By his lov'd mansionry, that the heavens' breath
Smells wooingly here: no jutty, frieze,
Buttress, nor coign of vantage, but this bird
Hath made his pendent bed and procreant cradle :
Where they most breed and haunt, I have observ'd
The air is delicate.

Dun.

Enter Lady MACBETH and Attendants.

See, see, our honour'd hostess !The love that follows us sometime is our trouble, Which still we thank as love.

Lady M.

All our service.

In every point twice done, and then done double,
Were poor and single business to contend
Against those honours deep and broad wherewith
Your majesty loads our house: for those of old,
And the late dignities heap'd up to them,

We rest your hermits.

Dun.

Where's the thane of Cawdor?

We cours'd him at the heels, and had a purpose

To be his purveyor : but he rides well;

And his great love, sharp as his spur, hath holp him

To his home before us. Fair and noble hostess,

We are your guest to-night.

Lady M.

Your servants ever

Have theirs, themselves, and what is theirs, in

compt,

To make their audit at your highness' pleasure,

Still to return your own.

Dun.

Give me your hand;

[Exeunt.

Conduct me to mine host: we love him highly,
And shall continue our graces toward him.
By your leave, hostess.

SCENE 7.-The same. A Lobby in MACBETH's Castle.

Enter MACBETH.

Macbeth.

F it were done when 'tis done, then 'twere
well

It were done quickly if th' assassination
Could trammel up the consequence, and catch
With his surcease success; that but this blow
Might be the be-all and the end-all here,
But here, upon this bank and shoal of time,
We'd jump the life to come :—but in these cases
We still have judgment here; that we but teach
Bloody instructions, which being taught return
To plague th' inventor: this even-handed justice
Commends th' ingredients of our poison'd chalice
To our own lips. He's here in double trust;
First, as I am his kinsman and his subject,
Strong both against the deed; then, as his host,
Who should against his murderer shut the door,
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-tongu'd, against
The deep damnation of his taking-off;
And pity, like a naked new-born babe,
Striding the blast, or heaven's cherubim, hors'd
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 th' other side.—

Enter Lady MACBETH.

How now! what news?

Lady M. He has almost supp'd: why have you left

the chamber?

Macb. Hath he ask'd for me?

Lady M.

Know you not he has ?

Macb. We will proceed no further in this business :

He hath honour'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 M.

Was the hope drunk

Wherein you dressed yourself? hath it slept since?
And wakes it now, to look so green and pale

At what it did so freely?
Such I account thy love.
To be the same in thine
As thou art in desire?

From this time

Art thou afeard
own act and valour
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' th' adage?

Macb.

Prithee, peace:

I dare do all that may become a man;
Who dares do more, is none.

Lady M.

What beast was't 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've 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 plucked my nipple from his boneless gums
And dash'd the brains out, had I so sworn, as you
Have done to this.

Macb.

Lady M.

If we should fail ?—

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?

Macb.

Bring forth men-children only

For thy undaunted mettle should compose

Nothing but males. Will it not be receiv'd,

When we have mark'd with blood those sleepy two Of his own chamber and us'd their very daggers, That they have done't?

Lady M.

Who dares receive it other,

I'm settled, and bend up

As we shall make our griefs and clamour roar

Upon his death?

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.

ACT II.

SCENE.-Inverness. Court of MACBETH'S Castle.

Enter BANQUO, and FLEANCE with a torch.

Fleance.

Banquo.

OW goes the night, boy?

Fleance. The moon is down; I have not

heard the clock.

Ban. And she goes down at twelve.

I take't, 'tis later, sir.

Ban. 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 ?—Give me my sword.
Who's there?

Enter MACBETH, and a Servant with a torch.
Macb.
A friend.

Ban. What, sir, not yet at rest? The king's a-bed :
He hath been in unusual pleasure, and

Sent forth great largess to your officers:

This diamond he greets your wife withal,

By the name of most kind hostess; and shut up
In measureless content.

Macb.

Being unprepar'd,

Our will became the servant to defect;

Which else should free have wrought.