Ban.
How goes the night, boy?

Fle.
The moon is down; I have not heard the clock.

Ban.
And she goes down at twelve.

Fle.
I take't, 'tis later, sir.

Ban.
Hold, take my sword:—There's husbandry in heaven,
Their candles are all out:—Take thee that &dagger2; 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!—Give me my sword;— Enter Macbeth, and Servant with a Torch.
Who's there?

Mac^b.
A friend.

Ban.
What, sir, not yet at rest? The king's a-bed:
He hath to-night been in unusual pleasure,
And sent great ^note largess to your officers ^note:
This &dagger2; diamond he greets your wife withal,
By the name of most kind hostess; and's shut up ^note
In measureless content.

Mac^b.
Being unprepar'd,
Our will became the servant to defect;
Which else should free have wrought.

Ban.
All's very well.
I dreamt last night of the three weird sisters:
To you they have shew'd some truth.

Mac^b.
I think not of them:
Yet, when we can intreat an hour to serve,
We would spend it in some words upon that business,
If you would grant the time.

Ban.
At your kind'st leisure.

Mac^b.
If you shall cleave to my consent, when 'tis,
It shall make honour for you.

Ban.
So I lose none,
In seeking to augment it, but still keep
My bosom franchis'd, and allegiance clear,
I shall be counsel'd.

Mac^b.
Good repose, the while!

Ban.
Thanks, sir; The like to you! [Exeunt Banquo, Fleance, and Servant.

Mac^b.
Go, bid thy mistress, when my drink is ready,
She strike upon the bell. Get thee to bed. [Exit Servant.
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 ^note brain?
I see thee yet, in form as palpable
As this † which now I draw.

Thou marshal'st me the way that I was going;
And such an instrument I was to use.
Mine eyes are made the fools o'the other senses,
Or else worth all the rest: I see thee still;
And on thy blade, and dudgeon, gouts of blood,
Which was not so before. There's no such thing:
It is the bloody business, which informs
Thus to mine eyes. Now o'er the one half ^note world14Q0502
Nature seems dead, and wicked dreams abuse
The curtain'd sleep: now witchcraft celebrates
Pale Hecat's offerings; and wither'd murther,
Alarum'd by his centinel, the wolf,
Whose howl's his watch, thus with his stealthy pace,
With Tarquin's ravishing strides ^note, towards his desigh ^note
Moves like a ghost. Thou sure and ^note firm-set earth,
Hear not my steps, which way they walk ^note, for fear
Thy very stones prate of my where-about,
And take the present horror from the time,
Which now suits with it. While I threat, he lives:
Words to the heat of deeds too cold breath gives. [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.

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