbeth, thane of Cawder.' But the third said: 'All hail Macbeth, that hereafter shalt be king of Scotland.'

Then Banquo; 'What manner of women (saith he) are you, that seem so little favourable unto me, whereas to my fellow here, besides high offices, ye assign also the kingdom, appointing forth nothing for me at all?' 'Yes (saith the first of them) we promise greater benefits unto thee, than unto him,

Shortly after happened a strange and uncouth wonder, which afterward was the cause of much trouble in the realm of Scotland, as ye shall after hear. It fortuned as Macbeth 10 and Banquo journeyed towards Fores, where the king then lay, they went sporting by the way together without other company, save only themselves, passing through the woods and fields, when suddenly in the midst of a 15 for he shall reign indeed, but with an unlucky land, there met them three women in strange and wild apparel, resembling creatures of elder world, whom when they attentively beheld, wondering much at the sight, the first

end: neither shall he leave any issue behind him to succeed in his place, where contrarily thou indeed shalt not reign at all, but of thee those shall be born which shall govern the

Scottish kingdom by long order of continual
descent.' Herewith the foresaid women
vanished immediately out of their sight.
This was reputed at the first but some vain
fantastical illusion by Macbeth and Banquo,
insomuch that Banquo would call Macbeth
in jest, king of Scotland; and Macbeth again
would call him in sport likewise, the father
of many kings. But afterwards the common
opinion was, that these women were either 10
the weird sisters, that is (as ye would say)
the goddesses of destiny, or else some nymphs
or fairies, indued with knowledge of prophecy
by their necromantical science, because
everything came to pass as they had spoken. 15
For shortly after, the thane of Cawdor being
condemned at Fores of treason against the
king committed; his lands, livings, and
offices were given of the king's liberality to
Macbeth.

The words of the three weird sisters also (of whom before ye have heard) greatly encouraged him hereunto, but specially his wife lay sore upon him to attempt the thing, 5 as she that was very ambitious, burning in unquenchable desire to bear the name of a queen. At length therefore, communicating his purposed intent with his trusty friends, amongst whom Banquo was the chiefest, upon confidence of their promised aid, he slew the king at Envernes, or (as some say) at Botgoswane, in the sixth year of his reign. Then having a company about him of such as he had made privy to his enterprise, he caused himself to be proclaimed king, and forthwith went unto Scone, where (by common consent) he received the investure of the kingdom according to the accustomed manner. The body of Duncan was first conveyed 20 unto Elgin, and there buried in kingly wise; but afterwards it was removed and conveyed unto Colmkill, and there laid in a sepulture amongst his predecessors, in the year after the birth of our Saviour, 1046.

The same night after, at supper, Banquo jested with him and said; 'Now Macbeth, thou hast obtained those things which the two former sisters prophesied, there remaineth only for thee to purchase that which 25 the third said should come to pass.' Whereupon Macbeth revolving the thing in his mind, began even then to devise how he might attain to the kingdom: but yet he thought with himself that he must tarry a 30 time, which should advance him thereto (by the divine providence) as it had come to pass in his former preferment. But shortly after it chanced that king Duncan, having two sons by his wife, which was the daughter of 35 Siward earl of Northumberland, he made the elder of them called Malcolm Prince of Cumberland, as it were thereby to appoint him his successor in the kingdom, immediately after his decease. Macbeth sore 40 troubled herewith, for that he saw by this means his hope sore hindered (where, by the old laws of the realm, the ordinance was, that if he that should succeed were not of able age to take the charge upon himself, he 45 that was next of blood unto him should be admitted) he began to take counsel how he might usurp the kingdom by force, having a just quarrel so to do (as he took the matter) for that Duncan did what in him lay to de- 50 fraud him of all manner of title and claim, which he might in time to come, pretend unto the crown.

1577

Sir Thomas North (1535?-1601?)
TRANSLATION OF PLUTARCH'S
LIVES

ASSASSINATION OF CESAR

Now all the Senators being entered first into this place or chapter-house where the council should be kept, all the other conspirators straight stood about Cæsar's chair, as if they had had something to have said unto him. And some say, that Cassius casting his eyes upon Pompey's image, made his prayer unto it, as if it had been alive. Trebonius on the other side, 'drew Antonius aside, as he came into the house where the Senate sat, and held him with a long talk without. When Cæsar was come into the house, all the Senate rose to honour him at his coming in. So when he was set, the conspirators flocked about him, and amongst them they presented one Tillius Cimber, who made humble suit for the calling home again of his brother that was banished. They all made as though they were intercessors