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Bloody instructions, which, being taught, return
To plague the inventor. This even-handed justice
Commends the 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 newborn babe,
Striding the blast, or heaven's cherubim,1 hors'd
Upon the sightless couriers of the air,2
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

Enter LADY MACBETH.

How now! what news?

Lady Macbeth. He has almost supp'd. Why have you left

the chamber?

Macbeth. Hath he ask'd for me?

Lady Macbeth.

Know you not he has ?

Macbeth. We will proceed no further in this business. He hath honor'd me of late, and I have bought 3

Golden opinions from all sorts of people,

1 "A naked newborn babe," etc. "Either like a mortal babe, terrible in helplessness, or like heaven's child angels, mighty in love and compassion" (REV. C. E. MOBERLY).

2 44 Sightless couriers of the air," i.e., the invisible winds.

3 Gained.

Which would be worn now in their newest gloss,

Not cast aside so soon.

Lady Macbeth.

Was the hope drunk

Wherein you dress'd 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.

From this time

Art thou afeard

To be the same in thine own act and valor

As thou art in desire ? 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' the adage ? 2

Macbeth.

Prithee, peace.

I dare do all that may become a man;

Who dares do more is none.

Lady Macbeth.

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,3 and yet you would make both;
They have made themselves, and that their fitness now
Does unmake you.

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But screw your courage to the sticking place,
And we'll not fail. When Duncan is asleep,-

1 Should.

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2 "Letting 'I dare not,'" etc. Boswell (as quoted by Furness) notes the adage 'The cate would eate fish, and would not wete her feete,' is among Heywood's Proverbs (1566).”

that

3 Accord.

4" But screw," etc. Probably a metaphor from the tuning of a stringed instrument.

Whereto the rather shall his day's hard journey
Soundly invite him,-his two chamberlains
Will I with wine and wassail so convince,1
That memory, the warder of the brain,
Shall be a fume, and the receipt 2 of reason
A limbeck 3 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 ? 4

Macbeth.

Bring forth men children only;

For thy undaunted mettle should compose

Nothing but males. Will it not be receiv'd,5

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 Macbeth.

Who dares receive it other,

As we shall make our griefs and clamor roar
Upon his death?

Macbeth.

I am settled, and bend up

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.

1 "With wine and wassail so convince," i.e., with drink and carousing so

overcome.

2 Receptacle.

3 An alembic; a still, or rather the cap of a still.

4 Murder.

5 Believed.

6 "Each corporal agent," i.e., every faculty of the body.

ACT II.

SCENE I. Court of Macbeth's Castle.

Enter BANQUO, and FLEANCE bearing a torch before him.

Banquo. How goes the night, boy?

Fleance. The moon is down; I have not heard the clock.
Banquo. And she goes down at twelve.

Fleance.

I take't, 'tis later, sir.

Banquo. Hold; take my sword.-There's husbandry 1in heaven; Their candles are all out. -Take thee that, too.

A heavy summons lies like lead upon me,2

And yet I would not sleep.- Merciful Powers,
Restrain in me the cursed thoughts that nature

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Banquo. What, sir, not yet at rest? The king's abed—

He hath been in unusual pleasure, and

Sent forth great largess 3 to your offices.4

This diamond he greets your wife withal,

By the name of most kind hostess—and shut up

In measureless content.5

Macbeth.

1 Thrift.

Being unprepar'd,

2 "A heavy summons," etc., i.e., a strong disposition to sleep is upon me. 3 Gifts of money. 4 The servants' departments.

5 "Shut up in measureless content," i.e., retiring to sleep most happy, and contented with everything around him.

Our will became the servant to defect,
Which else should free have wrought.1

Banquo.

All's well.

I dreamt last night of the three weird sisters;

To you they have show'd some truth.

Macbeth.

I think not of them.

Yet, when we can entreat an hour to serve,

We would spend it in some words upon that business, would grant the time.

If

you

Banquo.

At your kind'st leisure.

Macbeth. If you shall cleave to my consent, when 'tis,2 It shall make honor for you.

Banquo.

So I lose none

In seeking to augment it, but still keep
My bosom franchis'd and allegiance clear,
I shall be counsel'd.

Macbeth.

Good repose the while!

Banquo. Thanks, sir; the like to you!

[Exeunt Banquo and Fleance.

[Exit Servant.

Macbeth. Go bid thy mistress, when my drink is ready,

She strike upon the bell. Get thee to bed.

Is this a dagger which I see before me,

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The handle towards my hand?-Come, let me clutch thee.

I have thee not, and yet I see thee still.

Art thou not, fatal vision, sensible

To feeling as to sight? or art thou but
A dagger of the mind, a false creation,
Proceeding from the heat-oppressed brain?
I see thee yet, in form as palpable
As this which now I draw.

Thou marshal'st me the way that I was going;

And such an instrument I was to use.

-

1 " Being unprepar'd,” etc.,.i.e., lack of time for preparation constrained

the free working of my will.

2 "Cleave to my consent," i.e., join my party when it is established.

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