Stay, you imperfect speakers, tell me more:
By Sinel’s death I know I am thane of Glamis;
But how of Cawdor? the thane of Cawdor lives,
A prosperous gentleman; and to be king
Stands not within the prospect of belief,
No more than to be Cawdor.
– William Shakespeare
Macbeth, Act 1, Scene 3. After hearing the Witches’ prophecies that he will be thane of Cawdor and later king, Macbeth orders them to stay. The Witches have sparked his curiosity and he wants to know more. This reflects the theme of Macbeth’s hunger for power. We also have dramatic irony, since the audience is already aware that King Duncan ordered the execution of the thane of Cawdor for treachery and bestowed the title on Macbeth.