SCENE VII.—The same. A room in the castle.

Hautboys and torches. Enter, and pass over the stage, a Sewer, and divers Servants with dishes and service. Then enter MACBETH.

Macb. If it were done, when 'tis done, then 'twere
It were done quickly: If the assassination [well
Could trammel up the consequence, and catch,
With his' surcease, success; that but this blow
Might be the be-all and the end-all here,

But here, upon this bank and shoal of time,—
We'd jump the life to come.-But, in these cases,
We still have judgment here; that we but teach
Bloody instructions, which, being taught, return
To plague th' inventor: This3 even-handed justice
Commends th' 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, hors'd
Upon the sightless couriers of the air,5
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

3 We might more advantageously read-thus, even-handed

justice, &c.-STEEVENS.

faculties, for dignities.

s the winds.

6 Alluding to the remission of the wind in a shower.

Vaulting ambition, which o'er-leaps itself,
And falls on the other.-How now, what news?

Enter Lady MACBETH.

Lady M. He has almost supp'd; Why have you
Macb. Hath he ask'd for me? [left the chamber?
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? 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 esteems't 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' th' adage?1

Macb.

Pr'ythee, 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 enterprize 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,

'The proverb alluded to is," The cat loves fish, but dares not wet her feet."

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.
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 wassel so convince,'
That memory, the warder' of the brain,
Shall be a fume, and the receipt3 of reason
A limbeck only: When in swinish sleep
Their drenched natures lie, as in a death,
What cannot you and I perform upon
Th' unguarded Duncan? what not put upon
spongy officers; who shall bear the guilt
Of our great quell?5

His

Macb.

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,
That they have don'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.

1

overpower.

2

guard, sentinel.

3 receptacle.

The limbeck is the vessel through which the distilled liquors pass into the recipient. So shall it be with memory, through which every thing shall pass, and nothing remain.

5 quell is murder.

ACT II.

SCENE I.-The same. Court within the castle.

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.

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!-Give me my sword ;—

Enter MACBETH, and a Servant with a torch.
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 up2
In measureless content.

Macb.

Being unprepar'd,

All's well.

Our will became the servant to defect;
Which3 else should free have wrought.

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

'thrift, frugality.

2 to shut up is to conclude.

Which, referring to the first antecedent, will.

Macb.

I think not of them :

Yet, when we can entreat an hour to serve,
Would spend it in some words upon that business,
If you would grant the time.

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 franchis'd, and allegiance clear,
I shall be counsel'd.

Macb.

Good repose, the while! 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 Servant.

[thee:

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'th'other senses,
Or else worth all the rest: I see thee still;

2

And on thy blade, and dudgeon, gouts3 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