What cannot you and I perform upon

70 The unguarded Duncan? what not put upon His spongy officers, who shall bear the guilt

Of our great quell?

Macb.

Bring forth men-children only,

For thy undaunted mettle should compose

Nothing but males. Will it not be receiv'd

When we have marked with blood those sleepy two Of his own chamber, and used their very daggers, That they have done't?

Lady M.

Who dares receive it other,

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

Macb.

I am settled, and bend up

80 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.

Enter BANQUO and FLEANCE, and a Servant with a torch before them

Ban. How goes the night, boy?

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

Fle.

I take't, 'tis later, sir.

Ban. Hold, take my sword. There's husbandry in

heaven,

Their candles are all out.

A heavy summons lies like lead upon me,
And yet I would not sleep. Merciful powers!
Restrain in me the cursed thoughts that nature
Gives way to in repose! - Give me my sword;

Enter MACBETH, and a Servant with a torch

Who's there?

Macb. A friend.

10

Ban. What, sir, not yet at rest? The king's a-bed :

He hath been in unusual pleasure, and

Sent forth great largess to your officers:

This diamond he greets your wife withal,

By the name of most kind hostess; and shut up

In measureless content.

Macb.

Being unprepared,

Our will became the servant to defect,

Which else should free have wrought.

Ban.

All's well. 20 I dreamt last night of the three weird sisters:

To you they've show'd some truth.

Macb.

I think not of them;

Yet, when we can entreat an hour to serve,

We would spend it in some words upon that business,

If

you would grant the time.

Ban.

At your kind'st leisure.

Macb. If you shall cleave to my consent, - when 'tis,

It shall make honor for you.

Ban.

So I lose none

In seeking to augment it, but still keep

My bosom franchis'd and allegiance clear,

I shall be counsell'd.

Macb.

Good repose, the while!

30

Ban. Thanks, sir; the like to you!

[Exeunt BANQUO and FLEANCE. Macb. Go, bid thy mistress, when my drink is

ready,

She strike upon the bell.

Get thee to bed.

[Exit Servant.

Is this a dagger which I see before me,

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,
Proceeding from the heat-oppressèd brain?
I see thee yet, in form as palpable
As this which now I draw.

Thou marshall'st me the way that I was going,
And such an instrument I was to use.

Mine eyes are made the fools o' the other senses,
Or else worth all the rest: I see thee still;

And on thy blade and dudgeon gouts of blood,

Which was not so before. There's no such thing.
It is the bloody business which informs

Thus to mine eyes. — Now o'er the one half world
Nature seems dead, and wicked dreams abuse

40

50

The curtain'd sleep: witchcraft celebrates

Pale Hecate's offerings; and wither'd murder,
Alarum'd by his sentinel, the wolf,

Whose howl's his watch, thus with his stealthy pace,
With Tarquin's ravishing strides, towards his design
Moves like a ghost. -Thou sure and firm-set earth,
Hear not my steps, which way they walk, for fear
Thy very stones prate of my whereabout,

And take the present horror from the time,

60 Which now suits with it. Whiles I threat he lives:

Words to the heat of deeds too cold breath gives.

I

go, and it is done; the bell invites me. Hear it not, Duncan; for it is a knell

[A bell rings.

What hath quench'd them hath given me fire. — Hark! Peace!