Is far beyond a prince's delicates; THE VICISSITUDES OF LIFE. So farewell to the little good you bear me. [Henry the Sixth.] [Henry the Eighth.] THE MURDER OF KING DUNCAN. Macbeth and a Servant. [MACBETH, PROMPTED BY AMBITION, AND PUSHED ON BY HIS SAVAGE WIFE, RESOLVES TO MURDER THE KING.] Macb. 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, [Exit Servant.] The handle toward 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 As this which now I draw. Thou marshal'st me the way that I was going; And such an instrument I was to use. Mine eyes are made the fools o' th' other senses, Which was not so before. There's no such thing. Thus to mine eyes. Now, o'er one half the world Whose howl's his watch, thus with his stealthy pace, I go, and it is done; the bell invites me: [A bell rings.] [Enter Lady Macbeth.] Lady. That which hath made them drunk, hath made me bold: What hath quench'd them, hath given me fire. It was the owl that shriek'd, the fatal bellman, Hark! peace!/ Which gives the stern'st good-night-he is about it- Do mock their charge with snores. I have drugg'd their possets. Macb. [Within.] Who's there?-what ho! Lady. Alack! I am afraid they have awak'd; And '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 [Enter Macbeth.] had done 't. My husband. Macb. I've done the deed-didst thou not hear a noise? Lady. I heard the owl scream, and the crickets cry. Did not you speak? Mach. When? Lady. A foolish thought, to say a sorry sight. Macb. 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, and address'd them Again to sleep. Lady. There are two lodg'd together. Mach. 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. Consider it not so deeply. Macb. But wherefore could not I pronounce Amen! I had most need of blessing, and Amen Stuck in my throat. Lady. These deeds must not be thought, After these ways; so, it will make us mad. Macb. Methought I heard a voice cry, Sleep no more! Sleep that knits up the ravell'd sleeve of care, Balm of hurt minds, great nature's second course, Lady. What do you mean? Macb. Still it cry'd, Sleep no more, to all the house; Glamis hath murder'd sleep. And therefore Cawdor Shall sleep no more; Macbeth shall sleep no more! Lady. Who was it that thus cry'd? Why, worthy Thane, You do unbend your noble strength, to think So brain-sickly of things. Go get some water, And wash this filthy witness from your hand. Why did you bring these daggers from the place? Mach. I'll go no more. I am afraid to think what I have done; Look on't again, I dare not. Lady. Infirm of purpose: Give me the daggers. The sleeping and the dead That fears a painted devil. If he do bleed, [Exit.] [Knocking within.] Macb. Whence is that knocking! [Starting.] Clean from my hand? No; this my hand will rather Making the green one red [Enter Lady Macbeth.] Lady. 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. [Knocking.] Hark, more knocking! Get on your night-gown, lest occasion call us, And show us to be watchers. Be not lost So poorly in your thoughts. Macb. To know my deed, 't were best not know myself. [Knock.] Wake, Duncan, with this knocking. Ay, 'would thou could'st! [Exeunt.] MARK ANTONY OVER CÆSAR'S BODY. Ant. Friends, Romans, countrymen, lend me your ears. I come to bury Cæsar, not to praise him. So are they all, all honourable men,) Come I to speak in Cæsar's funeral. He was my friend, faithful and just to me; And Brutus is an honourable man. He hath brought many captives home to Rome, Did this in Cæsar seem ambitious? When that the poor have cried, Cæsar hath wept; Yet Brutus says he was ambitious; And Brutus is an honourable man. You all did see that, on the Lupercal, I thrice presented him a kingly crown, Which he did thrice refuse. Was this ambition? And, sure, he is an honourable man. I speak not to disprove what Brutus spoke; But here I am to speak what I do know. You all did love him once, not without cause: Oh, judgment! thou art fled to brutish beasts, And men have lost their reason! Bear with me: My heart is in the coffin there with Cæsar, And I must pause till it come back to me. First Cit. Methinks there is much reason in his sayings. Sec. Cit. If thou consider rightly of the matter, Cæsar has had great wrong. Third Cit. Has he, masters? I fear there will a worse come in his place. Fourth Cit. Mark'd ye his words? He would not take the crown; Therefore 'tis certain he was not ambitious. First Cit. If it be found so, some will dear abide it. Have stood against the world; now lies he there, And none so poor to do him reverence. Oh, masters! If I were dispos'd to stir I should do Brutus wrong, and Cassius wrong, Who, you all know, are honourable men. I will not do them wrong: I rather choose Let but the commons hear this testament (Which, pardon me, I do not mean to read), And they would go and kiss dead Cæsar's wounds, And dip their napkins in his sacred blood; Yea, beg a hair of him for memory, And dying, mention it within their wills, Unto their issue. Fourth Cit. We'll hear the will; read it, Mark Antony. 'Tis good you know not that you are his heirs ; Fourth Cit. Read the will; we will hear it, Antony: You shall read us the will; Cæsar's will! Ant. Will you be patient? will you stay awhile? I have o'ershot myself, to tell you of it. I fear I wrong the honourable men Whose daggers have stabb'd Cæsar. I do fear it. Fourth Cit. They were traitors. Honourable men! All. The will! the testament! Sec. Cit. They were villains, murderers! The will! Read the will! Then make a ring about the corpse of Cæsar, Shall I descend? And will you give me leave? All. Come down. Sec. Cit. Descend. Third Cit. You shall have leave. Fourth Cit. A ring! Stand round! [He comes down from the pulpit.j First Cit. Stand from the hearse, stand from the body. Sec. Cit. Room for Antony-most noble Antony! Ant. Nay, press not so upon me; stand far off. All. Stand back! room! bear back! Ant. If you have tears, prepare to shed them now. You all do know this mantle. I remember The first time ever Cæsar put it on; 'Twas on a summer's evening in his tent, That day he overcame the Nervii. Look! in this place ran Cassius' dagger through; |