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  • 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    Not Peer Reviewed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)

    Scena Secunda.
    Enter Lady.
    La. That which hath made thẽ drunk, hath made me bold:
    What hath quench'd them, hath giuen me fire.
    650Hearke, peace: it was the Owle that shriek'd,
    The fatall Bell-man, which giues the stern'st good-night.
    He is about it, the Doores are open:
    And the surfeted Groomes doe mock their charge
    With Snores. I haue drugg'd their Possets,
    655That Death and Nature doe contend about them,
    Whether they liue, or dye.
    Enter Macbeth.
    Macb. Who's there? what hoa?
    Lady. Alack, I am afraid they haue awak'd,
    660And 'tis not done: th'attempt, and not the deed,
    Confounds vs: hearke: I lay'd their Daggers ready,
    He could not misse 'em. Had he not resembled
    My Father as he slept, I had don't.
    My Husband?
    665Macb. I haue done the deed:
    Didst thou not heare a noyse?
    Lady. I heard the Owle schreame, and the Crickets cry.
    Did not you speake?
    Macb. When?
    670Lady. Now.
    Macb. As I descended?
    Lady. I.
    Macb. Hearke, who lyes i'th'second Chamber?
    Lady. Donalbaine.
    675Mac. This is a sorry sight.
    Lady. A foolish thought, to say a sorry sight.
    Macb. There's one did laugh in's sleepe,
    And one cry'd Murther, that they did wake each other:
    I stood, and heard them: But they did say their Prayers,
    680And addrest them againe to sleepe.
    Lady. There are two lodg'd together.
    Macb. One cry'd God blesse vs, and Amen the other,
    As they had seene me with these Hangmans hands:
    Listning their feare, I could not say Amen,
    685When they did say God blesse vs.
    Lady. Consider it not so deepely.
    Mac. But wherefore could not I pronounce Amen?
    I had most need of Blessing, and Amen stuck in my throat.
    Lady. These deeds must not be thought
    690After these wayes: so, it will make vs mad.
    Macb. Me thought I heard a voyce cry, Sleep no more:
    Macbeth does murther Sleepe, the innocent Sleepe,
    Sleepe that knits vp the rauel'd Sleeue of Care,
    The death of each dayes Life, sore Labors Bath,
    695Balme of hurt Mindes, great Natures second Course,
    Chiefe nourisher in Life's Feast.
    Lady. What doe you meane?
    Macb. Still it cry'd, Sleepe no more to all the House:
    Glamis hath murther'd Sleepe, and therefore Cawdor
    700Shall sleepe no more: Macbeth shall sleepe no more.
    Lady. Who was it, that thus cry'd? why worthy Thane,
    You doe vnbend your Noble strength, to thinke
    So braine-sickly of things: Goe get some Water,
    And
    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.
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