Macbeth

Share
First folio
Modern text

Definitions

Key line

Enter Lady.Enter Lady Macbeth Mac II.ii.1
La.LADY 
That which hath made thẽ drunk, hath made me bold:That which hath made them drunk hath made me bold; Mac II.ii.1
What hath quench'd them, hath giuen me fire. Hearke, peace:What hath quenched them hath given me fire. – Hark! – Peace!quench (v.)

old form: quench'd
extinguish, put out, knock out
Mac II.ii.2
it was the Owle that shriek'd, / The fatall Bell-man,It was the owl that shrieked, the fatal bellmanfatal (adj.)

old form: fatall
ominous, full of foreboding, doom-laden
Mac II.ii.3
bellman (n.)

old form: Bell-man
bell-ringer who announces an impending death [as of a condemned prisoner]
which giues the stern'st good-night. He is about it,Which gives the stern'st good-night. He is about it. Mac II.ii.4
the Doores are open: / And the surfeted GroomesThe doors are open, and the surfeited groomssurfeited (adj.)

old form: surfeted
overfilled, intemperate, saturated
Mac II.ii.5
groom (n.)

old form: Groomes
serving-man, servant, male attendant
doe mock their charge / With Snores. I haue drugg'd their Possets,Do mock their charge with snores; I have drugged their possetscharge (n.)
task, responsibility, duty
Mac II.ii.6
posset (n.)
restorative hot drink, made of milk, liquor, and other ingredients
That Death and Nature doe contend about them,That death and nature do contend about themnature (n.)
natural powers, normal state [of mind and body]
Mac II.ii.7
contend (v.)
fight, engage in combat, struggle
Whether they liue, or dye.Whether they live or die. Mac II.ii.8.1
Macb.MACBETH  
(within) Mac II.ii.8
Who's there? what hoa?Who's there? What, ho! Mac II.ii.8.2
Lady.LADY 
Alack, I am afraid they haue awak'd,Alack, I am afraid they have awaked, Mac II.ii.9
And 'tis not done: th' attempt, and not the deed,And 'tis not done. The attempt and not the deed Mac II.ii.10
Confounds vs: hearke: I lay'd their Daggers ready,Confounds us. – Hark! – I laid their daggers ready; Mac II.ii.11
He could not misse 'em. Had he not resembledHe could not miss 'em. Had he not resembled Mac II.ii.12
My Father as he slept, I had don't.My father as he slept, I had done't. Mac II.ii.13.1
Enter Macbeth.Enter Macbeth, carrying two bloodstained daggers Mac II.ii.13
My Husband?My husband! Mac II.ii.13.2
Macb.MACBETH 
I haue done the deed: Didst thou not heare a noyse?I have done the deed. Didst thou not hear a noise? Mac II.ii.14
Lady.LADY 
I heard the Owle schreame, and the Crickets cry.I heard the owl scream and the cricket's cry. Mac II.ii.15
Did not you speake?Did not you speak? Mac II.ii.16.1
Macb.MACBETH 
When?When? Mac II.ii.16.2
Lady.LADY 
Now.Now. Mac II.ii.16.3
Macb.MACBETH 
As I descended?As I descended? Mac II.ii.16.4
Lady.LADY 
I.Ay. Mac II.ii.17
Macb.MACBETH 
Hearke,Hark! Mac II.ii.18
who lyes i'th' second Chamber?Who lies i'the second chamber?chamber (n.)
bedchamber, bedroom
Mac II.ii.19.1
Lady.LADY 
Donalbaine.Donalbain. Mac II.ii.19.2
Mac.MACBETH  
(looks at his hands) Mac II.ii.20
This is a sorry sight.This is a sorry sight.sorry (adj.)
sorrowful, painful, sad, pitiable
Mac II.ii.20
Lady.LADY 
A foolish thought, to say a sorry sight.A foolish thought, to say a sorry sight. Mac II.ii.21
Macb.MACBETH 
There's one did laugh in's sleepe, / And one cry'd Murther,There's one did laugh in's sleep, and one cried ‘ Murder!’ Mac II.ii.22
that they did wake each other: / I stood, and heard them:That they did wake each other. I stood and heard them. Mac II.ii.23
But they did say their Prayers, / And addrest themBut they did say their prayers and addressed themaddress (v.)

old form: addrest
prepare, make ready, poise to act
Mac II.ii.24
againe to sleepe.Again to sleep. Mac II.ii.25.1
Lady.LADY 
There are two lodg'd together.There are two lodged together. Mac II.ii.25.2
Macb.MACBETH 
One cry'd God blesse vs, and Amen the other,One cried ‘ God bless us!’ and ‘ Amen ’ the other, Mac II.ii.26
As they had seene me with these Hangmans hands:As they had seen me with these hangman's hands. Mac II.ii.27
Listning their feare, I could not say Amen,Listening their fear I could not say ‘ Amen ’ Mac II.ii.28
When they did say God blesse vs.When they did say ‘ God bless us.’ Mac II.ii.29
Lady.LADY 
Consider it not so deepely.Consider it not so deeply.consider (v.)
reflect, think carefully, ponder, contemplate
Mac II.ii.30
Mac.MACBETH 
But wherefore could not I pronounce Amen?But wherefore could not I pronounce ‘ Amen ’? Mac II.ii.31
I had most need of Blessing, and AmenI had most need of blessing, and ‘ Amen ’ Mac II.ii.32
stuck in my throat.Stuck in my throat. Mac II.ii.33.1
Lady.LADY 
These deeds must not be thoughtThese deeds must not be thought Mac II.ii.33.2
After these wayes: so, it will make vs mad.After these ways; so, it will make us mad. Mac II.ii.34
Macb.MACBETH 
Me thought I heard a voyce cry, Sleep no more:Methought I heard a voice cry, ‘ Sleep no more!methinks(t), methought(s) (v.)

old form: Me thought
it seems / seemed to me
Mac II.ii.35
Macbeth does murther Sleepe, the innocent Sleepe,Macbeth does murder sleep – the innocent sleep, Mac II.ii.36
Sleepe that knits vp the rauel'd Sleeue of Care,Sleep that knits up the ravelled sleave of care,ravelled (adj.)

old form: rauel'd
tangled, confused, jumbled up
Mac II.ii.37
sleave (n.)

old form: Sleeue
[of silk] strands, threads, skein
The death of each dayes Life, sore Labors Bath,The death of each day's life, sore labour's bath, Mac II.ii.38
Balme of hurt Mindes, great Natures second Course,Balm of hurt minds, great nature's second course, Mac II.ii.39
Chiefe nourisher in Life's Feast.Chief nourisher in life's feast,’ Mac II.ii.40.1
Lady.LADY 
What doe you meane?What do you mean? Mac II.ii.40.2
Macb.MACBETH 
Still it cry'd, Sleepe no more to all the House:Still it cried ‘ Sleep no more ’ to all the house;still (adv.)
constantly, always, continually
Mac II.ii.41
Glamis hath murther'd Sleepe, and therefore Cawdor‘ Glamis hath murdered sleep, and therefore Cawdor Mac II.ii.42
Shall sleepe no more: Macbeth shall sleepe no more.Shall sleep no more, Macbeth shall sleep no more.’ Mac II.ii.43
Lady.LADY 
Who was it, that thus cry'd? why worthy Thane,Who was it that thus cried? Why, worthy thane, Mac II.ii.44
You doe vnbend your Noble strength, to thinkeYou do unbend your noble strength, to thinkunbend (v.)

old form: vnbend
slacken, weaken, undermine
Mac II.ii.45
So braine-sickly of things: Goe get some Water,So brain-sickly of things. Go get some water,brain-sickly (adv.)

old form: braine-sickly
foolishly, in such an addle-headed way
Mac II.ii.46
And wash this filthie Witnesse from your Hand.And wash this filthy witness from your hand.witness (n.)

old form: Witnesse
evidence, sign
Mac II.ii.47
Why did you bring these Daggers from the place?Why did you bring these daggers from the place? Mac II.ii.48
They must lye there: goe carry them, and smeareThey must lie there. Go, carry them and smear Mac II.ii.49
The sleepie Groomes with blood.The sleepy grooms with blood.groom (n.)
serving-man, servant, male attendant
Mac II.ii.50.1
Macb.MACBETH 
Ile goe no more:I'll go no more. Mac II.ii.50.2
I am afraid, to thinke what I haue done:I am afraid to think what I have done; Mac II.ii.51
Looke on't againe, I dare not.Look on't again I dare not. Mac II.ii.52.1
Lady.LADY 
Infirme of purpose:Infirm of purpose!purpose (n.)
intention, aim, plan
Mac II.ii.52.2
Giue me the Daggers: the sleeping, and the dead,Give me the daggers. The sleeping and the dead Mac II.ii.53
Are but as Pictures: 'tis the Eye of Child-hood,Are but as pictures. 'Tis the eye of childhood Mac II.ii.54
That feares a painted Deuill. If he doe bleed,That fears a painted devil. If he do bleed, Mac II.ii.55
Ile guild the Faces of the Groomes withall,I'll gild the faces of the grooms withal,gild (v.), past forms gilt, gilded

old form: guild
cover, coat, smear
Mac II.ii.56
groom (n.)

old form: Groomes
serving-man, servant, male attendant
For it must seeme their Guilt.For it must seem their guilt. Mac II.ii.57.1
Exit.Exit Mac II.ii.57
Knocke within.Knocking within Mac II.ii.57
Macb.MACBETH 
Whence is that knocking?Whence is that knocking? Mac II.ii.57.2
How is't with me, when euery noyse appalls me?How is't with me when every noise appals me? Mac II.ii.58
What Hands are here? hah: they pluck out mine Eyes.What hands are here! Ha – they pluck out mine eyes! Mac II.ii.59
Will all great Neptunes Ocean wash this bloodWill all great Neptune's ocean wash this bloodNeptune
Roman water-god, chiefly associated with the sea and sea-weather
Mac II.ii.60
Cleane from my Hand? no: this my Hand will ratherClean from my hand? No, this my hand will rather Mac II.ii.61
The multitudinous Seas incarnardine,The multitudinous seas incarnadine,multitudinous (adj.)
myriad, innumerable; or: containing multitudes [of creatures]
Mac II.ii.62
incarnadine (v.)
redden, turn blood-red
Making the Greene one, Red.Making the green one red. Mac II.ii.63
Enter Lady.Enter Lady Macbeth Mac II.ii.63
Lady.LADY 
My Hands are of your colour: but I shameMy hands are of your colour; but I shameshame (v.)
be ashamed, be embarrassed
Mac II.ii.64
To weare a Heart so white.To wear a heart so white. Mac II.ii.65.1
Knocke.Knock Mac II.ii.65
I heare a knockingI hear a knocking Mac II.ii.65.2
at the South entry: / Retyre we to our Chamber:At the south entry. Retire we to our chamber. Mac II.ii.66
A little Water cleares vs of this deed.A little water clears us of this deed; Mac II.ii.67
How easie is it then? your ConstancieHow easy is it then! Your constancy Mac II.ii.68
Hath left you vnattended.Hath left you unattended. Mac II.ii.69.1
Knocke.Knock Mac II.ii.69
Hearke, more knocking.Hark! more knocking. Mac II.ii.69.2
Get on your Night-Gowne, least occasion call vs,Get on your nightgown, lest occasion call usnightgown, night-gown (n.)

old form: Night-Gowne
dressing-gown
Mac II.ii.70
occasion (n.)
course of events, state of affairs
And shew vs to be Watchers: be not lostAnd show us to be watchers. Be not lostwatcher (n.)
one who stays wide-awake
Mac II.ii.71
So poorely in your thoughts.So poorly in your thoughts. Mac II.ii.72
MacbMACBETH 
To know my deed, / 'Twere best not know my selfe.To know my deed 'twere best not know myself. Mac II.ii.73
Knocke.Knock Mac II.ii.73
Wake Duncan with thy knocking: I would thou could'st.Wake Duncan with thy knocking! I would thou couldst! Mac II.ii.74
Exeunt.Exeunt Mac II.ii.74
 Previous Act II, Scene II Next  
x

Jump directly to