Macbeth Act I: The Witches' Prophecy and Rise of Cawdor
Act I, Scene 1: The Witches' Meeting
In a desolate place, to the accompaniment of thunder and lightning, three Witches agree to meet after the storm and to greet Macbeth before sunset. In unison, they chant: "Fair is foul, and foul is fair," and depart.
Act I, Scene 2: The King's Camp
Meanwhile, a sergeant, bleeding from wounds he has received in battle, stumbles into the camp of Duncan and his attendants. He relates how Macbeth, having killed the rebel Macdonwald ("unseamed him from the nave to the chaps"), joined with Banquo and gallantly withstood the attack of the Norwegian king. No sooner has the sergeant delivered his message and gone for treatment than Ross arrives and supplements the soldier's report with the story of how Macbeth and Banquo suppressed the combined efforts of the traitorous Thane of Cawdor and the King of Norway, and forced the Norwegian to sue for a truce and to pay an indemnity. Duncan directs Ross to announce the execution of Cawdor and to proclaim the conferring of his title on Macbeth.
Act I, Scene 3: The Prophecy on the Heath
On a heath, with thunder still rumbling, the three Witches gossip as they prepare their magic spell. Returning from battle, Macbeth and Banquo see the Weird Sisters and engage them in conversation. The Witches greet Macbeth as "Thane of Glamis," "Thane of Cawdor," and one "that shalt be king hereafter!" Macbeth cannot conceal his surprise from Banquo, who begs the Witches to prophesy his future too. They then hail Banquo as "lesser than Macbeth, and greater," as "not so happy, yet much happier," and tell him, "thou shalt get kings, though thou be none." Ignorant of the fact that he has succeeded to Cawdor's title, Macbeth commands the Witches to explain their greeting, but they vanish without answering him. As Macbeth and Banquo discuss the strange predictions they have heard, Ross and Angus bring Duncan's greetings and commendation to his two commanders and confirm Macbeth's accession to the thanership of Cawdor. Banquo is amazed that the devil "can speak truth." Fascinated and impressed by his speedy proof of the Witches' foreknowledge and conscious that two parts of their greeting are now fact, Macbeth hides his private thoughts and ambition by asking Banquo if he does not hope that his descendants will be rulers. Musing on what the future may hold and admitting the idea "whose murder yet is but fantastical," Macbeth mutters to himself that he may yet become king by chance (without killing Duncan) and continues with his companions to meet the king.