This guest of summer,
The temple-haunting martlet, does approve,
By his loved mansionry, that the heaven’s breath
Smells wooingly here: no jutty, frieze,
Buttress, nor coign of vantage, but this bird
Hath made his pendent bed and procreant cradle:
Where they most breed and haunt, I have observed,
The air is delicate.
– William Shakespeare
Macbeth, Act 1, Scene 6. If the audience didn’t already know that Duncan was walking into a deathtrap, they would think Banquo is describing some kind of paradise as they approach Macbeth’s castle. Banquo paints an idyllic scene: the martlet or martin chooses to nest and breed on the castle, the air is sweet-smelling, and a metaphor compares the soothing breeze to “heaven’s breath.” Summer is personified, it has the martlet as its guest, while a number of other rich metaphors – “pendent bed and procreant cradle” – complete the deception of appearance. There is heavy irony in this inviting description of Macbeth’s home, for it is the castle of a regicide.