Reading Help THE TRAGEDY OF MACBETH
We will establish our estate upon `
` Our eldest, Malcolm, whom we name hereafter `
` The Prince of Cumberland; which honor must `
` Not unaccompanied invest him only, `
` But signs of nobleness, like stars, shall shine `
` On all deservers. From hence to Inverness, `
` And bind us further to you. `
` MACBETH. The rest is labor, which is not used for you. `
` I'll be myself the harbinger, and make joyful `
` The hearing of my wife with your approach; `
` So humbly take my leave. `
` DUNCAN. My worthy Cawdor! `
` MACBETH. [Aside.] The Prince of Cumberland! That is a step `
` On which I must fall down, or else o'erleap, `
` For in my way it lies. Stars, hide your fires; `
` Let not light see my black and deep desires. `
` The eye wink at the hand; yet let that be `
` Which the eye fears, when it is done, to see. Exit. `
` DUNCAN. True, worthy Banquo! He is full so valiant, `
` And in his commendations I am fed; `
` It is a banquet to me. Let's after him, `
` Whose care is gone before to bid us welcome. `
` It is a peerless kinsman. Flourish. Exeunt. `
` `
` `
` `
` `
` SCENE V. `
` Inverness. Macbeth's castle. `
` `
` Enter Lady Macbeth, reading a letter. `
` `
` LADY MACBETH. "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, `
` before, 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 mightst not lose the dues of rejoicing, by being `
` ignorant of what greatness is promised thee. Lay it to thy `
` heart, `
` and farewell." `
` `
` Glamis thou art, and Cawdor, and shalt be `
` What thou art promised. Yet do I fear thy nature. `
` It is too full o' the milk of human kindness `
` To catch the nearest way. Thou wouldst be great; `
` Art not without ambition, but without `
` The illness should attend it. What thou wouldst highly, `
` That wouldst thou holily; wouldst not play false, `
` And yet wouldst wrongly win. Thou'ldst 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 undone." Hie thee hither, `
` That I may pour my spirits in thine ear, `
` And chastise with the valor of my tongue `
` All that impedes thee from the golden round, `
` Which fate and metaphysical aid doth seem `
` To have thee crown'd withal. `
` `
` Enter a Messenger. `
` `
` What is your tidings? `
` MESSENGER. The King comes here tonight. `
` LADY MACBETH. Thou'rt mad to say it! `
` Is not thy master with him? who, were't so, `
` Would have inform'd for preparation. `
` MESSENGER. 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 MACBETH. Give him tending; `
` He brings great news. Exit Messenger. `
` The raven himself is hoarse `
` That croaks the fatal entrance of Duncan `
` Under my battlements. 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, your murthering 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 `
` To cry, "Hold, hold!" `
` `
` Enter Macbeth. `
` `
` Great Glamis! Worthy Cawdor! `
` 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. `
` MACBETH. My dearest love, `
` Duncan comes here tonight. `
` LADY MACBETH. And when goes hence? `
` MACBETH. Tomorrow, as he purposes. `
` LADY MACBETH. 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 dispatch, `
` Which shall to all our nights and days to come `
` Give solely sovereign sway and masterdom. `
` MACBETH. We will speak further. `
` LADY MACBETH. Only look up clear; `
` To alter favor ever is to fear. `
` Leave all the rest to me. Exeunt. `
` `
` `
` `
` `
` SCENE VI. `
` Before Macbeth's castle. Hautboys and torches. `
` `
` Enter Duncan, Malcolm, Donalbain, Banquo, Lennox, Macduff, Ross, `
` Angus, `
` and Attendants. `
` `
` DUNCAN. This castle hath a pleasant seat; the air `
` Nimbly and sweetly recommends itself `
` Unto our gentle senses. `
` BANQUO. This guest of summer, `
` The temple-haunting martlet, does approve `
` By his loved mansionry that the heaven's breath `
` Smells wooingly here. No jutty, frieze, `
` Buttress, nor coign of vantage, but this bird `
` Hath made his pendant bed and procreant cradle; `
` Where they most breed and haunt, I have observed `
` The air is delicate. `
` `
` Enter Lady Macbeth. `
` `
` DUNCAN. See, see, our honor'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 'ield us for your pains, `
` And thank us for your trouble. `
` LADY MACBETH. All our service `
` In every point twice done, and then done double, `
` Were poor and single business to contend `
` Against those honors 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. `
` DUNCAN. Where's the Thane of Cawdor? `
` We coursed 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 tonight. `
` LADY MACBETH. 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. `
` DUNCAN. 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 `
` Macbeth's castle. Hautboys and torches. `
` `
` Enter a Sewer and divers Servants with dishes and service, who `
` pass over `
` the stage. Then enter Macbeth. `
` `
` MACBETH. 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'ld 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 murtherer shut the door, `
` Not bear the knife myself. Besides, this Duncan `
`
` Our eldest, Malcolm, whom we name hereafter `
` The Prince of Cumberland; which honor must `
` Not unaccompanied invest him only, `
` But signs of nobleness, like stars, shall shine `
` On all deservers. From hence to Inverness, `
` And bind us further to you. `
` MACBETH. The rest is labor, which is not used for you. `
` I'll be myself the harbinger, and make joyful `
` The hearing of my wife with your approach; `
` So humbly take my leave. `
` DUNCAN. My worthy Cawdor! `
` MACBETH. [Aside.] The Prince of Cumberland! That is a step `
` On which I must fall down, or else o'erleap, `
` For in my way it lies. Stars, hide your fires; `
` Let not light see my black and deep desires. `
` The eye wink at the hand; yet let that be `
` Which the eye fears, when it is done, to see. Exit. `
` DUNCAN. True, worthy Banquo! He is full so valiant, `
` And in his commendations I am fed; `
` It is a banquet to me. Let's after him, `
` Whose care is gone before to bid us welcome. `
` It is a peerless kinsman. Flourish. Exeunt. `
` `
` `
` `
` `
` SCENE V. `
` Inverness. Macbeth's castle. `
` `
` Enter Lady Macbeth, reading a letter. `
` `
` LADY MACBETH. "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, `
` before, 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 mightst not lose the dues of rejoicing, by being `
` ignorant of what greatness is promised thee. Lay it to thy `
` heart, `
` and farewell." `
` `
` Glamis thou art, and Cawdor, and shalt be `
` What thou art promised. Yet do I fear thy nature. `
` It is too full o' the milk of human kindness `
` To catch the nearest way. Thou wouldst be great; `
` Art not without ambition, but without `
` The illness should attend it. What thou wouldst highly, `
` That wouldst thou holily; wouldst not play false, `
` And yet wouldst wrongly win. Thou'ldst 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 undone." Hie thee hither, `
` That I may pour my spirits in thine ear, `
` And chastise with the valor of my tongue `
` All that impedes thee from the golden round, `
` Which fate and metaphysical aid doth seem `
` To have thee crown'd withal. `
` `
` Enter a Messenger. `
` `
` What is your tidings? `
` MESSENGER. The King comes here tonight. `
` LADY MACBETH. Thou'rt mad to say it! `
` Is not thy master with him? who, were't so, `
` Would have inform'd for preparation. `
` MESSENGER. 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 MACBETH. Give him tending; `
` He brings great news. Exit Messenger. `
` The raven himself is hoarse `
` That croaks the fatal entrance of Duncan `
` Under my battlements. 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, your murthering 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 `
` To cry, "Hold, hold!" `
` `
` Enter Macbeth. `
` `
` Great Glamis! Worthy Cawdor! `
` 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. `
` MACBETH. My dearest love, `
` Duncan comes here tonight. `
` LADY MACBETH. And when goes hence? `
` MACBETH. Tomorrow, as he purposes. `
` LADY MACBETH. 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 dispatch, `
` Which shall to all our nights and days to come `
` Give solely sovereign sway and masterdom. `
` MACBETH. We will speak further. `
` LADY MACBETH. Only look up clear; `
` To alter favor ever is to fear. `
` Leave all the rest to me. Exeunt. `
` `
` `
` `
` `
` SCENE VI. `
` Before Macbeth's castle. Hautboys and torches. `
` `
` Enter Duncan, Malcolm, Donalbain, Banquo, Lennox, Macduff, Ross, `
` Angus, `
` and Attendants. `
` `
` DUNCAN. This castle hath a pleasant seat; the air `
` Nimbly and sweetly recommends itself `
` Unto our gentle senses. `
` BANQUO. This guest of summer, `
` The temple-haunting martlet, does approve `
` By his loved mansionry that the heaven's breath `
` Smells wooingly here. No jutty, frieze, `
` Buttress, nor coign of vantage, but this bird `
` Hath made his pendant bed and procreant cradle; `
` Where they most breed and haunt, I have observed `
` The air is delicate. `
` `
` Enter Lady Macbeth. `
` `
` DUNCAN. See, see, our honor'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 'ield us for your pains, `
` And thank us for your trouble. `
` LADY MACBETH. All our service `
` In every point twice done, and then done double, `
` Were poor and single business to contend `
` Against those honors 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. `
` DUNCAN. Where's the Thane of Cawdor? `
` We coursed 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 tonight. `
` LADY MACBETH. 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. `
` DUNCAN. 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 `
` Macbeth's castle. Hautboys and torches. `
` `
` Enter a Sewer and divers Servants with dishes and service, who `
` pass over `
` the stage. Then enter Macbeth. `
` `
` MACBETH. 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'ld 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 murtherer shut the door, `
` Not bear the knife myself. Besides, this Duncan `
`