L. M^b.
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 bell-man,
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 drug'd their possets,
That death and nature do contend about them,
Whether they live, or dye. Enter Macbeth.

Mac^b.
Who's there? what, ho!

L. M^b.
Alack, I am afraid they have awak'd,
And 'tis not done; the attempt, and not the deed,
Confounds us:—Hark!—I lay'd their daggers ready,
He could not miss them. Had he not resembl'd
My father as he slept, I had don't.—My husband?

Mac^b.
I have done the deed: Didst thou not hear a noise?

L. M^b.
I heard the owl scream, and the crickets cry.
Did not you speak?

Mac^b.
When?

L. M^b.
Now.

Mac^b.
As I descended?

L. M^b.
Ay.

Mac^b.
Hark!—Who lies i'the second chamber?

L. M^b.
Donalbain.

Mac^b.
This is a sorry sight. [looking on his Hands.

L. M^b.
A foolish thought, to say a sorry sight. [murther!

Mac^b.
There's one did laugh in his sleep, and one cry'd,
That they did wake each other; I stood and heard them:
But they did say their prayers, and addrest them
Again to sleep.

L. M^b.
There are two lodg'd together.

Mac^b.
One cry'd, God bless us! and, Amen, the other;
As they had seen me,14Q0503 with these hangman's hands,
List'ning their fear. I could not say, amen,
When they did say, God bless us.

L. M^b.
Consider it not so deeply.

Mac^b.
But wherefore could not I pronounce, amen?

I had most need of blessing, and amen
Stuck in my throat.

L. M^b.
These deeds must not be thought on
After these ways; so, it will make us mad.

Mac^b.
Methought, I heard a voice cry, Sleep no more!
Macbeth does murther sleep, the innocent sleep;
Sleep, that knits up the ravel'd sleeve of care,
The death of each day's life, sore labour's bath,
Balm of hurt minds, great nature's second course,
Chief nourisher in life's feast;—

L. M^b.
What do you mean?

Mac^b.
Still it cry'd, Sleep no more! to all the house:
Glamis hath murder'd Sleep; ^note and therefore Cawdor
Shall sleep no more, Macbeth shall sleep no more.

L. M^b.
Who was it, that thus cry'd? Why, worthy thane,
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.
Why did you bring these daggers from the place?
They must lye there: Go, carry them; and smear
The sleepy grooms with blood.

Mac^b.
I'll go no more:
I am afraid, to think what I have done;
Look on't again, I dare not.

L. M^b.
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 bleed,
I'll gild the faces of the grooms withal,
For it must seem their guilt. [Exit. Knocking within.

Mac^b.
Whence is that knocking!
How is't with me, when every noise appalls 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 multitudinous seas ^note incarnadine,
Making the green one red. Re-enter Lady Macbeth.

L. M^b.
My hands are of your colour; but I shame
To wear a heart so white. [Knock.] 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. [Knock.] Hark! more knocking:
Get on your night-gown, lest ^note occasion call us,
And shew us to be watchers: Be not lost
So poorly in your thoughts.

Mac^b.
To know my deed,—'Twere best not know myself. [Knocking.
Wake, Duncan, with this knocking ^note: 'Would thou could'st! [Exeunt.

Previous section

Next section