Macbeth - Act 3 Scene 3
A park near the palace.
Enter three Murderers
First Murderer
But who did bid thee join with us?
The presence Third Murderer is an indication of Macbeth's growing paranoia. Not satisfied with the two Murderers already dispatched to kill Banquo, Macbeth has made a separate arrangement for a third killer to join them.
Third Murderer
Macbeth.
Second Murderer
He needs not our mistrust, since he delivers
Our offices and what we have to do
To the direction just.
First Murderer
Then stand with us.
The west yet glimmers with some streaks of day:
Now spurs the lated traveller apace
To gain the timely inn; and near approaches
The subject of our watch.
Third Murderer
Hark! I hear horses.
BANQUO
[Within]
Give us a light there, ho!
The sound of horses offstage signals Banquo's arrival, and prompts the Murderers to explain that Banquo typically walks to the gate, rather than riding. Thus the horses need not physically appear onstage, which would be visually interesting, but very challenging to pull off. Some film versions of the play do include the horses in the scene.
Second Murderer
Then 'tis he: the rest
That are within the note of expectation
Already are i' the court.
First Murderer
His horses go about.
Third Murderer
Almost a mile; but he does usually,
So all men do, from hence to the palace gate
Make it their walk.
Second Murderer
A light, a light!
Once again, torches signal that the scene takes place in the darkness of night, and Banquo is unable to see the Murderers until they announce their presence. As this play would have been performed in afternoon daylight, the audience would have a full view of all the characters, while the actors would have to pretend not to see one another.
Enter BANQUO, and FLEANCE with a torch
Third Murderer
'Tis he.
First Murderer
Stand to't.
BANQUO
It will be rain tonight.
First Murderer
Let it come down.
They set upon BANQUO
BANQUO
O, treachery! Fly, good Fleance, fly, fly, fly!
Thou mayst revenge. O slave!
Dies. FLEANCE escapes
Third Murderer
Who did strike out the light?
These lines, and the events of the confused fight, link the death of Banquo with the extinguishing of the light, symbolically also connecting to Macbeth's further descent into darkness.
First Murderer
Wast not the way?
Third Murderer
There's but one down; the son is fled.
Second Murderer
We have lost
Best half of our affair.
First Murderer
Well, let's away, and say how much is done.
Exeunt