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SCENE VII.

MACBETH'S Castle at Inverness.

Enter МАСВЕТН.

Macb. 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-tongued, against
The deep damnation of his taking-off:

I have no spur

To prick the sides of my intent, but only
Vaulting ambition, which o'erleaps itself,

And falls on the other-How now! what news?

Enter LADY MACBETH.

Lady. He has almost supp'd: why have you left the chamber? 1

Macb. Hath he ask'd for me?"

Lady. 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. 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
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' th' adage?
Macb. 'Pr'ythee, peace:

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

Lady. 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 than 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 but so sworn
As you have done to this.

Macb. If we should fail-
Lady. 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?

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. Who dares receive it other,

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

Mach. 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.

MACBETH'S Castle at Inverness.

The Gallery:

Enter BANQUO and FLEANCE, with a Torch.

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. There's husbandry in Heaven,
Their candles are all out.-

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 SEYTON, with a Torch, and MACBETH.

Who's there?

Macb. A friend.

Ban. What, sir, not yet at rest? The king's abed:

He hath been in unusual pleasure, and

Sent forth great largess to your officers:
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 dream'd last night of the three weird sisters:
To you they have shew'd some truth.

Macb. I think not of them:

Yet, when we can entreat an hour to serve,
We 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.

(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?

Mach. 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. Who dares receive it other,

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

Mach. 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.

MACBETH'S Castle at Inverness.

The Gallery:

Enter BANQUO and FLEANCE, with a Torch.

Ban. How goes the night, boy?

Fle. The moon is down; I have not heard the clock,

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