Reading Help THE TRAGEDY OF MACBETH
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. [Looks 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, `
` "Murther!" `
` 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. I heard a voice cry, "Sleep no more! `
` Macbeth does murther sleep" -the innocent sleep, `
` Sleep that knits up the ravel'd sleave of care, `
` The death of each day's life, sore labor'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 murther'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 incarnadine, `
` Making the green one red. `
` `
` Re-enter Lady Macbeth. `
` `
` LADY MACBETH. My hands are of your color, but I shame `
` To wear a heart so white. [Knocking within.] I hear 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. `
` `
` Enter a Porter. Knocking within. `
` `
` 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 Belzebub? `
` Here's `
` a farmer that hanged himself on th' expectation of plenty. `
` Come `
` in time! Have napkins enow about you; here you'll sweat fort. `
` [Knocking within.] Knock, knock! Who's there, in th' 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 `
` requited `
` him for his lie, and, I think, being too strong for him, `
` though `
` he took up my legs sometime, yet I made 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. 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 labor 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 today? `
` 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 `
` Clamor'd the livelong night. Some say the earth `
` Was feverous and did shake. `
` MACBETH. 'Twas a rough fight. `
` 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 murther 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. Murther 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 `
`
` 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. [Looks 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, `
` "Murther!" `
` 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. I heard a voice cry, "Sleep no more! `
` Macbeth does murther sleep" -the innocent sleep, `
` Sleep that knits up the ravel'd sleave of care, `
` The death of each day's life, sore labor'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 murther'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 incarnadine, `
` Making the green one red. `
` `
` Re-enter Lady Macbeth. `
` `
` LADY MACBETH. My hands are of your color, but I shame `
` To wear a heart so white. [Knocking within.] I hear 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. `
` `
` Enter a Porter. Knocking within. `
` `
` 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 Belzebub? `
` Here's `
` a farmer that hanged himself on th' expectation of plenty. `
` Come `
` in time! Have napkins enow about you; here you'll sweat fort. `
` [Knocking within.] Knock, knock! Who's there, in th' 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 `
` requited `
` him for his lie, and, I think, being too strong for him, `
` though `
` he took up my legs sometime, yet I made 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. 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 labor 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 today? `
` 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 `
` Clamor'd the livelong night. Some say the earth `
` Was feverous and did shake. `
` MACBETH. 'Twas a rough fight. `
` 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 murther 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. Murther 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 `
`