Fleance bearing a torch before him.
Ban.
How goes the night, boy?
Fle.
The moon is down; I have not heard the clock. note
Ban.
And she goes down at twelve.
Fle.
I take't, 'tis later, sir.
Ban.
Hold, take my sword. There's note husbandry in heaven note,
Their candles are all out. Take thee that too.
A heavy summons lies like lead upon me,
And yet I would not sleep. Merciful powers,
Restrain in me the cursed thoughts that nature
Gives way to in repose! note
-- 445 --
Enter note Macbeth, and a Servant with a torch.
Give me my sword. note
Who's there? note
Macb.
A friend.
Ban.
What, sir, not yet at rest? The king's a-bed:
He hath been in unusual pleasure, and
Sent forth great largess to your offices note:
This diamond he greets your wife withal,
By the name of most kind hostess; note and shut up note
In measureless content. note
Macb.
Being unprepared,
Our will became the servant to defect,
Which else should free have wrought.
Ban.
All's note well note.
I dreamt last night of the three weird note sisters:
To you they have note show'd some truth.
Macb.
I think not of them:
Yet, when we can entreat an hour to serve,
We would note spend it in note some words upon that business,
If you would grant the time.
Ban.
At your kind'st note leisure note.
Macb.
If you shall cleave to my consent note, when 'tis
It shall make honour for you. note
Ban.
So I lose none
In seeking to augment it, but still keep
My bosom franchised and allegiance clear,
-- 446 --
I shall be counsell'd.
Macb.
Good repose the while!
Ban.
Thanks, sir: the like to you!
[Exeunt note Banquo and Fleance.
note
Macb.
Go bid thy mistress, when my drink is ready,
She strike upon the bell. Get thee to bed.
[Exit Servant. note
Is this a dagger which I see before me,
The handle toward my hand? Come, let me clutch thee.
I have thee not, and yet I see thee still.
Art thou not, fatal vision, sensible
To feeling as to sight? or art thou but
A dagger of the mind, a false creation,
Proceeding from the heat-oppressed brain?
I see thee yet, in form as palpable
As this which now I draw.
Thou marshall'st me the way that I was going;
And such an instrument I was to use. note
Mine eyes are made the fools o' the other senses,
Or else worth all the rest: I see thee still; note
And on thy blade and dudgeon note gouts of blood,
Which was not so before. There's no such thing:
It is the bloody business which informs
Thus note to mine eyes. Now o'er the one half-world note
Nature seems dead, and wicked dreams abuse
The curtain'd sleep note; witchcraft note celebrates
Pale Hecate's offerings; and wither'd note murder,
Alarum'd by his sentinel, the wolf,
Whose howl 's note his watch, thus with his stealthy pace,
-- 447 --
With Tarquin's ravishing strides, note towards his design
Moves like a ghost. Thou sure note and note firm-set earth,
Hear note not my steps, which way they note walk, for note fear
Thy note very stones prate of my whereabout note,
And take the present horror from the time,
Which note now suits with it. Whiles note I threat, he lives:
Words to the heat of deeds too cold breath gives. note
[A bell rings.
I go, and it is done: the bell invites me.
Hear it not, Duncan, for it is a knell
That summons thee to heaven, or to hell.
[Exit.
note
Scene II. [Footnote:
The same. note
Enter Lady Macbeth.
Lady M.
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:
-- 448 --
The doors are open, and the surfeited grooms
Do mock their charge with snores: I have note drugg'd their possets, note
That death and nature do contend about them,
Whether they live or die.
Macb.
[Within note]
Who's there? what, ho!
Lady M.
Alack, I am afraid they have awaked
And 'tis not done: the attempt and not the deed note
Confounds us. Hark! I laid their daggers ready;
He could not miss 'em note. Had he not resembled
My father as he slept, I had done't.
Enter Macbeth. note
My husband! note
Macb.
I have note done the deed. Didst thou not hear a noise? note
Lady M.
I heard the owl scream and the crickets cry.
Did not you speak?
Macb.
When?
Lady M.
Now.
Macb.
As I descended? note
Lady M.
Ay.
Macb.
Hark!
Who lies i' the second chamber? note
Lady M.
Donalbain.
Macb.
This is a sorry sight.
Looking note on his hands.
Lady M.
A foolish thought, to say a sorry sight.
-- 449 --
Macb.
There's one did laugh in's note sleep, and one cried ‘Murder!’
That they did wake each other: I note stood and heard them:
But they did say their prayers, and address'd note them
Again to sleep. note
Lady M.
There are two lodged together.
Macb.
One cried ‘God bless us!’ and ‘Amen’ the other,
As they had seen me with these hangman's hands:
Listening their fear note, note I could not say ‘Amen,’
When they did say note ‘God bless us!’
Lady M.
Consider it not so deeply.
Macb.
But wherefore could not I pronounce ‘Amen’?
I had most need of blessing, and ‘Amen’
Stuck in my throat. note
Lady M.
These deeds must not be thought note
After these ways; note so, it will make us mad.
Macb.
Methought I heard a voice cry ‘Sleep no more!
Macbeth does note murder sleep’ note—the innocent sleep,
Sleep that knits up the ravell'd sleave note of care, note
The death note of each day's life note, sore labour's bath,
Balm of hurt minds, great nature's second course note,
Chief nourisher in life's feast,— note
Lady M.
What do you mean?
Macb.
Still it cried ‘Sleep no more!’ to all the house:
‘Glamis note hath murder'd sleep, and therefore Cawdor
-- 450 --
Shall sleep no more: Macbeth shall sleep no more.’ note
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.
Macb.
I'll go no more:
I am afraid to think what note 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 note bleed,
I'll gild note the faces of the grooms withal,
For it must seem their guilt.
[Exit. Knocking note within.
Macb.
Whence is that knocking? note
How is't note 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 note multitudinous seas note incarnadine note,
Making the green one red note. note
Re-enter note Lady Macbeth.
Lady M.
My hands are of your colour, but I shame
-- 451 --
To wear a heart so white. [Knocking within. note] 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. note] Hark! more knocking: note
Get on your nightgown, lest occasion call us
And show us to be watchers: be not lost
So poorly in your thoughts.
Macb.
To know note my deed, 'twere best not know myself.
[Knocking note within. note
Wake Duncan with thy note knocking! I would note thou couldst! note
[Exeunt.
note
Scene III. [Footnote:
The same. note
Enter a Porter. Knocking within.
Porter.
Here's a knocking indeed! If a man were porter
of hell-gate, he should have old note turning the key. [Knocking
within. note] Knock, knock, knock! Who's there, i' the name of
Beelzebub? Here's a farmer, that hanged himself on note th' expectation
of plenty: come in time note; have napkins enow note about
-- 452 --
you; here you'll note sweat for't. [Knocking within. note] Knock,
knock! Who's there, in th' note other devil's name? Faith note,
here's an equivocator, that could swear in both the scales
against either scale; who note committed treason enough for
God's sake, yet could not equivocate to heaven: O, come
in, equivocator. [Knocking within. note] 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. note] 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 note. [Knocking within. note] Anon, note
anon! I pray you, remember the porter.
[Opens the gate.
Enter Macduff and Lennox.
Macd.
Was it so late, friend, ere you went to bed,
That you do lie so late?
Port.
Faith, sir, we were carousing till the second cock:
and drink, sir, is a great provoker of three things. note
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 note, 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 on me note: but I
requited him for his lie, and, I think, being too strong for
-- 453 --
him, though he took up note my legs sometime, yet I made a
shift to cast him. note note
Macd.
Is thy master stirring?
note Enter Macbeth. note
Our knocking has awaked him; here he comes.
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:
I have note 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 note pain.
This note is the door.
Macd.
I'll make so bold to call,
For 'tis my limited service. note
[Exit. note
Len.
Goes the king hence note to-day?
Macb.
He does: note he did appoint so.
Len.
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, note
And prophesying note with accents terrible
-- 454 --
Of dire combustion note and confused events
New hatch'd to the woful time: the note note obscure note bird
Clamour'd the livelong night: some say, the earth
Was feverous and did shake. note
Macb.
'Twas a rough night.
Len.
My young remembrance cannot parallel
A fellow to it.
Re-enter Macduff. note
Macd.
O horror, horror, horror! Tongue nor note heart
Cannot conceive nor name thee. note
Macb. Len.
What's the matter?
Macd.
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.
Macb.
What is't you say? the life?
Len.
Mean you his majesty?
Macd. note
Approach the chamber, and destroy your sight
With a new Gorgon: do not bid me speak;
See, and then speak yourselves.
[Exeunt note Macbeth and Lennox.
Awake, awake!
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! note
-- 455 --
As from your graves rise up, and walk like sprites,
To countenance this horror. Ring the bell.
[Bell rings. note note
Enter note Lady Macbeth.
note
Lady M.
What's the business,
That such a note hideous trumpet calls to parley
The sleepers of the house? speak, speak! note
Macd.
O note gentle lady,
'Tis not for you to hear what I can speak:
The repetition, in a woman's ear,
Would murder as it fell.
Enter Banquo. note
O Banquo, Banquo!
Our royal master's murder'd. note
Lady M.
Woe, alas!
What, in our house?
Ban.
Too cruel any where.
Dear Duff note, I prithee, contradict note thyself,
And say it is not so.
Re-enter note Macbeth and Lennox, with Ross.
Macb.
Had I but died an hour before this chance,
I had lived a blessed time; for from this instant
There's nothing serious in mortality:
All is but toys: renown and grace is dead note;
-- 456 --
The wine of life is drawn, and the mere lees
Is note left this vault to brag of.
Enter Malcolm and Donalbain.
Don.
What is amiss?
Macb.
You are, and do not know't note:
The spring, the head, note 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 note done't:
Their hands and faces were all badged note with blood;
So were their daggers, which unwiped we found
Upon their pillows:
They stared, and were distracted; no note man's life
Was to be trusted with them. note
Macb.
O, yet I do repent me of my fury,
That I did kill them. note
Macd.
Wherefore did you so?
Macb.
Who can be wise, amazed note, temperate and furious,
Loyal and neutral, in a moment? No man:
The expedition of my violent love
Outrun note the pauser reason. Here lay Duncan,
His silver skin laced note with his golden note blood note,
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 note with gore: who could refrain,
-- 457 --
That had a heart to love, and in that heart
note
Courage to make's note love known?
Lady M.
Help me hence, ho!
Macd.
note
Look to the lady.
Mal.
[Aside note to Don.]
Why do we hold our tongues,
That most may claim this argument for ours?
Don.
[Aside note to Mal.]
What should be spoken here, where our fate,
Hid in note an auger-hole, may rush, and seize us? note
Let's away note;
Our tears are not yet brew'd.
Mal.
[Aside note to Don.]
Nor our strong sorrow
Upon note the foot of motion.
Ban.
Look note to the lady:
[Lady note Macbeth is 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 undivulged pretence I fight
Of treasonous malice.
Macd. note
And note so do I.
All.
So all.
Macb.
Let's briefly put on manly readiness,
And meet i' the hall together.
All.
Well contented.
[Exeunt all but note Malcolm and Donalbain.
-- 458 --
Mal.
What will you do? Let's not consort with them: note
To show an unfelt sorrow is an office
Which the false man does easy. I'll to England. note
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 note in blood,
The nearer bloody. note
Mal.
This murderous shaft that's shot
Hath not yet lighted, and our safest way
Is to avoid the aim. Therefore to horse note;
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.
note
Scene IV. [Footnote:
Outside note Macbeth's castle.
Enter Ross with an old Man.
Old M.
Threescore and ten I can remember well:
Within the volume of which time I have note seen
Hours dreadful and things strange, but this sore night
Hath trifled former knowings.
Ross.
Ah note, good father,
Thou seest, the heavens, as troubled with man's act,
Threaten note his note bloody stage note: by the clock 'tis day,
And yet dark night strangles the travelling note lamp:
Is't night's predominance, or the day's shame,
-- 459 --
That darkness does the face of earth entomb,
When living light should note kiss it?
Old M.
'Tis unnatural,
Even like the deed that's done. On Tuesday last
A falcon towering in her pride of place
Was by a mousing owl hawk'd at and kill'd.
Ross.
And Duncan's horses note—a thing most strange and certain note—
Beauteous and swift, the minions of their note race,
Turn'd wild in nature, broke their stalls, flung note out,
Contending 'gainst obedience, as they would make
War note with mankind note.
Old M.
'Tis said they eat note each other.
Ross.
They did so, to the amazement of mine eyes,
That look'd upon't.
Enter Macduff. note
Here comes the good Macduff. note
How goes the world, sir, now?
Macd.
Why, see you not?
Ross.
Is't known who did this more than bloody deed?
Macd.
Those that Macbeth hath slain.
Ross.
Alas, the day!
What good could they pretend?
Macd.
They were note suborn'd note:
Malcolm and Donalbain, the king's two sons,
Are stol'n away and fled, which puts upon them
Suspicion of the deed.
Ross.
'Gainst nature still:
Thriftless ambition, that wilt note ravin up note
-- 460 --
Thine note own life's note means! Then 'tis note most like
The sovereignty will fall upon Macbeth.
Macd.
He is already named, and gone note to Scone
To be invested.
Ross.
Where is Duncan's body?
Macd.
Carried to Colme-kill note,
The sacred storehouse of his predecessors
And guardian of their bones.
Ross.
Will you to Scone?
Macd.
No, cousin, I'll to Fife.
Ross.
Well, I will thither.
Macd.
Well, may note you see things well done there: adieu!
Lest our old robes sit easier than our new!
Ross.
Farewell, father.
Old M.
God's benison go with you note, and with those
That would make good of bad and friends of foes!
[Exeunt. note
William Aldis Wright [1863–1866], The works of William Shakespeare edited by William George Clark... and John Glover [and William Aldis Wright] (Macmillan and Co., London) [word count] [S10701].
