Mal. I thank you, doctor. [Exit Doctor. Macd. What's the disease he means? Mal. 'Tis called the "evil:" A most miraculous work in this good king; Which often, since my here-remain in England, I have seen him do. How he solicits Heaven, Himself best knows: but strangely-visited people, All swoln and ulcerous, pitiful to the eye, The mere despair of surgery, he cures; Hanging a golden stamp about their necks, Put on with holy prayers: and 'tis spoken, To the succeeding royalty he leaves The healing benediction. With this strange virtue, He hath a heavenly gift of prophecy; And sundry blessings hang about his throne, Are made, not marked; where violent sorrow seems A modern ecstacy; the dead man's knell Is there scarce asked for who; and good men's lives Expire before the flowers in their caps, Dying or ere they sicken. Macd. O, relation, Too nice, and yet too true! Mal. What is the newest grief? Rosse. That of an hour's age doth hiss the speaker; Each minute teems a new one. Macd. How does my wife? Rosse. Why, well. Macd. Rosse. And all my children? Well, too. Macd. The tyrant has not battered at their peace? Rosse. No; they were well at peace when I did leave them. Macd. Be not a niggard of your speech: how goes it? Rosse. When I came hither to transport the tidings Which I have heavily borne, there ran a rumour Mal. Be it their comfort, That Christendom gives out. This comfort with the like! But I have words That would be howled out in the desert air, Where hearing should not latch them. Macd. What concern they? The general cause? or is it a fee-grief, Due to some single breast? No mind that's honest That were most precious to me. Did Heaven look on, And would not take their part? Sinful Macduff, Mal. Be this the whetstone of your sword: let grief Convert to anger; blunt not the heart, enrage it. Macd. O, I could play the woman with mine eyes, And braggart with my tongue! - But, gentle Cut short all intermission; front to front Mal. This tune goes manly. Come, go we to the king; our power is ready; Put on their instruments. Receive what cheer you may; The night is long that never finds the day. [Exeunt. : 1 SCENE I. Dunsinane. A Room in the Castle. Enter a Doctor of Physic, and a waiting Doct. I have two nights watched with you, but can perceive no truth in your report. When was it she last walked? Gent. Since his majesty went into the field, I have seen her rise from her bed, throw her night-gown upon her, unlock her closet, take forth paper, fold it, write upon it, read it, afterwards seal it, and again return to bed; yet all this while in a most fast sleep. Doct. A great perturbation in nature! to receive at once the benefit of sleep, and do the effects of watching. In this slumbry agitation, besides her walking and other actual performances, what, at any time, have you heard her say? Gent. That, sir, which I will not report after her. Doct. You may to me; and 'tis most meet you should. Gent. Neither to you nor any one; having no witness to confirm my speech. Enter LADY MACBETH, with a taper. Lo you, here she comes! This is her very guise; and, upon my life, fast asleep. Observe her; stand close. Doct. How came she by that light? Gent. Why, it stood by her: she has light by her continually; 'tis her command. Doct. You see her eyes are open. Gent. Ay, but their sense is shut. Doct. What is it she does now? Look how she rubs her hands. Gent. It is an accustomed action with her, to seem thus washing her hands; I have known her continue in this a quarter of an hour. Lady M. Yet here's a spot. Doct. Hark, she speaks: I will set down what comes from her, to satisfy my remembrance the more strongly. Lady M. Out, damned spot! out, I say!-One; two; why, then 'tis time to do't:-Hell is murky!-Fie, my lord, fie! a soldier and afeard? What need we fear who knows it, when none can call our power to account?-Yet who would have thought the old man to have had so much blood in him. Doct. Do you mark that? Lady M. The thane of Fife had a wife; where is she now? - What, will these hands ne'er be clean?-No more o' that, my lord, no more o' that : you mar all with this starting. Doct. Go to, go to; you have known what you should not. Gent. She has spoke what she should not, I am sure of that: Heaven knows what she has known. |