Thou hast it now: king, Cawdor, Glamis, all, As the weird women promised, and I fear Thou played’st most foully for ’t. Yet it w
as said It should not stand in thy posterity, 5But that myself should be the root and father Of many kings. If there come truth from them— As upon thee, Macbeth, their speeches shine— Why, by the verities on thee made good, May they not be my oracles as well, 10And set me up in hope? But hush, no more. Explain.
Banquo talking to himself, wondering when his own predicted fate will be fulfilled.
Explanation:
These lines are spoken by Banquo in Act III scene i of the play "Macbeth" by William Shakespeare. It precedes the scene where he had been invited for a feast in his honor but before the other characters has arrived in the scene.
In this monologue, Banquo admits that now that Macbeth had acquired all the things that the three witches had prophesied, he also thinks that what had been prophesied about him might also come true. But he also admits that he thinks Macbeth had done foul play to get to where he is now. He also wonders when his own prophesied fate will be fulfilled and his descendants take on the throne of Macbeth.
