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SCENE II.--The same.

Ban. And she goes down at twelve.
Fle. I take't, 'tis later, sir.

[heaven,

Ban. Hold, take my sword.-There's husbandry in
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 !—Give me my sword ;-

Enter MACBETH, and a Servant with a torch.

Who's there?

Macb. A friend.

Enter Lady МаСЕЕТН.

Lady M. That which hath made them drunk, hath made me bold: [Hark!--Peace! What hath quench'd them, hath given me fire :It was the owl that shriek'd, 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 drugg'd their possets,

That death and nature do contend about them,

Ban. What, sir, not yet at rest? The king's a-bed: Whether they live, or die.

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.

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In seeking to augment it, but still keep
My bosom franchis'd, and allegiance clear,
I shall be counsel'd.

Good repose, the while!

Macb.
Ban. Thanks, sir; The like to you! [Exit BAN.
Macb. Go, bid thy mistress, when my drink is ready,
She strike upon the bell. Get thee to bed. [Exit Serv.
Is this a dagger, which I see before me,

The handle toward my hand? Come, let me clutch
I have thee not, and yet I see thee still. [thee:-

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 marshal'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 curtain'd sleep; now witchcraft celebrates
Pale Hecate's offerings; and wither'd murder,
Alarum'd by his sentinel, the wolf,

Whose howl's his watch, thus with his stealthy pace,
With Tarquin's ravishing strides, toward 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 where-about,
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.

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Macb. [Within.] Who's there?-what, ho! Lady M. Alack! I am afraid they have awak'd, And 'tis not done :-the attempt, and not the deed, Confounds us-Hark!-I laid their daggers ready, He could not miss them.-Had he not resembled My father as he slept I had done't.-My husband? Enter MACBEth.

Mucb. I have done the deed:-Didst thou not hear a noise?

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

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Donalbain.

Who lies i' the second chamber?
Lady M.
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!
[them:
That they did wake each other; I stood and heard
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,
Listening their fear, I could not say, amen,
When they did say, God bless us.

Lady M.
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 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
Macbeth does murder sleep, the innocent sleep; [more!
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, wor

thy thane,

You do unbend your noble strength, to think
So brainsickly 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."

Macb.

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

Lady M.

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. [Eait. Knocking within.
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
The multitudinous seas incarnardine,
Making the green-one red.

Re-enter Lady MACBETH.

Lady M. 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.-[Knocking.] Hark! more
Get on your nightgown, lest occasion call us,
And shew us to be watchers :-Be not lost
So poorly in your thoughts.

[knocking:

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

[Knock. Wake Duncan with thy knocking; Ay, 'would thou [Exeunt.

could'st!

SCENE III.-The same.

I strong for him, though he took up my legs sometime, yet I made a shift to cast him.

Macd. Is thy master stirring ?

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

Good-morrow, both!
Not yet.

Len. Good-morrow, noble sir!
Macb.
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.
Macb.
I'll bring you to him.
Macd. I know, this is a joyful trouble to you;
But yet, 'tis one."

Mach. The labour we delight in, physics pain.
This is the door.
Macd.

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

Len.

From hence to-day?

[Exit MACDUFf. Goes the king

Macb.
He does :--he did appoint so.
Len. 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 confus'd events,
New hatch'd to the woeful time. The obscure bird
Clamour'd the livelong night: some say, the earth

Was feverous, and did shake.
Enter a Porter. [Knocking within.
Macb.
"Twas a rough night.
Len. My young remembrance cannot parallel
A fellow to it.

Porter. Here's a knocking, indeed! If a man were
porter of hell-gate, he should have old turning the
key. [Knocking.] 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 enough about you; here you'll
sweat for 't. [Knocking.] Knock, knock: Who's there,
i' the other devil's name? 'Faith, here's an equivo-
cator, 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. [Knocking.] 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. [Knocking.]
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 ever-
lasting bonfire. [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: and drink, sir, is a great provoker of three things. Macd. What three things does drink especially provoke?

Port. 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.

Macd. I believe, drink gave thee the lie last night. Port. That it did, sir, i'the very throat o'me: But I requited him for his lie; and, I think, being too

Re-enter MACDUFF.

Macd. O horror! horror! horror! Tongue, nor heart,
Cannot conceive, nor name thee!

Macb. Len.
What's the matter?
Macd. Confusion now hath made his master-piece!
Most sacrilegious murder hath broke ope
The Lord's anointed temple, and stole thence
The life o' the building.

Macb.

What is 't you say? the life?
Len. Mean you his majesty?
[sight
Macd. Approach the chamber, and destroy your
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.

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

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.—O Banquo! Banquo!
Enter BANQUO.
Our royal master's murder'd!
Lady M.
What, in our house?

Ban.

Dear Duff, I pr'ythee,
And say, it is not so.

Woe, alas! Too cruel, any where.contradict thyself,

Re-enter MACBETH and LENOX.

Macb. 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 mere lees
Is left this vault to brag of.

Enter MALCOLM and DONALBAIN.
Don. What is amiss?
Macb.
You are, and do not know it:
The spring, the head, the fountain of
your blood
Is stopp'd; the very source of it is stopp'd.
Macd. Your royal father's murder'd."
Mal.

O, by whom? Len. Those of his chamber, as it seem'd, had done't: Their hands and faces were all badg'd with blood, So were their daggers, which, unwip'd, we found Upon their pillows:

They star'd, and were distracted; no man's life
Was to be trusted with them.

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

[furious,

Macd. Wherefore did you so? Macb. Who can be wise, amaz'd, temperate, and Loyal and neutral, in a moment? No man : The expedition of my violent love Out-ran the pauser reason.-Here lay Duncan, His silver skin lac'd with his golden blood; And his gash'd stabs look'd like a breach in nature For ruin's wasteful entrance: there, the murderers, Steep'd in the colours of their trade, their daggers Unmannerly breech'd with gore: Who could refrain, That had a heart to love, and in that heart Courage to make his love known? Lady M.

Macd. Look to the lady. Mal.

Help me hence, ho!

Why do we hold our tongues,
That most may claim this argument for ours?
Don. What should be spoken here,
Where our fate, hid within an augre-hole,

May rush, and seize us? Let's away; our tears
Are not yet brew'd.

Mal.

The foot of motion.

Nor our strong sorrow on

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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 Hath trifled former knowings.

[night

Ah, good father,

Rosse. Thou see'st the heavens, as troubled with man's act, Threaten his bloody stage: by the clock, 'tis day, And yet dark night strangles the travelling lamp: Is it night's predominance, or the day's shame, That darkness does the face of earth intomb, When living light should kiss it? Old M. 'Tis unnatural, Even like the deed that's done. On Tuesday last, A falcon, tow'ring in her pride of place, Was by a mousing owl hawk'd at, and kill'd.

Rosse. And Duncan's horses, (a thing most strange and certain,)

Beauteous and swift, the minions of their race, Turn'd wild in nature, broke their stalls, flung out, Contending 'gainst obedience, as they would make War with mankind.

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Rosse.

Where is Duncan's body?

Macd. Carried to Colmes-kill; The sacred storehouse of his predecessors, And guardian of their bones."

Rosse.

Will you to Scone?

[-adieu!

Macd. No, cousin, I'll to Fife. Rosse. Well, I will thither. Macd. Well, may you see things well done there : Lest our old robes sit easier than our new! Rosse. Father, farewell.

Old M. God's benison go with you; and with those That would make good of bad, and friends of foes! [Exeunt.

ACT III.

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, La-
dies, and Attendants.

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

For ever knit.

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Well then, now

If he had been forgotten, Have you consider'd of my speeches? Know, It had been as a gap in our great feast, That it was he, in the times past, which held you And all-things unbecoming. So under fortune; which, you thought, had been Macb. To-night we hold a solemn supper, sir, Our innocent self: this I made good to you And I'll request your presence. In our last conference; pass'd in probation with you, Ban. Let your highness How you were borne in hand; how cross'd; the inCommand upon me; to the which, my duties struments; [might, Are with a most indissoluble tie Who wrought with them; and all things else, that To half a soul, and a notion craz'd, Say, Thus did Banquo. 1 Mur. You made it known to us. Mucb. 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 this good man, and for his issue, Whose heavy hand hath bow'd you to the grave, And beggar'd yours for ever?

Macb. Ride you this afternoon?
Ban.

Ay, my good lord.
Macb. We should have else desir'd your good advice
(Which still hath been both grave and prosperous,)
In this day's council; but we'll take to-morrow.
Is't far you ride?

Ban. As far, my lord, as will fill up the time,
'Twixt this and supper: go not my horse the better,
I must become a borrower of the night,
For a dark hour, or twain.

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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.
Mach. 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?
Attend. 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 of nature [dares;
Reigns that, which would be fear'd: 'Tis much he
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,
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 barren 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 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,

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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
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, 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,
So weary with disasters, tugg'd with fortune,
That I would set my life on any chance,
To mend it, or be rid on't.
Macb.

Both of you
Know, Banquo was your enemy.

2 Mur.
True, my lord.
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 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,
Perform what you command us.

1 Mur. Though our lives

my lord,

[hour, at most,

Macb. Your spirits shine through you. Within this I will advise you where to plant yourselves. Acquaint you with the perfect spy o' the time,

And champion me to the utterance!—Who's there?—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 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 ecstacy. Duncan is in his grave;
After life's fitful fever, he sleeps well;

Treason has done his worst: nor steel, nor poison,
Malice domestic, foreign levy, nothing,
Can touch him further!

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[Assaults BANQUO. Ban. O, treachery! Fly, good Fleance, fly, fly, fly;

Thou may'st revenge.-O slave!

[Dies. FLEANCE and Servant escape.

3 Mur. Who did strike out the light?

1 Mur.

Was't not the way?

3 Mur. There's but one down; the son is 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, Cur hostess keeps her state; but, in best time, And play the humble host. We will require her welcome.

Lady M. Pronounce it for me, sir, to all my 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?

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