Lady. A foolish thought, to say a forry fight. Mach. There's one did laugh in his fleep, and one cry'd, murder!

[them: That they did wake each other; I ftood and heard But they did fay their prayers, and addrefs'd them Again to fleep.

Lady. There are two lodg'd together.

Mach. One cry'd, Ged blefs us! and, Amen, the other;

Get on your night-gown, left occafion call us,
And fhew us to be watchers :-Be not loft
So poorly in your thoughts.

Mach. To know my deed,-'Twere beft not
know myself.

[Knock.

As they had feen me, with these hangman's hands, Ic Wake Duncan with thy knocking! I would, thou
Liftening their fear '. I could not say, Amen,
When they did fay, God blefs us.

[Amen?

Lady. Confider it not fo deeply.
Mach. But wherefore could not I pronounce,
I had most need of bleffing, and Amen
Stuck in my throat.

Lady. Thefe deeds must not be thought
After thefe ways; fo, it will make us mad.
Macb, Methought, I heard a voice cry,

' no more!

66

Sleep

"Macbeth does murder fleep, the innocent fleep; "Sleep, that knits up the ravell'd fleave 2 of care, "The death of each day's life, fore labour's bath, "Balm of hurt minds, great nature's fecond courfe, "Chief nourisher in life's feast;"

Lady. What do you mean?

[houfe:

Mach. Still it cry'd, "Sleep no more!" to all the "Glamis hath murder'd fleep; and thereforeCawdor "Shall fleep no more,Macbeth shall fleep no more!"'] Lady. Who was it, that thus cry'd? Why, worthy thane,

You do unbend your noble strength, to think
So brain-fickly of things:-Go, get fome 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 fleepy 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. Infirm of purpose !

Give me the daggers: The fleeping, and the dead,
Are but as pictures: 'tis the eye of childhood,
That fears a painted devil. If he do bleed,
I'll gild the faces of the grooms withal,

For it must seem their guilt. [Exit. Knocking within.
Macb. Whence is that knocking?

How is't with me, when every noife appals me?
What hands are here? Ha! they pluck out mine
eyes!

Will all great Neptune's ocean wash this blood
Clean from my hand? No; this my hand will rather
The multitudinous feas 3 incarnardine,
Making the green-one red.

Re-enter Lady Macbeth.
Lady. My hands are of your colour; but I fhame
To wear a heart fo white. I hear a knocking

At the fouth entry :

[Knock. -retire we to our chamber:

[Knocking Within.] Por. Here's a knocking, indeed! If a man were porter of hell-gate, he hould have old turning the key. [Knock.] Knock, knock, knock: Who's there, i' the name of Belzebub? Here's a farmer, that hang'd himself on the expectation of plenty: come in time; have napkins 5 enough about you; here you'll fweat for't. [Kneck.] Knock, knock: Who's there i'the other devil's name? 'Faith,here's an equivocator", that could fwear in both the fcales against either 25 fcale; who committed treafon enough for God's fake, yet could not equivocate to heaven: oh, come in, equivocator. [Knock.] Knock, knock, knock: Who's there? 'Faith, here's an English hofe: come in, taylor; here you may roast your taylor come hither, for ftealing out of a French goofe. [Knock.] Knock, knock: never at quiet! What are you? But this place is too cold for hell. I'll devil porter it no further: I had thought to have let in fome of all profeffions, that go the primrose way to the everlasting bonfire. [Knock] Anon, anon; I pray you, remember the porter.

3

35

Enter Macduff, and Lenax.

Mard. Was it fo late, friend, ere you went to bed, 4 That you do lie fo late?

Por. 'Faith, fir, we were caroufing 'till the fecond cock and drink, fir, is a great provoker of three things.

Macd. What three things doth drink especially 45 provoke?

Por. Marry, fir, nofe-painting, fleep, and urine. Lechery, fir, it provokes, and unprovokes; it provokes the defire, but it takes away the performance: Therefore, much drink may be said to 50be an equivocator with lechery: it makes him, and it mars him; it fets him on, and it takes him off; it perfuades him, and disheartens him; makes him ftand to, and not ftand to: in conclufion, equivocates him in a fleep, and, giving him the lie, 55 leaves him.

Macd. I believe, drink gave thee the lie laft night.

Por. That it did, fir, i' the very throat o' me: But I requited him for his lie; and I think, being

That is, liftening to their fear. 2 A skein of filk is called a fleave of filk. is to ftain any thing of a flesh colour, or red. best not know, or be left to, myself.

To incarnardine,

4 i. e, while I have the thoughts of this deed, it were 5 i. e. handkerchiefs. 6 Meaning, a jefuit; an order fo troublefome to the state in queen Elizabeth and king James the firft's time; the inventors of the execrable doctrine of equivocation

too

Macd. Confufion now hath made his mafter

Moft facrilegious murder hath broke ope
The Lord's anointed temple, and stole thence
The life o' the building.

Mach. What is't you fay? the life ?
Len. Mean you his majesty?

[fight

Macd. Approach the chamber, and destroy your
With a new Gorgon :-Do not bid me speak;
See, and then speak yourselves.--Awake! awake!--
[Exeunt Macbeth and Lenox.
Ring the alarum-bell:-Murder! and treason!
Banquo, and Donalbain! Malcolm! awake!
Shake off this downy fleep, death's counterfeit,
And look on death itself!-up, up, and fee
The great doom's image !-Malcolm! Banquo!
As from your graves rife up, and walk like sprights,
To countenance this horror!-Ring the bell.

35

35

Enter Malcolm and Donalbain.
Don. What is amifs?

Macb. You are, and do not know it:
The spring, the head, tile fountain of your blood
Is ftopt; the very source of it is stopt.

Macd. Your royal father's murder'd.
Mal. Oh, by whom?

[don't':

Len. Thofe of his chamber, as it feem'd, had
Their hands and faces were all badg'd with blood,
So were their daggers, which, unwip'd, we found
Upon their pillows; they itar'd and were distracted;
No man's life was to be trufted with them.
Macb. O, yet I do repent me of my fury,
That I did kill them.

Mard. Wherefore did you fo?

Macb. Who can be wife, amaz'd, temperate,

and furious,

That had a heart to love, and in that heart
50 Courage, to make his love known?
Lady. Help me hence, ho!
Macd. Look to the lady.

Mal. Why do we hold our tongues,
That most may claim this argument for ours?
2 i. e. appointed.

3 Upon this paffage, which

1 To caft him up, to eafe my stomach of him. has been deemed the crux criticorum, almost every commentator has differed in opinion. Dr. Johne fon propofes, instead of breeched, to read, drenched with gore, Dr. Warburton thinks reeched (i. e. foiled with a dark yellow) should be fubftituted for breeched, as well as unman'y for unmannerly. Mr. Steevens fuppofes, that the expreffion may mean, that the daggers were covered with blood quite to their breeches, i. e. their bilts or handles; the lower end of a cannon being called the breech of it. Warton pronounces, that whether the word which follows be reech'd, breech'd, hatch'd, or drench'd, he is at least of opinion, that unmannerly is the genuine reading, which he conftrues to mean unfeemly. Dr. Farmer fays, that the fenfe in plain language is," Daggers filthily-in a fuul manner➡➡ fheath'd with blood."?

Bb 2

Don.

Mal. What will you do? Let's not confort with 20 To fhew an unfelt forrow, is an office [them: Which the falfe man does eafy: I'll to England.

Don. To Ireland, I; our feparated fortune

Shall keep us both the fafer: where we are,

How goes the world, fir, now?

Macd. Why, fee you not?

[deed?

Roffe. Is't known, who did this more than bloody
Macd. Thofe that Macbeth hath flain.

Roffe. Alas, the day!

What good could they pretend 4?

Macd. They were fuborn'd:

There's daggers in men's fmiles: the near in blood, 25 Malcolm, and Donalbain, the king's two sons,

The nearer bloody.

Mal. This murderous fhaft that's fhot,
Hath not yet lighted; and our safest way
Is, to avoid the aim. Therefore, to horse;
And let us not be dainty of leave-taking,
But shift away: There's warrant in that theft
Which steals itfelf, when there's no mercy left.

SCENE IV.

Enter Roffe, with an Old Man.

Are ftol'n away and fled; which puts upon them
Sufpicion of the deed.

Roffe. 'Gainft nature still:

Thriftlefs ambition, that wilt ravin up

30 Thine own life's means!-Then 'tis most like, The fovereignty will fall upon Macbeth.

[Excunt.

35

Thou feeft, the heavens, as troubled with man's
Threaten his bloody ftage: by the clock, 'tis day,

Macd. He is already nam'd; and gone to Scone, To be invefted.

Roffe. Where is Duncan's body?

Macd. Carried to Colmes-kills;

The facred ftore-house of his predeceffors,
And guardian of their bones.

Roffe. Will you to Scone ?

Macd. No, coufin, I'll to Fife.

Roffe. Well, I will thither.

[-adieu!

Macd. Well, may you see things well done there; Left our old robes fit easier than our new!

[thofe

Reffe. Farewel, father. Old Man. God's benifon go with you; and with And yet dark night ftrangles the travelling lamp: 45 That would make good of bad, and friends of foes! Is it night's predominance, or the day's fhame,

[Excunt.

No fon of mine fucceeding. If it be fo,
For Banquo's iffue have I fil'd2 my mind;
For them the gracious Duncan have I murder'd;
Put rancours in the veffel of my peace
5 Only for them; and mine eternal jewel
Given to the common enemy of man 3,
To make them kings, the feed of Banquo kings!
Rather than fo, come, fate, into the lift,
And champion me to the utterance4!--Who's there?
Re-enter Servant, with two Murderers.
Now go to the door, and stay there till we call.
[Exit Servant.
Was it not yesterday we spoke together?
Mur. It was, fo please your highness.
Macb. Well then, now

Macb. We should have elfe defir'd your good ro
(Which ftill hath been both grave and profperous)
In this day's council; but we'll take to-morrow.
Is't far you ride?,

Ban. As far, my lord, as will fill up the time
"Twixt this and fupper: go not my horfe the bet-15
I must become a borrower of the night,
For a dark hour, or twain.

Macb. Fail not our feaft.

Ban. My lord, I will not.

[ter,

Macb. We hear, our bloody coufins are beftow'd
In England, and in Ireland; not confeffing
Their cruel parricide, filling their hearers
With strange invention: But of that to-morrow;
When, therewithal, we shall have cause of state,
Craving us jointly. Hie you to horse: Adieu,
Till you return at night. Goes Fleance with you?
Ban. Ay, my good lord: our time does call
upon us.

Macb. I wish your horses swift, and fure of foot;
And so I do commend you to their backs.
Farewel.

[Exit Banquo.

Have you confider'd of my speeches? Know,
That it was he, in the times paft, which held you
So under fortune; which, you thought, had been
Our innocent felf: this I made good to you

20 In our last conference, paft in probation with you;
How you were borne in hand; how croft; the
inftruments;

Who wrought with them; and all things elfe,
that might,

25 To half a foul, and to a notion craz'd,
Say, Thus did Banquo.

1 Mur. You made it known to us.

Macb. I did fo; and went further, which is now
Our point of fecond meeting. Do you find
30 Your patience fo predominant in your nature,
That you can let this go? Are you fo gospell'd,
To pray for this good man, and for his issue,
Whofe heavy hand hath bow'd you to the grave,
And beggar'd yours for ever?

Let every man be master of his time
Till seven at night: to make society
The fweeter welcome, we will keep ourfelf [you.
Till supper-time alone: while then, God be with 35
[Exeunt Lady Macbeth, and Lords.
Sirrah, a word with you: Attend those men our
pleasure ?

Ser. They are, my lord, without the palace gate.
Macb. Bring them before us.-To be thus, is 40
nothing;
[Exit Servant.

But to be fafely thus ;-Our fears in Banquo
Stick deep; and in his royalty of nature
Reigns that, which would be fear'd: "Tis much he

dares;

And, to that dauntless temper of his mind,
He hath a wisdom that doth guide his valour
To act in safety. There is none, but he,
Whofe being I do fear: And, under him,
My genius is rebuk d; as, it is said,

Mark Antony's was by Cæfar. He chid the fifters,
When first they put the name of King upon me,
And bade them fpeak to him; then, prophet-like,
They hail'd him father to a line of kings:
Upon my head they plac'd a fruitiefs crown,
And put a barrer. fcepter in my gripe,
Thence to be wrench'd with an unlineal hand,

I Mur. We are men, my liege.

Macb. Ay, in the catalogue you go for men;
As hounds,and greyhounds,mungrels,fpaniels,curs,
Shoughs7, water-rugs, and demi-wolves, are cleped
All by the name of dogs; the valued file
Diftinguishes the swift, the flow, the subtle,
The houfe-keeper, the hunter, every one
According to the gift which bounteous nature
Hath in him clos'd; whereby he does receive
Particular addition, from the bill

45 That writes them all alike: and fo of men.
Now, if you have a ftation in the file,
Not in the worst rank of manhood, fay it;
And I will put that business in your bofoms,
Whofe execution takes your enemy off;
50 Grapples you to the heart and love of us,
Who wear our health but fickly in his life,
Which in his death were perfect.

2 Mur. I am one, my liege,
Whom the vile blows and buffets of the worli
55 Have fo incens'd, that I am reckless what
I do, to fpite the world.

1 Mur. And I another,

3 the devil.

i. e. If he does not go well. 2 i. e. defiled. The word utterance is de. rived from the French outrance. A challenge or a combat a l'outrance, to extremity, was a fix'd term in the law of arms, used when the combatants engaged with an odium internecinum, an intention to defroy each other. 5 i. e. made to believe what was not true. 6 Meaning, are you of that degree of precife virtue? Gofpellers was a name of contempt given by the Papifts to the Lollards. Shoughs are probably what we now call shocks. 3 The expression, valued file, seems to mean in this place, a post of honour; the first rank, in oppofition to the laft. File and lift are synonymous.

Bb 3

7

So

So weary with difafters, tugg'd with fortune",
That I would fet my life on any chance,
To mend it, or be rid on't.

Mach. Both of you

Know, Banquo was your enemy.

Mur. True, my lord.

Macb. So is he mine: and in fuch bloody diftance
That every minute of his being thrufts
Againft my near'ft of life: And though I could
With bare-fac'd power fweep him from my fight,
And bid my will avouch it; yet I must not,
For certain friends that are both his and mine,
Whofe loves I may not drop, but wail his fall
Whom I myself ftruck down: and thence it is,
That I to your affiftance do make love;
Masking the bufinefs from the common eye,
For fundry weighty reafons.

Mur. We fhall, my lord,
Perform what you command us.

1 Mur. Though our lives

Macb. Your fpirits fhine through you. Within
this hour, at most,

I will advife you where to plant yourselves;
Acquaint you with the perfect fpy o' the time 3,
The moment on't; for't must be done to-night,
And fomething from the palace; always thought,
That I require a clearness 4: And with him,
(To leave no rubs, nor botches, in the work)
Fleance his fon, that keeps him company,
Whofe abfence is no lefs material to me
Than is his father's, muft embrace the fate
Of that dark hour: Refolve yourselves apart;
I'll come to you anon.

Mur. We are refolv'd, my lord.

Macb. I'll call upon you straight; abide within.
It is concluded:-Banquo, thy foul's flight,
If it find heaven, must find it out to-night. [Exeunt
SCENE

II.

With them they think on? Things without all

remedy

Should be without regard: what's done, is done.

Mach. We have fcotch'd the fnake, not kill'd it,

5 She'll clofe, and be herself; whilst our poor malice Remains in danger of her former tooth.

But let the frame of things disjoint, both the worlds suffer,

Ere we will eat our meal in fear, and sleep 10In the affliction of these terrible dreams,

That shake us nightly: Better be with the dead, Whom we, to gain our place, have fent to peace, Than on the torture of the mind to lie in reftiefs ecftacy 6.-Duncan is in his grave; 15 After life's fitful fever, he fleeps well; Treafon has done his worst: nor fteel, nor poison, Malice domeftic, foreign levy, nothing,

Can touch him further!

Lady. Come on; Gentle my lord,

2c Sleek o'er your rugged looks; be bright and jovial Among your guests to-night.

Mach. So fhall I, love;

And fo, I pray, be you: Let your remembrance Apply to Banquo; prefent him eminence 7, both 25 With eye and tongue: Unsafe the while, that we Muft lave our honours in these flattering ftreams; And make our faces vizards to our hearts, Difguifing what they are.

30

Lady. You must leave this.

Macb. O, full of fcorpions is my mind, dear wife!
Thou know'ft, that Banquo, and his Fleance, lives.
Lady. But in them nature's copy's not eterne 3.
Macb. There's comfort yet, they are affailable;
Then be thou jocund: Ere the bat hath flown
35 His cloister'd flight; ere, to black Hecat's fummons,
The fhard-borne beetle 2, with his drowsy hums,
Hath rung night's yawning peal, there shall be done
A deed of dreadful note.

40

Lady. What's to be done?

Macb. Be innocent of the knowledge, dearest
chuck 10,

Till thou applaud the deed. Come, feeling night,
Skarf up the tender eye of pitiful day;
And, with thy bloody and invisible hand,
[Exit-45 Cancel, and tear to pieces, that great bond
Which keeps me pale!-Light thickens 12; and

How now, my lord? why do you keep alone,
Of forrieft fancies your companions making?
Ufing thofe thoughts, which mould indeed have dy'd

from each other 4 i. e. Always 5 i. e. Worth7 i. e. Do him

i. e. worried by fortune. 2 Such a distance as mortal enemies would stand at when their quarrel must be determined by the fword. 3 Meaning, the exalt time. remembering, that throughout the whole tranfaction I must ftand clear of fufpicion. lefs, vile. 6 Ecftacy here fignifies any violent emotion of the mind, pain, agony. the highest honours. Eterne for eternal. 9 i. e. according to Mr. Steevens, the beetle borne along the air by its shards or jealy wings; shards fignifying feaies. But Mr. Tollet fays, that hard-bern beetle is the beetle born in dung; and that fhard fignifies dung, is well known in the North of Staffordfhire, where cowfoard is the word generally used for cow-dung. 10 A term of endearment. 13 j. c. blinding. 12 i. e. The light grows dull or muddy. 13 j. e. to a rookery.

SCENE