Shakespeare once wrote such a story. Around the eleventh century, the Scots were at war with Norway. There was a general who went to battle on the king's orders.
As he swung his blood-soaked sword and cut down his enemies, he looked both like a demon of slaughter and a hero. Yet just as victory was within reach, a merciless storm swept in from the east. Seeing an opportunity, the King of Norway immediately launched another fierce assault. But just as a rabbit could never frighten off a lion, the general continued fighting through blood and fire, and victory ultimately belonged to the Scots.
The King of Norway then sued Scotland for peace. The King of Scotland demanded that Norway pay ten thousand gold coins into the treasury, or he would not allow its fallen soldiers to be buried.
If only the story had ended there. Unfortunately, on that day that was both gloomy and bright, three witches appeared beside the general.
"Blessed be, Macbeth, Thane of Glamis!"
"Blessed be, Macbeth, Thane of Cawdor!"
"Blessed be, Macbeth, future king!"
The three witches addressed the general—Macbeth—by different titles. He looked shocked, as though he feared hearing this seemingly wonderful news. Yet the Thane of Cawdor was still alive and immensely powerful. No matter how one looked at it, Macbeth could not possibly replace him.
But the witches suddenly vanished, and Macbeth could only return home with his questions.
When his wife heard the witches' prophecy, she believed it completely and kept urging Macbeth on.
At first, Macbeth did not take the witches' words or his wife's encouragement seriously. But then the king's Messenger arrived. The former Thane of Cawdor had committed treason, and his title was bestowed upon Macbeth for his military achievements.
Macbeth then began to believe the witches' prophecy