Macb. There's one did laugh in his sleep, and one cry'd, "Murder!" That they did wake each other; I stood and heard them : 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. Mach. 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!" 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 Macb. I'll go no more: I am afraid to think what I have done; Lady. Infirm of purpose! Give me the daggers: The sleeping, and the dead, I'll gild the faces of the grooms withal, For it must seem their guilt. [Exit LADY MACBETH. [Knocking within. Macb. Whence is that knocking! How is't with me, when every noise appalls me? What hands are here? Ha! they pluck out mine eyes! Will all great Neptune's ocean wash this blood 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.-[Knock.]-Hark! more knocking: Get on your night-gown, lest occasion call us, And show us to be watchers :-Be not lost Macb. To know my deed,-"Twere best not know myself. [Knock. Wake, Duncan, with this knocking! Oh, 'would thou could'st! [Exeunt.-Knock. Enter MACDUFF, LENOX, and SEYTON. Macd. Was it so late, friend, ere you went to bed, That you do lie so late? Sey. 'Faith, sir, we were carousing till the second cock. Macd. Is thy master stirring ? Our knocking has awak'd him; here he comes. Enter MACBETH, and exit SEYTON. Len. Good-morrow, noble sir! Macb. Good-morrow, both! Macd. Is the King stirring, worthy thane? Macb. 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, For 'tis my limited service. [Exit MACDUFF. Len. Goes the King hence to-day? Len. The night has been unruly: Where we lay, Our chimneys were blown down: and, as they say, Lamentings heard i' the air; strange screams of death, And prophesying, with accents terrible, Of dire combustion, and confus'd 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. Macb. "Twas a rough night. Len. My young remembrance cannot parallel A fellow to it. Enter MACDuff. Macd. O horror! horror! horror! Tongue, nor heart, Cannot conceive, nor name thee! Macb. and Len. What's the matter? Macd. Confusion now hath made his master-piece! Most sacrilegious murder hath broke ope The Lord's anointed temple, and stole thence Macb. What is it 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; See, and then speak yourselves. Awake! awake! [Exeunt MACBETH and LENOX. Ring the alarum bell!-Murder! and treason! [The Bell rings out. Enter BANQUO and ROSSE. O, Banquo, Banquo, Our royal master's murder'd! Enter MACBETH and LENOX. Macb. Had I but died an hour before this chance I had liv'd a blessed time; for, from this instant, There's nothing serious in mortality: All is but toys; renown, and grace, is dead; Enter MALCOLM and DONALBAIN. Mal. What is amiss? Macb. You are, and do not know it: Mal. Oh, by whom? Len. Those of his chamber, as it seem'd, had done't: Their hands and faces were all badg'd with blood, So were their daggers, which, unwip'd, we found Upon their pillows; they star'd, and were distracted; No man's life was to be trusted with them. [Exeunt MALCOLM and DONALBAIN, Macb. O, yet I do repent me of my fury, That I did kill them. Macd. Wherefore did you so? Macb. Who can be wise, amaz'd, temperate, and furious, Loyal and neutral, in a moment? No man: Out-ran the pauser reason.-Here lay Duncan, Ban. Fears and scruples shake us: In the great hand of Heaven I stand; and, thence, Macb. And so do I. All. So all., Macd. Let's briefly put on manly readiness, And meet meet i' the hall together; And question this most bloody piece of work, To know it further. All. Well contented. [Exeunt. |