Internet Shakespeare Editions

Author: William Shakespeare
Editor: Anthony Dawson
Not Peer Reviewed

Modern (Modern)

Enter Lady [Macbeth].
Lady Macbeth
That which hath made them drunk hath made me bold,
What hath quenched them hath given me fire. 650Hark! Peace!
It was the owl that shrieked, the fatal bellman
Which gives the stern'st goodnight. He is about it.
The doors are open and the surfeited grooms
Do mock their charge with snores. I have drugged their possets
655That death and nature do contend about them
Whether they live or die.
Enter Macbeth.
Macbeth
Who's there? What ho!
Lady Macbeth
Alack, I am afraid they have awaked
660And 'tis not done; th'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. My husband?
665Macbeth
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?
670Lady Macbeth
Now.
Macbeth
As I descended?
Lady Macbeth
Ay.
Macbeth
Hark, who lies i'th' second chamber?
Lady Macbeth
Donalbain.
675Macbeth
This is a sorry sight.
Lady Macbeth
A foolish thought to say a sorry sight.
Macbeth
There's one did laugh in's sleep, and one cried "Murder,"
That they did wake each other. I stood and heard them,
But they did say their prayers 680and addressed 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.
List'ning their fear, I could not say "Amen"
685When 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
690After these ways: so, it will make us mad.
Macbeth
Methought I heard a voice cry "Sleep no more":
Macbeth does murder sleep, the innocent sleep,
Sleep that knits up the raveled sleeve of care,
The death of each day's life, sore labor's bath,
695Balm 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 murdered sleep and therefore Cawdor
700Shall 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.
705Why 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,
710Look 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,
715I'll gild the faces of the grooms withal,
For it must seem their guilt.
Exit.
Knock within.
Macbeth
Whence is that knocking?
How is't with me when every noise appalls me?
720What 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.
725Enter Lady [Macbeth].
Lady Macbeth
My hands are of your color, but I shame
To wear a heart so white.
Knock.
I hear a knocking
At the south entry. Retire we to our chamber;
730A little water clears us of this deed.
How easy is it then! Your constancy
Hath left you unattended.
Knock.
Hark, more knocking.
Get on your nightgown lest occasion call us
735And show us to be watchers. Be not lost
So poorly in your thoughts.
Macbeth
To know my deed, 'twere best not know myself.
Knock.
Wake Duncan with thy knocking--740I would thou couldst.
Exeunt.