ready, She strike upon the bell. Get thee to bed. [exit Ser. The handle toward my hand? Come, let me clutch To feeling, as to sight? or art thou but Thou marshal'st me the way that I was going; [pace, Whose howl's his watch, thus with his stealthy With Tarquin's ravishing strides, towards his design Moves like a ghost. Thou sure and firm-set earth, 'go, and it is done; the bell invites me. SCENE 11. THE SAME. Enter Lady Macbeth. That they did wake each other. I stood and heard But they did say their prayers, and address'd them Again to sleep. Lady M. There are two lodg'd together. [other; Macb. One cried, God bless us! and, Amen, the 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 M. Consider it not so deeply. I had most need of blessing, and amen [amen? You do unbend your noble strength, to think So brain-sickly of things:-Go, get some water, And wash this filthy witness from your hand.[exit. Why did you bring these daggers from the place? They must lie there; go, carry them; and smear The sleepy grooms with blood. Lady M. That, which hath made them drunk, hath made me bold: [Hark!-Peace! What hath quench'd them, hath given me fire. It was the owl that shriek'd; that 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. Macb. [within.] Who's there what, ho! Macb. I'll go no more. I am afraid to think what I have done; Lady M. Infirm of purpose! Enter a Porter. [knocking within. Porter. Here's a knocking, indeed! If a man were porter of hell-gate, he should have old turning the key. [knocking.] Knock, knock, knock: who's there, i'the name of Belzebub? Here's a farmer, that hanged himself on the expectation of plenty. Come in time; have napkins enough about you: here you'll sweat for't. [knocking.] Knock, knock; who's there, i'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.] 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: 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.] Anon, I pray you, remember the porter. that [opens the gate. Enter Macduff and Lenox. Macd. Was it so late, friend, ere you went to bed, that you do lle so late?! 1 it anon; t Port. 'Faith, sir, we were carousing till the second cock and drink, sir, is a great provoker of three things. Macd. What three things does drink especially provoke ? Port. Marry, sir, nose-painting, sleep, and urine. Lechery, air, it provokes and unprovokes: it pro vokes 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 persuaded 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 leg sometime, yet I made a shift to cast him, Macd. Is thy master stirring ?— Our knocking has awak'd him; here he comes. Enter Macbeth. Len. Good morrow, noble sir! Macd. Is the king stirring, worthy thane? Macd. He did command me to call timely on I have almost slipp'd the hour. [him; 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. I'll make so bold to call. For 'tis my limited service. Len. Goes the king From hence to-day? [exit Macduff. Macb. He does:-he did appoint it so. Len. The night has been unruly: where we lay, Our chimnies were blown down: and, as they say, Lamentings heard i'the air; strange screams of And prophesying, with accents terrible, [death; Of dire combustion, and confus'd events, New hatch'd to the woeful time. The obscure bird Clamour'd the live-long night: some say, the earth Was feverous, and did shake. Macb. 'Twas a rough night. Len. My young remembrance cannot parallel A fellow to it. Re-enter Macduff. 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 masterMost sacrilegious murder hath broke ope [piece! The Lord's anointed temple, and stole thence The life o'the building. Awake! [sight Macb. What is't you say? the life? Enter Lady Macbeth. 'Tis not for you to hear what I can speak: fa Our royal master's murder'd! Ban. 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? Mach. You are, and do not know it; The spring, the head, the fountain, of your blood [done't: Len. Those of his chamber, as it seem'd, had 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? [furious, Macb. Who can be wise, amaz'd, temperate, and 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 That had a heart to love, and in that heart [refrain, Courage, to make his love known? Lady M. Help me hence, ho! Macd. Look to the lady. Mal. Why do we hold our tongues, That most may claim this argument for ours? Mal. Nor our strong sorrow on Ban. Look to the lady:- [Lady M. carried out. And when we have our naked frailties hid, That suffer in exposure, let us meet, And question this most bloody piece of work, To know it further. Fears and scruples shake us: In the great hand of God I stand; and thence, Against the undivulg'd pretence I fight Of treasonous malice. Macb. And so do I. All. So all. Macb. Let's briefly put on manly readiness, And meet l'the hall together All. Well contented. [ex. all but Malc. and Don. Mal. What will you do? Let's not consort with To show an unfelt sorrow, is an office [them. Which the false man does easy: I'll to England. Don. To Ireland, I; our separated fortune Shall keep us both the safer; where we are, There's daggers in men's smiles: the near in blood, The nearer bloody. Mal. This murderous shaft that's shot, Hath not yet lighted; and our safest way Is, to avoid the aim. Therefore, to horse; And let us not be dainty of leave-taking, But shift away. There's warrant in that theft Which steals itself, when there's no mercy left. [exeunt. 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 Hath trifled former knowings. Rosse. Ah, good father, [night [act, Thou see'st, the heavens, as troubled with man's Threaten his bloody stage; by the clock, 'tis day, And yet dark night strangles the travelling lamp: Is it night's predominance, or the day's shame, That darkness does the face of earth entomb, When living light should kiss it? Old M. 'Tis unnatural, Even like the deed that's done. On Tuesday last, Rosse. And Duncan's horses (a thing most strange and certain,) Beauteous and swift, the minions of their race, Turn'd wild in nature, broke their stalls, flung out, Contending 'gainst obedience, as they would make War with mankind. Old M. 'Tis said, they eat each other. [eyes, Rosse. They did so; to the amazement of mine That look'd upon't. Here comes the good Mac duff:- Enter Macduff How goes the world, sir, now? [deed? Rosse. Is't known who did this more than bloody What good could they pretend? Macd. 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? Rosse. Will you to Scone? Macd. No, cousin, I'll to Fife. ACT III. SCENE I. FORES. A ROOM IN THE PALACE. Enter Banquo. Ban. Thou hast it now, King, Cawdor, Glamis, Macb. Here's our chief guest. It had been as a gap in our great feast, Macb. To-night we hold a solemn supper, sir, Ban. Let your highness Command upon me; to the which, my duties Macb. Ride you this afternoon? [advice Macb. We should have else desir'd your good (Which still hath been both grave and prosperous,) In this day's council; but we'll take to-morrow. Is't far you ride? Ban. As far, my lord, as will fill up the time Macb. Fail not our feast. Macb. We hear, our bloody cousins are bestow'd [exit Banquo. Let every man be master of his time But to be safely thus:-Our fears in Banquo [sisters To act in safety. There is none, but he, For Banquo's issue have I fill'd my mind; To make them kings, the seed of Banquo, kings! Re-enter Attendant, with two Murderers. 1 Mur. It was, so please your highness. Have you consider'd of my speeches? Know, Who wrought with them; and all things else, that 1 Mur. You made it known to us. 1 Mur. We are men, my liege. Macb. Ay, in the catalogue ye go for men; [curs, -7.2 Macb. So is he mine: and in such bloody disThat every minute of his being thrusts Against my near'st of life: and though I could With barefac'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 inake 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 lives Whom we, to gain our place, have sent to peace, Than on the torture of the mind to lie In restless ecstacy. Duncan is in his grave; After life's fitful fever, he sleeps well; Lady M. Come on; Gentle my lord, sleek o'er your rugged looks; Must lave our honours in these flattering streams; [wife! Lady M. You must leave this. Macb. Your spirits shine through you. Within His cloister'd flight; ere, to black Hecate's sum this hour, at most, I will advise you where to plant yourselves. 2 Mur. We are resolv'd, my lord. 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 For a few words. Serv. Madam, I will. [leisure [exit. Lady M. Nought's had, all's spent, How now, my lord? why do you keep alone, Macb. We have scotch'd the snake, not kill'd it; The frame of things disjoint, both the worlds suffer, Good things of day begin to droop and drowse; SCENE III. THE SAME. A PARK OR LAWN, WITH 1 Mur. But who did bid thee join with us? 2 Mur. He needs not our mistrust; since he delivers Our offices, and what we have to do, To the direction just. 1 Mur. Then stand with us. The west yet glimmers with some streaks of day 3 Mur. Hark! I hear horses. 4 Ban, within] Give us a light there, ho! 2 Mur. Then it is he; the rest is That are within the note of expectation, and of spel Already are i'the court, 1 Mur. His horses go about. 8 Mur. Almost a mile; but he does usually So all men do, from hence to the palace gates Make it their walk. |