That fears a painted devil. If he do bleed, Macb. [Exit. Knocking within. 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. Enter Lady MACBETH. Lady M. My hands are of your colour; but I shame To wear a heart so white. [Knock.] I hear a 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. — [Knock.] Hark! more knocking. Get on your nightgown, lest occasion call us, And shew us to be watchers. So poorly in your thoughts. - Be not lost Macb. To know my deed, 'twere best not know 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.] Knock, knock, knock. Who's there, i' th' name of Beelzebub?—Here's a farmer, that hang'd himself on the expectation of plenty : some in time; have napkins enough about you; here you'll sweat for't. [Knocking.] Knock, knock. Who's there, in the 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: 0, come in, equivocator. [Knocking.] 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.] Knock, knock. Never at quiet! What are you? But this place is too cold for Hell. I'll devilporter it no farther: I had thought to have let in some of all professions, that go the primrose way to th' everlasting bonfire. [Knocking.] Anon, anon: I pray you, remember the porter. [Opens the gate. Enter MACDUFF and LEnox. Macduff. Was it so late, friend, ere you went to bed, That you do lie so late? Port. 'Faith, sir, we were carousing till the second cock; and drink, sir, is a great provoker of three things. Macd. What three things does drink especially provoke ? Port. 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. Macd. I believe drink gave thee the lie last night. Port. That it did, sir, i' the very 'throat on me: but I requited him for his lie; and, I think, being too strong for him, though he took up my legs sometime, yet I made a shift to cast him. Macd. Is thy master stirring? Enter MACBETH. Our knocking has awak'd him; here he comes. Macb. Good-morrow, both! Macd. Is the King stirring, worthy Thane? Not yet. Macd. He did command me to call timely on him : I have almost slipp'd the hour. Macb. I'll bring you to him. Macd. I know this is a joyful trouble to you; But yet, 'tis one. Macb. The labour we delight in physics pain. This is the door. Macd. I'll make so bold to call, [Exit MACDUFf. For 'tis my limited service. Len. Goes the King hence to-day? He does: - he did appoint so. Len. The night has been unruly: where we lay, Our chimneys were blown down; and, as they say, Lamentings heard i̇' th' air; strange screams of death, And prophesying, with accents terrible, Of dire combustion and confus'd events New hatch'd to th' woeful time. The obscure bird Clamour'd the livelong night: some say the Earth Was feverous, and did shake. Macb. 'Twas a rough night. Len. My young remembrance cannot parallel A fellow to it. Macd. Enter MACDUFF. O horror! horror! horror! Tongue, nor heart, Cannot conceive, nor name thee! Macb. Len. What's the matter? Macd. Confusion now hath made his master-piece. Most sacrilegious murther hath broke ope The Lord's anointed temple, and stole thence The life o' th' building. Macb. What is't you say? the life? Len. Mean you his Majesty? Macd. Approach the chamber, and destroy your sight With a new Gorgon. Do not bid me speak: Enter Lady MACBETH. Lady M. What's the business, [Bell rings. That such a hideous trumpet calls to parley The sleepers of the house? speak, speak! Macd. O gentle lady! 'Tis not for you to hear what I can speak : The repetition, in a woman's ear, Enter BANQUO. Would murther as it fell. -O Banquo! Banquo! Lady M. What! in our house? Ban. Woe, alas! Too cruel any where. Dear Duff, I pr'ythee, contradict thyself, And say it is not so. Enter MACBETH and Lenox. Macb. Had I but di'd an hour before this chance, I had liv'd a blessed time; for from this instant All is but toys: renown and grace is dead; Enter MALCOLM and DONALBAIN. Donalbain. Macb. What is amiss? You are, and do not know't: The spring, the head, the fountain of your blood Is stopp'd; the very source of it is stopp'd. Macd. Your royal father's murther'd. Mal. O! by whom? Len. Those of his chamber, as it seem'd, had done't. Their hands and faces were all badg'd with blood; Macb. O, yet I do repent me of my fury, That I did kill them. |