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
It is the bloody business which informs [thing:
Thus to mine eyes.-Now o'er the one half
world

Nature seems dead, and wicked dreams abuse
The curtain'd sleeper; 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,
[design
With Tarquin's ravishing strides towards his
Moves like a ghost.-Thou sure and firm-set
earth,

Hear not my steps, which way they walk, for fear
The 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.
[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.

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,
Whether they live or die.

Mach. [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
[ready,
Confound us:-Hark! I laid their daggers

deed,

He could not miss them.-Had he not resembled
My father as he slept, I had don't.-My husband?

Enter MACBETH.

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

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

Did not you speak?

Macbeth does murder sleep, the innocent sleep;
Sleep, that knits up the ravell'd sleeve 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
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.

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.

[Exit. Knocking within.
Macb
Whence is that knocking?
What hands are here! Ha! they pluck out
How is't with me, when every noise appals me?

mine eyes!

Will all great Neptune's ocean wash this blood
Clean from my hand? No; this my hand will
The multitudinous seas incarnardine, [rather
Making the green-one red.

shame

Re-enter LADY MACBETH.

Lady M. My hands are of your colour: but I
[knocking
To wear a heart so white. [Knock.] I hear a
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 knocking:

Get on your nightgown, lest occasion call us,
And show us to be watchers: Be not lost

As I descended? So poorly in your thoughts.

Who lies i' the second chamber?
Lady M.

Donalbain.
[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!
[heard them.
That they did wake each other: I stood and

Macb. This is a sorry sight.

Mach. To know my deed,-'twere best not
know myself.
[Knock.

Wake Duncan with thy knocking! I would,
thou could'st?

SCENE III. The same.

[Exeunt.

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. [Knocking.] Knock, knock, But they did say their prayers, and address'd knock: Who's there, i' the name of Belzebub? Again to sleep. [them Here's a farmer, that hanged himself on the Lady M. There are two lodg'd together. expectation of plenty: Come in time; have

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

awake!

napkins enough about you; here you'll sweat fort. [Knocking.] Knock, knock: Who's there, i' 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: 0, 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 With a new Gorgon:-Do not bid me speak; this place is too cold for hell. I'll devil-porter See, and then speak yourselves. - Awake! it no farther: I had thought to have let in [Exeunt MACB. and LEN. some of all professions, that go the primrose Ring the alarum-bell: Murder! and treason way to the everlasting bonfire. [Knocking.] Anon, Banquo, and Donalbain! Malcolm! awake! anon; I pray you, remember the porter. Shake off this downy sleep, death's counterfeit, [Opens the gate. And look on death itself!-up, up, and see The great doom's image!Malcolm! Banquo! Macd. Was it so late, friend, ere you went to As from your graves rise up, and walk like That you do lie so late? [bed, sprights, Port. 'Faith, sir, we were carousing till the To countenance this horror! [Bell rings. second cock and drink, sir, is a great provoker Enter LADY MACBETH. of three things. [ally provoke? Lady M. What's the business, Macd. What three things does drink especi- That such a hideous trumpet calls to parley Port. Marry, sir, nose-painting, sleep, and The sleepers of the house? speak, speak,urine. Lechery, sir, it provokes, and unpro- | Mace. O, gentle lady, vokes: it provokes the desire, but it takes 'Tis not for you to hear what I can speak : away the performance: Therefore, much drink The repetition, in a woman's ear, may be said to be an equivocator with lechery: Would murder as it fell-O Banquo! Banquo! it makes him, and it mars him; it sets him on, Enter BANQUo. and it takes him off; it persuades him, and Our royal master's murder'd! disheartens him: makes him stand to, and not Lady M. stand to: in conclusion equivocates him in a sleep, and, giving him the lie, leaves him.

Enter MACDUFF and LENOX.

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 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.

Len. Good-morrow, noble sir!
Mach.
Good-morrow, both!
Macd. Is the king stirring, worthy thane?
Macb.
Not yet.
Macd. He did command me to call timely on
I have almost slipp'd the hour.
[him;
Mach.
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, physicks
This is the door.

Macd.

(pain.
I'll make so bold to call,
For 'tis my limited service. [Exit MACDUFF.
Len. Goes the king hence to-day?
Macb.
He does:-he did appoint so.
Len. The night has been unruly; where we
lay,
[say,

Our chimneys were blown down: and, as they
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 woful time. The obscure bird
Clamour'd the livelong night: some say the
Was feverous, and did shake.
(earth
Mach.
'Twas a rough night.|
Len. My young remembrance cannot parallel
A fellow to it.

Re-enter MACDUFF.
Maal. O horror! horror! horror! Tongue,]
nor heart,

Woe, alas!

What, in our house?
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 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.
Dom. 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:
[blood,
Their hands and faces were all badg'd with
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.
Macd.
Wherefore did you so?
Macb. Who can be wise, amazed, temperate
and furious,

Loyal and neutral, in a moment? No man:
The expedition of my violent love
Outran the pauser reason.-Here lay Duncan,
His silver skin lac'd with his golden blood;
And his gash'd stabs looked like a breach in
nature,
[derers,
For ruin's wasteful entrance: there the mur-
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

Mach. We hear, our bloody cousins are be
stow'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 with you: attend those men Our pleasure?

[gate.
Atten. They are, my lord, without the palace
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
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, [sisters,
Mark Antony's was by Cæsar. He chid the
When first they put the name of king upon me,
And bade them speak to him; then, prophetlike,
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 anlineal 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,
And champion me to the utterance!-

there ?-

Who's

Re-enter Attendant, with two Murderers.
Now to the door, and stay there till we call.
[Exit Attendant.
Was it not yesterday we spoke together?
1 Mur. It was, so please your highness.
Macb.
Well then, now
Have you considered 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 probation with
you,

curs,

Whose heavy hand hath bow'd you to the grave,
And beggar'd yours for ever?
1 Mur.
We are men, my liege.
Mach. Ay, in the catalogue ye go for men;
As hounds, and greyhounds, mongrels, spaniels,
[cleped
Shoughs, water-rugs, and demi-wolves, are
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,
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, Banqno was your enemy.
2 Mur.

True, my lord. Mach. 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.
We shall, my lord,

2 Mur.
Perform what you command us.

1 Mur.
Though our lives-
Macb. Your spirits shine through you. Within
this hour at most,

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,
[instruments; If it find heaven, must find it out to-night.
[Exeunt.

How you were borne in hand; how cross'd; the
Who wrought with them; and all things else,
that might,

To half a soul, and to a notion craz'd,
Say, Thus did Banquo.
1 Mur.
You made it known to us.
Mach. 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,