Lady Macbeth is reading a letter from her husband in which he tells of his meeting with the witches and their two prophecies. She realises that the first has come true and is delighted to read the second, for it would mean she would become queen. She is concerned that Macbeth’s lack of ruthlessness will prevent this all happening. She muses.
"Glamis you are, now Cawdor too, and a promise you’ll be king!
But I fear your gentle nature will deny you wear the ring
You have ambition and would act… but in a saintly way
My dear sweet lord, your saintly way will never win the day.
"So hurry home, that I may pour my urgings in your ear
To chase away deflective doubts or whatever you may fear.
Nothing must impede you now from your passage to the crown
For fate and supernatural aid have laid our future down."
A messenger arrives.
"One of our men has galloped here, this message he doth bring:
‘Our lord the master returns tonight, and with him comes… the king!’" He exits.
“So the king comes here,” the lady thought, "here… to meet his fate
Come dark spirits, make me cruel and fill me deep with hate!"
"Make thick my blood that I’ll not feel compassion or remorse
Make me heartless, head to toe, ne’er shaken from my course
Cover me in darkest smoke, let the wounds I make be bold
Hide heaven’s eyes from what I do, that heaven won’t cry… HOLD!"
Macbeth arrives and is greeted by his wife.
"Great Thane of Glamis, Cawdor too, to be even greater soon
Your letter has informed me well, our advancement starts to bloom."
“The king comes now,” Macbeth replied, “and tomorrow is to leave.”
“Then”, she answered, “’fore sun doth rise, there’s much we must achieve.”
"Go welcome him, with open arms, be innocent… yet sly
For he whose praises you must sing is he who has to die!
Leave this night’s business in my hands, let me… work on our dream…
That mastery and sovereign sway… are ours… as king and queen!"
They exit.
End of Scene 5.