Your question refers to a line that is part of a soliloquy Macbeth has in Act III, Scene 1. Let's look first at two common words in the sentence that are used here in uncommon (for modern readers) ways.
"Issue" - in this context, "issue" refers to "children" or "descendants". "Filed" - is actually "Shakespeare slang" for the word "defiled", or "corrupted."
With these definitions, then, you could rewrite the sentence to read: "For Banquo's...
Your question refers to a line that is part of a soliloquy Macbeth has in Act III, Scene 1. Let's look first at two common words in the sentence that are used here in uncommon (for modern readers) ways.
"Issue" - in this context, "issue" refers to "children" or "descendants".
"Filed" - is actually "Shakespeare slang" for the word "defiled", or "corrupted."
With these definitions, then, you could rewrite the sentence to read: "For Banquo's children have I corrupted my mind."
Macbeth has just had a conversation with Banquo (III.i.14-28) and it has put him in mind of what the witches promised Banquo at the same time they told Macbeth he'd be king. Back in Act I, Scene 3, the witches said that Banquo's children would be kings. Macbeth, seeing that the witches' prophecies for him have come true, now fears the same for Banquo. And if Banquo's children are to be kings someday, then that means (in Macbeth's mind, at least) that it is only for the sake of Banquo's descendants ("issue") that Macbeth has murdered, lied, corrupted his soul, etc. (in short, "filed" his mind).
This fear is what prompts Macbeth to hire murderers to kill Banquo and his son Fleance.
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