Lady.
That which hath made them drunk, hath made me bold:
What hath quench'd them, hath given me fire. &wlquo;Hark! peace!
&wlquo;It was the owl that shriek'd, the fatal bell-man,
&wlquo;Which gives the stern'st good-night—he is about it—
&wlquo;The doors are open; and the surfeited grooms
&wlquo;Do mock their charge with snores. I've drugg'd their Possets,
&wlquo;That death and nature do contend about them,
&wlquo;Whether they live or die.&wrquo; Enter Macbeth.

Macb.
Who's there?—what ho!

&wlquo;Lady.
&wlquo;Alack! I am afraid, they have awak'd;
&wlquo;And 'tis not done; th' attempt and not the deed,
&wlquo;Confounds us—hark—! I laid their daggers ready,

&wlquo;He could not miss 'em.—^{7 note}
Had he not resembled
&wlquo;My father as he slept, I had don't—My husband!&wrquo;

Macb.
I've done the deed—didst thou not hear a noise?

Lady.
I heard the owl scream, and the crickets cry.
Did not you speak?

Macb.
When?

Lady.
Now.

Macb.
As I descended?

Lady.
Ay.

Macb.
Hark!—who lies i'th' second chamber?

Lady.
Donalbain.

Macb.
This is a sorry sight. [Looks on his hands.

Lady.
A foolish thought, to say, a sorry sight.

&wlquo;Macb.
&wlquo;There's one did laugh in's sleep, and one cry'd, Murther!
&wlquo;They wak'd each other; and I stood and heard them;
&wlquo;But they did say their prayers, and address them
&wlquo;Again to sleep.&wrquo;

Lady.
There are two lodg'd together.

&wlquo;Macb.
&wlquo;One cry'd, God bless us! and, Amen! the other;
&wlquo;As they had seen me with these hangman's hands.
&wlquo;Listening their fear, I could not say, Amen,
&wlquo;When they did say, God bless us&wrquo;.

Lady.
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.

Lady.
These deeds must not be thought,
After these ways; so, it will make us mad.

&wlquo;Macb.
&wlquo;Methought, I heard a voice cry, Sleep no more!
&wlquo;Macbeth doth murther Sleep; the innocent sleep;
&wlquo;Sleep that knits up the ravell'd sleeve of care,
&wlquo;^{8 note}

Lady.
What do you mean?

&wlquo;Macb.
&wlquo;Still it cry'd, sleep no more, to all the house;
&wlquo;Glamis hath murther'd sleep, and therefore Cawdor
&wlquo;Shall sleep no more; Macbeth shall sleep no more!&wrquo;

Lady.
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.

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

&wlquo;Lady.
&wlquo;Infirm of purpose!
&wlquo;Give me the daggers; the sleeping and the dead

&wlquo;Are but as pictures; 'tis the eye of childhood,
&wlquo;That fears a painted devil.&wrquo; If he do bleed,
I'll gild the faces of the grooms withal,
For it must seem their guilt. [Exit. Knocks within.

Macb.
Whence is that knocking! [Starting.
&wlquo;How is it with me, when every noise appals me?&wrquo;
What hands are here? hah! they pluck out mine eyes.
Will all great Neptune's ocean wash this blood
Clean from my hand? no, this my hand will rather
Thy multitudinous sea incarnardine,
Making the green one red— Enter Lady.

&wlquo;Lady.
&wlquo;My hands are of your colour; but I shame
&wlquo;To wear a heart so white; I hear a knocking [Knock.
&wlquo;At the south entry. Retire we to our chamber;
&wlquo;A little water clears us of this deed.
&wlquo;How easie is it then? your constancy
&wlquo;Hath left you unattended—hark, more knocking! [Knock.
&wlquo;Get on your night-gown, lest occasion call us,
&wlquo;And shew us to be Watchers; be not lost
&wlquo;So poorly in your thoughts.&wrquo;

Macb.
^{9 note}

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