It were done quickly: if the assassination
Could trammel up the consequence, and eatch,
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 judgement 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 kinsmar 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 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?

Was the hope drunk,

Mari. Hath he ask'd for me? Lady M. Know you not, he has? Mach. We will proceed no further in this business: He hath honour'd me of late; and I have bought Gulden opinions from all sorts of people, Which would be worn now in their newest gloss, Not cast aside so soon. Lady M. Wherein you drest 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' the adage?

What beast was it then,

Lady M. 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.

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?

Mach. Good repose, the while! Ban. Thanks, sir; The like to you! [Exit Ban. Mach. Go, bid thy mistress, when my drink is ready, She strike upon the bell. Get thee to-bed. [Exit Ser. -Is this a dagger, which I see before me,

Maco.

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!

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 marshall'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, towards 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.

them:

SCENE II-The same. Enter Lady Macbeth.

Lady M. That which hath made them drunk, hath made me bold:

What hath quench'd them, hath given me fire :-
Hark!-Peace!

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,
Whether they live, or die.

Mach [Within.]
Who's there?-what, he;
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 cry.

SCENE III-The same. Enter a Porter. [Knocking within.]

Port. Here's a knocking, indeed! If a man were porter of hell-gate, he should have old turning the key. [Knocking.] Knock, knock, knock: Who's there, i'the name of Belzebub? Here's a farmer that hanged himseif on the expectation of plenty: Come in time; have napkins enough about you; here you'll sweat for't. [Knocking-] Knock, knock: Who's there, i'the other devil's name?-Faith, here's an equivocator, that could swear in both the scales against either scale; who committed treason enough for God's sake, yet could not equivocate to heaven: 0, come in, equivocator. [Knocking.] Knock, knock, knock: Who's there? Faith, here's an English tailor come hither, for stealing out of a French hose: Come in, tailor; here you may roast your goose. [Knocking.] 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 some of all professions, that go the primrose way to the everlasting bonfire. [Knocking.] Anon, anon; I pray you, remember the porter. [Opens the gate.

Enter Macduff and Lenox. Mard. Was it so late, friend, ere you went to bed, that you do lie so late?

Part. 'Faith, sir, we were carousing till the second cock: and drink, sir, is a great provoker of three things. Macd. What three things does drink especially proroke?

Port. Marry, sir, nose-painting, sleep, and urine. Lechery, sir, it provokes, and unprovokes: it provokes the desire, but it takes away the performance: Therefore, much drink may be said to be an equivocator with lechery: it makes him, and it mars him; it sets him on, and it takes him off; it persuades him, and disheartens him; makes him stand to, and not stand to: in conclusion, equivocates him in a sleep, and, giving him the lie, leaves him.

Macd. I believe, drink gave thee the lie, last night. Port. That it did, sir, i'the very throat o'me: But I requited him for his lie; and, I think, being too strong for him, though he took up my leg sometime, yet I made a shift to cast him.

Macd. Is thy master stirring ?————

Our knocking has awak'd him; here he comes.
Enter Macbeth.

Len. Good-morrow, noble sir!

Marb.

Good-morrow, both! Macd. Is the king stirring, worthy thane? Mob. Not yet. Meed. He did command me to call timely on him; I have almost slipp'd the hour. Mach.

I'll bring you to him. Macd. I know, this is a joyful trouble to you;

But yet, 'tis one.

Macb.

What is't you say? the life?

Len. Mean you his majesty ?
Macd. Approach the chamber, and destroy your
sight

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 sleep, death's counterfeit,
And look on death itself?-up, up, and see
The great doom's image!-Malcolm! Banquo!
As from your graves rise up, and walk like sprites,
To countenance this horror!
[Bell rings.

"Tis not for you to hear what I can speak :
The repetition, in a woman's ear,
Would murder as it fell.-O Banquo! Banquo!
Enter Banquo.

Our royal master's murder'd!
Lady M.
What, in our house?

Woe, alas!

Ban.
Too eruel, any where-
Dear Duff, I pr'ythee, contradict thyself,
And say, it is not so.

Re-enter Macbeth and Lenox.

Macb. Had I but died an hour before this chance, I had liv'd a blessed time; for, from this instant, There's nothing serious in mortality: All is but toys: renown, and grace, is dead; The wine of life is drawn, and the mere lees Is left this vault to brag of.

Enter Malcolm and Donalbain. Don. What is amiss? Mach. You are, and do not know it: The spring, the head, the fountain of your blood Is stopp'd; the very source of it is stopp'd.

Macd. Your royal father's murder'd.

O, by whom?

Mal.
Len. Those of his chamber, as it seem'd, had done't:
Their hands and faces were all badg'd with blood,
So were their daggers, which, unwip'd, we found
Upon their pillows:

They star'd, and were distracted; no man's life
Was to be trusted with them.

Macb. O, yet I do repent me of my fury,

[Exeunt all but Malcolm and Donalbain. Mal. What will you do? Let's not consort with them:

To show an unfelt sorrow, is an office
Which the false man does easy: I'll to England.
Don. To Ireland, I; our separated fortunes
Shall keep us both the safer: where we are,
There's daggers in men's smiles: the near in blood,
The nearer bloody.

Mal.
This murderous shaft that's shot,
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 itself when there's no mercy left.

[Exeunt. SCENE IV.-Without the Castle. Enter Rosse and an old Man.

Old. M. Threescore and ten I can remember well: Within the volume of which time, I have seen Hours dreadful, and things strange; but this sore night Hath trifled former knowings.

A falcon, tow'ring in her pride of place,

Was by a mousing owl hawk'd at, and kill'd.

Rosse. And Duncan's horses, (a thing most strange

and certain,)

Beauteous and swift, the minions of their race,
Turn'd wild in nature, broke their stalls, flung out,
Contending 'gainst obedience, as they would make
War with mankind.
Old Man.
"Tis said, they eat each other.
Rosse. They did so; to the amazement of mine eyes,
That look'd upon't. Here comes the good Macduff:
Enter Macduff.

How goes the world, sir, now?
Macd.

Why, see you not? Rosse. Is't known, who did this more than bloody deed?

Macd. Those that Macbeth hath slain.
Rosse.

What good could they pretend?

Macd.

Alas, the day!

They were suborn'd: Malcolm, and Donalbain, the king's two sons, Are stol'n away and fled; which puts upon them Suspicion of the deed.

Banquo. Banquo.

THOU hast it now, King, Cawdor, Glamis, all, As the weird women promis'd; and, I fear, Thou play'dst most foully for't: yet it was said, It should not stand in thy posterity; But that myself should be the root, and father Of many kings. If there come truth from them, (As upon thee, Macbeth, their speeches shine,) Why, by the verities on thee made good, May they not be my oracles as well, And set me up in hope? But, hush; no more. Senet scunded. Enter Macbeth, as king; Lady Ma beth, as queen; Lenox, Rosse, Lords, Ladies, and

Attendants.

Mach. Here's our chief guest.

Lady M.

If he had been forgotten, It had been as a gap in our great feast, And all-things unbecoming.

Mach. To-night we hold a solemn supper, sir, And I'll request your presence.