Commends the ingredients of our poison'd chalice
To our own lips. He's here in double trust;
First, as I am his kinsman and his subject,
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 cherubim, horsed
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'erleaps itself
And falls on the other.

Enter LADY MACBETH.

How now! what news?

LADY M. He has almost supp'd: why have you

left the chamber?

MACB. Hath he asked for me?

LADY M.

Know you not he has ?

MACB. 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?

Such I account thy love.

From this time

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?

МАСВ.

Prithee, peace:

I dare do all that may become a man;
Who dares do more is none.

LADY M.

What beast was 't, 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 dashed the brains out, had I so sworn as you
Have done to this.

MACB.

LADY M.

If we should fail?

We fail!

But screw 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 wassail 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?

MACB.

Bring forth men-children only;

For thy undaunted mettle should compose

Nothing but males. Will it not be received, When we have mark'd with blood those sleepy two Of his own chamber and used their very daggers, That they have done't?

LADY M.

Who dares receive it other,

As we shall make our griefs and clamour roar
Upon his death?

MACB.

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.

[Exeunt.

ACT THE SECOND.

SCENE I.

Court of MACBETH's castle.

Enter BANQUO, and FLEANCE bearing a torch
before him.

BAN. How goes the night, boy?

FLE. The moon is down; I have not heard the

clock.

BAN. And she goes down at twelve.

FLE.

I take ́t, 'tis later, sir.

BAN. Hold, take my sword. There's husbandry

in heaven;

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!

Enter MACBETH, and a Servant with a torch.
Give me my sword.

Who's there?

MACB. A friend.

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 name of most kind hostess; and shut up In measureless content.

MACB.

Being unprepared,

Our will became the servant to defect;
Which else should free have wrought.

BAN.

All's well.

I dreamt last night of the three weird sisters:
To you they have show'd some truth.

МАСВ.

I think not of them:

Yet, when we can entreat an hour to serve,

We would spend it in some words upon that business, would grant the time.

If y

you

BAN.

At your kind'st leisure.

MACB. If you shall cleave to my consent, when

'tis,

It shall make honour for you.

BAN.

So I lose none

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

МАСВ.

BAN. Thanks, sir: the like to you!

Good repose the while!

[Exeunt BANQUO and FLEANCE.

MACB. Go bid thy mistress, when my drink is

ready,

She strike upon the bell. Get thee to bed.

[Exit Servant.

Come, let me

Is this a dagger which I see before me,

The handle toward my hand?

clutch thee.

I have thee not, and yet I see thee still.
Art thou not, fatal vision, sensible