Reading Help THE TRAGEDY OF MACBETH
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 horsed `
` 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 `
` And falls on the other. `
` `
` Enter Lady Macbeth. `
` `
` How now, what news? `
` LADY MACBETH. He has almost supp'd. Why have you left the `
` chamber? `
` MACBETH. Hath he ask'd for me? `
` LADY MACBETH. Know you not he has? `
` MACBETH. We will proceed no further in this business: `
` He hath honor'd me of late, and I have bought `
` Golden opinions from all sorts of people, `
` Which would be worn now in their newest gloss, `
` Not cast aside so soon. `
` LADY MACBETH. 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 valor `
` As thou art in desire? Wouldst 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? `
` MACBETH. Prithee, peace! `
` I dare do all that may become a man; `
` Who dares do more is none. `
` LADY MACBETH. What beast wast then `
` That made you break this enterprise 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. `
` MACBETH. If we should fail? `
` LADY MACBETH. 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 wassail 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 unguarded Duncan? What not put upon `
` His spongy officers, who shall bear the guilt `
` Of our great quell? `
` MACBETH. Bring forth men-children only, `
` For thy undaunted mettle should compose `
` Nothing but males. Will it not be received, `
` When we have mark'd with blood those sleepy two `
` Of his own chamber and used their very daggers, `
` That they have done't? `
` LADY MACBETH. Who dares receive it other, `
` As we shall make our griefs and clamor roar `
` Upon his death? `
` MACBETH. 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. `
` Exeunt. `
` `
` `
` `
` `
` <<THIS ELECTRONIC VERSION OF THE COMPLETE WORKS OF WILLIAM `
` SHAKESPEARE IS COPYRIGHT 1990-1993 BY WORLD LIBRARY, INC., AND IS `
` PROVIDED BY PROJECT GUTENBERG ETEXT OF CARNEGIE MELLON UNIVERSITY `
` WITH PERMISSION. ELECTRONIC AND MACHINE READABLE COPIES MAY BE `
` DISTRIBUTED SO LONG AS SUCH COPIES (1) ARE FOR YOUR OR OTHERS `
` PERSONAL USE ONLY, AND (2) ARE NOT DISTRIBUTED OR USED `
` COMMERCIALLY. PROHIBITED COMMERCIAL DISTRIBUTION INCLUDES BY ANY `
` SERVICE THAT CHARGES FOR DOWNLOAD TIME OR FOR MEMBERSHIP.>> `
` `
` `
` `
` ACT II. SCENE I. `
` Inverness. Court of Macbeth's castle. `
` `
` Enter Banquo and Fleance, bearing a torch before him. `
` `
` BANQUO. How goes the night, boy? `
` FLEANCE. The moon is down; I have not heard the clock. `
` 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 abed. `
` 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 honor for you. `
` BANQUO. So I lose none `
` In seeking to augment it, but still keep `
` My bosom franchised and allegiance clear, `
` I shall be counsel'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 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; witchcraft celebrates `
` Pale Hecate's offerings; and wither'd Murther, `
` 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 `
`
` 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 horsed `
` 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 `
` And falls on the other. `
` `
` Enter Lady Macbeth. `
` `
` How now, what news? `
` LADY MACBETH. He has almost supp'd. Why have you left the `
` chamber? `
` MACBETH. Hath he ask'd for me? `
` LADY MACBETH. Know you not he has? `
` MACBETH. We will proceed no further in this business: `
` He hath honor'd me of late, and I have bought `
` Golden opinions from all sorts of people, `
` Which would be worn now in their newest gloss, `
` Not cast aside so soon. `
` LADY MACBETH. 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 valor `
` As thou art in desire? Wouldst 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? `
` MACBETH. Prithee, peace! `
` I dare do all that may become a man; `
` Who dares do more is none. `
` LADY MACBETH. What beast wast then `
` That made you break this enterprise 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. `
` MACBETH. If we should fail? `
` LADY MACBETH. 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 wassail 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 unguarded Duncan? What not put upon `
` His spongy officers, who shall bear the guilt `
` Of our great quell? `
` MACBETH. Bring forth men-children only, `
` For thy undaunted mettle should compose `
` Nothing but males. Will it not be received, `
` When we have mark'd with blood those sleepy two `
` Of his own chamber and used their very daggers, `
` That they have done't? `
` LADY MACBETH. Who dares receive it other, `
` As we shall make our griefs and clamor roar `
` Upon his death? `
` MACBETH. 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. `
` Exeunt. `
` `
` `
` `
` `
` <<THIS ELECTRONIC VERSION OF THE COMPLETE WORKS OF WILLIAM `
` SHAKESPEARE IS COPYRIGHT 1990-1993 BY WORLD LIBRARY, INC., AND IS `
` PROVIDED BY PROJECT GUTENBERG ETEXT OF CARNEGIE MELLON UNIVERSITY `
` WITH PERMISSION. ELECTRONIC AND MACHINE READABLE COPIES MAY BE `
` DISTRIBUTED SO LONG AS SUCH COPIES (1) ARE FOR YOUR OR OTHERS `
` PERSONAL USE ONLY, AND (2) ARE NOT DISTRIBUTED OR USED `
` COMMERCIALLY. PROHIBITED COMMERCIAL DISTRIBUTION INCLUDES BY ANY `
` SERVICE THAT CHARGES FOR DOWNLOAD TIME OR FOR MEMBERSHIP.>> `
` `
` `
` `
` ACT II. SCENE I. `
` Inverness. Court of Macbeth's castle. `
` `
` Enter Banquo and Fleance, bearing a torch before him. `
` `
` BANQUO. How goes the night, boy? `
` FLEANCE. The moon is down; I have not heard the clock. `
` 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 abed. `
` 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 honor for you. `
` BANQUO. So I lose none `
` In seeking to augment it, but still keep `
` My bosom franchised and allegiance clear, `
` I shall be counsel'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 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; witchcraft celebrates `
` Pale Hecate's offerings; and wither'd Murther, `
` 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 `
`