Ban. Hold, take my sword.—There's husbandry in
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?
Lady M. That which hath made them drunk, hath made me bold: [Hark! Peace! What hath quench'd them, hath given me fire.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 their possets,
That death and nature do contend about them,
Ban. What, sir, not yet at rest? The king's a-bed: Whether they live, or die.
He hath been in unusual pleasure, and
Sent forth great largess to your offices:
This diamond be greets your wife withal,
By the name of most kind hostess; and shut up
In measureless content.
In seeking to augment it, but still keep
My bosom franchis'd, and allegiance clear,
I shall be counsel'd.
Good repose, the while!
Macb.
Ban. Thanks, sir; The like to you! [Exit BAN.
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. [thee:-
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, toward 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.
[A bell rings.
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.
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 MACBETH.
Macb. I have done the deed :-Didst thou not hear a noise?
Lady M. I heard the owl scream, and the crickets Did not you speak? [cry.
Lady M.
Macb. This is a sorry sight. [Looking on his hands.
Lady M. A foolish thought, to say a sorry sight.
Macb. There's one did laugh in his sleep, and one
cried, murder!
[them :
That they did wake each other; I stood and heard
But they did say their prayers, and address'd them
Again to sleep.
Lady M.
There are two lodg'd together.
Macb. One cried, God bless us! and, Amen, the other;
As they had seen me, with these hangman's hands,
Listening their fear, I could not say, amen,
When they did say, God bless us.
Consider it not so deeply.
Macb. But wherefore could not I pronounce, amen?
I had most need of blessing, and amen
Stuck in my throat.
Lady M. These deeds must not be thought
After these ways; so, it will make us mad.
Macb. Methought, I heard a voice cry, Sleep no
Macbeth does murder sleep, the innocent sleep; [more!
Sleep, that knits up the ravell'd sleave of care,
The death of each day's life, sore labour's bath,
Balm of hurt minds, great nature's second course,
Chief nourisher in life's feast.
Lady M.
What do you mean?
Macb. Still it cried, Sleep no more! to all the house:
Glamis hath murder'd sleep: and therefore Cawdor
Shall sleep no more, Macbeth shall sleep no more!
Lady M. Who was it that thus cried? Why, wor
You do unbend your noble strength, to think
So brainsickly of things:-Go, get some water,
And wash this filthy witness from your hand.-
Why did you bring these daggers from the place?
They must lie there: Go, carry them; and smear
The sleepy grooms with blood."
Macb.
I'll go no more:
I am afraid to think what I have done ;
Look on't again, I dare not.
Lady M.