Strong both against the deed; then, as his host,
Who should against his murderer shut the door,
Not bear the knife myself. Besides this Duncan
Hath borne his faculties so meek, hath been
So clear in his great office, that his virtues
Will plead like angels, trumpet-tongued, against
The deep damnation of his taking-off:
And pity, like a naked new-born babe,
Striding the blast, or heaven's cherubin, hors'd
Upon the sightless couriers of the air,
Shall blow the horrid deed in every eye,
That tears shall drown the wind. I have no spur
To prick the sides of my intent, but only
Vaulting ambition, which o'er-leaps itself,
And falls on the other.--How now, what news?
Lady M. He has almost supp'd; Why have you left
Macb. Hath he ask'd for me?
[the chamber?
Lady M.
Know you not, he has?
Mach. We will proceed no further in this business :
He hath honour'd me of late; and I have bought
Golden opinions from all sorts of people,
Which would be worn now in their newest gloss,
Not cast aside so soon.
Lady M.
Was the hope drunk,
Wherein you dress'd yourself? hath it slept since?
And wakes it now, to look so green and pale
At what it did so freely? From this time,
Such I account thy love. Art thou afeard
To be the same in thine own act and valour,
As thou art in desire? Wouldst thou have that
Which thou esteem'st the ornament of life,
And live a coward in thine own esteem;
Letting I dare not wait upon I would,
Like the poor cat i'the adage?
I dare do all that may become a man;
Who dares do more, is none.
What beast was it then,
That made you break this enterprise to me?
When you durst do it, then you were a man;
And, to be more than what you were, you would
Be so much more the man. Nor time, nor place,
Did then adhere, and yet you would make both:
They have made themselves, and that their fitness now
Does unmake you. I have given suck; and know
How tender 'tis, to love the babe that milks me:
I would, while it was smiling in my face,
Have pluck'd my nipple from his boneless gums,
And dash'd the brains out, had I so sworn, as you
Have done to this.
Macb.
But serew your courage to the sticking-place,
And we'll not fail. When Duncan is asleep,
(Whereto the rather shall his day's hard journey
Soundly invite him), his two chamberlains
Will I with wine and wassal so convince,
That memory, the warder of the brain,
Shall be a fume, and the receipt of reason
A limbeck only: When in swinish sleep
Their drenched natures lie, as in a death,
What cannot you and I perform upon
The unguarded Duncan? what not put upon
His spongy officers; who shall bear the guilt
Of our great quell?
Bring forth men-children only!
For thy undaunted mettle should compose
Nothing but males. Will it not be receiv'd,
When we have mark'd with blood those sleepy two
Of his own chamber, and us'd their very daggers,
Who dares receive it other,
As we shall make our griefs and clamour roar
I am settled, and bend up
Each corporal agent to this terrible feat.
Away, and mock the time with fairest show;
False face must hide what the false heart doth know.
Enter BANQUO and FLEANCE, and a Servant with a
Torch before them.
Ban. How goes the night, boy?
Fle. The moon is down; I have not heard the clock. Ban. And she goes down at twelve.
I tak't, 'tis later, sir.
Ban. Hold, take my sword:-There's husbandry in Their candles are all out. --Take thee that too. [heaven, 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?
Ban. 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 naine of most kind hostess; and shut up
Our will became the servant to defect;
Which else should free have wrought.
I dreamt last night of the three weird sisters :
To you they have show'd some truth.
Yet, when we can entreat an hour to serve,
Would spend it in some words upon that business,
If you would grant the time.
Macb. If you shall cleave to my consent, when 'tiş,
It shall make honour for you.
In seeking to augment it, but still keep
My bosom franchis'd, and allegiance clear,
Ban. Thanks, sir; The like to you! [Exit Banquo.
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.
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, 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,
Which now suits with it.-Whiles I threat, he lives;
Words to the heat of deeds too cold breath gives.
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.
SCENE 11. The same.
Enter LADY MACBETH.
Lady M. That which hath made them drunk, hath [-Peace! What hath quench'd them, hath given me fire:-Hark! 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
That death and nature do contend about them,
Whether they live or die.
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 MACСВЕТН.
Macb. 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?
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