SCENE II. The same. Enter LADY MACBETH. Lady Macbeth. That which hath made them drunk hath made me bold; What hath quench'd them hath given me fire. Hark! Peace! It was the owl that shriek'd, the fatal bellman, Which gives the stern'st good-night. He is about it: The doors are open, and the surfeited grooms Do mock their charge with snores: I have drugg'd their possets, That death and nature do contend about them, Whether they live or die. Macbeth. [Within.] Who's there? what, ho! Lady Macbeth. Alack, I am afraid they have awaked, And 'tis not done. The attempt and not the deed Confounds us. Hark! I laid their daggers ready; He could not miss 'em. Had he not resembled My father as he slept, I had done't. Enter MACBETH. ΙΟ My husband! Macb. I have done the deed. Didst thou not hear a noise? Lady M. I heard the owl scream and the crickets cry. Lady Macbeth. A foolish thought, to say a sorry sight. Macbeth. There's one did laugh in's sleep, and one cried 'Murder!' That they did wake each other: I stood and heard them: But they did say their prayers, and address'd them Again to sleep. Lady Macbeth. There are two lodged together. Macbeth. One cried 'God bless us !' and 'Amen' the other; As they had seen me with these hangman's hands: Listening their fear, I could not say 'Amen,' When they did say 'God bless us!' Lady Macbeth. Consider it not so deeply. 30 Macbeth. But wherefore could not I pronounce 'Amen'? I had most need of blessing, and 'Amen' Stuck in my throat. Lady Macbeth. These deeds must not be thought After these ways; so, it will make us mad. Macb. Methought I heard a voice cry 'Sleep no more! Macbeth doth murder sleep,' the innocent sleep, Sleep that knits up the ravell'd sleave of care, Lady Macbeth. What do you mean? 40 Macbeth. Still it cried 'Sleep no more!' to all the house: 'Glamis hath murder'd sleep, and therefore Cawdor Shall sleep no more; Macbeth shall sleep no more.' Lady M. Who was it that thus cried? Why, worthy thane, You do unbend your noble strength, to think So brainsickly of things. Go get some water, And wash this filthy witness from your hand. Why did you bring these daggers from the place? They must lie there: go carry them, and smear The sleepy grooms with blood. Macbeth. I'll go no more: I am afraid to think what I have done; 50 Lady Macbeth. Infirm of purpose! Give me the daggers: the sleeping and the dead Macbeth. [Exit. Knocking within. Whence is that knocking? How is't with me, when every noise appals me? Clean from my hand? No; this my hand will rather The multitudinous seas incarnadine, Making the green one red. Re-enter LADY MACBETH. 60 Lady Macbeth. My hands are of your colour; but I shame To wear a heart so white. [Knocking within.] I hear a knocking At the south entry: retire we to our chamber: A little water clears us of this deed: How easy is it, then! Your constancy Hath left you unattended. [Knocking within.] Hark! more knocking. Get on your nightgown, lest occasion call us 70 Macbeth. To know my deed, 'twere best not know myself. [Knocking within. Wake Duncan with thy knocking! I would thou couldst ! [Exeunt. SCENE III. The same. Knocking within. Enter a Porter. Porter. Here's a knocking indeed! If a man were porter of hell-gate, he should have old turning the key. [Knocking within.] Knock, knock, knock! Who's there, i' the name of Beelzebub? Here's a farmer, that hanged himself on the expectation of plenty: come in time; have napkins enow about you; here you'll sweat for 't. [Knocking within.] Knock, knock! Who's there, in the other devil's name? Faith, here's an equivocator, that could swear in both the scales against either scale; who committed treason enough for God's sake, yet could not equivocate to heaven: O come in, equivocator. [Knocking within.] Knock, knock, knock! 'Who's there? Faith, here's an English tailor come hither, for stealing out of a French hose: come in, tailor; here you may roast your goose. [Knocking within.] Knock, knock; never at quiet! What are you? But this place is too cold for hell. I'll devil-porter it no further: I had thought to have let in some of all professions, that go the primrose way to the everlasting bonfire. [Knocking within.] Anon, anon! I pray you, remember the porter. [Opens the gate. Enter MACDUFF and LENNOX. Macduff. Was it so late, friend, ere you went to bed, That you do lie so late? 21 Porter. Faith, sir, we were carousing till the second cock. Macduff. Is thy master stirring? Enter МАСВЕТН. Our knocking has awaked him; here he comes. Lennox. Good morrow, noble sir. Macbeth. Good morrow, both. Not yet. Macduff. Is the king stirring, worthy thane? Macduff. He did command me to call timely on him: I have almost slipp'd the hour. Macbeth. I'll bring you to him. 30 Macduff. I know this is a joyful trouble to you; But yet 'tis one. Macbeth. The labour we delight in physics pain. This is the door. Macduff. I'll make so bold to call, For 'tis my limited service. Lennox. Goes the king hence to-day? [Exit. He does he did appoint so. Lennox. The night has been unruly; where we lay, Our chimneys were blown down, and, as they say, Lamentings heard i' the air, strange screams of death, And prophesying with accents terrible Of dire combustion and confused events New hatch'd to the woeful time: the obscure bird Macbeth. 'Twas a rough night. Lennox. My young remembrance cannot parallel 40 A fellow to it. Re-enter MACDUFF. Macduff. O horror, horror, horror! Tongue nor heart Cannot conceive nor name thee! Macbeth. Lennox. ·} What's the matter? Macduff. Confusion now hath made his masterpiece! Most sacrilegious murder hath broke ope The Lord's anointed temple, and stole thence The life o' the building. Macbeth. What is 't you say? the life? 50 Lennox. Mean you his majesty ? Macduff. Approach the chamber, and destroy your sight With a new Gorgon: do not bid me speak; See, and then speak yourselves. [Exeunt Macbeth and Lennox. Awake, awake! Ring the alarum-bell. Murder and treason! Banquo and Donalbain! Malcolm! awake! |