![]() It has been a day where bad things and good things have happened.) He has fought terrible Macbethīattles but has won. Macbeth tells Banquo he has never seen such a foul and fair day. Shakespeare’s group of actors were known as the King’s Men and it was King James who supported a request for scholars to make a new English translation of the Bible. It is interesting that King James is connected to the greatest and most often read works were written in the English language- Shakespeare’s plays and the King James Version of the Bible – but he is not well known for his own book about witches. Shakespeare’s descriptions of the witches and their actions match the beliefs of his king and of many of the people of the time. King James was very interested in witches. Note: Shakespeare, the author of Macbeth, wanted to make his king King James – happy. They say their charm (their magic) Is ready.) They say “Peace” (Stop) when they finish making magic. ![]() They also say that they are “posters” (travelers) who will now dance around in a circle nine times to prepare for Macbeth’s coming. Peace! the charm’s wound up.” (The witches are saying that they are weird which can mean either that they can control the future or that they are unusual. The witches hold hands and begin to dance and chant (say in a singing voice): The weird sisters, hand in hand, Posters of the sea and land, Thus do go about, about: Thrice to Thine and thrice to mine And thrice again, to make up nine. The Third Witch says, “A drum, a drum!/ Macbeth doth (does) come.” She shows them the thumb of a pilot (sailor) who drowned while trying to sail home. The First Witch tells the other witches to look at what she has. Note: It is important to remember that the witches are powerful, but their power has limits. The sailor will be unable to sleep during the day or night and he will be a cursed (very unhappy) man. The First Witch says that she does not have the power to sink the sailor’s “bark” (ship), but she can use the winds to keep him away from any port (landing place) for 81 days. She says she can take all of the energy (blood) out of the sailor until he is as “dry as hay.” The First Witch says that she, herself, can already control all of the winds everywhere. The Third Witch says that she will give the First Witch more wind. The First Witch says the Second Witch is kind. The Second Witch says she will give the First Witch some wind to sail to Aleppo. Note: In medieval times, some people believed that there were witches who could turn themselves into animals, but the animals would have something wrong with them – like a missing tail. She will then do bad things to the sailor. ![]() The First Witch says she will turn herself into a tailless rat and sail in a sieve (a bowl that has holes to let liquids out but keeps in solids).
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