Act 1, Scene 3

Attribution

Translated into Quenya by Lane Lubell in 2026.

Notes

Text

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No.	Quenya	Tengwar	Means
1	Caresta 1, Tanasta 3	    	Act I: Scene III
2	(Hundo. Mittar Curunir Neldë.)	     	[Thunder. Enter [the] three witches.]
3	Minya Curuni:	  	First Witch:
4	Massë nánel, Néþa?	   	Where were you, Sister?
5	Attëa Curuni:	  	Second Witch:
6	Nahtaila polci.	  	Killing pigs.
7	Neldëa Curuni:	  	Third Witch:
8	Nésa, massë lyé?	   	Sister, where [were] you?
9	Minya Curuni:	  	First Witch:
10	Veri samë olmossi tiucoryassë	   	A wife had chestnuts on her thigh,
11	Vanþes, vanþes. “antá nin,” quenten.	        	She consumed, she consumed. “Give to me,” said I.
12	“Heca!” hacca-matyainandë holtu.	   	“Be gone!” [the] rump-fed-woman cries.
13	Cáno I Rimpiro, verury' Alepponna.	      	Captain of The Tiger. Her husband unto Aleppo.
14	Siltass' tar ciryastuvan	  	In a sieve thither I shall sail
15	Ar, ve nyarro ava pimpë,	      	And, as a rat without a tail,
16	Caruvan, ar caruvan!	   	I will do, and I will do!
17	Attëa Curuni:	  	Second Witch:
18	Antuvan súrë!	 	I’ll give wind!
19	Minya Curuni:	  	First Witch:
20	Nál maira.	  	You are kind.
21	Neldëa Curuni:	  	Third Witch:
22	Ar ni hyana.	   	And I another.
23	Minya Curuni:	  	First Witch:
24	Ni, imni, oä i hyar.	       	I, myself, have the rest.
25	Ar i londellon tara hlapuntë	    	And from the ports thither they blow;
26	Ilya castallo tenwo	  	From each quarter of [the] compass
27	I ciryamo.	  	Of the shipman.
28	Suhtuvan se þaranna.	   	I will drain him like hay.
29	Lórë vá ré hya lómë	    	Sleep will not day [n]or night
30	Linguv' cassambestaryassë.	  	Hang within his penthouse.
31	Coituvas nér húna.	   	He will live [as] a man accursed.
32	Otsolar, nertë ló nertë,	     	Seven day weeks, nine by nine,
33	Picuvas, hlaiwa 'r xaram'.	     	He will dwindle, sick ’n’ pine.
34	Sin huiërya vá vanwa	   	Thus, his barking will not [be] lost,
35	Mal nauvas húro-hlapuin',	   	But it will be tempest-tossed
36	Tirá sinna!	 	Look at this!
37	Attëa Curuni:	  	Second Witch:
38	Taná! Taná!	 	Show [me]! Show [me]!
39	Minya Curuni:	  	First Witch:
40	Hí harya nápo cáno	   	Here I have a captain’s thumb
41	Cirruxaina yá mar tulles.	    	Shipwrecked when homeward he came.
42	(Tompa millo.)	  	[A drum from within.]
43	Neldëa Curuni:	  	Third Witch:
44	Tompa! Tompa!	 	A drum! A drum!
45	Macmbeþ, anyas!	  	Macbeth, he arrives!
46	I Curunir Neldë:	   	The Three Witches:
47	Ñúlë Néþar, mo ó mo,	      	Occult sisters, one with one,
48	Lelyari néno 'r cemëo,	    	Travelers of water ‘n’ of land,
49	Sin mená sira, tara.	     	Thus, go hither, thither.
50	Nellum' lyenna, nellum' ninna	    	Thrice to you, thrice to me,
51	Nellum' en nenten yanta	   	Thrice again to nine adds [up].
52	Rainë! Luhtu lapanwa.	   	Peace! [The] charm [is] wound up.
53	(Mittar Macmbeþ ar Mbanquo.)	    	[Enter Macbeth and Banquo.]
54	Macmbeþ:	 	Macbeth:
55	Ré sin saura ‘r vanë ú céniën.	       	A day so foul ‘n’ fair [as this] I have not seen.
56	Mbanquo:	 	Banquo:
57	Mandë tensi Forres?	  	How far until Forres?
58	(Mittar i Curinir Neldë.)	    	[Enter the Three Witches.]
59	Mbanquo:	 	Banquo:
60	(Macmbeþen) Mana tai ó	   	(to Macbeth) What [are] these with
61	Sina hessë ar hrávë nemesta,	     	This withered and wild appearance
62	I ui véla laulemoin Cemeno,	     	That is not alike to inhabitants of [the] Earth,
63	Nan hí? (I Curunin) Ma coitaldë? Nai ma náldë	        	Yet [are] here? (To the Witches) Do you all live? May it be [that] you all are
64	Ita ecenquë maquetë?	  	That which we two can question?
65	(I Curunir Neldë oryar lepë peuntannar.)	      	[The Three Witches raise a finger to their [sets of] lips.]
66	Mbanquo:	 	Banquo:
67	Nemes hanyaldë	 	It seems you all understand.
68	Mal er lúmessë axula lepë	    	But one at a time, a bony finger
69	Caitar peuldar. Nemeldë nissi	    	Lays upon y’all’s [sets of] lips. You all seem [to be] women
70	Apa fangaldar avar ni savë ta	     	And yet y’all’s beards forbid me to believe
71	I náldë ta.	   	That you all are [so].
72	Mbanquo:	 	Banquo:
73	Quetá qui polildë: mana le?	     	Speak if y’all [physically] are able: what are you all?
74	Minya Curuni:	  	First Witch:
75	Aiya, Macmbeþ! Aiya lyen, Héru Nglams!	       	Hail, Macbeth! Hail to you! Thane [of] Glamis!
76	Attëa Curuni:	  	Second Witch:
77	Aiya, Macmbeþ! Aiya lyen, Héru Cawdor!	       d	Hail, Macbeth! Hail to you! Thane [of] Cawdor!
78	Neldëa Curuni:	  	Third Witch:
79	Aiya, Macmbeþ, ye nauva aran én!	       	Hail, Macbeth, who will be king then!
80	Mbanquo:	 	Banquo:
81	(Macmbeþen) Tár, maro rihtal ar nemë þorya	       	(To Macbeth) Sir, why [do] you twitch and seem to fear
82	Quettar i lamyar sindë lindë?	    	Words which sound so sweet?
83	(I Curunin) Nanwiën,	   	(To the Witches) For truth,
84	Ma le sairinar hya ita, naitië,	       	Are you all magical or what, indeed,
85	Esta tanaldë. Sarta málonya	    	Outwardly you show. My trusted comrade
86	Runda suilëaldë apacenwen	  	Polite[ly] you all are greeting with foresight
87	Aratengesseron ar arata samiéno.	    	Of noble titles and of royal having.
88	Se vanwa oloressen. Nin váldë.	      	He [is] lost within dreams. To me you all do not
89	Quetë. Tirá n'erdennar lúmëo	    	Speak. Look into the seeds of time
90	Ar quetir i orir aluvar nin.	      	And say which grains will grow for me. .
91	Pahtá nin, ye vá iquë hya þorya	       	Speak to me, who does [n]or beg nor fear,
92	Máralelda hya ursalda.	   	Your goodness° [n]or your rage.
93	Minya Curuni:	  	First Witch:
94	Aiya!		Hail!
95	Attëa Curuni:	  	Second Witch:
96	Aiya!		Hail!
97	Neldëa Curuni:	  	Third Witch:
98	Aiya!		Hail!
99	Minya Curuni:	  	First Witch:
100	Amundë lá Macmbeþ ar ambë.	     	Lesser than Macbeth and more.
101	Attëa Curuni:	  	Second Witch:
102	Ú ve alassëa, mal ambalassëa.	      	Not as happy, but more happy.
103	Neldëa Curuni:	  	Third Witch:
104	Ontuval arani mal vál aran imlë.	      	You shall beget kings but you shall not [be] king, yourself.
105	Minya Curuni:	  	First Witch:
106	Mbanquo ar Macmbeþ, aiya!	    	Banquo and Macbeth, hail!
107	Macmbeþ:	 	Macbeth:
108	Loicë quetaror, nyará amba nin.	      	Failing speakers, tell more to me.
109	Quelmenen Sinalo, istan Héru Glamso.	     g 	By Sinal’s death, I know [I am] Thane of Glamis,
110	Mal manen Cawdor? I Héru coita,	  d    	But how [of] Cawdor? The Thane lives,
111	Herenya maiquen, ar aranussë	    	[He is] a prosperous gentleman, and kingship
112	Ui mi i esteli saviëo,	     	Is not within the hopes of believing,
113	Úmbë lá Cawdoro. Pahtá yallo	  d   	No more than of Cawdor. Speak from whence
114	Parneldë sina istalë, hya mámen	     	You learned this strange information, or for what reason,
115	I húna palar hrangaldë lendamma	    	On the accursèd field you all thwart a journey of us both
116	Apacenya suilïainen! Pahtá!	 ï 	With prophetic greeting. Speak!
117	(I Curunir quelir.)	   	[The Witches vanish.]
118	Mbanquo:	 	Banquo:
119	I Cemen samë velvi, ve i nén,	        	The Earth has bubbles, just like the water,
120	Ar nár taitello. Massë vanyantë?	     	And they are of that sort. Where [did] they vanish [to]?
121	Macmbeþ:	 	Macbeth:
122	I vilyanna. Ita nemë ronda	     	Into the air. What seemed solid
123	Tiqunë, föa súrenn'. Au lemyanentë.	       	Melted, [like] a breath into wind. If only they stayed.
124	Mbanquo:	 	Banquo:
125	Ma nánentë vin hí i quetenquë?	     	Were they just now here whom we two speak?
126	Hya mantenquë sulca hrávasano,	    	Or did we two eat a root of insanity,
127	I nahta axanwë ve mandano?	    	That confines reason as a prisoner?
128	Macmbeþ:	 	Macbeth:
129	Hínalyar arani.	  	Your children shall be kings!
130	Mbanquo:	 	Banquo:
131	Nauvel aran!	 	You shall be king!
132	Macmbeþ:	 	Macbeth:
133	Héru Cawdoro yú. Ma ú nánes?	 d     	Thane of Cawdor, too. Was it not [so]?
134	Mbanquo:	 	Banquo:
135	Imyë lindín ar quettain. — Man ta?	       	To the self-same music and words. — Who [is] there?
136	(Mittar Ross ar Angus).	    	[Enter Ross and Angus.]
137	Ross:	 	Ross:
138	I Aran Nduncan maicávë, Macmbeþ,	      	The King Duncan happily received, Macbeth,
139	I sinyar túrelyo, ar yá tengwanes	      	The news of your victory, and when he read
140	Astalya cardalyaro cotëo,	   	[Of] your heroic deeds of battle,
141	Elmendaryar ar laitali costar	   	His wonders and praises quarrel
142	Qui anes lyë hya se. Úpahtëa	      	If it was you or him. Speechless,
143	Encendaila hyanann‘ imya réo,	    	Looking back upon [the] self-same day,
144	Se túveryel mi Norwéo hotsë	    	He discovered you within [the] Norwegian army,
145	Úþossëa ito féhtiénel	  	*Unafraid of that which you had destroyed,
146	Hyanyë emmar ñuruö. Mentaror	    	Strange pictures of death. The messengers
147	Tullë sinyar. Ilquenello tullir	    	Brought news. From everyone bore
148	Laitali araniéno mindellen	  	Praises from [the] kingdom’s turrets
149	Ar ulyanë tai senna.	    	And poured them unto him.
150	Angus:	 	Angus:
151	Nánquë hí	 	We two are here
152	Hanta lyë o aranya hérelva	    	To thank you from our royal lordship
153	Er cacanna elyë ceneryanna	   	Only to herald thee into sight.
154	Ui paitya lyë.	   	Not to repay you.
155	Ross:	 	Ross:
156	Ar, rá hiuma analaitiéno,	     	And, for a hint greater of honor,
157	Canyanë estammal Héru Cawdoro.	   d 	He commanded [that] us two name you Thane of Cawdor.
158	Etta, aiya, arivalda Héru	     	Thus, hail, most worthy Thane,
159	An nás lyenya.	   	For it is thine.
160	Mbanquo:	 	Banquo:
161	Ma rauca pahta naitë?	   	Does the devil speak true?
162	Macmbeþ:	 	Macbeth:
163	Mal Cawdor coita. Maro vaitastë ni	 d     	But [the Thane of] Cawdor lives. Why [do] you two dress me
164	Pilinar larmassen?	 	In stolen raiments?
165	Angus:	 	Angus:
166	Ná, tana nér coita,	     	Yes, that man lives,
167	Mal mandossë námanen coivyëo,	    	But in prison with [a] judgement of life,
168	I valastas penta. Qui yantanes	     	Which he deserves to lose. If he joined
169	Ó néri Norwéo, hya nanyalín	     	With the men of Norway, or for rebels
170	Ñulmëa aþyanes, hya yúyonen	    	Secretly did he assist, or with both
171	Mótanes lan lurwelva, ván ista.	      	Did he toil during our threats, I do not know.
172	Mal óricuvïain aþaquentes	 ï 	But to treason he confessed,
173	Orturiëntes.	 	[So] they have overthrown him.
174	Macmbeþ:	 	Macbeth:
175	(Au, imsen) Nglams, Héru Cawdoro!	      d	(Away, to himself) Glamis, Thane of Cawdor!
176	N'aratúra ca. (Rossen ar Angusen) Hanta rihtastan.	        	The greatest [is] behind. (To Ross and Angus) Thanks for both your efforts.
177	(Au Mbanquon) Ma vál merë onta arani?	      	(Away to Banquo) Do not you wish to father kings?
178	Te ye antanë nin ta Cawdoro	     d	Those who gave to me that of Cawdor
179	Vestanë necundë ten.	   	Promised no less to them.
180	Mbanquo:	 	Banquo:
181	Ta, qui naitë,	    	That, if true,
182	Cé narta lyë n'arcastanna aryë	    	Might enkindle you unto the crown besides
183	I Héru Cawdoro. Mal nás hyanya.	  d     	The [position of] Thane of Cawdor. But ’tis strange.
184	Lillúmë, mittanya ve hyandanna,	     	Oftentimes, to lead us into harm,
185	I tammar moryo nyara naitevi vent,	      	The tools of darkness speak truths to us two,
186	Saptar vë nícë muntamainen, varta vet	      	Convince us with small trifles, betray us both
187	Arordë nattussen.	  	In profoundest matters.
188	(Rossen ar Angussen) Quetá, mecin.	      	(to Ross and Angus) [Let’s] talk, please.
189	Macmbeþ:	 	Macbeth:
190	(Au) Naitevë atta nyaraina	   	(Away) Two truths [are] told
191	Ve rátencat tiuyaila carestan.	    	As two prologues to a swelling act.
192	(Rossen ar Angussen) Hanta let, maiquenu	      	(To Ross and Angus) Thank you both, [you] two gentlemen.
193	(Au) Sina hannassëa aumacaila	   	(Away) This supernatural selling
194	Ú cé naira hya márë. Qui naira,	        	Can not [be] bad or good. If bad,
195	Maro ántiës nin vanda turando	    	Why has it given to me promise of success
196	Telila ennanen? Ni Héru.	    	Ending with a truth? I [am] Thane.
197	Qui mára, maro varen tana intyan	      	If good, why do I yield to that notion,
198	Yeva ñorta emma úpanya findenya	    	Whose horrible image unfixes my hair
199	Ar tyarë hónnya palpa ‘mbaxossen,	     	And makes my heart knock upon [my] ribs,
200	Anqua lér nassëo . Silúmë þossi	     	Against [the] ways of nature. Present fears
201	Undë lá ñortwi emmar símo.	     	Less than horrible images of imagination .
202	Tennanya, yeva nahtalë er intyaitë,	      	My thought, whose murder is only fantastical,
203	Quasë arindë fëanya polië	   	Shakes so my soul [that] function
204	Quorina quistanen — ar munta ná	     	[Is] smothered by supposition — and nothing is
205	Mal ita ui.	   	But what is not.
206	Mbanquo:	 	Banquo:
207	Tirá! Macmbeþ vanwa.	   	Look! Macbeth [is] lost [in thought].
208	Macmbeþ:	 	Macbeth:
209	(Au) Qui nauvas aran, almë rínatuva ni	       	(Away) If i will be king, chance will crown me
210	Ú suilenya.	  	Without my incitement.
211	Mbanquo:	 	Banquo:
212	Céva aitali menir senna,	    	New honors upon him,
213	Ve hyanë hampi vár himë hröan	     	Like strange clothes do not cling to a body
214	Ú aima aþëo.	   	Without some kind of aid.
215	Macmbeþ:	 	Macbeth:
216	(Au) Tulë ecis,	   	(Away) Come [what] may,
217	Lúmë norë ter i arihrai ré.	      	Time runs through the most difficult day.
218	Mbanquo:	 	Banquo:
219	Maira Macmbeþ, haralvë mendelyanen.	     	Admirable Macbeth, we stay by your will.
220	Macmbeþ:	 	Macbeth:
221	Á apsenë ni. Sanarnya quanta	     	Forgive me. My brain [was] full
222	Ó ita etsénnen. Maiquendi, ván	      	With that which I forgot. Good people, I will not
223	Etsenë nwalmaldar, ar renevan	    	Forget you all’s pains, and I will remember
224	Tai linan. Á menelva n'aranna	     	Them often. Let’s go to the king.
225	(Au Mbanquon) Saná ita tullië. Antelwa,	       	(Away to Banquo) Think what has occurred. Later,
226	Epë úviëli, pahtuvanquë	   	After some consideration, we two shall speak,
227	Hóndonqua rávië ilya hyan.	    	Our two hearts freely to each other.
228	Mbanquo:	 	Banquo:
229	Ná.	 	Yes.
230	Macmbet:	 	Macbeth:
231	Tenta, Túlá, nilmor.	     	Until then, come friendsz
232	(Autantë.)	 	[They exit.]

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