This guest of summer,

Unto our gentle senses.

Ban.

The temple-haunting martlet, does approve,
By his lov'd mansionry, that the heaven's breath,
Smells wooingly here: no jutty, frieze, buttress,
Nor coigne of vantage, but this bird hath made
His pendent bed, and procreant cradle: Where

they

Most breed and haunt, I have observ'd, the air
Is delicate.

Dun.

Enter Lady Macbeth.

See, see! our honour'd hostess! The love that follows us, sometime is our trouble, Which still we thank as love. Herein I teach you, How you shall bid God yield us for your pains,

And thank us for your trouble.

Lady M.

All our service

In every point twice done, and then done double, Were poor and single business, to contend Against those honours deep and broad, wherewith Your majesty loads our house: For those of old, And the late dignities heap'd up to them,

We rest your hermits.

Dun.

Where's the thane of Cawdor?

We cours'd him at the heels, and had a purpose
To be his purveyor: but he rides well;

And his great love, sharp as his spur, hath holp him
To his home before us: Fair and noble hostess,

We are your guest to-night.

Lady M.

Your servants ever

Have theirs, themselves, and what is theirs, in compt,

C

To make their audit at your highness' pleasure,

Still to return your own.

Dun.

Give me your hand: Conduct me to mine host; we love him highly, And shall continue our graces towards him.

By your leave, hostess.

SCENE VII.

[Exeunt.

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.

Mac. If it were done, when 'tis done, then 'twere well

It were done quickly: If the assassination
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 the inventor: This even-handed justice
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-tongu'd, 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?

Enter Lady Macbeth.

Lady M. He has almost supp'd; Why have you

left the chamber?

Mac. Hath he ask'd for me?

Lady M.

Know you not, he has?

Mac. 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? Would'st thou have that

1

Which thou esteem'st the ornament of life,
And live a coward in thine own esteem;

1

Letting I dare not wait upon I would,

Like the poor cat i' the adage?
Мас.

Pr'ythee, peace:

I dare do all that may become a man;

Who dares do more, is none.

Lady M.

What beast was it 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,
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.

Mac.

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 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 spungy officers; who shall bear the guilt

Of our great quell?

Мас.

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?

Мас.

Each corporal agent to this terrible feat.

I am settled, and bend up

Away, and mock the time with fairest show:

False face must hide what the false heart doth

know.

[Exeunt.