Macbeth+Act+II



SCENE I. Court of Macbeth's castle.
> //Enter BANQUO, and FLEANCE bearing a torch before him// > How goes the night, boy?
 * BANQUO**

> The moon is down; I have not heard the clock.
 * FLEANCE**

**BANQUO** > And she goes down at twelve.

**FLEANCE** > I take't, 'tis later, sir.

**BANQUO** > 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!

> //Enter MACBETH, and a Servant with a torch// > Give me my sword.

> Who's there?

**MACBETH** > A friend.

**BANQUO** > What, sir, not yet at rest? The king's a-bed:

> He hath been in unusual pleasure, and

> Sent forth great largess to your offices.

> This diamond he greets your wife withal,

> By the name of most kind hostess; and shut up

> In measureless content.

**MACBETH** > Being unprepared,

> Our will became the servant to defect;

> Which else should free have wrought.

**BANQUO** > All's well.

> I dreamt last night of the three weird sisters:

> To you they have show'd some truth.

**MACBETH** > I think not of them:

> Yet, when we can entreat an hour to serve,

> We would spend it in some words upon that business,

> If you would grant the time.

**BANQUO** > At your kind'st leisure.

**MACBETH** > If you shall cleave to my consent, when 'tis,

> It shall make honour for you.

**BANQUO** > So I lose none

> In seeking to augment it, but still keep

> My bosom franchised and allegiance clear,

> I shall be counsell'd.

**MACBETH** > Good repose the while!

**BANQUO** > Thanks, sir: the like to you!

> //Exeunt BANQUO and FLEANCE// **MACBETH** > Go bid thy mistress, when my drink is ready,

> She strike upon the bell. Get thee to bed.

> //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 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 halfworld

> Nature seems dead, and wicked dreams abuse

> The curtain'd sleep; 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 whereabout,

> 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.

> //Exit//

SCENE II. The same.
> //Enter LADY MACBETH// **LADY MACBETH** > 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.

**MACBETH** > [Within] Who's there? what, ho!

**LADY MACBETH** > Alack, I am afraid they have awaked,

> And 'tis not done. The attempt and not the deed

> Confounds us. Hark! I laid their daggers ready;

> He could not miss 'em. Had he not resembled

> My father as he slept, I had done't.

> //Enter MACBETH// > My husband!

**MACBETH** > I have done the deed. Didst thou not hear a noise?

**LADY MACBETH** > I heard the owl scream and the crickets cry.

> Did not you speak?

**MACBETH** > When?

**LADY MACBETH** > Now.

**MACBETH** > As I descended?

**LADY MACBETH** > Ay.

**MACBETH** > Hark!

> Who lies i' the second chamber?

**LADY MACBETH** > Donalbain.

**MACBETH** > This is a sorry sight.

> //Looking on his hands// **LADY MACBETH** > A foolish thought, to say a sorry sight.

**MACBETH** > There's one did laugh in's sleep, and one cried

> 'Murder!'

> That they did wake each other: I stood and heard them:

> But they did say their prayers, and address'd them

> Again to sleep.

**LADY MACBETH** > There are two lodged together.

**MACBETH** > 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 MACBETH** > Consider it not so deeply.

**MACBETH** > But wherefore could not I pronounce 'Amen'?

> I had most need of blessing, and 'Amen'

> Stuck in my throat.

**LADY MACBETH** > These deeds must not be thought

> After these ways; so, it will make us mad.

**MACBETH** > Methought I heard a voice cry 'Sleep no more!

> Macbeth does murder sleep', the innocent sleep,

> Sleep that knits up the ravell'd sleeve 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 MACBETH** > What do you mean?

**MACBETH** > 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 MACBETH** > 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.

**MACBETH** > I'll go no more:

> I am afraid to think what I have done;

> Look on't again I dare not.

**LADY MACBETH** > 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// **MACBETH** > 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 in incarnadine,

> Making the green one red.

> //Re-enter LADY MACBETH// **LADY MACBETH** > My hands are of your colour; but I shame

> To wear a heart so white.

> //Knocking within// > 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

> Hath left you unattended.

> //Knocking within// > Hark! more knocking.

> Get on your nightgown, lest occasion call us,

> And show us to be watchers. Be not lost

> So poorly in your thoughts.

**MACBETH** > To know my deed, 'twere best not know myself.

> //Knocking within// > Wake Duncan with thy knocking! I would thou couldst!

> //Exeunt//

SCENE III. The same.
> //Knocking within. Enter a Porter// **Porter** > Here's a knocking indeed! If a

> man were porter of hell-gate, he should have

> old turning the key.

> //Knocking within// > Knock,

> knock, knock! Who's there, i' the name of

> Beelzebub? Here's a farmer, that hanged

> himself on the expectation of plenty: come in

> time; have napkins enow about you; here

> you'll sweat for't.

> //Knocking within// > Knock,

> knock! Who's there, in 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 within// > 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 within// > 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 within// > Anon, anon! I pray you, remember the porter.

> //Opens the gate// > //Enter MACDUFF and LENNOX// **MACDUFF** > Was it so late, friend, ere you went to bed,

> That you do lie so late?

**Porter** > 'Faith sir, we were carousing till the

> second cock: and drink, sir, is a great

> provoker of three things.

**MACDUFF** > What three things does drink especially provoke?

**Porter** > 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.

**MACDUFF** > I believe drink gave thee the lie last night.

**Porter** > That it did, sir, i' the very throat on

> 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.

**MACDUFF** > Is thy master stirring?

> //Enter MACBETH// > Our knocking has awaked him; here he comes.

**LENNOX** > Good morrow, noble sir.

**MACBETH** > Good morrow, both.

**MACDUFF** > Is the king stirring, worthy thane?

**MACBETH** > Not yet.

**MACDUFF** > He did command me to call timely on him:

> I have almost slipp'd the hour.

**MACBETH** > I'll bring you to him.

**MACDUFF** > I know this is a joyful trouble to you;

> But yet 'tis one.

**MACBETH** > The labour we delight in physics pain.

> This is the door.

**MACDUFF** > I'll make so bold to call,

> For 'tis my limited service.

> //Exit// **LENNOX** > Goes the king hence to-day?

**MACBETH** > He does: he did appoint so.

**LENNOX** > 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 prophesying with accents terrible

> Of dire combustion and confused events

> New hatch'd to the woeful time: the obscure bird

> Clamour'd the livelong night: some say, the earth

> Was feverous and did shake.

**MACBETH** > 'Twas a rough night.

**LENNOX** > My young remembrance cannot parallel

> A fellow to it.

> //Re-enter MACDUFF// **MACDUFF** > O horror, horror, horror! Tongue nor heart

> Cannot conceive nor name thee!

**MACBETH** **LENNOX** > What's the matter.

**MACDUFF** > 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!

**MACBETH** > What is 't you say? the life?

**LENNOX** > Mean you his majesty?

**MACDUFF** > Approach the chamber, and destroy your sight

> With a new Gorgon: do not bid me speak;

> See, and then speak yourselves.

> //Exeunt MACBETH and LENNOX// > Awake, awake!

> 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! Ring the bell.

> //Bell rings// > //Enter LADY MACBETH// **LADY MACBETH** > What's the business,

> That such a hideous trumpet calls to parley

> The sleepers of the house? speak, speak!

**MACDUFF** > 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.

> //Enter BANQUO// > O Banquo, Banquo,

> Our royal master 's murder'd!

**LADY MACBETH** > Woe, alas!

> What, in our house?

**BANQUO** > Too cruel any where.

> Dear Duff, I prithee, contradict thyself,

> And say it is not so.

> //Re-enter MACBETH and LENNOX, with ROSS// **MACBETH** > Had I but died an hour before this chance,

> I had lived 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// **DONALBAIN** > What is amiss?

**MACBETH** > You are, and do not know't:

> The spring, the head, the fountain of your blood

> Is stopp'd; the very source of it is stopp'd.

**MACDUFF** > Your royal father 's murder'd.

**MALCOLM** > O, by whom?

**LENNOX** > Those of his chamber, as it seem'd, had done 't:

> Their hands and faces were an badged with blood;

> So were their daggers, which unwiped we found

> Upon their pillows:

> They stared, and were distracted; no man's life

> Was to be trusted with them.

**MACBETH** > O, yet I do repent me of my fury,

> That I did kill them.

**MACDUFF** > Wherefore did you so?

**MACBETH** > Who can be wise, amazed, temperate and furious,

> Loyal and neutral, in a moment? No man:

> The expedition my violent love

> Outrun the pauser, reason. Here lay Duncan,

> His silver skin laced 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 's love kno wn?

**LADY MACBETH** > Help me hence, ho!

**MACDUFF** > Look to the lady.

**MALCOLM** > [Aside to DONALBAIN] Why do we hold our tongues,

> That most may claim this argument for ours?

**DONALBAIN** > [Aside to MALCOLM] What should be spoken here,

> where our fate,

> Hid in an auger-hole, may rush, and seize us?

> Let 's away;

> Our tears are not yet brew'd.

**MALCOLM** > [Aside to DONALBAIN] Nor our strong sorrow

> Upon the foot of motion.

**BANQUO** > Look to the lady:

> //LADY MACBETH is carried out// > And when we have our naked frailties hid,

> That suffer in exposure, let us meet,

> And question this most bloody piece of work,

> To know it further. Fears and scruples shake us:

> In the great hand of God I stand; and thence

> Against the undivulged pretence I fight

> Of treasonous malice.

**MACDUFF** > And so do I.

**ALL** > So all.

**MACBETH** > Let's briefly put on manly readiness,

> And meet i' the hall together.

**ALL** > Well contented.

> //Exeunt all but Malcolm and Donalbain.// **MALCOLM** > 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.

**DONALBAIN** > To Ireland, I; our separated fortune

> Shall keep us both the safer: where we are,

> There's daggers in men's smiles: the near in blood,

> The nearer bloody.

**MALCOLM** > 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//