Lady. And when goes hence?

Macb. To-morrow, as he purposes.
Lady. Oh, never

Shall fun that morrow fee!

Your face, my thane, is as a book, where men
May read ftrange 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 ferpent under it. He that's coming
Must be provided for: and you thall put
This night's great bufinefs into my difpatch;
Which shall to'all our nights and days to come
Give folely fovereign fway and masterdom.
Mach. We will speak further.

Lady. Only look up clear;

To alter favour ever is to fear:

Hautboys and Torches. Enter King, Malcolm, Do-
nalbain, Banquo, Lenox, Macduff, Roje, Angus,
and Attendants.

King. This caftle hath a pleafant feat; the air
Nimbly and fweetly recommends itself
Unto our gentle 9 fenfes.

The temple-haunting martlet, does approve
Ban. This gueft of fummer,
By his lov'd manfionry, that the heaven's breath
Smells wooingly here: no jutty frieze,
Buttrefs, nor coigne of vantage 10, but this bird
Hath made his pendant bed, and procreant cradle:
Where they moft breed and haunt, I have obferv'd,
The air is delicate.

Enter Lady Macbeth.

King. See, fee! our honour'd hoftefs !—
Which ftill we thank as love. Herein I teach you,
The love that follows us, fometime is our trouble,
How you fhall bid God yield us 11 for your pains,
And thank us for your trouble.

In every point twice done, and then done double,
Lady. All our fervice
Were poor and fingle bufinefs, to contend

Againft thofe honours deep and broad, wherewith
Your majesty loads our houfe: For those of old,
And the late dignities heap'd up to them,
We rett your hermits 12.

King. Where's the thane of Cawdor?
We cours'd him at the heels, and had a purpofe
To be his purveyor; but he rides well; [him
And his great love, fharp as his fpur, hath holp
To his home before us: Fair and noble hoftefs,
We are your guest to-night.

[compt 13,

Lady. Your fervants ever
Have theirs, themfelves, and what is theirs, in
To make their audit at your highnefs' pleasure,
Still to return your own.

Conduct me to mine hoft; we love him highly,
King. Give me your hand:
And fhail continue our graces towards him.
By your leave, hoftefs.

SCENE VII.

[Exeunt.

Hautboys and Torches. Enter a Sewer14, and divers
Servants with difkes and fervice over the fuge.
Then enter Macbeth.

Mach. If it were done, when 'tis done, then
'twere well

It were done quickly: If the affaffination

I That is, murtherous, or deadly defigns. i. c. nor delay the execution of my purpose. 3 i. e. Take away my inilk, and put gall into the place. 4 Nature's mischief is mischief done to nature. 5. e. wrap thyfelf in a pall, which was a robe of itate, as well as a covering thrown over the dead. The word knife was anciently uled to exprefs a fword. 7 Mr. Tollet explains this paffage thus: The thought is taken from the old military laws, which inflicted capital punifamment upon "whofoever fhall ftrike ftroke at his adverfary, either in the heat or otherwife, if a third do cry hold, to the intent to part them; except that they did fight a combat in a place inclofed and then no man fhall be fo hardy as to bid hold, but the general." 8 i. c. unknowing. 9 i. e. our calm compofed fenfes. 10 Meaning, convenient corner. i.e. God reward; or, perhaps, as Dr. John13 i. e. fubject to account. 14 The office His chief mark of dift aclion was a towel

fon fuggefts, protect us. 12 Hermits, for beadsmen. of a fewer was to place the dishes in order at a fealt. round his arm.

Could

Could trammel up the confequence, and catch,
With his furceafe, fuccefs; 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 thefe cafes,
We ftill have judgment here; that we but teach
Bloody inftructions, which, being taught, return
To plague the inventor: This even-handed juftice
Commends the ingredients of our poifon'd chalice
To our own lips. He's here in double trust:
First, as I am his kinfman and his subject,
Strong both against the deed; then, as his hoft,
Who fhould against his murderer shut the door,
Not bear the knife myself. Befides, this Duncan
Hath borne his faculties fo meek, hath been
So clear in his great office, that his virtues
Will plead like angels, trumpet-tongu'd, against
The deep damnation of his taking-off;
And pity, like a naked new-born babe,
Striding the blaft, or heaven's cherubin, hors'd
Upon the fightlefs couriers of the air 2,
Shall blow the horrid deed in every eye,

Does unmake you. I have given fuck; and know
How tender 'tis, to love the babe that milks me:
I would, while it was fmiling in my face,
Have pluck'd my nipple from his boneleís gums,
And dafh'd the brains out, had I but fo fworn
As
you have done to this.
Macb. If we fhould fail,—
Lady. We fail!

But fcrew your courage to the sticking place,
And we'll not fail. When Duncan is asleep,
(Whereto the rather shall his day's hard journey

That tears shall drown the wind.—I have no fpur | Soundly invite him) his two chamberlains
To prick the fides of my intent, but only
Vaulting ambition, which o'er-leaps itself,

And falls on the other-How now! what news?

Enter Lady.

Will I with wine and waffel + fo convince 5,
That memory, the warder of the brain,
Shall be a fume, and the receipt of reafon
A limbeck only: When in fwinish sleep

Lady. He has almost supp'd; Why have you Their drenched natures lie, as in a death,

left the chamber?

Macb. Hath he afk'd for me?

Lady. Know you not, he has?

What cannot you and I perform upon
The unguarded Duncan ? what not put upon
His fpungy officers; who fhall bear the guit
Of our great quel!??

Macb. Bring forth men-children only!
For thy undaunted mettle thould compote

Math. We will proceed no further in this bufinefs:
He hath honour'd me of late; and I have bought
Golden opinions from all forts of people,
Which would be worn now in their neweft glofs, Nothing but males.
Not cart afide fo foon.

Will it not be receiv'd,

When we have mark'd with blood thofe fleepy two
Of his own chamber, and us'd their very dagger»,
That they have done 't?

Lady. Who dares receive it other,

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

Macb. I am fettled, and bend up

Each corporal agent to this terrible feat.
Away, and mock the time with faireft fhow:

Falte face muit hide what the falte heart doth know.
[Exeunt.

1 This obfcure foliloquy, about the meaning of which none of the readers of Shakspeare agree, Dr. Johnson explains thus: "If that which I am about to do, when it is once done and executed, were done and ended without any following effects, it would then be belt to do it quickly; if the murder could terminate in itself, and reitrain the regular courfe of confequences, it its fuccess could fecure its furceafe, if being once done fucceffully, without detection, it could fix a period to all vengeance and enquiry, fo that this blow might be all that I have to do, and this anxiety all that I have to fuffer; if this could be my condition, even here in this world, in this contracted period of temporal existence, on this narrow bank in the ocean of eternity, I would jump the life to come, I would venture upon the deed without care of any future ftate. But this is one of thefe cafes in which judgment is pronounced and vengeance inflicted upon us here in our prefent life. others to do as we have done, and are punifhed by our own example." 2 Couriers of air mean winds, air in motion. Sightiefs is invophie. 3 The proverb alluded to is, " The cat loves fifh, but dares not wet her feet." 4 Waffel or Waffell is a werd fill in use in Staffordshire, and the adjoining counties, and fignifics at prefent what is called Lambs Wool, i. e roafted apples in itrong beer, with fugar and fpice. Wald, however, may be here put for riot or intemperance. 51. e. overpower of fubduc. 6 Or, the centinel. 7 i. e. the receptacle. 8 Meaning, it shall be my a veld to emit fumes or vapours. 9 Quell as murder.

We teach

ACT

ACT II.

SCENE I.

Enter Banquo, and Fleance, with a torch before bin.
HOW goes the night, bon; I have not

Ban.

boy?

heard the clock.

Ban. And fhe goes down at twelve.

Fle. I take 't, 'tis later, fir.

Thou marshal'ft me the way that I was going;
And fuch an inftrument I was to ufe.

Mine eyes are made the fools o' the other senses,

Or elfe worth all the reft: I fee thee ftill;

And on thy blade, and dudgeon 3, gouts 4 of blood,

Which was not fo before.-There's no fuch thing:
It is the bloody bufinefs, which informs
Thus to mine eyes.--Now o'er the one half world

Ban. Hold, take my fword :-There's husban- Nature feems dead, and wicked dreams abuse

dry in heaven,

Their candles are all out.-Take thee that too.
A heavy fummons lies like lead upon me,
And yet I would not fleep: Merciful powers! ́
Restrain in me the curfed thoughts, that nature
Gives way to in repofe !-Give me my fword;—
Enter Macbeth, and a fervant with a torch.
Who's there?

Mach. A friend.

The curtain'd fleep; now witchcraft celebrates
Pale Hecate's offerings; and wither'd murder,
Alarum'd by his fentinel, the wolf,

Whofe howl's his watch, thus with his ftealthy pace,
With Tarquin's ravishing ftrides, towards his design
Moves like a ghoft.-Thou fure and firm-fet earth,
Hear not my fteps, which way they walk, for fear
Thy very stones prate of my where-about,
And take the prefent horror from the time,

Bun. What, fir, not yet at reft? The king's a-bed: Which now fuits with it.-While I threat, he lives :

He hath been in unufual pleasure, and

Sent forth great largefs to your officers :
This diamond he greets your wife withal,

By the name of moft kind hoftefs; and fhut up I
In meafureless content.

Macb. Being unprepar'd,

Our will became the fervant to defect;
Which elfe fhould free have wrought.

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 fummons thee to heaven, or to hell. [Exit.

S CE NE II.
Enter Lady Macbeth.

Lady. 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 fhriek'd, the fatal bell-man,
Which gives the ftern'ft good-night. He is about it:
The doors are open; and the furfeited grooms
Do mock their charge with fnores: I have drugg'd
their poffets,

That death and nature do contend about them,
Whether they live, or die.

Mach. [Wubin.] Who's there?--what, ho!
Lady. 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 mifs them.-Had he not refembled
My father as he slept, I had done't.-My husband?
Enter Macbeth.

Mach. I have done the deed :-Didft thou not [cry.

hear a noife?

Lady. I heard the owl fcream, and the crickets Did not you fpeak ?

Macb. When ?

Lady. Now.

Mach. As I defcended ?
Lady. Ay.

Mach. Hark!-Who lies i'the fecond chamber?
Lady. Donalbain.

Matb. This is a forry fight. [Locking on his hands.

To fhut up, is to conclude. 2 Confent for will. 3 Dudgeon properly means the haft or hindle of a dagger, and is ufed for that particular fort of handle which has fome ornament carved on the top of it. 4 i. e. Spots: the phrafe is borrowed from heraldry. 5 It was the general custom in thole days to eat poets jutt before bed-time.

Bb

Lady.

A little water clears us of this deed:
How eafy is it then! Your conftancy
Hath left you unattended.--Hark! more knocking:
[Krock.

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

Mach. To know my deed,-Twere beft not know myfelf.

As they had feen me, with thefe hangman's hands, Wake Duncan with thy knocking! I would, thou
Liftening their fear 1. I could not fay, Amen,
When they did fay, God blefs us.

Lady. Thefe deeds must not be thought After thefe ways; fo, it will make us mad. Macb. Methought, I heard a voice cry, 66 no more! Macbeth does murder flecp, 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,fort. [Kaak.] Knock, knock: Who's there i'the «Balm of hurt minds, great nature's fecond courfe, "Chief nourisher in life's feast;'

other devil's name 'Faith, here's an equivocator“, that could fwear in both the fcales againft either Lady. What do you mean? [houfe: fcale; who committed treafon enough for God's Mach. Still it cry'd, "Sleep no more!" to all the fake, yet could not equivocate to heaven: oh, "Glamis hath murder'd fleep; and thereforeCawdor come in, equivocator. [Knock.] Knock, knock, "Shall fleep no more, Macbeth fhall fleep no more knock: Who's there? Faith, here's an English Lady. Who was it, that thus cry'd? Why, taylor come hither, for ftealing out of a French

That is. lening to their fear. 2 A fkein of filk is called a fleave of filk. 3 To incarnardine, is to ftain any thing of a flesh colour, or red. 4 i. e. while I have the thoughts of this deed, it were beft not know, or be loft to, myself. 5 i. e. handkerchiefs. 6 Meaning, a jefuit; an order so trou biefome to the flate in queen Elizabeth and king James the firft's time; the inventors of the execrable doctrine of equivocation.

Mard. He did command me to call timely on

I have almost flipt the hour.

Mach. 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, phyficks pain. This is the door.

Macd. I'll make fo bold to call, For 'tis my limited 2 fervice.

[Exit Macduff.

lay,

Len. Goes the king hence to-day
Mach. He does: he did appoint fo.
Len. The night has been unruly: Where we
Our chimneys were blown down: and, as they fay,
Lamentings heardi'the air; ftrange fcreams of death;
And prophefying with accents terrible,
Of dire combuftion, and confus'd events,
New hatch'd to the woeful time: The obfcure bird
Clamour'd the live-long night: fome fay the earth
Was feverous, and did fhake.

Mach. 'Twas a rough night.

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

Re-enter Macduff.

Bell rings. Enter Lady Macbeth.
Lady. What's the bufinefs,

That fuch a hideous trumpet calls to parley
The fleepers of the houfe? fpeak, fpeak,-
Mard. O, gentle lady,

'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 mafter's murder'd !
Lady. Woe, alas!
What, in our house?

Ban. Too cruel, any where.-
Dear Duff, I pr'ythee, contradict thyfelf,
And fay, it is not fo.

Re-enter Macbeth and Lenox.

Maeb. Had I but dy'd an hour before this chance,
I had liv'd a bleffed time; for, from this inftant,
There's nothing ferious 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 Malerim and Donalbain.

Don. What is amifs ?

Mach. You are, and do not know it:
The ipring, the head, the fountain of your blood
Is ftopt; the very fource of it is ftopt.

Maid. Your roval father's murder'd.
Mal. Oh, by whom?

[done 't :
Len. Thofe of his chamber, as it fem'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 ftard and were distracted;

Macd. O horror! horror! horror! Tongue No man's life was to be trufted with them.

Macd. Approach the chamber, and destroy your | And his gath'd (tabs look'd like a breach in nature, With a new Gorgon:-Do not bid me fpeak; For ruin's wafteful entrance: there, the murderers See, and then speak yourselves.-Awake! awake!-Steep'd in the colours of their trade, their daggers [Exeunt Macbeth and Lenox. Unmannerly breech'd 3 with gore: Who could

Ring the alarum-bell:- Murder! -and treafon !
Banquo, and Denalbain! Malcolm! awake!
Shake off this dowuy fleep, death's counterfeit,
And look on death itself!-up, up, and fee
The great doom's image !-Malcolm Banquo
As from your grave-rife up, and whik like sprights,
To countenance this horror!--Ring the bell.

refrain,

That had a heart to love, and in that heart
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?

To caft him up, to cafe my ftomach of him. 2 i. e. appointed. 3 Upon this pailage, which has been deemed the crux criticorum, almost every commentator has differed in opinion. Dr. John fon propofes, inftead of breached, to read, drenched with gore. Dr. Warburton thinks retched (i. e. foiled with a dark yellow) fhould be fubitituted for breached, as well as armarly for unmannerly. Mr. Steevens fuppoles, that the expreffion may mean, that the daggers were covered with blood quite to their breeches, i. e. their hits 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, hitch'd, or drench'd, he is at leaft of opinion, that unmannerly is the genuine reading, which he conftrues to mean feemly. Dr. Farmer fays, that the fente in plain language is, Daggers filthily-in a foul manner → Jheath'd with blood.".

Bb 2

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