Internet Shakespeare Editions

Toolbox




Jump to line
Through Line Number
Help on texts
About this text
Print this page

About this text

  • Title: Macbeth (Folio 1, 1623)
  • Editor: Anthony Dawson

    • ISBN: 978-1-55058-528-5

    Copyright Anthony Dawson. This text may be freely used for educational, non-profit purposes; for all other uses contact the Editor.
    Author: William Shakespeare
    Editor: Anthony Dawson
    Not Peer Reviewed

    Macbeth (Folio 1, 1623)

    The Tragedie of Macbeth. 137
    And wash this filthie Witnesse from your Hand.
    705Why did you bring these Daggers from the place?
    They must lye there: goe carry them, and smeare
    The sleepie Groomes with blood.
    Macb. Ile goe no more:
    I am afraid, to thinke what I haue done:
    710Looke on't againe, I dare not.
    Lady. Infirme of purpose:
    Giue me the Daggers: the sleeping, and the dead,
    Are but as Pictures: 'tis the Eye of Child-hood,
    That feares a painted Deuill. If he doe bleed,
    715Ile guild the Faces of the Groomes withall,
    For it must seeme their Guilt. Exit.
    Knocke within.
    Macb. Whence is that knocking?
    How is't with me, when euery noyse appalls me?
    720What Hands are here? hah: they pluck out mine Eyes.
    Will all great Neptunes Ocean wash this blood
    Cleane from my Hand? no: this my Hand will rather
    The multitudinous Seas incarnardine,
    Making the Greene one, Red.

    725 Enter Lady.
    Lady. My Hands are of your colour: but I shame
    To weare a Heart so white. Knocke.
    I heare a knocking at the South entry:
    Retyre we to our Chamber:
    730A little Water cleares vs of this deed.
    How easie is it then? your Constancie
    Hath left you vnattended. Knocke.
    Hearke, more knocking.
    Get on your Night-Gowne, least occasion call vs,
    735And shew vs to be Watchers: be not lost
    So poorely in your thoughts.
    Macb. To know my deed, Knocke.
    'Twere best not know my selfe.
    Wake Duncan with thy knocking:
    740I would thou could'st. Exeunt.


    Scena Tertia.


    Enter a Porter.
    Knocking within.
    Porter. Here's a knocking indeede: if a man were
    745Porter of Hell Gate, hee should haue old turning the
    Key. Knock. Knock, Knock, Knock. Who's there
    i'th'name of Belzebub? Here's a Farmer, that hang'd
    himselfe on th'expectation of Plentie: Come in time, haue
    Napkins enow about you, here you'le sweat for't. Knock.
    750Knock, knock. Who's there in th'other Deuils Name?
    Faith here's an Equiuocator, that could sweare in both
    the Scales against eyther Scale, who committed Treason
    enough for Gods sake, yet could not equiuocate to Hea-
    uen: oh come in, Equiuocator. Knock. Knock,
    755Knock, Knock. Who's there? 'Faith here's an English
    Taylor come hither, for stealing out of a French Hose:
    Come in Taylor, here you may rost your Goose. Knock.
    Knock, Knock. Neuer at quiet: What are you? but this
    place is too cold for Hell. Ile Deuill-Porter it no further:
    760I had thought to haue let in some of all Professions, that
    goe the Primrose way to th'euerlasting Bonfire. Knock.
    Anon, anon, I pray you remember the Porter.


    Enter Macduff, and Lenox.

    Macd. Was it so late, friend, ere you went to Bed,
    765That you doe lye so late?
    Port. Faith Sir, we were carowsing till the second Cock:
    And Drinke, Sir, is a great prouoker of three things.
    Macd. What three things does Drinke especially
    prouoke?
    770Port. Marry, Sir, Nose-painting, Sleepe, and Vrine.
    Lecherie, Sir, it prouokes, and vnprouokes: it prouokes
    the desire, but it takes away the performance. Therefore
    much Drinke may be said to be an Equiuocator with Le-
    cherie: it makes him, and it marres him; it sets him on,
    775and it takes him off; it perswades him, and dis-heartens
    him; makes him stand too, and not stand too: in conclu-
    sion, equiuocates him in a sleepe, and giuing him the Lye,
    leaues him.
    Macd. I beleeue, Drinke gaue thee the Lye last Night.
    780Port. That it did, Sir, i'the very Throat on me: but I
    requited him for his Lye, and (I thinke) being too strong
    for him, though he tooke vp my Legges sometime, yet I
    made a Shift to cast him.
    Enter Macbeth.
    785Macd. Is thy Master stirring?
    Our knocking ha's awak'd him: here he comes.
    Lenox. Good morrow, Noble Sir.
    Macb. Good morrow both.
    Macd. Is the King stirring, worthy Thane?
    790Macb. Not yet.
    Macd. He did command me to call timely on him,
    I haue almost slipt the houre.
    Macb. Ile bring you to him.
    Macd. I know this is a ioyfull trouble to you:
    795But yet 'tis one.
    Macb. The labour we delight in, Physicks paine:
    This is the Doore.
    Macd. Ile make so bold to call, for 'tis my limitted
    seruice. Exit Macduffe.
    800Lenox. Goes the King hence to day?
    Macb. He does: he did appoint so.
    Lenox. The Night ha's been vnruly:
    Where we lay, our Chimneys were blowne downe,
    And (as they say) lamentings heard i'th'Ayre;
    805Strange Schreemes of Death,
    And Prophecying, with Accents terrible,
    Of dyre Combustion, and confus'd Euents,
    New hatch'd toth'wofull time.
    The obscure Bird clamor'd the liue-long Night.
    810Some say, the Earth was feuorous,
    And did shake.
    Macb. 'Twas a rough Night.
    Lenox. My young remembrance cannot paralell
    A fellow to it.
    815 Enter Macduff.
    Macd. O horror, horror, horror,
    Tongue nor Heart cannot conceiue, nor name thee.
    Macb. and Lenox. What's the matter?
    Macd. Confusion now hath made his Master-peece:
    820Most sacrilegious Murther hath broke ope
    The Lords anoynted Temple, and stole thence
    The Life o'th'Building.
    Macb. What is't you say, the Life?
    Lenox. Meane you his Maiestie?
    825Macd. Approch the Chamber, and destroy your sight
    With a new Gorgon. Doe not bid me speake:
    mm3 See,
    About
    Contact us
    Content quality
    Site guide
    © Internet Shakespeare Editions
    Copyright details
    Privacy policy
    This site is supported by:
    University of Victoria
    Friends of the ISE
    SSHRC