Macbeth

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Original text
Act II, Scene I
Enter Banquo, and Fleance, with a Torch before him.

Banq.
How goes the Night, Boy?

Fleance.
The Moone is downe: I haue not heard the Clock.

Banq.
And she goes downe at Twelue.

Fleance.
I take't, 'tis later, Sir.

Banq.
Hold, take my Sword: There's Husbandry in Heauen,
Their Candles are all out: take thee that too.
A heauie Summons lyes like Lead vpon me,
And yet I would not sleepe: Mercifull Powers,
restraine in me the cursed thoughts / That Nature
giues way to in repose.
Enter Macbeth, and a Seruant with a Torch.
Giue me my Sword:
who's there?

Macb.
A Friend.

Banq.
What Sir, not yet at rest? the King's a bed.
He hath beene in vnusuall Pleasure,
And sent forth great Largesse to your Offices.
This Diamond he greetes your Wife withall,
By the name of most kind Hostesse, / And shut vp
in measurelesse content.

Mac.
Being vnprepar'd,
Our will became the seruant to defect,
Which else should free haue wrought.

Banq.
All's well.
I dreamt last Night of the three weyward Sisters:
To you they haue shew'd some truth.

Macb.
I thinke not of them:
Yet when we can entreat an houre to serue,
We would spend it in some words vpon that Businesse,
If you would graunt the time.

Banq.
At your kind'st leysure.

Macb.
If you shall cleaue to my consent, / When 'tis,
it shall make Honor for you.

Banq.
So I lose none,
In seeking to augment it, but still keepe
My Bosome franchis'd, and Allegeance cleare,
I shall be counsail'd.

Macb.
Good repose the while.

Banq.
Thankes Sir: the like to you.
Exit Banquo.

Macb.
Goe bid thy Mistresse, when my drinke is ready,
She strike vpon the Bell. Get thee to bed.
Exit.
Is this a Dagger, which I see before me,
The Handle toward my Hand? Come, let me clutch thee:
I haue thee not, and yet I see thee still.
Art thou not fatall Vision, sensible
To feeling, as to sight? or art thou but
A Dagger of the Minde, a false Creation,
Proceeding from the heat-oppressed Braine?
I see thee yet, in forme 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 vse.
Mine Eyes are made the fooles o'th' other Sences,
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 Businesse, which informes
Thus to mine Eyes. Now o're the one halfe World
Nature seemes dead, and wicked Dreames abuse
The Curtain'd sleepe: Witchcraft celebrates
Pale Heccats Offrings: and wither'd Murther,
Alarum'd by his Centinell, the Wolfe,
Whose howle's his Watch, thus with his stealthy pace,
With Tarquins rauishing sides, towards his designe
Moues like a Ghost. Thou sowre and firme-set Earth
Heare not my steps, which they may walke, for feare
Thy very stones prate of my where-about,
And take the present horror from the time,
Which now sutes with it. Whiles I threat, he liues:
Words to the heat of deedes too cold breath giues.
A Bell rings.
I goe, and it is done: the Bell inuites me.
Heare it not, Duncan, for it is a Knell,
That summons thee to Heauen, or to Hell.
Exit.
Original text
Act II, Scene II
Enter Lady.

La.
That which hath made thẽ drunk, hath made me bold:
What hath quench'd them, hath giuen me fire. Hearke, peace:
it was the Owle that shriek'd, / The fatall Bell-man,
which giues the stern'st good-night. He is about it,
the Doores are open: / And the surfeted Groomes
doe mock their charge / With Snores. I haue drugg'd their Possets,
That Death and Nature doe contend about them,
Whether they liue, or dye.

Macb.
Who's there? what hoa?

Lady.
Alack, I am afraid they haue awak'd,
And 'tis not done: th' attempt, and not the deed,
Confounds vs: hearke: I lay'd their Daggers ready,
He could not misse 'em. Had he not resembled
My Father as he slept, I had don't.
Enter Macbeth.
My Husband?

Macb.
I haue done the deed: Didst thou not heare a noyse?

Lady.
I heard the Owle schreame, and the Crickets cry.
Did not you speake?

Macb.
When?

Lady.
Now.

Macb.
As I descended?

Lady.
I.

Macb.
Hearke,
who lyes i'th' second Chamber?

Lady.
Donalbaine.

Mac.
This is a sorry sight.

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

Macb.
There's one did laugh in's sleepe, / And one cry'd Murther,
that they did wake each other: / I stood, and heard them:
But they did say their Prayers, / And addrest them
againe to sleepe.

Lady.
There are two lodg'd together.

Macb.
One cry'd God blesse vs, and Amen the other,
As they had seene me with these Hangmans hands:
Listning their feare, I could not say Amen,
When they did say God blesse vs.

Lady.
Consider it not so deepely.

Mac.
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 wayes: so, it will make vs mad.

Macb.
Me thought I heard a voyce cry, Sleep no more:
Macbeth does murther Sleepe, the innocent Sleepe,
Sleepe that knits vp the rauel'd Sleeue of Care,
The death of each dayes Life, sore Labors Bath,
Balme of hurt Mindes, great Natures second Course,
Chiefe nourisher in Life's Feast.

Lady.
What doe you meane?

Macb.
Still it cry'd, Sleepe no more to all the House:
Glamis hath murther'd Sleepe, and therefore Cawdor
Shall sleepe no more: Macbeth shall sleepe no more.

Lady.
Who was it, that thus cry'd? why worthy Thane,
You doe vnbend your Noble strength, to thinke
So braine-sickly of things: Goe get some Water,
And wash this filthie Witnesse from your Hand.
Why did you bring these Daggers from the place?
They must lye there: goe carry them, and smeare
The sleepie Groomes with blood.

Macb.
Ile goe no more:
I am afraid, to thinke what I haue done:
Looke on't againe, I dare not.

Lady.
Infirme of purpose:
Giue me the Daggers: the sleeping, and the dead,
Are but as Pictures: 'tis the Eye of Child-hood,
That feares a painted Deuill. If he doe bleed,
Ile guild the Faces of the Groomes withall,
For it must seeme their Guilt.
Exit.
Knocke within.

Macb.
Whence is that knocking?
How is't with me, when euery noyse appalls me?
What Hands are here? hah: they pluck out mine Eyes.
Will all great Neptunes Ocean wash this blood
Cleane from my Hand? no: this my Hand will rather
The multitudinous Seas incarnardine,
Making the Greene one, Red.
Enter Lady.

Lady.
My Hands are of your colour: but I shame
To weare a Heart so white.
Knocke.
I heare a knocking
at the South entry: / Retyre we to our Chamber:
A little Water cleares vs of this deed.
How easie is it then? your Constancie
Hath left you vnattended.
Knocke.
Hearke, more knocking.
Get on your Night-Gowne, least occasion call vs,
And shew vs to be Watchers: be not lost
So poorely in your thoughts.

Macb
To know my deed, / 'Twere best not know my selfe.
Knocke.
Wake Duncan with thy knocking: I would thou could'st.
Exeunt.
Original text
Act II, Scene III
Enter a Porter. Knocking within.

Porter.
Here's a knocking indeede: if a man were Porter of
Hell Gate, hee should haue old turning the Key.
Knock.
Knock, Knock, Knock. Who's there i'th' name of
Belzebub? Here's a Farmer, that hang'd himselfe on th'
expectation of Plentie: Come in time, haue Napkins enow
about you, here you'le sweat for't.
Knock.
Knock, knock. Who's there in th' other Deuils Name?
Faith here's an Equiuocator, that could sweare in both the
Scales against eyther Scale, who committed Treason
enough for Gods sake, yet could not equiuocate to
Heauen: oh come in, Equiuocator.
Knock.
Knock, Knock, Knock. Who's there? 'Faith here's an
English Taylor come hither, for stealing out of a French
Hose: Come in Taylor, here you may rost your Goose.
Knock.
Knock, Knock. Neuer at quiet: What are you? but this
place is too cold for Hell. Ile Deuill-Porter it no further:
I had thought to haue let in some of all Professions, that
goe the Primrose way to th' euerlasting Bonfire.
Knock.
Anon, anon, I pray you remember the Porter.
Enter Macduff, and Lenox.

Macd.
Was it so late, friend, ere you went to Bed,
That you doe lye so late?

Port.
Faith Sir, we were carowsing till the second
Cock: And Drinke, Sir, is a great prouoker of three things.

Macd.
What three things does Drinke especially
prouoke?

Port.
Marry, Sir, Nose-painting, Sleepe, and Vrine.
Lecherie, Sir, it prouokes, and vnprouokes: it prouokes
the desire, but it takes away the performance. Therefore
much Drinke may be said to be an Equiuocator with
Lecherie: it makes him, and it marres him; it sets him on, and
it takes him off; it perswades him, and dis-heartens him;
makes him stand too, and not stand too: in conclusion, equiuocates
him in a sleepe, and giuing him the Lye, leaues him.

Macd.
I beleeue, Drinke gaue thee the Lye last Night.

Port.
That it did, Sir, i'the very Throat on me: but I
requited him for his Lye, and (I thinke) being too strong
for him, though he tooke vp my Legges sometime, yet I
made a Shift to cast him.

Macd.
Is thy Master stirring?
Enter Macbeth.
Our knocking ha's awak'd him: here he comes.

Lenox.
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 haue almost slipt the houre.

Macb.
Ile bring you to him.

Macd.
I know this is a ioyfull trouble to you:
But yet 'tis one.

Macb.
The labour we delight in, Physicks paine:
This is the Doore.

Macd.
Ile make so bold to call,
for 'tis my limitted seruice.
Exit Macduffe.

Lenox.
Goes the King hence to day?

Macb.
He does: he did appoint so.

Lenox.
The Night ha's been vnruly: / Where we lay,
our Chimneys were blowne downe, / And (as they say)
lamentings heard i'th' Ayre; / Strange Schreemes of Death,
And Prophecying, with Accents terrible,
Of dyre Combustion, and confus'd Euents,
New hatch'd toth' wofull time. / The obscure Bird
clamor'd the liue-long Night. / Some say, the Earth
was Feuorous, / And did shake.

Macb.
'Twas a rough Night.

Lenox.
My young remembrance cannot paralell
A fellow to it.
Enter Macduff.

Macd.
O horror, horror, horror,
Tongue nor Heart cannot conceiue, nor name thee.

Macb. and Lenox.
What's the matter?

Macd.
Confusion now hath made his Master-peece:
Most sacrilegious Murther hath broke ope
The Lords anoynted Temple, and stole thence
The Life o'th' Building.

Macb.
What is't you say, the Life?

Lenox.
Meane you his Maiestie?

Macd.
Approch the Chamber, and destroy your sight
With a new Gorgon. Doe not bid me speake:
See, and then speake your selues:,
Exeunt Macbeth and Lenox.
awake, awake
Ring the Alarum Bell: Murther, and Treason,
Banquo, and Donalbaine: Malcolme awake,
Shake off this Downey sleepe, Deaths counterfeit,
And looke on Death it selfe: vp, vp, and see
The great Doomes Image: Malcolme, Banquo,
As from your Graues rise vp, and walke like Sprights,
To countenance this horror. Ring the Bell.
Bell rings.
Enter Lady.

Lady.
What's the Businesse?
That such a hideous Trumpet calls to parley
The sleepers of the House? speake, speake.

Macd.
O gentle Lady,
'Tis not for you to heare what I can speake:
The repetition in a Womans eare,
Would murther as it fell.
Enter Banquo.
O Banquo, Banquo,
Our Royall Master's murther'd.

Lady.
Woe, alas:
What, in our House?

Ban.
Too cruell, any where.
Deare Duff, I prythee contradict thy selfe,
And say, it is not so.
Enter Macbeth, Lenox, and Rosse.

Macb.
Had I but dy'd an houre before this chance,
I had liu'd a blessed time: for from this instant,
There's nothing serious in Mortalitie:
All is but Toyes: Renowne and Grace is dead,
The Wine of Life is drawne, and the meere Lees
Is left this Vault, to brag of.
Enter Malcolme and Donalbaine.

Donal.
What is amisse?

Macb.
You are, and doe not know't:
The Spring, the Head, the Fountaine of your Blood
Is stopt, the very Source of it is stopt.

Macd.
Your Royall Father's murther'd.

Mal.
Oh, by whom?

Lenox.
Those of his Chamber, as it seem'd, had don't:
Their Hands and Faces were all badg'd with blood,
So were their Daggers, which vnwip'd, we found
Vpon their Pillowes: they star'd, and were distracted,
No mans Life was to be trusted with them.

Macb.
O, yet I doe repent me of my furie,
That I did kill them.

Macd.
Wherefore did you so?

Macb.
Who can be wise, amaz'd, temp'rate, & furious,
Loyall, and Neutrall, in a moment? No man:
Th' expedition of my violent Loue
Out-run the pawser, Reason. Here lay Duncan,
His Siluer skinne, lac'd with His Golden Blood,
And his gash'd Stabs, look'd like a Breach in Nature,
For Ruines wastfull entrance: there the Murtherers,
Steep'd in the Colours of their Trade; their Daggers
Vnmannerly breech'd with gore: who could refraine,
That had a heart to loue; and in that heart,
Courage, to make's loue knowne?

Lady.
Helpe me hence, hoa.

Macd.
Looke to the Lady.

Mal.
Why doe we hold our tongues,
That most may clayme this argument for ours?

Donal.
What should be spoken here, / Where our Fate
hid in an augure hole, / May rush, and seize vs?
Let's away, / Our Teares are not yet brew'd.

Mal.
Nor our strong Sorrow / Vpon the foot of Motion.

Banq.
Looke to the Lady:
And when we haue our naked Frailties hid,
That suffer in exposure; let vs meet,
And question this most bloody piece of worke,
To know it further. Feares and scruples shake vs:
In the great Hand of God I stand, and thence,
Against the vndivulg'd pretence, I fight
Of Treasonous Mallice.

Macd.
And so doe I.

All.
So all.

Macb.
Let's briefely put on manly readinesse,
And meet i'th' Hall together.

All
Well contented.
Exeunt.

Malc.
What will you doe? Let's not consort with them:
To shew an vnfelt Sorrow, is an Office
Which the false man do's easie. Ile to England.

Don.
To Ireland, I: / Our seperated fortune
shall keepe vs both the safer: / Where we are,
there's Daggers in mens smiles; / The neere in blood,
the neerer bloody.

Malc.
This murtherous Shaft that's shot,
Hath not yet lighted: and our safest way,
Is to auoid the ayme. Therefore to Horse,
And let vs not be daintie of leaue-taking,
But shift away: there's warrant in that Theft,
Which steales it selfe, when there's no mercie left.
Exeunt.
Original text
Act II, Scene IV
Enter Rosse, with an Old man.

Old man.
Threescore and ten I can remember well,
Within the Volume of which Time, I haue seene
Houres dreadfull, and things strange: but this sore Night
Hath trifled former knowings.

Rosse.
Ha, good Father,
Thou seest the Heauens, as troubled with mans Act,
Threatens his bloody Stage: byth' Clock 'tis Day,
And yet darke Night strangles the trauailing Lampe:
Is't Nights predominance, or the Dayes shame,
That Darknesse does the face of Earth intombe,
When liuing Light should kisse it?

Old man.
'Tis vnnaturall,
Euen like the deed that's done: On Tuesday last,
A Faulcon towring in her pride of place,
Was by a Mowsing Owle hawkt at, and kill'd.

Rosse.
And Duncans Horses, (A thing most strange, and certaine)
Beauteous, and swift, the Minions of their Race,
Turn'd wilde in nature, broke their stalls, flong out,
Contending 'gainst Obedience, as they would
Make Warre with Mankinde.

Old man.
'Tis said, they eate each other.

Rosse.
They did so: To th' amazement of mine eyes
that look'd vpon't.
Enter Macduffe.
Heere comes the good Macduffe.
How goes the world Sir, now?

Macd.
Why see you not?

Ross.
Is't known who did this more then bloody deed?

Macd.
Those that Macbeth hath slaine.

Ross.
Alas the day,
What good could they pretend?

Macd.
They were subborned,
Malcolme, and Donalbaine the Kings two Sonnes
Are stolne away and fled, which puts vpon them
Suspition of the deed.

Rosse.
'Gainst Nature still,
Thriftlesse Ambition, that will rauen vp
Thine owne liues meanes: Then 'tis most like,
The Soueraignty will fall vpon Macbeth.

Macd.
He is already nam'd, and gone to Scone
To be inuested.

Rosse.
Where is Duncans body?

Macd.
Carried to Colmekill,
The Sacred Store-house of his Predecessors,
And Guardian of their Bones.

Rosse.
Will you to Scone?

Macd.
No Cosin, Ile to Fife.

Rosse.
Well, I will thither.

Macd.
Well may you see things wel done there: Adieu
Least our old Robes sit easier then our new.

Rosse.
Farewell, Father.

Old M.
Gods benyson go with you, and with those
That would make good of bad, and Friends of Foes.
Exeunt omnes
Modern text
Act II, Scene I
Enter Banquo, and Fleance with a torch before him

BANQUO
How goes the night, boy?

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

BANQUO
And she goes down at twelve.

FLEANCE
I take't 'tis later, sir.

BANQUO
Hold, take my sword. There's husbandry in heaven:
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.
Enter Macbeth and a Servant with a torch
Give me my sword!
Who's there?

MACBETH
A friend.

BANQUO
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.
This diamond he greets your wife withal
By the name of most kind hostess, and shut up
In measureless content.

MACBETH
Being unprepared
Our will became the servant to defect,
Which else should free have wrought.

BANQUO
All's well.
I dreamt last night of the three Weird Sisters.
To you they have showed some truth.

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

BANQUO
At your kind'st leisure.

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

BANQUO
So I lose none
In seeking to augment it, but still keep
My bosom franchised and allegiance clear,
I shall be counselled.

MACBETH
Good repose the while.

BANQUO
Thanks, sir; the like to you.
Exit Banquo and Fleance

MACBETH
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 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. –
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-world
Nature seems dead, and wicked dreams abuse
The curtained sleep. Witchcraft celebrates
Pale Hecat's offerings; and withered Murder,
Alarumed by his sentinel the wolf,
Whose howl's his watch, thus with his stealthy pace,
With Tarquin's ravishing strides, towards his design
Moves like a ghost. Thou sure and firm-set earth,
Hear not my steps, which way they walk, for fear
Thy very stones prate of my whereabout
And take the present horror from the time
Which now suits with it. – Whiles I threat, he lives:
Words to the heat of deeds too cold breath gives.
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
Modern text
Act II, Scene II
Enter Lady Macbeth

LADY
That which hath made them drunk hath made me bold;
What hath quenched them hath given me fire. – Hark! – Peace!
It was the owl that shrieked, the fatal bellman
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 drugged their possets
That death and nature do contend about them
Whether they live or die.

MACBETH
(within)
Who's there? What, ho!

LADY
Alack, I am afraid they have awaked,
And 'tis not done. The attempt and not the deed
Confounds us. – Hark! – I laid their daggers ready;
He could not miss 'em. Had he not resembled
My father as he slept, I had done't.
Enter Macbeth, carrying two bloodstained daggers
My husband!

MACBETH
I have done the deed. Didst thou not hear a noise?

LADY
I heard the owl scream and the cricket's cry.
Did not you speak?

MACBETH
When?

LADY
Now.

MACBETH
As I descended?

LADY
Ay.

MACBETH
Hark!
Who lies i'the second chamber?

LADY
Donalbain.

MACBETH
(looks at his hands)
This is a sorry sight.

LADY
A foolish thought, to say a sorry sight.

MACBETH
There's one did laugh in's sleep, and one cried ‘ Murder!’
That they did wake each other. I stood and heard them.
But they did say their prayers and addressed them
Again to sleep.

LADY
There are two lodged together.

MACBETH
One cried ‘ God bless us!’ and ‘ Amen ’ the other,
As they had seen me with these hangman's hands.
Listening their fear I could not say ‘ Amen ’
When they did say ‘ God bless us.’

LADY
Consider it not so deeply.

MACBETH
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.

MACBETH
Methought I heard a voice cry, ‘ Sleep no more!
Macbeth does murder sleep – the innocent sleep,
Sleep that knits up the ravelled sleave 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,’

LADY
What do you mean?

MACBETH
Still it cried ‘ Sleep no more ’ to all the house;
‘ Glamis hath murdered sleep, and therefore Cawdor
Shall sleep no more, Macbeth shall sleep no more.’

LADY
Who was it that thus cried? 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 lie there. Go, carry them and smear
The sleepy grooms with blood.

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

LADY
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

MACBETH
Whence is that knocking?
How is't 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 multitudinous seas incarnadine,
Making the green one red.
Enter Lady Macbeth

LADY
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 nightgown, lest occasion call us
And show us to be watchers. Be not lost
So poorly in your thoughts.

MACBETH
To know my deed 'twere best not know myself.
Knock
Wake Duncan with thy knocking! I would thou couldst!
Exeunt
Modern text
Act II, Scene III
Enter a Porter. Knocking within

PORTER
Here's a knocking indeed! If a man were porter of
hell-gate, he should have old turning the key.
Knock
Knock, knock, knock! Who's there i'the name of
Belzebub? Here's a farmer that hanged himself on the
expectation of plenty. Come in time! Have napkins enow
about you; here you'll sweat for't.
Knock
Knock, knock! Who's there in the other devil's name?
Faith, here's an equivocator that could swear in both the
scales against either scale, who committed treason
enough for God's sake, yet could not equivocate to
heaven. O, come in, equivocator.
Knock
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.
Knock
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.
Knock
Anon, anon! I pray you remember the porter.
He opens the gate. Enter Macduff and Lennox

MACDUFF
Was it so late, friend, ere you went to bed,
That you do lie so late?

PORTER
Faith sir, we were carousing till the second
cock; and drink, sir, is a great provoker of three things.

MACDUFF
What three things does drink especially
provoke?

PORTER
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 and giving him the lie, leaves him.

MACDUFF
I believe drink gave thee the lie last night.

PORTER
That it did, sir, i' the very throat on me. But I
requited him for his lie and, I think, being too strong
for him, though he took up my legs sometime, yet I
made a shift to cast him.

MACDUFF
Is thy master stirring?
Enter Macbeth
Our knocking has awaked him; here he comes.

LENNOX
Good morrow, noble sir.

MACBETH
Good morrow both.

MACDUFF
Is the King stirring, worthy thane?

MACBETH
Not yet.

MACDUFF
He did command me to call timely on him.
I have almost slipped the hour.

MACBETH
I'll bring you to him.

MACDUFF
I know this is a joyful trouble to you,
But yet 'tis one.

MACBETH
The labour we delight in physics pain.
This is the door.

MACDUFF
I'll make so bold to call,
For 'tis my limited service.
Exit

LENNOX
Goes the King hence today?

MACBETH
He does; he did appoint so.

LENNOX
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,
And prophesying, with accents terrible,
Of dire combustion and confused events
New-hatched to the woeful time. The obscure bird
Clamoured the livelong night. Some say the earth
Was feverous and did shake.

MACBETH
'Twas a rough night.

LENNOX
My young remembrance cannot parallel
A fellow to it.
Enter Macduff

MACDUFF
O horror, horror, horror!
Tongue nor heart cannot conceive nor name thee!

MACBETH and LENNOX
What's the matter?

MACDUFF
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.

MACBETH
What is't you say? The life?

LENNOX
Mean you his majesty?

MACDUFF
Approach the chamber and destroy your sight
With a new Gorgon. Do not bid me speak.
See, and then speak yourselves.
Exeunt 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,
As from your graves rise up and walk like sprites
To countenance this horror. Ring the bell!
Bell rings
Enter Lady Macbeth

LADY
What's the business,
That such a hideous trumpet calls to parley
The sleepers of the house? Speak, speak!

MACDUFF
O 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
O Banquo, Banquo!
Our royal master's murdered!

LADY
Woe, alas!
What, in our house!

BANQUO
Too cruel, anywhere.
Dear Duff, I prithee contradict thyself
And say it is not so.
Enter Macbeth, Lennox, and Ross

MACBETH
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,
The wine of life is drawn, and the mere lees
Is left this vault to brag of.
Enter Malcolm and Donalbain

DONALBAIN
What is amiss?

MACBETH
You are, and do not know't.
The spring, the head, the fountain of your blood
Is stopped, the very source of it is stopped.

MACDUFF
Your royal father's murdered.

MALCOLM
O, by whom?

LENNOX
Those of his chamber, as it seemed, had done't:
Their hands and faces were all badged with blood,
So were their daggers, which unwiped, we found
Upon their pillows; they stared and were distracted;
No man's life was to be trusted with them.

MACBETH
O yet I do repent me of my fury,
That I did kill them.

MACDUFF
Wherefore did you so?

MACBETH
Who can be wise, amazed, temperate and furious,
Loyal and neutral, in a moment? No man.
The expedition of my violent love
Outrun the pauser reason. Here lay Duncan,
His silver skin laced with his golden blood,
And his gashed stabs looked like a breach in nature
For ruin's wasteful entrance; there the murderers,
Steeped in the colours of their trade, their daggers
Unmannerly breeched with gore. Who could refrain,
That had a heart to love, and in that heart
Courage to make's love known?

LADY
(swooning)
Help me hence, ho!

MACDUFF
Look to the lady!

MALCOLM
(to Donalbain)
Why do we hold our tongues,
That most may claim this argument for ours?

DONALBAIN
(to Malcolm)
What should be spoken here where our fate,
Hid in an auger-hole, may rush and seize us?
Let's away. Our tears are not yet brewed.

MALCOLM
(to Donalbain)
Nor our strong sorrow upon the foot of motion.

BANQUO
Look to the lady!
Lady Macbeth is taken 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.

MACDUFF
And so do I.

ALL
So all.

MACBETH
Let's briefly put on manly readiness,
And meet i'the hall together.

ALL
Well contented.
Exeunt all but Malcolm and Donalbain

MALCOLM
What will you do? Let's not consort with them.
To show an unfelt sorrow is an office
Which the false man does easy. I'll to England.

DONALBAIN
To Ireland, I. Our separated fortune
Shall keep us both the safer. Where we are
There's daggers in men's smiles. The nea'er in blood,
The nearer bloody.

MALCOLM
This murderous shaft that's shot
Hath not yet lighted; and our safest way
Is to avoid the aim. Therefore to horse,
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
Modern text
Act II, Scene IV
Enter Ross with an Old Man

OLD MAN
Threescore-and-ten I can remember well;
Within the volume of which time I have seen
Hours dreadful and things strange; but this sore night
Hath trifled former knowings.

ROSS
Ha, good father,
Thou seest the heavens, as troubled with man's act,
Threatens his bloody stage. By the clock 'tis day,
And yet dark night strangles the travelling lamp;
Is't night's predominance or the day's shame
That darkness does the face of earth entomb
When living light should kiss it?

OLD MAN
'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 hawked at and killed.

ROSS
And Duncan's horses – a thing most strange and certain –
Beauteous and swift, the minions of their race,
Turned wild in nature, broke their stalls, flung out,
Contending 'gainst obedience, as they would
Make war with mankind.

OLD MAN
'Tis said they ate each other.

ROSS
They did so, to the amazement of mine eyes
That looked upon't.
Enter Macduff
Here comes the good Macduff.
How goes the world, sir, now?

MACDUFF
Why, see you not?

ROSS
Is't known who did this more than bloody deed?

MACDUFF
Those that Macbeth hath slain.

ROSS
Alas the day!
What good could they pretend?

MACDUFF
They were suborned.
Malcolm and Donalbain, the King's two sons,
Are stolen away and fled, which puts upon them
Suspicion of the deed.

ROSS
'Gainst nature still!
Thriftless ambition, that wilt raven up
Thine own life's means! – Then 'tis most like
The sovereignty will fall upon Macbeth?

MACDUFF
He is already named and gone to Scone
To be invested.

ROSS
Where is Duncan's body?

MACDUFF
Carried to Colmekill,
The sacred storehouse of his predecessors
And guardian of their bones.

ROSS
Will you to Scone?

MACDUFF
No, cousin, I'll to Fife.

ROSS
Well, I will thither.

MACDUFF
Well, may you see things well done there – Adieu! –
Lest our old robes sit easier than our new.

ROSS
Farewell, father.

OLD MAN
God's benison go with you, and with those
That would make good of bad, and friends of foes!
Exeunt
x

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