120

Glamis hath murder'd sleep; and therefore Cawdor
Shall sleep no more, Macbeth shall sleep no more!
Lady. Who was it, that thus cry'd? Why, worthy
thane,

You do unbend your noble strength, to think
So brain-sickly 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.

Mac. 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 sleeping, 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,

130

For it must seem their guilt. [Exit. Knocking within.
Mac. Whence is that knocking!

How is't with me, when every noise 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 seas incarnardine,

Making the green—one red.

Re-enter Lady MACBETH.

141

Lady. My hands are of your colour; but I shame To wear a heart so white. I hear a knocking [Knock,

At the south entry:-retire we to our chamber:
A little water clears us of this deed:

How easy is it then? Your constancy

Hath left you unattended.-Hark! more knocking:

Get on your night-gown, lest occasion call us,
And shew us to be watchers :-Be not lost
So poorly in your thoughts,

[Knock.

151

Mac. To know my deed, 'twere best not know

myself.

{Knock. Wake Duncan with thy knocking! I would, thou

could'st!

[Exeunt.

SCENE III.

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. [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 enough about you; here you'll sweat for't. [Knock.] 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: oh, come in, equivocator. [Knock.] Knock, knock, knock: Who's there? 'Faith, here's an English taylor come

hither,

hither, for stealing out of a French hose: come in, taylor; here you may roast your goose. [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 some of all professions, that go the primrose-way to the everlasting bonfire. [Knock] Anon, anon; I pray you, remember the porter, 176

Enter MACDUFF, and LENOX.

Macd. Was it so late, friend, ere you went to-bed, That you do lie so late?.

Port. 'Faith, sir, we were carousing 'till the second cock and drink, sir, is a great provoker of three things.

Macd. What three things doth drink especially provoke ?

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