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MACBETH.

Confounds us: Hark! I laid their daggers
ready,
He could not miss them. - Had he not resembled
My husband?
My father as he slept, I had done't.

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Macb.

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
· Didst thou not The multitudinous seas incarnardine,'
Making the green

Lady M. I heard the owl scream, and the crickets cry.

Did not you speak?

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Who lies i'the second chamber? Lady M.

Donalbain.

Macb. This is a sorry sight. [Looking on his hands. Lady M. A foolish thought, to say a sorry sight. Macb. There's one did laugh in his sleep, and one cried, murder!

That they did wake each other; I stood and heard them :

But they did say their prayers, and address'd them
Again to sleep.
Lady M.

There are two lodg'd together.

Macb. One cried, God bless us! and, Amen, the
other;

As they had seen me, with these hangman's hands
I could not say amen,
Listening their fear.
When they did say, God bless us.
Consider it not so deeply.
Lady M.
Macb. But wherefore could not I pronounce,

amen?

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

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

Macb. Methought, I heard a voice cry, Sleep no

more !

9

Macbeth does murder sleep, the innocent sleep;
Sleep, that knits up the ravell'd 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 M. What do you mean?

Macb. Still it cried, Sleep no more! to all the house: Glamis hath murder'd sleep; and therefore Cawdor Shall sleep no more, Macbeth shall sleep no more! Lady M. Who was it that thus cried? Why, worthy thane,

You do unbend your noble strength, to think
Go, get some water,
So brainsickly of things:-
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 groom with blood.

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

one red.

Re-enter Lady MACBETH.

Lady M. My hands are of your colour; but I shame

To wear a heart so white. [Knocking.] 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.

more knocking:

[Knocking.] Hark! Get on your night-gown, lest occasion call us, And show us to be watchers: So poorly in your thoughts.

Be not lost

Macb. To know my deed,-'twere best not know [Knocking. myself. [Exeunt.

Wake Duncan with thy knocking! I would thou couldst !

SCENE III.-The same.

Enter a Porter. [Knocking within. Porter. Here's a knocking, indeed! [Knocking.] Knock, knock, knock: Who's there? Come in time. [Knocking.] Knock, knock: Who's there? [Knocking.] Knock, knock: Never at quiet! What are you? [Knocking.] Anon, anon; I pray you remember the porter. [Opens the gate.

Enter MACDUFF and LENOX. Macd. Was it so late, friend, ere you went to bed That you do lie so late?

Port. Faith, sir, we were carousing till the second cock.

Macd. Is thy master stirring?

Our knocking has awak'd him; here he comes.
Enter MACBeth.

Len. Good-morrow, noble sir!
Macb.

Good morrow, both!
Macd. Is the king stirring, worthy thane?
Macb.
Macd. He did command me to call timely on him;
I have almost slipp'd the hour.

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Macb.
Infirm of purpose!
Give me the daggers: The sleeping and the dead
Are but as pictures: 'tis the eye of childhood,
If he do bleed,
That fears a painted devil.

I'll gild the faces of the grooms withal,
For it must seem their guilt.

[Exit. Knocking within.

Sleave is unwrought silk

Our chimnies were blown down; and, as they say, Lamentings heard i'the air; strange screams of

death;

1 To incarnardine is to stain of a flesh colour. 2 i. e. Affords a cordial to it.

3 Appointed service.

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Macd. 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.
Macb.

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That had a heart to love, and in that heart

What is't you say? the life? Courage to make his love known?
Lady M.

Len. Mean you his majesty?
Macd. Approach the chamber, and destroy your
sight

With a new Gorgon: - Do not bid me speak;
See, and then speak yourselves. —Awake! awake!
[Exeunt MACBETH and LENOX.
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 sprights,
To countenance this horror.
[Bell rings.
Enter Lady MACBETH.

Macd. Look to the lady.

Mal.

Help me hence, ho!

Why do we hold our tongues,
That most may claim this argument for ours?
Where our fate, hid within an augre-hole,
Don. What should be spoken here,
May rush and seize us? Let's away; our tears
Are not yet brew'd.

Mal.

The foot of motion.
Ban.

Nor our strong sorrow on

Look to the lady :-
And when we have our naked frailties hid,
[Lady MACBETH is carried out.
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 undivulg'd pretence I fight
O, gentle lady, Of treasonous malice.

Lady M.
What's the business,
That such a hideous trumpet calls to parley
The sleepers of the house? speak, speak,·
Macd.

'Tis not for you to hear what I can speak :
The repetition, in a woman's ear,
Would murder as it fell.

O Banquo! Banquo!

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Ban.

Too cruel, any where.
Dear Duff, I pr'ythee contradict thyself,
And say, it is not so.

Re-enter MACBETH and LENOX.

Mach. Had I but died an hour before this chance,
I had liv'd 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 meer lees
Is left this vault to brag of.

Enter MALCOLM and DONALBAIN.

Don. What is amiss?

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And so do I.

Macb
All.
So all.
Macb. Let's briefly put on manly readiness,
And meet i' the hall together.
All.

Well contented.
[Exeunt all but MAL. and DoN.

Mal. 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.

Don. To Ireland, I; our separated fortune
Shall keep us both the safer: where we are,
There's daggers in men's smiles: the near in blood,
The nearer bloody.

Mal.
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.

SCENE IV. - Without the Castle.

Enter Rosse and an Old Man.

Old M. 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.

Rosse.
Ah, good father,
Thou seest the heavens, as troubled with man's act,

4 Covered with blood to their hilts.

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SCENE I. . Fores. A Room in the Palace. Enter BANQUO.

Ban. Thou hast it now, King, Cawdor, Glamis, all,

As the weird women promis'd; and, I fear,
Thou play'dst most foully for't: yet it was said,
It should not stand in thy posterity;
But that myself should be the root, and father
Of many kings. If there come truth from them,
(As upon thee, Macbeth, their speeches shine,)
Why, by the verities on thee made good,
May they not be my oracles as well,

And set me up in hope? But, hush; no more.

Senet sounded. Enter MACBETH, as King; Lady
MACBETH, as Queen; LENOX, ROSSE, Lords,
Ladies, and Attendants.

Macb. Here's our chief guest.
Lady M.

If he had been forgotten,
It had been as a gap in our great feast,
And all things unbecoming.

Macb. To-night we hold a solemn supper, sir, And I'll request your presence.

Ban.

Let your highness

Command upon me; to the which, my duties Are with a most indissoluble tie

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I must become a borrower of the night, For a dark hour or twain.

Macb.

Fail not our feast.
Ban. My lord, I will not.
Macb. We hear, our bloody cousins are bestow'd
In England, and in Ireland; not confessing
Their cruel parricide, filling their hearers
With strange invention: But of that to-morrow;
When, therewithal, we shall have cause of state,
Craving us jointly. Hie you to horse: Adieu,
Till you return at night. Goes Fleance with you?
Ban. Ay, my good lord: our time does call upon us.
Macb. I wish your horses swift and sure of foot;
And so I do commend you to their backs.
Farewell.
[Exit BANQUO.

Let every man be master of his time
Till seven at night; to make society
The sweeter welcome, we will keep ourself
Till supper-time alone: while then, God be with you.
[Exeunt Lady MACBETH, Lords, Ladies, &c.
Sirrah, a word: Attend those men our pleasure?
Atten. They are, my lord, without the palace gate.
Macb. Bring them before us. — - [Exit Atten.]
To be thus, is nothing;
But to be safely thus: Our fears in Banquo
Stick deep; and in his royalty 6 of nature
Reigns that, which would be fear'd: 'Tis much he
dares;

And, to that dauntless temper of his mind,
He hath a wisdom that doth guide his valour
To act in safety. There is none, but he
Whose being I do fear: and, under him,
My genius is rebuk'd; as, it is said,
Mark Antony's was by Cæsar. He chid the sisters,
When first they put the name of King upon me,

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And bade them speak to him; then, prophet-like,
They hail'd him father to a line of kings:
Upon my head they plac'd a fruitless crown,
And put a harren sceptre in my gripe,
Thence to be wrench'd with an unlineal hand,
No son of mine succeeding. If it be so,
For Banquo's issue have I fil'd 7 my mind;
For them the gracious Duncan have I murder'd;
Put rancours in the vessel of my peace
Only for them; and mine eternal jewel
Given to the common enemy of man,

To make them kings, the seed of Banquo kings!
Rather than so, come, fate, into the list,
And champion me to the utterance! 8.

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Re-enter Attendant, with Two Murderers. Now to the door, and stay there till we call.

Who's

[Exit Attendant. Was it not yesterday we spoke together? 1 Mur. It was, so please your highness. Macb. Well then, now Have you consider'd of my speeches? Know, That it was he, in the times past, which held you So under fortune; which, you thought, had been Our innocent self: this I made good to you In our last conference; pass'd in probation9 with you, How you were borne in hand; how cross'd; the instruments;

Who wrought with them; and all things else, that might,

To half a soul, and a notion craz'd,
Say, Thus did Banquo.

1 Mur.
You made it known to us.
Macb. I did so; and went further, which is now
Our point of second meeting. Do you find
Your patience so predominant in your nature,
That you can let this go? Are you so gospell'd,
To pray for that good man, and for his issue,
Whose heavy hand hath bow'd you to the grave,
And beggar'd yours for ever?

1 Mur.
We are men, my liege.
Macb. Ay, in the catalogue ye go for men ;
As hounds, and greyhounds, mongrels, spaniels, curs,
Shoughs, water-rugs, and demi-wolves, are cleped 2
All by the name of dogs: the valued file
Distinguishes the swift, the slow, the subtle,
The house-keeper, the hunter, every one
According to the gift which bounteous nature
Hath in him clos'd; whereby he does receive
Particular addition 3, from the bill

That writes them all alike: And so of men.
Now, if you have a station in the file,

And not in the worst rank of manhood, say it;
And I will put that business in your bosoms,
Whose execution takes your enemy off;
Grapples you to the heart and love of us,
Who wear our health but sickly in his life,
Which in his death were perfect.

2 Mur.
I am one, my liege,
Whom the vile blows and buffets of the world
Have so incens'd that I am reckless what
I do, to spite the world.

1 Mur.

And I another,

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Macb. So is he mine: and in such bloody distance, That every minute of his being thrusts Against my near'st of life: And though I could With bare-fac'd power sweep him from my sight, And bid my will avouch it; yet I must not, For 5 certain friends that are both his and mine, Whose loves I may not drop, but wail his fall Whom I myself struck down: and thence it is, That I to your assistance do make love; Masking the business from the common eye, For sundry weighty reasons. 2 Mur.

We shall, my lord,

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Macb. Your spirits shine through you. this hour, at most,

Within

I will advise you where to plant yourselves,
Acquaint you with the perfect spy o'the time,
The moment on't; for't must be done to-night,
And something from the palace; always thought,
That I require a clearness: And with him,
(To leave no rubs, nor botches, in the work,)
Fleance his son, that keeps him company,
Whose absence is no less material to me
Than is his father's, must embrace the fate
Of that dark hour. Resolve yourselves apart;
I'll come to you anon.

2 Mur.

We are resolv'd, my lord. Mach. I'll call upon you straight; abide within. It is concluded: Banquo, thy soul's flight, If it find heaven, must find it out to-night. [Exeunt.

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Madam, I will.

Serv.
[Exit.
Lady M.
Nought's had, all's spent,
Where our desire is got without content:
'Tis safer to be that which we destroy,
Than, by destruction, dwell in doubtful joy.
Enter MACBETH.

How now, my lord? why do you keep alone,
Of sorriest 6 fancies your companions making?
Using those thoughts, which should indeed have died
With them they think on? Things without remedy,
Should be without regard: what's done, is done.

Macb. We have scotch'd the snake, not kill'd it;
She'll close, and be herself; whilst our poor malice
Remains in danger of her former tooth.
But let

The frame of things disjoint, both the worlds suffer,
Ere we will eat our meal in fear, and sleep
In the affliction of these terrible dreams,
That shake us nightly: Better be with the dead,
Whom we, to gain our place, have sent to peace,
Than on the torture of the mind to lie

In restless ecstasy. 7 Duncan is in his grave;
After life's fitful fever, he sleeps well;

Treason has done his worst: nor steel, nor poison,
7 Agony.

2 Called.

4 Careless.

5 Because of. 6 Most melancholy.

Malice domestick, foreign levy, nothing, Can touch him further!

Lady M. Come on;

Gentle my lord, sleek o'er your rugged looks;
Be bright and jovial 'mong your guests to-night.
Macb. So shall I, love; and so, I pray, be you :
Let your remembrance apply to Banquo;
Present him eminence 8, both with eye and tongue:
Unsafe the while, that we

Must lave our honours in these flattering streams;
And make our faces vizards to our hearts,
Disguising what they are.

Lady M. You must leave this. Macb. O, full of scorpions is my mind, dear wife! Thou know'st, that Banquo, and his Fleance, lives. Lady M. But in them nature's copy's not eterne. 9 Macb. There's comfort yet; they are assailable; Then be thou jocund: Ere the bat hath flown His cloister'd flight; ere, to black Hecate's summons, The shard-borne beetle, with his drowsy hums, Hath rung night's yawning peal, there shall be done A deed of dreadful note.

Lady M.

What's to be done?

Macb. Beinnocent of the knowledge, dearest chuck,
Till thou applaud the deed. Come, seeling night,
Skarf up the tender eye of pitiful day;
And, with thy bloody and invisible hand,
Cancel, and tear to pieces, that great bond
Which keeps me pale! - Light thickens; and the crow
Makes wing to the rooky wood :

Good things of day begin to droop and drowse;
Whiles night's black agents to their prey do rouse.
Thou marvell'st at my words; but hold thee still;
Things, bad begun, make strong themselves by ill:
So, pr'ythee, go with me.
[Exeunt.

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Ban. O, treachery! Fly, good Fleance, fly, fly, fly; Thou mayst revenge. O slave!

Was't not the way?

[Dies. FLEANCE and Servant escape.
3 Mur. Who did strike out the light?
1 Mur.
3 Mur. There's but one down; the son has fled.
2 Mur. We have lost best half of our affair.

1 Mur. Well, let's away, and say how much is
done.
[Exeunt.

SCENE IV. A Room of State in the Palace. A Banquet prepared. Enter MACBETH, Lady MacBETH, ROSSE, LENOX, Lords, and Attendants. Macb. You know your own degrees, sit down : at first

And last, the hearty welcome.
Lords.
Thanks to your majesty.
Macb. Ourself will mingle with society,
And play the humble host.

Our hostess keeps her state 3; but, in best time,
We will require her welcome.

Lady M. Pronounce it for me, sir, to all our friends;

For my heart speaks, they are welcome.

Enter First Murderer, to the door.

Macb. See, they encounter thee with their
hearts' thanks :

Both sides are even: Here I'll sit i'the midst :
Be large in mirth; anon, we'll drink a measure
The table round. - There's blood upon thy face.
Mur. 'Tis Banquo's then.

Macb. 'Tis better thee without, than he within. Is he despatch'd?

Mur. My lord, his throat is cut; that I did for him. Macb. Thou art the best o'the cut-throats: Yet he's good,

That did the like for Fleance: if thou didst it,
Thou art the nonpareil.

Mur. Fleance is 'scap'd.

Most royal sir,

Macb. Then comes my fit again: I had else been

perfect;

Whole as the marble, founded as the rock;

As broad, and general, as the casing air:
But now, I am cabin'd, cribb'd, confin'd, bound in
To saucy doubts and fears. But Banquo's safe?
Mur. Ay, my good lord, safe in a ditch he bides,
With twenty trenched gashes on his head;
The least a death to nature.

Macb.
Thanks for that:
There the grown serpent lies; the worm, that's filed,
Hath nature that in time will venom breed,
No teeth for the present.

morrow

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Get thee gone; to

[Exit Murderer.

My royal lord, You do not give the cheer: the feast is sold,

Enter BANQUO and FLEANCE, a Servant with a torch That is not often vouch'd, while 'tis a making,

2 Mur.

3 Mur.

preceding them.

A light! a light!

'Tis he.

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'Tis given with welcome: To feed, were best at

home;

From thence the sauce to meat is ceremony;

Meeting were bare without it.

Macb.

Sweet remembrancer! Now good digestion wait on appetite, And health on both!

3 Her chair of state.

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