Would thou hadst less deserved…
More is thy due than more than all can pay.
– William Shakespeare
Macbeth, Act 1, Scene 4. The gracious King Duncan heaps praise on Macbeth for helping to defeat Scotland’s enemies and save his throne. He tells Macbeth that he owes him more than he could ever pay. There is much irony here, since we know that the disloyal Macbeth has his eye on the throne and the King will later pay with his life when he is murdered by Macbeth. Duncan’s praise for the new Thane of Cawdor shows us that things are not always as they appear to be.