Category: rated-5

Posted on by

Act 2, page 2

Table of Contents

ACT 2, SCENE 2
Setting: The same.

[Enter LADY MACBETH]

LADY MACBETH That which hath made them drunk hath made me bold;
What hath quench'd them hath given me fire.
Hark! Peace!
It was the owl that shriek'd, the fatal bellman,
Which gives the stern'st good–night. He is about it: 5
The doors are open; and the surfeited grooms
Do mock their charge with snores: I have drugg'd
their possets,
That death and nature do contend about them,
Whether they live or die. 10
MACBETH [Within] Who's there? what, ho!
LADY MACBETH Alack, I am afraid they have awaked,
And 'tis not done. The attempt and not the deed
Confounds us. Hark! I laid their daggers ready;
He could not miss 'em. Had he not resembled 15
My father as he slept, I had done't.
[Enter MACBETH]
My husband!
MACBETH 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? 20
MACBETH When?
LADY MACBETH Now.
MACBETH As I descended?
LADY MACBETH Ay.
MACBETH Hark! 25
Who lies i' the second chamber?
LADY MACBETH Donalbain.
MACBETH This is a sorry sight.
[Looking on his hands]
LADY MACBETH A foolish thought, to say a sorry sight.
MACBETH There's one did laugh in's sleep, and one cried 30
Murder!'
That they did wake each other: I stood and heard them:
But they did say their prayers, and address'd them
Again to sleep.
LADY MACBETH There are two lodged together. 35
MACBETH One cried 'God bless us!' and 'Amen' the other;
As they had seen me with these hangman's hands.
Listening their fear, I could not say 'Amen,'
When they did say 'God bless us!'
LADY MACBETH Consider it not so deeply. 40
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
After these ways; so, it will make us mad. 45
MACBETH Methought I heard a voice cry 'Sleep no more!
Macbeth does murder sleep', the innocent sleep,
Sleep that knits up the ravell'd sleeve of care,
The death of each day's life, sore labour's bath,
Balm of hurt minds, great nature's second course, 50
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 murder'd sleep, and therefore Cawdor
Shall sleep no more; Macbeth shall sleep no more.' 55
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.
Why did you bring these daggers from the place? 60
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;
Look on't again I dare not. 65
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,
I'll gild the faces of the grooms withal; 70
For it must seem their guilt.
[Exit. Knocking within]
MACBETH 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 75
Clean from my hand? No, this my hand will rather
The multitudinous seas in incarnadine,
Making the green one red.
[Re–enter LADY MACBETH]
LADY MACBETH My hands are of your colour; but I shame
To wear a heart so white. 80
[Knocking within]
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. 85
[Knocking within]
Hark! more knocking.
Get on your nightgown, lest occasion call us,
And show us to be watchers. Be not lost
So poorly in your thoughts.
MACBETH To know my deed, 'twere best not know myself. 90
[Knocking within]
Wake Duncan with thy knocking! I would thou couldst!
[Exeunt]

Posted on by

Act 5, page 4

Table of Contents

ACT 5, SCENE 5
Setting: Dunsinane. Within the castle.

[Enter MACBETH, SEYTON, and Soldiers, with drum and colours]

MACBETH Hang out our banners on the outward walls;
The cry is still 'They come:' our castle's strength
Will laugh a siege to scorn: here let them lie
Till famine and the ague eat them up:
Were they not forced with those that should be ours,
We might have met them dareful, beard to beard,
And beat them backward home.
[A cry of women within]
What is that noise?
SEYTON It is the cry of women, my good lord.
[Exit]
MACBETH I have almost forgot the taste of fears;
The time has been, my senses would have cool'd 10
To hear a night–shriek; and my fell of hair
Would at a dismal treatise rouse and stir
As life were in't: I have supp'd full with horrors;
Direness, familiar to my slaughterous thoughts
Cannot once start me.
[Re–enter SEYTON]
Wherefore was that cry?
SEYTON The queen, my lord, is dead.
MACBETH She should have died hereafter;
There would have been a time for such a word.
To–morrow, and to–morrow, and to–morrow,
Creeps in this petty pace from day to day 20
To the last syllable of recorded time,
And all our yesterdays have lighted fools
The way to dusty death. Out, out, brief candle!
Life's but a walking shadow, a poor player
That struts and frets his hour upon the stage
And then is heard no more: it is a tale
Told by an idiot, full of sound and fury,
Signifying nothing.
[Enter a Messenger]
Thou comest to use thy tongue; thy story quickly.
Messenger Gracious my lord, 30
I should report that which I say I saw,
But know not how to do it.
MACBETH Well, say, sir.
Messenger As I did stand my watch upon the hill,
I look'd toward Birnam, and anon, methought,
The wood began to move.
MACBETH Liar and slave!
Messenger Let me endure your wrath, if't be not so:
Within this three mile may you see it coming;
I say, a moving grove.
MACBETH If thou speak'st false,
Upon the next tree shalt thou hang alive,
Till famine cling thee: if thy speech be sooth, 40
I care not if thou dost for me as much.
I pull in resolution, and begin
To doubt the equivocation of the fiend
That lies like truth: 'Fear not, till Birnam wood
Do come to Dunsinane:' and now a wood
Comes toward Dunsinane. Arm, arm, and out!
If this which he avouches does appear,
There is nor flying hence nor tarrying here.
I gin to be aweary of the sun,
And wish the estate o' the world were now undone. 50
Ring the alarum–bell! Blow, wind! come, wrack!
At least we'll die with harness on our back.
[Exeunt]

Posted on by

Act 2, page 3

Table of Contents

ACT 2, SCENE 3
Setting: The same.

Knocking within. Enter a Porter.

Porter Here's a knocking indeed!
If a man were porter of hell–gate, he should have old turning the key.
[Knocking within.] Knock, knock, knock!
Who's there, i' the name of Beelzebub?
Here's a farmer, that hanged himself on the expectation of plenty:
come in time; have napkins enow about you; here you'll sweat for't.
[Knocking within.] Knock, knock! Who's there,
in th'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:
O, come in, equivocator.
[Knocking within.] 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 within.]
Knock, knock; never at quiet! What are you?
I'll devil–porter it no further:
I had thought to have let in some of all professions that go
the primrose way to the everlasting bonfire.
But this place is too cold for hell. [Knocking within.]
Anon, anon! I pray you, remember the porter. [Opens the gate.]
Enter MACDUFF and LENNOX.
MACDUFF Was it so late, friend, ere you went to bed,
That you do lie so late?
Porter Faith sir, we were carousing till the second cock: and drink, sir, is a great provoker of three things.
MACDUFF What three things does drink especially provoke?
Porter 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.
MACDUFF I believe drink gave thee the lie last night. 42
Porter 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.
MACDUFF Is thy master stirring?
Enter MACBETH.
Our knocking has awaked him; here he comes.
LENNOX Good morrow, noble sir.
MACBETH Good morrow, both.
MACDUFF Is the king stirring, worthy thane?
MACBETH Not yet. 50
MACDUFF He did command me to call timely on him:
I have almost slipp'd the hour.
MACBETH I'll bring you to him.
MACDUFF I know this is a joyful trouble to you;
But yet 'tis one.
MACBETH The labour we delight in physics pain.
This is the door.
MACDUFF I'll make so bold to call,
For 'tis my limited service.
Exit
LENNOX Goes the king hence to–day?
MACBETH He does: he did appoint so.
LENNOX The night has been unruly: where we lay,
Our chimneys were blown down; and, as they say, 60
Lamentings heard i' the air; strange screams of death,
And prophesying with accents terrible
Of dire combustion and confused events
New hatch'd to the woeful time: the obscure bird
Clamour'd the livelong night: some say, the earth
Was feverous and did shake.
MACBETH Twas a rough night.
LENNOX My young remembrance cannot parallel
A fellow to it.
Re–enter MACDUFF.
MACDUFF O horror, horror, horror! Tongue nor heart
Cannot conceive nor name thee!
MACBETH
What's the matter. 70
LENNOX
MACDUFF Confusion now hath made his masterpiece!
Most sacrilegious murder hath broke ope
The Lord's anointed temple, and stole thence
The life o' the building!
MACBETH What is 't you say? the life?
LENNOX Mean you his majesty?
MACDUFF Approach the chamber, and destroy your sight
With a new Gorgon: do not bid me speak;
See, and then speak yourselves.
Exeunt MACBETH and LENNOX
Awake, awake!
Ring the alarum–bell. Murder and treason!
Banquo and Donalbain! Malcolm! awake! 80
Shake off this downy sleep, death's counterfeit,
And look on death itself! up, up, and see
The great doom's image! Malcolm! Banquo!
As from your graves rise up, and walk like sprites,
To countenance this horror! Ring the bell.
Bell rings.
Enter LADY MACBETH.
LADY MACBETH What's the business,
That such a hideous trumpet calls to parley
The sleepers of the house? speak, speak!
MACDUFF O gentle lady,
Tis not for you to hear what I can speak:
The repetition, in a woman's ear, 91
Would murder as it fell.
Enter BANQUO.
O Banquo, Banquo,
Our royal master 's murder'd!
LADY MACBETH Woe, alas!
What, in our house?
BANQUO Too cruel any where.
Dear Duff, I prithee, contradict thyself,
And say it is not so.
Re–enter MACBETH and LENNOX, with ROSS.
MACBETH Had I but died an hour before this chance,
I had lived a blessed time; for, from this instant,
There 's nothing serious in mortality:
All is but toys: renown and grace is dead;
The wine of life is drawn, and the mere lees 100
Is left this vault to brag of.
Enter MALCOLM and DONALBAIN.
DONALBAIN What is amiss?
MACBETH 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.
MACDUFF Your royal father 's murder'd.
MALCOLM O, by whom?
LENNOX Those of his chamber, as it seem'd, had done 't:
Their hands and faces were an badged with blood;
So were their daggers, which unwiped we found
Upon their pillows:
They stared, and were distracted; no man's life 110
Was to be trusted with them.
MACBETH O, yet I do repent me of my fury,
That I did kill them.
MACDUFF Wherefore did you so?
MACBETH Who can be wise, amazed, temperate and furious,
Loyal and neutral, in a moment? No man:
The expedition my violent love
Outrun the pauser, reason. Here lay Duncan,
His silver skin laced with his golden blood;
And his gash'd stabs look'd like a breach in nature
For ruin's wasteful entrance: there, the murderers, 120
Steep'd in the colours of their trade, their daggers
Unmannerly breech'd with gore: who could refrain,
That had a heart to love, and in that heart
Courage to make 's love known?
LADY MACBETH Help me hence, ho!
MACDUFF Look to the lady.
MALCOLM Aside to DONALBAIN. Why do we hold our tongues,
That most may claim this argument for ours?
DONALBAIN Aside to MALCOLM. What should be spoken here,
where our fate,
Hid in an auger–hole, may rush, and seize us?
Let 's away;
Our tears are not yet brew'd.
MALCOLM Aside to DONALBAIN. Nor our strong sorrow
Upon the foot of motion. 130
BANQUO Look to the lady:
LADY MACBETH is carried out.
And when we have our naked frailties hid,
That suffer in exposure, let us meet,
And question this most bloody piece of work,
To know it further. Fears and scruples shake us:
In the great hand of God I stand; and thence
Against the undivulged pretence I fight
Of treasonous malice.
MACDUFF And so do I.
ALL So all.
MACBETH Let's briefly put on manly readiness,
And meet i' the hall together.
ALL Well contented. 140
Exeunt all but Malcolm and Donalbain.
MALCOLM What will you do?
Let's not consort with them:
To show an unfelt sorrow is an office
Which the false man does easy. I'll to England.
DONALBAIN To Ireland, I; our separated fortune
Shall keep us both the safer: where we are,
There's daggers in men's smiles: the near in blood,
The nearer bloody.
MALCOLM This murderous shaft that's shot
Hath not yet lighted, and our safest way
Is to avoid the aim. Therefore, to horse;
And let us not be dainty of leave–taking, 150
But shift away: there's warrant in that theft
Which steals itself, when there's no mercy left.
Exeunt.

Posted on by

Act 5, page 5

Table of Contents

ACT 5, SCENE 6
Setting: Dunsinane. Before the castle.

[Drum and colours. Enter MALCOLM, SIWARD, MACDUFF, and their Army, with boughs]

MALCOLM Now near enough: your leafy screens throw down.
And show like those you are. You, worthy uncle,
Shall, with my cousin, your right–noble son,
Lead our first battle: worthy Macduff and we
Shall take upon 's what else remains to do, 5
According to our order.
SIWARD Fare you well.
Do we but find the tyrant's power to–night,
Let us be beaten, if we cannot fight.
MACDUFF Make all our trumpets speak; give them all breath,
Those clamorous harbingers of blood and death.
[Exeunt]

Posted on by

Act 2, page 4

Table of Contents

ACT 2, SCENE 4
Setting: Outside Macbeth's castle.

[Enter ROSS and an old Man]

Old Man Threescore and ten I can remember well:
Within the volume of which time I have seen
Hours dreadful and things strange; but this sore night
Hath trifled former knowings.
ROSS Ah, good father, 5
Thou seest, the heavens, as troubled with man's act,
Threaten his bloody stage: by the clock, 'tis day,
And yet dark night strangles the travelling lamp:
Is't night's predominance, or the day's shame,
That darkness does the face of earth entomb, 10
When living light should kiss it?
Old Man Tis unnatural,
Even like the deed that's done. On Tuesday last,
A falcon, towering in her pride of place,
Was by a mousing owl hawk'd at and kill'd. 15
ROSS And Duncan's horses––a thing most strange and certain––
Beauteous and swift, the minions of their race,
Turn'd wild in nature, broke their stalls, flung out,
Contending 'gainst obedience, as they would make
War with mankind. 20
Old Man Tis said they eat each other.
ROSS They did so, to the amazement of mine eyes
That look'd upon't. Here comes the good Macduff.
[Enter MACDUFF]
How goes the world, sir, now?
MACDUFF Why, see you not? 25
ROSS Is't known who did this more than bloody deed?
MACDUFF Those that Macbeth hath slain.
ROSS Alas, the day!
What good could they pretend?
MACDUFF They were suborn'd: 30
Malcolm and Donalbain, the king's two sons,
Are stol'n away and fled; which puts upon them
Suspicion of the deed.
ROSS Gainst nature still!
Thriftless ambition, that wilt ravin up 35
Thine own life's means! Then 'tis most like
The sovereignty will fall upon Macbeth.
MACDUFF He is already named, and gone to Scone
To be invested.
ROSS Where is Duncan's body? 40
MACDUFF Carried to Colmekill,
The sacred storehouse of his predecessors,
And guardian of their bones.
ROSS Will you to Scone?
MACDUFF No, cousin, I'll to Fife. 45
ROSS Well, I will thither.
MACDUFF Well, may you see things well done there: adieu!
Lest our old robes sit easier than our new!
ROSS Farewell, father.
Old Man God's benison go with you; and with those 50
That would make good of bad, and friends of foes!
[Exeunt]

Posted on by

Act 5, page 6

Table of Contents

ACT 5, SCENE 7
Setting: Another part of the field.

[Alarums. Enter MACBETH]

MACBETH They have tied me to a stake; I cannot fly,
But, bear–like, I must fight the course. What's he
That was not born of woman? Such a one
Am I to fear, or none.
[Enter YOUNG SIWARD]
YOUNG SIWARD What is thy name?
MACBETH Thou'lt be afraid to hear it.
YOUNG SIWARD No; though thou call'st thyself a hotter name
Than any is in hell.
MACBETH My name's Macbeth.
YOUNG SIWARD The devil himself could not pronounce a title
More hateful to mine ear.
MACBETH No, nor more fearful.
YOUNG SIWARD Thou liest, abhorred tyrant; with my sword 10
I'll prove the lie thou speak'st.
[They fight and YOUNG SIWARD is slain]
MACBETH Thou wast born of woman
But swords I smile at, weapons laugh to scorn,
Brandish'd by man that's of a woman born.
[Exit]
[Alarums. Enter MACDUFF]
MACDUFF That way the noise is. Tyrant, show thy face!
If thou be'st slain and with no stroke of mine,
My wife and children's ghosts will haunt me still.
I cannot strike at wretched kerns, whose arms
Are hired to bear their staves: either thou, Macbeth,
Or else my sword with an unbatter'd edge
I sheathe again undeeded. There thou shouldst be; 20
By this great clatter, one of greatest note
Seems bruited. Let me find him, fortune!
And more I beg not.
[Exit. Alarums]
[Enter MALCOLM and SIWARD]
SIWARD This way, my lord; the castle's gently render'd:
The tyrant's people on both sides do fight;
The noble thanes do bravely in the war;
The day almost itself professes yours,
And little is to do.
MALCOLM We have met with foes
That strike beside us.
SIWARD Enter, sir, the castle.
[Exeunt. Alarums]

Posted on by

Act 3, page 1

Table of Contents

ACT 3, SCENE 1
Setting: Forres. The palace.

[Enter BANQUO]

BANQUO Thou hast it now: king, Cawdor, Glamis, all,
As the weird women promised, and, I fear,
Thou play'dst most foully for't: yet it was said
It should not stand in thy posterity,
But that myself should be the root and father 5
Of many kings. If there come truth from them––
As upon thee, Macbeth, their speeches shine––
Why, by the verities on thee made good,
May they not be my oracles as well,
And set me up in hope? But hush! no more. 10

[Sennet sounded. Enter MACBETH, as king, LADY MACBETH, as queen, LENNOX, ROSS, Lords, Ladies, and Attendants ]

MACBETH Here's our chief guest.
LADY MACBETH If he had been forgotten,
It had been as a gap in our great feast,
And all–thing unbecoming.
MACBETH To–night we hold a solemn supper sir, 15
And I'll request your presence.
BANQUO Let your highness
Command upon me; to the which my duties
Are with a most indissoluble tie
For ever knit. 20
MACBETH Ride you this afternoon?
BANQUO Ay, my good lord.
MACBETH We should have else desired your good advice,
Which still hath been both grave and prosperous,
In this day's council; but we'll take to–morrow. 25
Is't far you ride?
BANQUO As far, my lord, as will fill up the time
Twixt this and supper: go not my horse the better,
I must become a borrower of the night
For a dark hour or twain. 30
MACBETH Fail not our feast.
BANQUO My lord, I will not.
MACBETH We hear, our bloody cousins are bestow'd
In England and in Ireland, not confessing
Their cruel parricide, filling their hearers 35
With strange invention: but of that to–morrow,
When therewithal we shall have cause of state
Craving us jointly. Hie you to horse: adieu,
Till you return at night. Goes Fleance with you?
BANQUO Ay, my good lord: our time does call upon 's. 40
MACBETH I wish your horses swift and sure of foot;
And so I do commend you to their backs. Farewell.
[Exit BANQUO]
Let every man be master of his time
Till seven at night: to make society
The sweeter welcome, we will keep ourself 45
Till supper–time alone: while then, God be with you!

[Exeunt all but MACBETH, and an attendant]

Sirrah, a word with you: attend those men
Our pleasure?
ATTENDANT They are, my lord, without the palace gate.
MACBETH Bring them before us. 50
[Exit Attendant]
To be thus is nothing; (Soliloquy Analysis)
But to be safely thus.––Our fears in Banquo
Stick deep; and in his royalty of nature
Reigns that which would be fear'd: 'tis much he dares;
And, to that dauntless temper of his mind, 55
He hath a wisdom that doth guide his valour
To act in safety. There is none but he
Whose being I do fear: and, under him,
My Genius is rebuked; as, it is said,
Mark Antony's was by Caesar. He chid the sisters 60
When first they put the name of king upon me,
And bade them speak to him: then prophet–like
They hail'd him father to a line of kings:
Upon my head they placed a fruitless crown,
And put a barren sceptre in my gripe, 65
Thence to be wrench'd with an unlineal hand,
No son of mine succeeding. If 't be so,
For Banquo's issue have I filed my mind;
For them the gracious Duncan have I murder'd;
Put rancours in the vessel of my peace 70
Only for them; and mine eternal jewel
Given to the common enemy of man,
To make them kings, the seed of Banquo kings!
Rather than so, come fate into the list.
And champion me to the utterance! Who's there! 75

[Re–enter Attendant, with two Murderers]

Now go to the door, and stay there till we call.
[Exit Attendant]
Was it not yesterday we spoke together?
First Murderer It was, so please your highness.
MACBETH Well then, now
Have you consider'd of my speeches? Know 80
That it was he in the times past which held you
So under fortune, which you thought had been
Our innocent self: this I made good to you
In our last conference, pass'd in probation with you,
How you were borne in hand, how cross'd, 85
the instruments,
Who wrought with them, and all things else that might
To half a soul and to a notion crazed
Say 'Thus did Banquo.'
First Murderer You made it known to us. 90
MACBETH I did so, and went further, which is now
Our point of second meeting. Do you find
Your patience so predominant in your nature
That you can let this go? Are you so gospell'd
To pray for this good man and for his issue, 95
Whose heavy hand hath bow'd you to the grave
And beggar'd yours for ever?
First Murderer We are men, my liege.
MACBETH Ay, in the catalogue ye go for men;
As hounds and greyhounds, mongrels, spaniels, curs, 100
Shoughs, water–rugs and demi–wolves, are clept
All by the name of dogs: the valued file
Distinguishes the swift, the slow, the subtle,
The housekeeper, the hunter, every one
According to the gift which bounteous nature 105
Hath in him closed; whereby he does receive
Particular addition. from the bill
That writes them all alike: and so of men.
Now, if you have a station in the file,
Not i' the worst rank of manhood, say 't; 110
And I will put that business in your bosoms,
Whose execution takes your enemy off,
Grapples you to the heart and love of us,
Who wear our health but sickly in his life,
Which in his death were perfect. 115
Second Murderer I am one, my liege,
Whom the vile blows and buffets of the world
Have so incensed that I am reckless what
I do to spite the world.
First Murderer And I another 120
So weary with disasters, tugg'd with fortune,
That I would set my lie on any chance,
To mend it, or be rid on't.
MACBETH Both of you
Know Banquo was your enemy. 125
Both Murderers True, my lord.
MACBETH So is he mine; and in such bloody distance,
That every minute of his being thrusts
Against my near'st of life: and though I could
With barefaced power sweep him from my sight 130
And bid my will avouch it, yet I must not,
For certain friends that are both his and mine,
Whose loves I may not drop, but wail his fall
Who I myself struck down; and thence it is,
That I to your assistance do make love, 135
Masking the business from the common eye
For sundry weighty reasons.
Second Murderer We shall, my lord,
Perform what you command us.
First Murderer Though our lives–– 140
MACBETH Your spirits shine through you. Within this hour at most
I will advise you where to plant yourselves;
Acquaint you with the perfect spy o' the time,
The moment on't; for't must be done to–night,
And something from the palace; always thought 145
That I require a clearness: and with him––
To leave no rubs nor botches in the work––
Fleance his son, that keeps him company,
Whose absence is no less material to me
Than is his father's, must embrace the fate 150
Of that dark hour. Resolve yourselves apart:
I'll come to you anon.
Both Murderers We are resolved, my lord.
MACBETH I'll call upon you straight: abide within.
[Exeunt Murderers]
It is concluded. Banquo, thy soul's flight, 155
If it find heaven, must find it out to–night.

[Exit]

Posted on by

Act 5, page 7

Table of Contents

ACT 5, SCENE 8
Setting: Another part of the field.

[Enter MACBETH]

MACBETH Why should I play the Roman fool, and die
On mine own sword? whiles I see lives, the gashes
Do better upon them.
[Enter MACDUFF]
MACDUFF Turn, hell–hound, turn!
MACBETH Of all men else I have avoided thee:
But get thee back; my soul is too much charged
With blood of thine already.
MACDUFF I have no words:
My voice is in my sword: thou bloodier villain
Than terms can give thee out!
[They fight]
MACBETH Thou losest labour:
As easy mayst thou the intrenchant air
With thy keen sword impress as make me bleed: 10
Let fall thy blade on vulnerable crests;
I bear a charmed life, which must not yield,
To one of woman born.
MACDUFF Despair thy charm;
And let the angel whom thou still hast served
Tell thee, Macduff was from his mother's womb
Untimely ripp'd.
MACBETH Accursed be that tongue that tells me so,
For it hath cow'd my better part of man!
And be these juggling fiends no more believed,
That palter with us in a double sense; 20
That keep the word of promise to our ear,
And break it to our hope. I'll not fight with thee.
MACDUFF Then yield thee, coward,
And live to be the show and gaze o' the time:
We'll have thee, as our rarer monsters are,
Painted on a pole, and underwrit,
Here may you see the tyrant.'
MACBETH I will not yield,
To kiss the ground before young Malcolm's feet,
And to be baited with the rabble's curse.
Though Birnam wood be come to Dunsinane, 30
And thou opposed, being of no woman born,
Yet I will try the last. Before my body
I throw my warlike shield. Lay on, Macduff,
And damn'd be him that first cries, 'Hold, enough!'
[Exeunt, fighting. Alarums]

[Retreat. Flourish. Enter, with drum and colours, MALCOLM, SIWARD, ROSS, the other Thanes, and Soldiers ]

MALCOLM I would the friends we miss were safe arrived.
SIWARD Some must go off: and yet, by these I see,
So great a day as this is cheaply bought.
MALCOLM Macduff is missing, and your noble son.
ROSS Your son, my lord, has paid a soldier's debt:
He only lived but till he was a man; 40
The which no sooner had his prowess confirm'd
In the unshrinking station where he fought,
But like a man he died.
SIWARD Then he is dead?
ROSS Ay, and brought off the field: your cause of sorrow
Must not be measured by his worth, for then
It hath no end.
SIWARD Had he his hurts before?
ROSS Ay, on the front.
SIWARD Why then, God's soldier be he!
Had I as many sons as I have hairs,
I would not wish them to a fairer death:
And so, his knell is knoll'd.
MALCOLM He's worth more sorrow, 50
And that I'll spend for him.
SIWARD He's worth no more
They say he parted well, and paid his score:
And so, God be with him! Here comes newer comfort.

[Re–enter MACDUFF, with MACBETH's head]

MACDUFF Hail, king! for so thou art: behold, where stands
The usurper's cursed head: the time is free:
I see thee compass'd with thy kingdom's pearl,
That speak my salutation in their minds;
Whose voices I desire aloud with mine:
Hail, King of Scotland!
ALL Hail, King of Scotland!
[Flourish]
MALCOLM We shall not spend a large expense of time 60
Before we reckon with your several loves,
And make us even with you. My thanes and kinsmen,
Henceforth be earls, the first that ever Scotland
In such an honour named. What's more to do,
Which would be planted newly with the time,
As calling home our exiled friends abroad
That fled the snares of watchful tyranny;
Producing forth the cruel ministers
Of this dead butcher and his fiend–like queen,
Who, as 'tis thought, by self and violent hands 70
Took off her life; this, and what needful else
That calls upon us, by the grace of Grace,
We will perform in measure, time and place:
So, thanks to all at once and to each one,
Whom we invite to see us crown'd at Scone.
[Flourish. Exeunt]

Posted on by

Act 3, page 2

Table of Contents

ACT 3, SCENE 2
Setting: The palace.

[Enter LADY MACBETH and a Servant]

LADY MACBETH Is Banquo gone from court?
Servant Ay, madam, but returns again to–night.
LADY MACBETH Say to the king, I would attend his leisure
For a few words.
Servant Madam, I will.
[Exit]
LADY MACBETH Nought's had, all's spent,
Where our desire is got without content:
Tis safer to be that which we destroy
Than by destruction dwell in doubtful joy.
[Enter MACBETH]
How now, my lord! why do you keep alone,
Of sorriest fancies your companions making,
Using those thoughts which should indeed have died 10
With them they think on? Things without all remedy
Should be without regard: what's done is done.
MACBETH We have scotch'd the snake, not kill'd it:
She'll close and be herself, whilst our poor malice
Remains in danger of her former tooth.
But let the frame of things disjoint, both the
worlds suffer,
Ere we will eat our meal in fear and sleep
In the affliction of these terrible dreams
That shake us nightly: better be with the dead,
Whom we, to gain our peace, have sent to peace, 20
Than on the torture of the mind to lie
In restless ecstasy. Duncan is in his grave;
After life's fitful fever he sleeps well;
Treason has done his worst: nor steel, nor poison,
Malice domestic, foreign levy, nothing,
Can touch him further.
LADY MACBETH Come on;
Gentle my lord, sleek o'er your rugged looks;
Be bright and jovial among your guests to–night.
MACBETH So shall I, love; and so, I pray, be you:
Let your remembrance apply to Banquo; 30
Present him eminence, both with eye and tongue:
Unsafe the while, that we
Must lave our honours in these flattering streams,
And make our faces vizards to our hearts,
Disguising what they are.
LADY MACBETH You must leave this.
MACBETH O, full of scorpions is my mind, dear wife!
Thou know'st that Banquo, and his Fleance, lives.
LADY MACBETH But in them nature's copy's not eterne.
MACBETH There's comfort yet; they are assailable;
Then be thou jocund: ere the bat hath flown 40
His cloister'd flight, ere to black Hecate's summons
The shard–borne beetle with his drowsy hums
Hath rung night's yawning peal, there shall be done
A deed of dreadful note.
LADY MACBETH What's to be done?
MACBETH Be innocent of the knowledge, dearest chuck,
Till thou applaud the deed. Come, seeling night,
Scarf up the tender eye of pitiful day;
And with thy bloody and invisible hand
Cancel and tear to pieces that great bond
Which keeps me pale! Light thickens; and the crow 50
Makes wing to the rooky wood:
Good things of day begin to droop and drowse;
While night's black agents to their preys do rouse.
Thou marvell'st at my words: but hold thee still;
Things bad begun make strong themselves by ill.
So, prithee, go with me.
[Exeunt]

Posted on by

Act 3, page 3

Table of Contents

ACT 3, SCENE 3
Setting: A park near the palace.

[Enter Three Murderers]

First Murderer But who did bid thee join with us?
Third Murderer Macbeth.
Second Murderer He needs not our mistrust, since he delivers
Our offices and what we have to do
To the direction just.
First Murderer Then stand with us.
The west yet glimmers with some streaks of day:
Now spurs the lated traveller apace
To gain the timely inn; and near approaches
The subject of our watch.
Third Murderer Hark! I hear horses.
BANQUO [Within] Give us a light there, ho!
Second Murderer Then 'tis he: the rest
That are within the note of expectation 10
Already are i' the court.
First Murderer His horses go about.
Third Murderer Almost a mile: but he does usually,
So all men do, from hence to the palace gate
Make it their walk.
Second Murderer A light, a light!

[Enter BANQUO, and FLEANCE with a torch]

Third Murderer Tis he.
First Murderer Stand to't.
BANQUO It will be rain to–night.
First Murderer Let it come down.
[They set upon BANQUO]
BANQUO O, treachery! Fly, good Fleance, fly, fly, fly!
Thou mayst revenge. O slave!
[Dies. FLEANCE escapes]
Third Murderer Who did strike out the light?
First Murderer Wast not the way?
Third Murderer There's but one down; the son is fled.
Second Murderer We have lost
Best half of our affair. 20
First Murderer Well, let's away, and say how much is done.
[Exeunt]