Page images
PDF
EPUB

Lady M. What do you mean? ver at quiet! What are you?-But this place is too Macb. Still it cried, Sleep no more! to all the cold for hell. I'll devil-porter it no further: I had house: thought to have let in some of all professions, that Glamis hath murder'd sleep; and therefore Cawdor go the primrose way to the everlasting bonfire. Shall sleep no more, Macbeth shall sleep no more! [Knocking.] Anon, anon; I pray you, remember Lady M. Who was it that thus cried? Why, the porter. Opens the gate.

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.

Macb.

I'll go no more:
I am afraid to think what I have done;
Look on't again, I dare not.

Lady M.
Infirm of purpose
Give me the daggers: The sleeping and the dead,
Are but as pictures: 'tis the eye of childhood,
That fears a painted devil. If he do bleed,
I'll gild the faces of the grooms withal,
For it must seem their guilt.

[Exit. Knocking within.
Macb.
Whence is that knocking?
How is't with me, when every noise appals me?
What hands are here? Ha! they pluck out mine
eyes!

Will all great Neptune's ocean wash this blood
Clean from my hand? No; this my hand will rather
The multitudinous seas incarnardine,'

Making the green one red.

Re-enter Lady Macbeth.

Lady M. My hands are of your colour; but I shame

To wear a heart so white. [Knock.] 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.] Hark!
more knocking:

Get on your night-gown, lest occasion call us,
And show us to be watchers :-Be not lost
So poorly in your thoughts.

Macb. To know my deed,-'twere best not
know myself.

Enter Macduff and Lenox.

Macd. Was it so late, friend, ere you went to

bed,

That you do lie so late?

second cock: and drink, sir, is a great provoker Port. 'Faith, sir, we were carousing till the of three things.

Macd. What three things does drink especially provoke?

Port. Marry, sir, nose-painting, sleep, and urine. Lechery, sir, it provokes, and unprovokes: it provokes the desire, but it takes away the performance. Therefore, much drink may be said to be an equivocator with lechery: it makes him, and it mars him; it sets him on, and it takes him off; it persuades him, and disheartens him; makes him stand to, and not stand to: in conclusion, equivocates him in a sleep, and, giving him the lie, leaves him.

Macd. I believe, drink gave thee the lie last night. Port. That it did, sir, i'the very throat o'me: But I requited him for his lie; and, I think, being too strong for him, though he took up my legs sometime, yet I made a shift to cast him.

I

Macd. Is thy master stirring ?

Our knocking has awak'd him; here he comes.
Enter Macbeth.

Len. Good-morrow, noble sir!
Macb.
Good-morrow, both!
Macd. Is the king stirring, worthy thane?
Macb.
Not yet.
Macd. He did command me to call timely on him:
have almost slipp'd the hour.
Macb.

I'll bring you to him.
Macd. I know, this is a joyful trouble to you;
But yet, 'tis one.

Macb. The labour we delight in, physics' pain.. This is the door.

Macd.

[Exit Macd. Goes the king

I'll make so bold to call, For 'tis my limited service." [Knock. Len. Wake Duncan with thy knocking! Ay, 'would thou could'st! [Exeunt.

From hence to-day?

Macb. He does:-he did appoint it so. Len. The night has been unruly: Where we lay, SCENE III.-The same. Enter a Porter. Our chimneys were blown down: and, as they say, Lamentings heard i'the air; strange screams of death;

[Knocking within.]

Macb.
'Twas a rough night.
fellow to it.
Len. My young remembrance cannot parallel

Porter. Here's a knocking, indeed! If a man And prophesying, with accents terrible, were porter of hell-gate, he should have old turn-Of dire combustion, and confus'd events, ing the key. [Knocking.] Knock, knock, knock: New hatch'd to the woful time. The obscure bird Who's there, 'the name of Belzebub? Here's a Clamour'd the livelong night: some say, the earth farmer, that hanged himself on the expectation of Was feverous, and did shake. plenty: Come in time; have n-pkins3 enough about you; here you'll sweat for't. [Knocking.] Knock, knock: Who's there, i'the other devil's name ?-A '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: 0, come in, equivocator. [Knocking.] 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.] Knock, knock: Ne

(1) To incarnardine is to stain of a flesh-colour.
(2) Frequent. (3) Handkerchiefs.
4) Cock-crowing.
(5) i. e. Affords a cordial to it.

Re-enter Marduff.

Macd. O horror! horror! horror! Tongue, nor Cannot conceive, nor name thee!" heart, Macb. Len. What's the matter? Macd. Confusion now hath made his masterpiece!

[blocks in formation]

Most sacrilegious murder hath broke ope The Lord's anointed temple, and stole thence The life o'the building.

Macb.

What is't you say? the life?
Len. Mean you his majesty ?
Macd. Approach the chamber, and destroy your
sight

With a new Gorgon :-Do not bid me speak
See, and then speak yourselves.-Awake! Awake!-
[Exeunt Macbeth and Lenox.
Ring the alarum-bell:-Murder! and treason!
Banquo, and Donalbain! Malcolm! awake!
Shake off this downy sleep, death's counterfeit,
And look on death itself!-up, up, and see
The great doom's image!-Malcolm! Banquo!
As from your graves rise up, and walk like sprites,
To countenance this horror!
[Bell rings.

Enter Lady Macbeth.
Lady M.
What's the business,
That such a hideous trumpet calls to parley
The sleepers of the house? speak, speak,-

Macd.

O, gentle lady

'Tis not for you to hear what I can speak : The repetition, in a woman's ear,

Would murder as it fell.--O Banquo! Banquo!

[blocks in formation]

What, in our house?

Ban.

Wo, alas!

Too cruel, any where.Dear Duff, I pr'ythee, contradict thyself, And say, it is not so.

Re-enter Macbeth and Lenox.

Macb. Had I but died an hour before this chance, I had liv'd a blessed time; for, from this instant, There's nothing serious in mortality: All is but toys: renown, and grace, is dead; The wine of life is drawn, and the mere lees Is left this vault to brag of.

Enter Malcolm and Donalbain.

Don. What is amiss? Macb. You are, and do not know it: The spring, the head, the fountain of your blood Is stopp'd; the very source of it is stopp'd. Macd. Your royal father's murder'd." Mal. O, by whom? Len. Those of his chamber, as it seem'd, had done't:

Their hands and faces were all badg'd with blood, So were their daggers, which, unwip'd, we found Upon their pillows:

They star'd, and were distracted; no man's life Was to be trusted with them.

Macb. O, yet I do repent me of my fury,

That I did kill them.

Macd.

Wherefore did you so?

Macb. Who can be wise, amaz'd, temperate, and furious,

Loyal and neutral, in a moment? No man:
The expedition of my violent love

Out-ran the pauser reason.-Here lay Duncan,
His silver skin lac'd with his golden blood;
And his gash'd stabs look'd like a breach in nature,
For ruin's wasteful entrance: there, the murderers,
Steep'd in the colours of their trade, their daggers
Unmannerly breech'd with gore: Who could re-
frain,

That had a heart to love, and in that heart
Courage, to make his love known?

(1) Covered with blood to their hilt.

[blocks in formation]

SCENE IV.-Without the castle. Enter Rosse and an Old Man.

Old M. Threescore and ten I can remember well:

Within the volume of which time, I have seen
Hours dreadful, and things strange; but this sore
night
Hath trifled former knowings.
Rosse.

Ah, good father, Thou see'st, the heavens, as troubled with man's act,

Threaten his bloody stage: by the clock, 'tis day,
And yet dark night strangles the travelling lamp:
Is't night's predominance, or the day's shame,
That darkness does the face of earth intomb,
When living light should kiss it?
Old M.
'Tis unnatural,
Even like the deed that's done. On Tuesday last,
A falcon, tow'ring in her pride of place,
Was by a mousing owl hawk'd at, and kill'd.

Rosse. And Duncan's horses, (a thing most

[blocks in formation]

Enter Macduff.

How goes the world, sir, now?
Macd.
Rosse. Is't known who did this more than
bloody deed?

Ban. As far, my lord, as will fill up the time
'Twixt this and supper: go not my horse the better

Why, see you not? I must become a borrower of the night,
For a dark hour, or twain.
Macb.

Macd. Those that Macbeth hath slain. Rosse. Alas, the day! What good could they pretend?1 Maca. They were suborn'd: Malcolm, and Donalbain, the king's two sons, Are stol'n away and fled; which puts upon them Suspicion of the deed.

Rosse.

'Gainst nature still: Thriftless ambition, that wilt ravin up Thine own life's means!-Then 'tis most like, The sovereignty will fall upon Macbeth. Macd. He is already nam'd; and gone to Scone,

To be invested.

Rosse.

Where is Duncan's body? Macd. Carried to Colmes-kill; The sacred storehouse of his predecessors, And guardian of their bones.

Rosse.

Will you to Scone? Macd. No, cousin, I'll to Fife. Rosse.

Well, I will thither.

Macd. Well, may you see things well done there;-adieu!

Lest our old robes sit easier than our new!
Rosse. Father, farewell.

Old M. God's benison go with you; and with

those

[blocks in formation]

Ban. Thou hast it now, King, Cawdor, Glamis, all,

As the weird's women promis'd; and, I fear,
Thou play'dst most foully for't: yet it was said,
It should not stand in thy posterity;

But that myself should be the root, and father
Of many kings. If there come truth from them
(As upon thee, Macbeth, their speeches shine,)
Why, by the verities on thee made good,
May they not be my oracles as well,

And set me up in hope? But, hush; no more.
Senet sounded. Enter Macbeth, as king; Lady
Macbeth, as queen; Lenox, Rosse, Lords, La-
dies, and attendants.

Macb. Here's our chief guest.
Lady M.

If he had been forgotten,
It had been as a gap in our great feast,
And all things unbecoming.
Macb. To-night we hold a solemn supper, sir,
And I'll request your presence.
Ban.

Fail not our feast.

Ban. My lord, I will not. Macb. We hear, our bloody cousins are bestow'd In England, and in Ireland; not confessing Their cruel parricide, filling their hearers With strange invention: But of that to-morrow; When, therewithal, we shall have cause of state, Craving us jointly. Hie you to horse: Adieu, Till you return at night. Goes Fleance with you? Ban. Ay, my good lord: our time does call

upon us.

Farewell.

Macb. I wish your horses swift, and sure of foot; And so I do commend you to their backs. [Exit Banquo. Let every man be master of his time Till seven at night; to make society The sweeter welcome, we will keep ourself Till supper-time alone: while then, God be with you. [Exeunt Lady Macbeth, Lords, Ladies, &c. Sirrah, a word: Attend those men our pleasure? Allen. They are, my lord, without the palacegate.

Macb. Bring them before us.-[Exit Atten.]
To be thus, is nothing;

But to be safely thus:-Our fears in Banquo
Stick deep; and in his royalty of nature
Reigns that, which would be fear'd: "Tis much
he dares;

And, to that dauntless temper of his mind,
He hath a wisdom that doth guide his valour
To act in safety. There is none, but he,
Whose being I do fear: and, under him,
Mark Antony's was by Cæsar. He chid the sisters,
My genius is rebuk'd; as, it is said,
When first they put the name of king upon me,
And bade them speak to him; then, prophet-like,
They hail'd him father to a line of kings:
Upon my head they placed a fruitless crown,
And put a barren sceptre in my gripe,
Thence to be wrench'd with an unlineal hand,
No son of mine succeeding. If it be so,
For Banquo's issue have I fil'd my mind;
For them the gracious Duncan have I murder'd;
Put rancours in the vessel of my peace
Only for them; and mine eternal jewel
Given to the common enemy of man,
To make them kings, the seed of Banquo kings!
Rather than so, come, fate, into the list.
And champion me to the utterance!Who's

there?

Re-enter Attendant, with two Murderers. Now to the door, and stay there till we call. [Erit Attendant. Was it not yesterday we spoke together? 1 Mur. It was, so please your highness.

Let your highness__Mucb.
Command upon me; to the which, my duties
Are with a most indissoluble tie
For ever knit.

Well then, now
Have you consider'd of my speeches? Know,
That it was he, in the times past, which held you
So under fortune; which, you thought, had been
Our innocent self: this I made good to you
Ay, my good lord. In our last conference; pass'd in probation' with

Macb. Ride you this afternoon?
Ban.

Macb. We should have else desir'd your good advice

(Which still hath been both grave and prosperous,) In this day's council; but we'll take to-morrow. Is't far you ride?

(1) Intend to themselves. (2) Commit.
(2) Nobleness. (4) For defiled.

you,

How you were borne in hand; how cross'd; the instruments;

Who wrought with them; and all things else, that might,

(5) Challenge me to extremities.
(6) Proved.
(7) Deluded.

[blocks in formation]

You made it known to us.
Macb. I did so; and went further, which is now
Our point of second meeting. Do you find
Your patience so predominant in your nature,
That you can let this go? Are you so gospell'd,'
To pray for that good man, and for his issue,
Whose heavy hand hath bow'd you to the grave,
And beggar'd yours for ever?

1 Mur.

We are men, my liege.
Macb. Ay, in the catalogue ye go for men ;
As hounds, and greyhounds, mongrels, spaniels,
curs,

Shoughs, water-rugs, and demi-wolves, are cleped3
All by the name of dogs: the valued file
Distinguishes the swift, the slow, the subtle,
The house-keeper, the hunter, every one
According to the gift which bounteous nature
Hath in him clos'd; whereby he does receive
Particular addition, from the bill

That writes them all alike: and so of men.
Now, if you have a station in the file,
And not in the worst rank of manhood, say it;
And I will put that business in your bosoms,
Whose execution takes your enemy off;
Grapples you to the heart and love of us,
Who wear our health but sickly in his life,
Which in his death were perfect.

2 Mur.
I am one, my liege,
Whom the vile blows and buffets of the world
Have so incens'd, that I am reckless' what
I do, to spite the world.

1 Mur.

And I another,

So weary with disasters, tugg'de with fortune,
That I would set my life on any chance,
To mend it, or be rid on't.

Macb.

Both of you Know, Banquo was your enemy. 2 Mur. True, my lord. Macb. So is he mine: and in such bloody dis

tance,

That every minute of his being thrusts
Against my near'st of life: And though I could
With bare-fac'd power sweep him from my sight,
And bid my will avouch it; yet I must not,
For certain friends that are both his and mine,
Whose loves I may not drop, but wail his fall
Whom I myself struck down: and thence it is,
That I to your assistance do make love;
Masking the business from the common eye,
For sundry weighty reasons.

2 Mur.

We shall, my lord, Perform what you command us. 1 Mur. Though our livesMacb. Your spirits shine through you. Within this hour, at most,

I will advise you where to plant yourselves.
Acquaint you with the perfect spy o'the time,
The moment on't; for't must be done to-night,
And something from the palace; always thought
That I require a clearness: And with him,
(To leave no rubs, nor botches, in the work,)
Fleance his son, that keeps him company,
Whose absence is no less material to me
Than is his father's, must embrace the fate
Of that dark hour. Resolve yourselves apart;

(1) Are you so obedient to the precept of the Gospel. (3) Called.

(2) Wolf-dogs. (4) Title, description. (6) Worried.

Because of.

(5) Careless. (7) Mortal enmity. Most melancholy.

I'll come to you anon.
2 Mur.
We are resolv'd, my lord.
Macb. I'll call upon you straight; abide within.
It is concluded:- -Banquo, thy soul's flight,
If it find heaven, must find it out to-night. (Exe.
SCENE II-The same. Another room. Enter
Lady Macbeth, and a Servant.

Lady M. Is Banquo gone from court?
Serv. Ay, madam, but returns again to-night.
Lady M. Say to the king, I would attend his
leisure
For a few words.
Serv.
Madam, I will.
[Exit.
Lady M.
Nought's had, all's spent,
Where our desire is got without content:
'Tis safer to be that which we destroy,
Than, by destruction, dwell in doubtful joy.
Enter Macbeth.

How now, my lord? why do you keep alone,
Of sorriest fancies your companions making?
Using those thoughts, which should indeed have died
With them they think on? Things without remedy,
Should be without regard: what's done,

done.

Macb. We have scotch'd the snake, not kill'd it;
She'll close, and be herself; whilst our poor malice
Remains in danger of her former tooth.
But let

The frame of things disjoint, both the worlds suffer,
Ere we will eat our meal in fear, and sleep
In the affliction of these terrible dreams,
That shake us nightly: Better be with the dead,
Whom we, to gain our place, have sent to peace,
Than on the torture of the mind to lie

In restless ecstasy. 10 Duncan is in his grave;
After life's fitful fever, he sleeps well;
Treason has done his worst: nor steel, nor poison,
Malice domestic, foreign levy, nothing,
Can touch him further!

Lady M. Come on;

Gentle my lord, sleek o'er your rugged looks; Be bright and jovial 'mong your guests to-night.

Macb. So shall I, love; and so, I pray, be you:
Let your remembrance apply to Banquo;
Present him eminence, both with eye and tongue;
Unsafe the while, that we

Must lave our honours in these flattering streams;
And make our faces vizards to our hearts,
Disguising what they are.
Lady M.
You must leave this.
Macb. O, full of scorpions is my mind, dear wife!
Thou know'st, that Banquo, and his Fleance, lives.
Lady M. But in them nature's copy's not eterne. 12
Macb. There's comfort yet; they are assailable;
Then be thou jocund: Ere the bat hath flown
His cloister'd flight; ere, to black Hecate's sum-

mons,

The shard-borne beetle, 13 with his drowsy hums,
Hath rung night's yawning peal, there shall be done
A deed of dreadful note.
Lady M.

What's to be done? Macb. Be innocent of the knowledge, dearest chuck, 14

Till thou applaud the deed. Come, seeling" night,
Skarf up. the tender eye of pitiful day;
And, with thy bloody and invisible hand,

(10) Agony. (11) Do him the highest honours. (12) i. e. The copy, the lease, by which they hold their lives from nature, has its time of termination. (13) The beetle borne in the air by its shards o scaly wings.

(14) A term of endearment.

(15) Blinding.

Cancel, and tear to pieces, that great bond

Both sides are even: Here I'll sit i'the midst :

Which keeps me pale!-Light thickens; and the Be large in mirth; anon, we'll drink a measure

crow

[blocks in formation]

The table round.-There's blood upon thy face.
Mur. 'Tis Banquo's then.

Macb. 'Tis better thee without, than he within.
Is he despatch'd?

Mur. My lord, his throat is cut; that I did for him.

Macb. Thou art the best o'the cut-throats: Yet he's good,

SCENE III.-The same. A park or lawn, with That did the like for Fleance: if thou didst it, a gate leading to the palace. Enter three Mur

derers.

[blocks in formation]

Thou art the nonpareil.

Mur.

Fleance is 'scap'd.

Most royal sir,

Macb. Then comes my fit again: I had else
been perfect;

Whole as the marble, founded as the rock;
As broad, and general, as the casing air:
But now, I am cabin'd, cribb'd, confin'd, bound in
To saucy doubts and fears. But Banquo's safe?
With twenty trenched gashes on his head;
Mur. Ay, my good lord: safe in a ditch he bides,

The least a death to nature.

Macb.

Thanks for that:-
There the grown serpent lies; the worm, that's fled,
Hath nature that in time will venom breed,
No teeth for the present.-Get thee gone; to-mor-

row

We'll hear, ourselves again.

[Exit Murderer. Lady M. My royal lord, You do not give the cheer: the feast is sold, That is not often vouch'd, while 'tis a making, 'Tis given with welcome: To feed, were best at

home;

Enter Banquo and Fleance, a servant with a torch From thence, the sauce to meat is ceremony:

2 Mur.

3 Mur.

preceding them.

A light, a light!

"Tis he.

Let it come down.
Assaults Banquo.

[blocks in formation]

Ban. O, treachery! Fly, good Fleance, fly, fly,

fly;

Thou may'st revenge.- -O slave!
[Dies. Fleance and servant escape.
3 Mur. Who did strike out the light?
1 Mur.

Was't not the way?
3 Mur. There's but one down; the son is fled.
2 Mur. We have lost best half of our affair.
1 Mur. Well, let's away, and say how much is
done.
[Exeunt.
SCENE IV. A room of state in the palace. A
banquet prepared. Enter Macbeth, Lady Mac-
beth, Rosse, Lenox, Lords, and attendants.
Macb. You know your own degrees, sit down:
at first

And last, the hearty welcome.
Lords.
Thanks to your majesty.
Macb. Ourself will mingle with society,
And play the humble host.

Our hostess keeps her state; but, in best time,
We will require her welcome.

Lady M. Pronounce it for me, sir, to all our
friends;

For my heart speaks, they are welcome.

Enter first Murderer, to the door.

Macb. See, they encounter thee with their hearts' thanks:

Meeting were bare without it.
Macb.
Sweet remembrancer!-
Now, good digestion wait on appetite,
And health on both!
Len.

May it please your highness sit? [The Ghost of Banquo rises, and sits in Macbeth's place.

Macb. Here had we now our country's honour
roof'd,

Were the grac'd person of our Banquo present;
Who may I rather challenge for unkindness,
Than pity for mischance!

Rosse.

His absence, sir,
Lays blame upon his promise. Please it your
highness

To grace us with your royal company?
Macb. The table's full."

Len.

Macb. Where?

Len.

Here's a place reserv'd, sir.

Here, my lord. What is't that

moves your highness?
Macb. Which of you have done this?
Lords.
What, my good lord?
Macb. Thou canst not say, I did it: never shake
Thy gory locks at me.

Rosse. Gentlemen, rise; his highness is not well.
Lady M. Sit, worthy friends :-my lord is often
And hath been from his youth: 'Pray you, keep
seat;

thus,

The fit is momentary; upon a thoughts

He will again be well: If much you note him,
You shall offend him, and extend his passion;
Feed, and regard him not.-Are you a man?

Macb. Ay, and a bold one, that dare look on that
Which might appal the devil.

(1) i. e. They who are set down in the list of (2) Continues in her chair of state. guests, and expected to supper.

(3) As quick as thought. (4) Prolong his suffering.

« PreviousContinue »