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ready,

She strike upon the bell. Get thee to bed. [exit Ser.
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 curtained sleep; now witchcraft celebrates
Pale Hecate's offerings; and wither'd murder,
Alarum'd by his centinel, the wolf,

[pace, Whose howl's his watch, thus with his stealthy 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 where-about,
And take the present horror from the time, [lives;
Which now suits with it.-Whiles I threat, he
Words to the heat of deeds too cold breath gives.
[a bell rings.

'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!

SCENE 11. THE SAME.

Enter Lady Macbeth.

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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. [other; Macb. One cried, God bless us! and, Amen, the 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 I not pronounce,

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

[amen?

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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.[exit. Why did you bring these daggers from the place? They must lie there; go, carry them; and smear The sleepy grooms with blood.

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; that 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, Whether they live or die.

Macb. [within.] Who's there what, ho!

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. [exit, knocking withix.
Macb. Whence is that knocking?
How is't with me, when every noise appals me?

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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, 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 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. [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 everlasting bonfire. (knocking.] Anon, I pray you, remember the porter. that [opens the gate. Enter Macduff and Lenox. Macd. Was it so late, friend, ere you went to bed, that you do lle so late?! 1 it

anon;

t

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, air, it provokes and unprovokes: it pro vokes 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 persuaded 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 strong for him, though he took up my leg 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!
Macb. 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;

Macb. I'll bring you to him.

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

Macb. 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. Goes the king

From hence to-day?

[exit Macduff.

Macb. He does:-he did appoint it so.

Len. The night has been unruly: where we lay, Our chimnies were blown down: and, as they say, Lamentings heard i'the air; strange screams of And prophesying, with accents terrible, [death; Of dire combustion, and confus'd events, New hatch'd to the woeful time. The obscure bird Clamour'd the live-long night: some say, the earth Was feverous, and did shake.

Macb. 'Twas a rough night.

Len. My young remembrance cannot parallel A fellow to it.

Re-enter Macduff.

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

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

Awake!

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[sight

Macb. What is't you say? the life?
Len. Mean you his majesty?
Macd. Approach the chamber, and destroy your
With a new Gorgon: do not bid me speak';
See, and then speak yourselves. Awake!
[exeunt Macbeth and Lenor.
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,

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'Tis not for you to hear what I can speak: fa
The repetition, in a woman's ear, ning Buddy Ma
Would murder as it fell.O Banquo! Banguo!
Enter Banquo.

Our royal master's murder'd!
Lady M. Woe, alas!
What, in our house?

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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.

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?

Mach. 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?

[done't: Len. Those of his chamber, as it seem'd, had 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.

Macd. Wherefore did you so?

[furious, 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 That had a heart to love, and in that heart [refrain, Courage, to make his love known?

Lady M. Help me hence, ho!

Macd. Look to the lady.

Mal. 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. Nor our strong sorrow on
The foot of motion.

Ban. Look to the lady:- [Lady M. carried 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 undivulg'd pretence I fight Of treasonous malice.

Macb. And so do I.

All. So all.

Macb. Let's briefly put on manly readiness, And meet l'the hall together

All. Well contented. [ex. all but Malc. and Don. Mal. What will you do? Let's not consort with To show an unfelt sorrow, is an office [them. 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 Hath trifled former knowings.

Rosse. Ah, good father,

[night

[act,

Thou see'st, the heavens, as troubled with man's 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 entomb, 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.

Old M. 'Tis said, they eat each other. [eyes, Rosse. They did so; to the amazement of mine That look'd upon't. Here comes the good Mac

duff:- Enter Macduff

How goes the world, sir, now?
Macd. Why, see you not?

[deed?

Rosse. Is't known who did this more than bloody
Macd. Those that Macbeth hath slain.
Rosse. Alas, the day!

What good could they pretend?

Macd. They were suborn'd:

Malcolm, and Donalbain, the king's two sons, Are stol'n away and fled; which puts upon them Suspicion of the deed.

Rosse. 'Gainst nature still: Thriftless ambition, that wilt ravin up Thine own life's means!-Then 'tis most like, The sovereignty will fall upon Macbeth.

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

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?

Macd. No, cousin, I'll to Fife.

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ACT III.

SCENE I. FORES. A ROOM IN THE PALACE.

Enter Banquo.

Ban. Thou hast it now, King, Cawdor, Glamis,
As the weird women promis'd; and, I fear, [all,
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
For ever knit.

Macb. Ride you this afternoon?
Ban. Ay, my good lord.

[advice Macb. We should have else desir'd your good (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
I must become a borrower of the night, [better,
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.
[foot;
Macb. I wish your horses swift, and sure of
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 [you.
Till supper-time alone: while then, God be with
[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 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

[sisters

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 Anthony's was by Cæsar. He chid the
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 fill'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!-Who's
there?

Re-enter Attendant, with two Murderers.
Now to the door, and stay there till we call. [exit At.
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 probation with you,
How you were borne in hand; how cross'd; the
instruments;
[might,

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.
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 this 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; [curs,
As hounds, and greyhounds, mongrels, spaniels,
Shoughs, water-rugs, and demi-wolves, are clep'd
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

-7.2

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Macb. So is he mine: and in such bloody disThat every minute of his being thrusts Against my near'st of life: and though I could With barefac'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 inake love; Masking the business from the common eye, For sundry weighty reasons.

2 Mur. We shall, my lord,

Perform what you command us.

1 Mur. Though our lives

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!

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, 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 ar

[wife!

Lady M. You must leave this.
Macb. O, full of scorpions is my mind, dear
Thou know'st, that Banquo and his Fleance live.
Lady M. But in them nature's copy's not eterne.
Macb. There's comfort yet; they are assailable;
Then, be thou jocund: Ere the bat hath flown

Macb. Your spirits shine through you. Within His cloister'd flight; ere, to black Hecate's sum

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, inust embrace the fate
Of that dark hour. Resolve yourselves apart;
I'll come to you anon.

2 Mur. We are resolv'd, my lord.
Macb. 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.

SCENE II. THE SAME. ANOTHER ROOM.

Enter Lady Macbeth, and a Servant. Lady M. Is Banquo gone from court? Serv. Ay, madam, but returns again to-night. Lady M. Say to the king, I would attend his For a few words.

Serv. Madam, I will.

[leisure [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? [died
Using those thoughts, which should indeed have
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,

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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.
[ereunt.

SCENE III. THE SAME. A PARK OR LAWN, WITH
A GATE LEADING TO THE PALACE.
Enter three Murderers.

1 Mur. But who did bid thee join with us?
3 Mur. Macbeth.

2 Mur. He needs not our mistrust; since he delivers

Our offices, and what we have to do,

To the direction just.

1 Mur. Then stand with us.

The west yet glimmers with some streaks of day
Now spurs the lated traveller apace,
To gain the timely inn; and near approaches
The subject of our watch..

3 Mur. Hark! I hear horses. 4

Ban, within] Give us a light there, ho! 2 Mur. Then it is he; the rest is That are within the note of expectation, and of spel Already are i'the court,

1 Mur. His horses go about.

8 Mur. Almost a mile; but he does usually So all men do, from hence to the palace gates Make it their walk.

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