The Dramatic Works of Shakespeare

Would have inform'd for preparation.

Atten. So please you, it is true: our thane is coming.
One of my fellows had the speed of him,
Who, almost dead for breath, had scarcely more,
Than would make up his message.
Lady M. Give him tending,

He brings great news. The raven himself is hoarse,
[Exit Attendant.
That croaks the fatal entrance of Duncan
Under my
battlements. Come, come, you spirits,
That tend on mortal thoughts, unsex me here,
And fill me, from the crown to the toe, top-full
Of direst cruelty! make thick my blood,
Stop up the access and passage to remorse,
That no compunctious visitings of nature
Shake my fell purpose, nor keep peace between
The effect and it! Come to my woman's breasts,
And take my milk for gall, you murd'ring ministers,
Wherever in your sightless substances

You wait on nature's mischief! Come, thick night,
And pall thee in the dunnest smoke of hell!
That my keen knife see not the wound, it makes,
Nor heaven peep through the blanket of the dark,
Το
cry, Hold, hold! Great Glamis! worthy Cawdor!
Enter MACBeth.

Greater than both, by the all-hail hereafter!
Thy letters have transported me beyond

This ignorant present, and I feel now
The future in the instant.

Macb. My dearest love,

Duncan comes here to-night.

Lady M. And when goes hence?

Macb. To-morrow, as he purposes.
Lady M. O, never

Shall sun that morrow see!

Your face, my thane, is as a book, where men
May read strange matters. To beguile the time,
Look like the time; bear welcome in your eye,
Your hand, your tongue! look like the innocent
flower,

But be the serpent under it! He that's coming,
Must be provided for: and
you shall put
This night's great business into my despatch,
Which shall to all our nights and days to come
Give solely sovereign sway and masterdom.
Macb. We will speak further.
Lady M. Only look up clear!
To alter favour ever is to fear:
Leave all the rest to me!

[Exeunt.

SCENE VI.-The same. Before the castle.
Hautboys. Servants of Macbeth attending.
Enter DUNCAN, MALCOLM, DONALBAIN, BANQUO,
NOX, MACDUFF, ROSSE, ANGUS, and Attendants.
Dun. This castle hath a pleasant seat; the air
Nimbly and sweetly recommends itself
Unto our gentle senses.

Ban. This guest of summer,

Were poor and single business, to contend
Against those honours deep and broad, wherewith
Your majesty loads our house. For those of old,
And the late dignities heap'd up to them,
We rest your hermits.

Dun. Where's the thane of Cawdor?
We cours'd him at the heels, and had a purpose,
To be his purveyor; but he rides well,

And his great love, sharp as his spur, hath holp him
To his home before us. Fair and noble hostess,
We are your guest to-night.

Lady M. Your servants ever

Have theirs, themselves, and what is theirs, in compt,
To make their audit at your highness' pleasure,
Still to return your own.

Dun. Give me your hand!

Conduct me to mine host! we love him highly,
And shall continue our graces towards him.
By your leave, hostess!

[Exeunt.

SCENE VII. - The same. A room in the castle. Hautboys and torches. Enter, and pass over the stage, a Sewer, and divers Servants with dishes and service. Then enter MACBETH.

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 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 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,
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'erleaps itself,

LE-And falls on the other. - How now, what news?
Enter Lady MACBETH.

The temple-haunting martlet, does approve,
By his lov'd mansionry, that the heaven's breath
Smells wooingly here: no jutty, frieze, buttress,
Nor coigne of vantage, but this bird hath made
His pendent bed, and procreant cradle. Where they
Most breed and haunt, I have observ'd, the air
Is delicate.

Enter Lady MACBETH.

Dun. See, see! our honour'd hostess!
The love, that follows us, sometime is our trouble,
Which still we thank as love. Herein I teach you,
How you shall bid God yield us for your pains,
And thank us for your trouble.

Lady M. All our service

In every point twice done, and then done double,

Lady M. He has almost supp'd. Why have you left the chamber?

Macb. Hath he ask'd for me?

Lady M. 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,
Not cast aside so soon.
Which would be worn now in their newest gloss,

Lady M. 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'the adage?

Macb, Pr'ythee, peace!

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

Lady M. What beast was't then,

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.

Macb. If we should fail,

Lady M. 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 ungarded Duncan? what not put upon
His spongy officers, who shall bear the guilt
Of our great quell?

Macb. Bring forth men-children only!
For thy undaunted metal should compose
Nothing but males. Will it not be receiv'd,

When we have mark'd with blood those sleepy two Of his own chamber, and us'd their very daggers, That they have done't?

Lady M. Who dares receive it other,

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

Macb. 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.

Ban. How goes the night, boy?

[Exit Servant.

Is this a dagger, which I see before me,
The handle toward my hand? Come, let me clutch
thee! -

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 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, towards his design
Moves like a ghost. Thou sure and firm-set earth,
Hear not my steps, which way they walk, for fear,
The 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.
[4 bell rings.

I go, and it is done; the bell invites me.

Fle. The moon is down; I have not heard the clock. Hear it not, Duncan! for it is a knell, 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 inrepose! Give me my sword!-
Enter MACBETH, and a Servant with a torch.

Who's there?

Macb. A friend.

Ban. What, sir, not yet at rest? The king's a bed.
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 unprepar'd,

That summons thee to heaven, or to hell.

SCENE II. The same. Enter Lady Macbeth.

[Exit.

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 givesthe 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, 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?

Macb. When?

cry.

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 laughin's sleep, and one cry'd That they did wake each other;I stood and heard them: But they did say their prayers, and address'd them Again to sleep.

murder!

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.

Lady M. Consider it not so deeply!

Mach. 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 more!
Macbeth does murder sleep, the innocent sleep;
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
'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, worthy

thane,

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. 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;

For it must seem their guilt. [Exit. Knocking within.
Macb. 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 incarnadine,
Making the green one red.

Re-enter Lady MACBETH.

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

At the south entry:

retire we to our chamber!

A little water clears us of this deed:
How easy is it then? Your constancy

Enter a Porter. [Knocking within.
Porter. 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 hang'd
have napkins enough about you; here you'll
himself on the expectation of plenty. Come in time;
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. O, come in, equi-
vocator! [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 devilporter 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.
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 does drink especially provoke?

Port. Marry, sir, nose-painting, sleep, and urine. Lechery, sir, it provokes, and unprovokes: it protherefore much drink may be said to be an equivocavokes the desire, butit takes away the performance: tor 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 legs 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!
Macb. Good morrow, both!

Macd. Is the king stirring, worthy thane?
Mucb. Notyet.

I have almost slipp'd the hour.

Macd. He did command me to call timely on him;

Macb. I'll bring you to him.

Macd. I know, this is a joyful trouble to you;
But yet'tis one.

Macb. The labour, we delight in, physicks pain.
This is the door.

For 'tis my limited service.

Macd. I'll make so bold to call;

Len. Goes the king

From hence to-day?

[Exit Macduff.

Macb. He does:- he did appoint it so.

Len. The night has been unruly. Where we lay, Our chimneys were blown down, and, as they say, Lamentings heard i'the air, strange screams of death; And prophecying, with accents terrible,

Of dire combustion, and confus'd events,

New hatch'd to the woeful time. The obscure bird Clamour'd the live-long night. Some say, the earth Was feverous, and did shake.

Macb. 'Twas a rough night.

Len. My young remembrance cannot parallel A fellow to it.

Re-enter MACDUFF.

The expedition of my violent love
Out-ran the pauser reason. Here lay Duncan,
His silver skin lac'd with his golden blood;
And his gash'd stabs look'd like a breach in nature,
For ruin's wasteful entrance: there, the murderers,
Steep'd in the colours of their trade, their daggers
Unmannerly breech'd with gore: Who could refrain,
That had a heart to love, and in that heart
Courage, to make his love known?
Lady M. Help me hence, ho!
Macd. Look to the lady!

Mal. Why do we hold our tongues,

Macd. O horror! horror! horror! Tongue, nor heart, That most may claim this argument for ours? Cannot conceive, nor name thee!

Macb. Len. What's the matter?

Macd. Confusion now hath made his master-piece! Most sacrilegious murder hath broke ope

The Lord's anointed temple, and stole thence
The life o'the building.

Macb. Whatis't you say? the life?
Len. Mean you his majesty?

Macd. Approach the chamber,and destroy your sight
With anew 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 sprights,
To countenance this horror!

Enter Lady MACBETH.

[Bell rings.

Ban. Too cruel, 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, Allis 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?

Macb. 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.

Mal. O, by whom?

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,

That I did kill them.

Macd. Wherefore did you so?

Don. What should be spoken here, Where our fate, hid within an augre-hole, May rush, and seize us? Let's away; our tears Are not yet brew'd.

Mal. Nor our strong sorrow on The foot of motion.

Ban. Look to the lady!

[Lady Macbeth is carried out. And when we have ouraaked frailties hid, That suffer in exposure, let us meet, And question this most bloody piece of work, To kuow it further! Fears and scruples shake us: In the great hand of God I stand, and, thence, Against the undivulg'd pretence I fight

Of treasonous malice.

Macb. And so do I.

All. So all.

Maco. Let's briefly put on manly readiness, And meet i'the hall together.

All. Well contented. [Exeunt all but Mal. and Don. 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 separate fortune
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.

Even like the deed, that's done. On Tuesday last,
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

Macb. Who can be wise, amaz'd, temperate, and War with mankind.

furious,

Loyal and neutral, in a moment? No man:

Old M. '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?

281

Macb. We hear, our bloody cousins are bestow'd
In England, and in Ireland, not confessing
Their cruel parricide, filling their hearers
With strange invention. But of that to-morrow,

Rosse. Is't known, who did this more than bloody When, therewithal, we shall have cause of state, deed?

Macd. Those that Macbeth hath slain.

Rosse. Alas, the day!

What good could they pretend?

Macd. 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.

Rosse. 'Gainst nature still:

Thriftless ambition, that wilt raven up

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

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

Rosse. Where is Duncan's body?

Macd. Carried to Colmes-kill,

The sacred storehouse of his predecessors,

And guardian of their bones.

Rosse. Will you to Scone?

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

Rosse. Well, I will thither.

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 sure of foot;
And so I do commend you to their backs.

Farewell!

[Exit Banquo.

Let every man be master of his time,
Till seven at night. To make society
The sweeter welcome, we will keep ourself
Till supper-time alone: while then, God be with you!
[Exeunt Lady Macbeth, Lords, Ladies, etc.
Sirrah, a word! Attend those men our pleasure?
Atten. They are, my lord, without the palace gate.
Macb. Bring them before us!— [Exit Atten.] To be
thus, is nothing;

But to be safely thus. Our fears in Banquo
Stick deep, and in his royalty of nature

Reigns that, which would be fear'd. 'Tis much he

dares;

Macd. Well, may you see things well done there!-To act in safety. There is adieu!

Lest our old robes sit easier than our new!

Rosse. Father, farewell!

Old. M. God's benison go with you, and with those, That would make good of bad, and friends of foes!

А СТ III.

[Exeunt.

SCENE I.-Fores. A room in the palace.

Enter BANQUo.

Ban. 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!

And, to that dauntless temper of his mind,
He hath a wisdom, that doth guide his valour
none, but he,
Whose being I do fear, and, under him,
My genius is rebuk'd, as, it is said,
When first they put the name of king upon me,
Mark Antony's was by Caesar. He chid the sisters,
And bade them speak to him; then, prophet-like,
They hail'd him father to a line of kings:
Upon my head they plac'd a fruitless crown,
And put a barren sceptre in my gripe,
Thence to be wrench'd with an unlineal hand,
No son of mine succeeding. If it be so,
For them the gracious Duncan have I murder'd,
For Banquo's issue have I fil'd my mind,
Put rancours in the vessel of my peace
Only for them, and mine eternal jewel
Given to the common enemy of man,

To make them kings, the seed of Banquo kings!
Rather than so, come, fate, into the list,
And champion me to the utterance!-Who's there?—
Re-enter Attendant, with two Murderers.
Now to the door, and stay there till we call!
[Exit Attendant.

Senet sounded. Enter MACBETH, as King; Lady MAC-Was it not yesterday we spoke together?

BETH, as Queen: LENOX, ROSSE, Lords, Ladies, and
Attendants.

Macb. 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.

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

Ban. Let your highness

Command upon me; to the which my duties
Are with a most indissoluble tie

For ever knit.

To half a soul, and a notion craz'd,

Say, Thus did Banquo.

Macb. I did so, and went further, which is now
1 Mur. You made it known to us.
Our point of second meeting. Do you find
Your patience so predominant in your nature,
That you can let this go? Are you so gospell'd,
To pray for that good man, and for his issue,
Whose heavy hand hath bow'd you to the
grave,
And beggar'd yours for ever?

1 Mur. We are men, my liege.

Mach. Ay, in the catalogue ye go for men ;

As hounds, and greyhounds, mongrels, spaniels, curs,

« Zurück Weiter »

Books