Lady M. Macb. If you shall cleave to iny consent-when Lady M. I heard the owl scream, and the crickets 'tis, Did not you speak ? (cry. It shall make honour for you. Macb. When? Lady M. Now. In seeking to augment it, but still keep Macb. As I descended i My bosom franchis'd, and allegiance clear, Lady M. Ay. I shall be counsel'd. Macb. Hark!Macb. Good repose, the while ! Who lies i' the second chamoer ? Ban. Thanks, sir; the like to you! Lady M. Donalbain. [Erit Banquo. Macb. This is a sorry sight. Macb. Go, bid thy mistress, when my drink is (Looking on his hands. ready, Lady M. A foolish thought, to say a sorry sight. She strike upon the bell. Get thee to bed. Macb. There's one did laugh in his sicer, and [Erit Servant. one cried, murder ! (them : Is this a dagger which I see before me? (thee : That they did wake each other; I stood and heard The handle toward my hand ? Come, let me clutch 'But they did say their prayers, and address’d them I have thee not, and yet I see thee stiil. Again to sleep. Art thou not, fatal vision, sensible Lady M. There are two lodg’d together To feeling as to sight? or art thou but Macb. One cried, God bless us! and Amen, the A dagger of the mind; a false creation, other; Proceeding from the heat-oppressed brain ? As they had seen me, with these hangman's hands. I see thee yet, in form as palpable Listening their fear. I could not say, amen, As that which now I draw. When they did say, God bless us. Thou marshal'st me the way that I was going ; Consider it not so deeply. And such an instrument I was to use. Macb. But wherefore could not I pronounce Mine eyes are made the fools o' the other seuses, amen ? Or else worth all the rest : I see thce still, I had most need of blessing, and amen Lady M. These deeds must not be thought It is the bloody business, which informs After these ways; so, it will make us mad. Thus to mine eyes.—Now o'er the one half world Macb. Methought, I heard a voice cry, Sleep no Nature seems dead, and wicked dreams abuse more! The curtain'd sleep; now witchcraft celebrates Macbeth does murder sleep, the innocent sleep; Pale Hecate's offering; and wither'd murder, Sleep, that knits up the ravell’d sleare of cure, Alarum'd by his sentinel, the wolf, The death of each day's life, sore labour's bath, Whose howl's his watch, thus with his stealthy pace, Balm of hurt minds, great nature's sccond course, With Tarquin's ravishing strides, towards his design Chief nourisher in life's feast. Moves like a ghost.-Thou sure and firm-set earth, Lady M. What do you mean? Ilear not my steps, which way they walk, for fear Macb. Still it cried, Sleep no more! 'to all the Thy very stones prate of my where-about, house : And take the present horror from the time, Glamis hath murder'd sleep; and therefore Cawdor Which now suits with it.--While I threat, he lives : Shall sleep no more, Macbeth shall sleep no more! Words to the heat of deeds too cold breath gives. Lady M. Who was it that thus cried ? Why, (A bell rings. worthy thane, I go, and it is done; the bell invites me. You do unbend your noble strength, to think Hear it not, Duncan; for it is a knell So brainsickly of things :-Go, get some water, Tbat summons thce to heaven, or to hell. [Erit.' And wash this filthy witness from your hand. Why did you bring these daggers from their place ? SCENE II. — The same. They must lie there : Go, carry them; and smear The sleepy grooms with blood. I'll go no more: Lady M. That which hath made them drunk hath I am afraid to think what I have done; made me bold : Look on't again, I dare not. What hath quench'd them, hath given me fire : Lady M. Infirm of purpose ! Hark !-Peace! Give me the daggers : The sleeping, and the dead, It was the owl that shriek'd, the fatal bellman, Are but as pictures : 'tis the eye of childhood, Which gives the stern’st good-night. He is about it: That fears a painted devil. If he do bleed, The doors are open; and the surfeited grooms I'll gild the faces of the grooms withal, Do mock their charge with snores: I have drugg'd For it must seem their guilt. their possets, [Erit. Knooking uithin. That death and nature do contend about them, Macb. Whence is that knocking ? Whether they live or die. How is't with me, when every noise appals me ? Macb. (Within.) Who's there ?-what ho! What hands are here ? Ha! they pluck out mine Lady M. Alack! I am afraid they have awak'd, eyes ! And 'tis not done :-the attempt, and not the deed, Will all great Neptune's ocean wash this blood Confounds us :-Hark!--I laid their daggers ready, Clean from my hand ? No; this my hand will raHe could not miss them.-Had he not resembled rather My father as he slept, I had done'.-My husband ? The multitudinous seas incarnadine, Enter MACBETH. Making the green--one red. Re-enter Lady MACBETI). Macb. I have donc the deed :-Didst thou not Lady M. My hands are of your colour; but I hear a noise ? shaine To woar a heart so white. (Knock.] I hear a knock- Macb. The labour we delight in, physics pain. ing This is the door. At the south entry :-retire we to our chamber : 1 Macd. I'll make so bold to call, A little water clears us of this deed : For 'tis my limited service. (E.rit MACDUFP. How easy is it then ? Your constancy, Len. Goes the king Hath left you unattended.—[Knocking.] Hark, more From hence to-day! knocking : Macb. He does :-he did appoint it so. Get on your nightgown, lest occasion call us, Len. The night has been unruly : Where we lay, And show us to be watchers :-Be not lost Our chimneys were blown down : and, as they say, So poorly in your thoughts. Lamentings heard i' the air; strange screams of Macb. To know my deed,—'twere best not know death; myself. [Knock. And prophecying, with accents terrible, Wake Duncan with thy knocking! Aye, 'would of dire combustion, and confus'd events, thou could'st! (Ereunt. New hatch'd to the woeful time. The obscure bird SCENE III. The same. Clamour'd the livelong night; some say, the earth Was feverous, and did shake. ,'Twas a rough night. Porter. Here's a knocking, indeed! If a man Len. My young remembrance cannot parallel were porter of hell-gate, he should have old turning' A fellow to it. the key. (Knocking. Knock, knock, knock : Who's Re-enter Macduff. there, i'the name of Belzebub ? Here's a farmer, Macd. O horror ! horror! horror! Tongue, nor that hang'd himself on the expectation of plenty : heart, Come in time; bave napkins enough about you; Cannot conceive, nor name thee ! here you'll sweat for't. [Knocking.j Knock, knock : Macb. Len. What's the matter ? Who's there, i'the other devil's name ? 'Faith, here's Macd. Confusion now hath made his masteran equivocator, that could swear in both the scales piece! against either scale; who committed treason enougla Most sacrilegious murder hath broke ope for God's sake, yet could not equivocate to heaven; The Lord's anointed temple, and stole thence o, come in, equivocator. (Knocking.] Knock, knock, The life o' the building. knock: Who's there? 'Faith, here's an English Macb. What is't you say ? the life ? tailor come hither, for stealing out of a French hose : Len. Mean you his majesty ? (sight Come in, tailor; here you may roast your goose. Macd. Approach the chamber, and destroy your (Knocking.] Knock, knock: Never at quiet! What With a new Gorgon :-Do not bid me speak; are you ?-But this place is too cold for hell. I'll See, and then speak yourselves.-Awake! awake! devil-porter it no further : I had thought to have let (Exeunt MACBETH and LENOX in some of all professions, that go the primrose way Ring the alarum-bell :~Murder ! and treason! to the everlasting bonfire. [Knocking.) Anon, anon; Banquo, and Donalbain! Malcolm; awake! I pray you, remember the porter. [Opens the gate. Shake off this downy sleep, death's counterfeit, Enter MACDUFF and LENOX. And look on death itself !-up, up, and see Macd. Was it so late, friend, ere you went to bed, The great doom's image-Malcolm! Banquo! That you did lie so late ? As from your graves rise up, and walk like sprights, Port. 'Faith, sir, we were carousing till the se- To countenance this horror! [Bell rings cond cock : and drink, sir, is a great provoker of Enter Lady MACBETH three things. Lady M. What's the business, Macd. What three things does drink especially That such a hideous trumpet calls to parley provoke ? The sleepers of the house ? speak, speak,Port. Marry, sir, nose-painting, sleep, and urine. Macd. o, gentle lady, Lechery, sir, it provokes, and unprovokes: it pro- 'Tis not for you to hear what I can speak: vokes the desire, but it takes away the performance: The repetition, in a woman's ear, Therefore, much drink may be said to be an equivo- Would murder as it fell.- -O Banquo! Banquo! cator with lechery : it makes him, and it mars him; Enter BANQUO. it sets him on, and it takes him off; it persuades Our royal master's murder'd; him, and disheartens him ; makes him stand to, and Lady M. Woe, alas ! not stand to: in conclusion, equivocates him in a What, in our house ? sleep, and, giving him the lie, leaves him. Ban. Too cruel, any where.Macd. I believe, drink gave thee the lie last night. Dear Duff, I pr’ythee, contradict thyself, Port. That it did, sir, i'the very throat o'me : But And say, it is not so. I requited him for his lie? and, I think, being too Re-enter MACBETH and Lenox. strong for him, though he took up my legs sometime, Macb. Had I but died an hồur before this chance, yet I made a shift to cast him. I had liv'd a blessed time; for, from this instant, Macd. Is thy master stirring? 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 ? You are, and do not know it : I have almost slipp'd the hour. The spring, the head, the fountain of your blood Macb. I'll bring you to him. Is stopp'd; the very source of it is stopp'd. Mal. O, by whom? Not yet. Lady M. Len. Those of his chamber, as it seem'd, had Threaten h bloody stage : by the clock, 'tis day, done't: Aud yet dark night strangles the travelling lamp: Their hands and faces were all badg'd with blood, Is it night's predominance, or the day's shame, So were their daggers, which, unwip'd, we found That darkness does the face of earth intomb, Upon their pillows: When living light should kiss it? They stard, and were distracted; no man's life Old M. 'Tis unnatural, Was to be trusted with them. Even like the deed that's done. On Tuesday last, Was by a mousing owl hawk'd at, and killed. Rosse. And Duncan's horses, (a thing most strange Macb. Who can be wise, amaz’d, temperate, and and certain,) furious, Beautious and swift, the minions of their race, Loyal and neutral, in a moment? No man: Turn'd wild in nature, broke their stalls, flung out, The expedition of my violent love Contending 'gainst obedience, as they would make Outran the pauser reason.--Here lav Duncan, War with mankind. His silver skin lac'd with his golden blood; Old M. 'Tis said, they eat each other. And his gash'd stabs look'd like a breach in nature Rosse. They did so: to the amazement of mine For ruin's wasteful entrance: there, the murderers, eyes, Steep'd in the colours of their trade, their daggers That look'd upon't. Here comes the good MacUnmannerly breech'd with gore: Who could refrain, duff : That had a heart to love, and in that heart Enter Macduff. How goes the world sir, now? Why, see you not? Macd. Look to the lady. Rosse. Is't known, who did this more than bloody Mal. Why do we hold our tongues, deed ? That most may claim this argument for ours ? Macd. Those that Macbeth hath slain. Don. What should be spoken here, Rosse. Alas, the day. Where our fate, hid within an augre-hole, What good could they pretend ? May rush, and seize us ? Let's away; our tears Macd. They were suborn'd: Are not yet brew'd. Malcolm, and Donalbain, the king's two sons, Mal. Nor our strong sorrow on Are stoi'n away and fled; which puts upon them The foot of motion. Suspicion of the deed. Rosse. 'Gainst nature still : (Lady Macbeth is carried out. Thriitless ambition, that wilt ravin up And when we have our naked frailties bid, Thine own life's means !—Then 'tis most like, That suffer in exposure, let us meet, The sovereignty will fall upon Macbeth. And question this most bloody piece of work, Macd. He is already nam’d; and gone to Scone, To know it further. Fears and scruples shake us: To be invested. In the great hand of God I stand; and, thence, Rosse. Where is Duncan's body? Against the undivulg'd pretence I fight Macd. Carried to Colines-kill; of treasonous malice. The sacred storehouse of his predecessors, Macb. And so do I. And guardian of their bones. AU. So all. Rosse. Will you to Scone ? Macb. Let's briefly put on manly readiness, Macd. No, cousin, I'll to Fife. And meet i'the hall together. Rosse. Well, I will thither. All. Well contented!. Macd. Well, may you see things well done there : [E.reunt all but Mal. and Don. -adieu! Mal. What will you do ? Let's not consort with Lest our old robes sit easier than our new ! them : Rosse. Father, farewell. To show an unfelt sorrow, is an office Old M. God's benison go with you; and with those Which the false man does easy : I'll to England. That would make good of bad, and friends of fous ! Don. To Ireland, I; our separated fortune [Eceuni. ACT I. SCENE I.---Fores. A Room in the Palace. Enter BANQUO. And let us not be dainy or leave-taking, Ban. Thou hast it now, King, Cawdor, Glam!, But shift away: There's warrant in that theft all, Which steals itself, when there's no mercy left. As the weird women promis'd ; and, I fear, [Ereunt. Thou play'dst most foully for't: yet it was said, SCENE IV.-Without the Castle. 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, Old M. Threescore and ten I can remember well: (As upon thee, Macbeth, their speeches shine,) Within the volume of which time, I have seen Why, by the verities on thee made good, Hours dreadful, and things strange : but this sore May they not be my oracles as well, night And set me up in hope! But, hush; no more. Hath trifed former knowings. Senet sounded. Enter MACBETH, as Kiny ; Lidy Rosse. Ah, good father, MACBETH, as Queen; LENOX, Rosse, Lords, Thou see'st, the heavens, as troubled with man's act, Ladies, and Attendants. us. Macb. Here's our chief guest. Was it not yesterday we spoke together ? Lady M. If he had been forgotten, ! Mur. It was, so please your highness. It had been as a gap in our great feast, Macb. Well then, now And all-things unbecoming. Have you consider'd of my speeches ? Know, Macb. To-night we hold a solemn supper, sir, That it was he, in the times past, which held you And I'll request your presence. So under fortune; which, you thought, had been Ban. Let your highness Our innocent self : this I made good to you Command upon me ; to the which, my duties our last conference; pass'd in probation with you, Are with a most indissoluble tie How you were borne in hand; how cross'd; the For ever knit. instruments; (might, Macb. Ride you this afternoon ? Who wrought with them; and all things else, that Ban. Aye, my good lord. To half a soul, and a notion craz'd, Macb. We should have else desir'd your good Say, thus did Banquo. advice 1 Mur. You made it known to us. (Which still hath been both grave and prosperous,) Macb. I did so; and went further, which is now In this day's council ; but we'll take to-morrow. Our point of second meeting. Do you find Is't far you ride ? Your patience so predominant in your nature, Ban. As far, my lord, as will fill up the time, That you can let this go? Are you so gospell’d, "Twixt this and supper: go not my horse the better, To pray for this good man, and for his issue, I must become a borrower of the night, Whose heavy hand hath bow'd you to the grave, For a dark hour, or twain. And beggar'd yours for ever? We e are men, my liege. Ban. My lord, I will not. Macb. Aye, in the catalogue ye go for men ; Macb. We hear, our bloody cousins are bestow'd As hounds, and greyhounds, mongrels, spaniels, In England, and in Ireland; not confessing curs, Their cruel parricide, filling their hearers Shoughs, water-rugs, and demi-wolves, are cleped Particular addition, from the bill Now, if you have a station in the file, (Erit Banquo. And not in the worst rank of manhood, say it; Let every man be master of his time And I will put that business in your bosoms, Till seven at night; to make society Whose execution takes your enemy off; The sweeter welcome, we will keep ourself Grapples you to the heart and love of us, Till supper-time alone : while then, God be with you. Who wear our health but sickly in his lifc, Exeunt Lady Macbeth, Lords, Ladies, &c. Which in his death were perfect. Sirrah, a word: Attend those men our pleasure ? 2 Mur. I am one, my liege, Attend. They are, my lord, without the palace Whom the vile blows and buffets of the world gate. Have so incens’d, that I am reckless what 1 Mur. And I another, Macb. Both of you He hath a wisdom that doth guide his valour Know, Banquo was your enemy. To act in safety. There is none, but he 2 Mur. True, my lord Whose being I do fear; and, under him, Macb. So is he mine; and in such bloody dis. My genius is rebuk’d; as, it is said, tance, Mark Antony's was by Cæsar. He chid the sisters, That every minute of his being thrusts When first they put the name of king upon me, Against my near'st of life: And though I could And bade them speak to him; then, prophet-like, With bare-fac'd power sweep him from my sight, They hail'd him father to a line of kings : And bid my will avouch it; yet I must not, Upon my head they plac'd a fruitless crown, For certain friends that are both his and mine, And put a barren sceptre in my gripe, Whose loves I may not drop, but wail his fall Thence to be wrench'd with an unlineal hand, Whom I myself struck down : and thence it is, No son of mine succeeding. If it be so, That I to your assistance do make love ; Masking the business from the coinmon eye, 2 Mur. We shall, my lord, Only for them; and mine eternal jewel Perform what you command us. Given to the common enemy of man, 1 Mur. Though our lives — To make them kings, the seed of Banquo kings ! Macb. Your spirits shine through you. Within Rather than so, come, fate, into the list, [there ? this hour, at most, And champion me to the utterance !- Who's I will advise you where to plant yourselves. Re-enter Attendant, with two Murdereis. Acquaint you with the perfect spy o’the time, i ow to the door, and stay there till we call. The moment ou’t; for'i must be done to-night, [Erit Attendant. And something from the palace; always thought, sure That I require a clearness : And with him, And, with thy hloody and invisible hand, To leave no rubs, nor botches, in the work,) Cancel, and tear to pieces, that great bond (crow Fleance his son, that keeps him company, Which keeps me pale !-Light thickens; and the Whose absence is no less material to me Makes wing to the rooky wood: Than is his father's, must embrace the fate Good things of day begin to droop and drowse; Of that dark hour. Resolve yourselves apart; While night's black agents to their prey do rouse I'll come to you anon. Thou marvell'st at my words : but hold thee still; 2 Mur. We are resolv’d, my lord. Things, bad begun, make strong themselves by ill: Macb. I'll call upon you straight; abide within. So, pr’ythee, go with me. (Eseunt. It is concluded :-Banquo, thy soul's flight, If it find heaven, must find it out to-night. SCENE III.- The same. A Park or Lawn, with a (Exeunt. Gate leading to the Palace. Enter three Murderers. 1 Mur. But who did bid thee join with us ? Lady M. Is Banquo gone from court ? 3 Mur. Macbeth. Serv. Ay, madam, but returns again to-nigit. 2 Mur. He needs not our mistrust; since he delivers Lady M. Say to the king, I would attend his lei- Our offices, and what we have to do, To the direction just. For a few words. 1 Mur. Then stand with us. Serv. Madam, I will. [Erit. The west yet glimmers with some streaks of day: Lady M. Nought's had, all's spent, Now spurs the lated traveller apace, Where our desire is got without content: To gain the timely inn; and near approaches "Tis safer to be that which we destroy, The subject of our watch. Than, by destruction, dwell in doubtful joy. 3 Mur. Hark! I hear horses. Enter MACBETH. Ban. (Within.] Give us a light there, ho! How pow, my lord ? why do you keep alone, 2 Mur. Then it is he; the rest of sorriest fancies your companions making ? That are within the note of expectation, Using those thoughts, which should indeed have died Already are i' the court. With them they think on? Things without remedy, 1 Mur. His horses go about. Macb We have scotch'd the snake, not kill'd it; So all men do, from hence to the palace gate Enter Banquo and FLEANCE, a Servant with a lorch preceding them. Ere we will eat our meal in fear, and sleer 2 Mur. A light, a light! In the affliction of these terrible dream., 3 Mur. 'Tis be. That shake us nightly: Better be with the dead, 1 Mur. Stand to't. Whom we, to gain our place, have sent to peace, Ban. It will be rain to-night. Than on the torture of the mind to lie 1 Mur. Let it come down. In restless ecstacy. Duncan is in his grave; (Assaults Banquo. After life's fitful fever, he sleeps well; Ban. O, treachery! Fly, good Fleance; fly, fly, fly, Treason has done his worst : nor steel, nor poison, Thou may'st revenge.-0 slave ! Malice domestic, foreign levy, nothing, [Dies. FLEANCE and Servant escape Can touch him further! 3 Mur. Who did strike out the light ? Lady M. Come on; 1 Mur. Was't not the way? Gentle my lord, sleek o'er your rugged looks; 3 Mur There's but one down; the son is fled. Be bright and jovial ’mong your guests to-night. 2 Mur. We have lost best half of our affair. Macb. So shall I, love; and so, I pray, be you: 1 Mur. Well, let's away, and say how much is Let your remembrance apply to Banquo; done. (Exeunt. Present him eminence, both with eye and tongue : SCENE IV.-A Room of State in the Palace. A Unsafe the while, that we Must lave our honours in these flattering streams; Banquet prepared. Enter MACBETH, Lady MACBETH, Rosse, LENOX, And make our faces vizards to our hearts, Lords, and Attendants. Disguising what they are. Macb. You know your own degrecs, sit down : Lady M. You must leave this. at first Macb. O, full of scorpions is my mind, dear wife! And last, the hearty welcome. Thou know'st, that Banquo and his Fleance live. Lords. Thanks to your majesty. Lady M. But in them nature's copy's not eterne. Macb. Ourself will mingle with society, Macb. There's comfort yet; they are assailable; And play the humble host. Then be thou jocund: Ere the bat hath flown Our hostess keeps her state; but, in best time, His cloister'd flight; ere, to black Hecate's sum- We will require her welcome. [friends; mons, Lady M. Pronounce it for me, sir, to all our The shard-borne beetle, with his drowsy hums, For my heart speaks, they are welcome. Hath rung night's yawning peal, there shall be done Enter first Murderer, to the door. A deed of dreadful note Macb. See, they encounter thee with their hearts' Lady M. What's to be done ? thanks : Macb. Be innocent of the knowledge, dearest Both sides are even. Here I'll sit i'the midst : chuck, Be large in mirth; anon, we'll drink a measure Till thou applaud the deed. Come seeling night, The table round. There's blood upon thy face. Scarf up the tender eye of pitiful day; Mur 'Tis Banoun's then. |