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Whose care is gone before to bid us welcome:
It is a peerless kinsman.
[Flourish. Exeunt.
SCENE V.-Inverness. A Room in Macbeth's Cas-

tle. Enter Lady Macbeth, reading a letter. Lady M. They met me in the day of success; and I have learned by the perfectest report, they have more in them than mortal knowledge. When I burned in desire to question them further, they made themselves -air, into which they vanished. Whiles I stood rapt in the wonder of it, came missives from the king, who all-hailed me, Thane of Cawdor; by which title, be fore, these weird sisters saluted me, and referred me to the coming on of time, with, Hail, king that shalt be! This have I thought good to deliver thee, my dearest partner of greatness; that thou mightest not lose the dues of rejoicing, by being ignorant of what greatness is promised thec. Lay it to thy heart, and fare

zwell.

Glamis thou art, and Cawdor; and shalt be
What thou art promis'd:-Yet do I fear thy nature;
It is too full o'the milk of human kindness,

To catch the nearest way: Thou would'st be great;
Art not without ambition; but without

The illness should attend it. What thou would'st highly,

That would'st thou holily; would'st not play false,
And yet would'st wrongly win: thou'd'st have, great
Glamis,

That which cries, Thus thou must do, if thou have it;
And that which rather thou dost fear to do,
Than wishest should be undane. Hie thee hithet,
That I may pour my spirits in thine ear;
And chastise with the valour of my tongue
All that impedes thee from the golden round,
Which fate and metaphysical aid doth seeem
To have thee crown'd withal-What is your tidings?

Enter an Attendant.

Atten. The king comes here to-night.
Lady M.

Thou'rt mad to say it:
Is not thy master with him? who, were't so,
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 searcely 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 dumest smoke of hell!

That my keen knife see not the wound it makes ; Nor heaven peep through the blanket of the dark, To cry, Hold, hold! Great Glamis! worthy Caw

dor!

Enter Macbeth.

Greater than both, by the all-hail hercafter! Thy letters have transported me beyond 'I his ignorant present, and I feel now

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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.
Mach. We will speak further.
Lady M.

To alter favour ever is to fear:
Leave all the rest to me.

Only look up clear;

[Exeunt.

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A Room in the Castle. SCENE FIL-The same. Hautboys and torches. Enter and pass over the stage, a Sewer, and divers Servants with dishes and service. Then enter Macbeth.

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

well

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?

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Lady M.

Was the hope drunk,
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?
Mach.

Pr'ythee, peace:

I dare do all that may become a man;

Who dares do more, is none.
Lady M.

What beast was it 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, bad I so sworn, as you
Have done to this.

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ACT II.

[Excunt.

SCENE I-The same. Court within the Castle. En ter Banquo and Fleance, and a Servant, with a torch before them.

Banquo.

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?

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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,
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 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, Dunean; for it is a knell
That summons thee to heaven, or to hell.

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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 feast;

Lady M.

What do you mean?
Mach. 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.-
[Exit. Why did you bring those daggers from the place?
They must lie there: Go, carry them; and smear
The sleepy grooms with blood.
Macb.

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?

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.

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Lady M. My hands are of your colour; but I shame Lady M. I heard the owl scream, and the crickets To wear a heart so white. [Knock.] I hear a knocking

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At the south entry:-retire we to our chamber:
A little water clears us of this deed:
How easy is it then? Your constancy

Lady M.

Mach.

Lady M. Ay.

Get on your night-gown, lest occasion call us,

Mac.

Hark!-Who lies i'the second chamber? And show us to be watchers:-Be not lost

Lady M. Donalbain.

So poorly in your thoughts.

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Wake Duncan with thy knocking! ay, 'would thou couldst! [Exeunt.

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, knoek: Who's there, i'the name of Belzebub? Here's a farmer that hanged him. self 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: O, 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.

Macd. 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 evek: 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.

Mard. 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.

Maed. Is thy master stirring?

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

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Macd. Confusion now hath made his masterpiece? Most sacrilegious murder hath broke ope The Lord's anointed temple, and stole thence The life o'the building. 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.

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Enter Banquo.

Our royal master's murder'd!
Lady M.

What, in our house?
Ban.

Woe, alas!

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:

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.
What is amiss?

Don.
Mach. You are, and do not know it:

I'll bring you to him. The spring, the head, the fountain of your blood

Macd. I know, this is a joyful trouble to you;

But yet, 'tis one.

Mach. The labour we delight in, physics pain.

This is the door.

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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,

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Mach. Who can be wise, amaz'd, temperate, and furious,

Loyal and neutral, in a moment? No man:
The expedition of my violent love

Outran the pauser reason.Here lay Duncan,
His silver skin lae'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!

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

Maed. Those that Macbeth hath slain.
Rosse.

What good could they pretend?

Macd.

Alas, the day!

They were suborn'd:

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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

ACT III.

SCENE I.-Fores. A Room in the Palace. Enter

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,

Hours dreadful, and things strange; but this sore night And set me up in hope? But, hush; no more.

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