Macb. Come what come may, Time and the hour run through the roughest day. Let us tow'rd the king. ACT I. SC. 5. [Aside. LADY MACBETH AFTER READING HER HUSBAND'S LETTER. Glamis thou art, and Cawdor-and shalt be What thou art promis'd. Yet do I fear thy nature; It is too full o' th' milk of human kindness, Thou would'st be great, What thou wouldst highly, That wouldst thou holily: wouldst not play false, And yet would'st wrongly win; thou'dst have, great Glamis, That which cries, Thus thou must do, if thou have it; And that which rather thou dost fear to do, Than wishest should be undone. Hie thee hither, That I may pour my spirits in thine ear, And chastise, with the valour of my tongue, Enter Macbeth. Great Glamis! worthy Cawdor! Greater than both, by the all-hail hereafter ! [Embracing him. Your face, my Thane, is as a book, where men Your hand, your tongue; look like the innocent flower, 1 Supernatural. 2 Johnson would read seek. Another instance of the feature alluded to in note 5, p. 93. Hautboys and torches. ACT I. sc. 6. MACBETH'S CASTLE. Enter King Malcolm, Donalbain, Banquo, Lenox, Macduff, Rosse, Angus, and Attendants. King. This castle hath a pleasant seat; the air Ban. This guest of summer, The temple-haunting martlet, does approve, ACT I. sc. 7. MACBETH'S MENTAL STRuggle. Macb. If it were done when 'tis done, then 'twere well Could trammel up the consequence, and catch Shall blow the horrid deed in ev'ry eye, That tears shall drown the wind.-I have no spur 1 Johnson would read "with its success, surcease." How now? what news? Lady. He's almost supp'd; why have you left the chamber? Lady. Know you not he has? Macb. We will proceed no further in this business. He hath honoured me of late; and I have bought Golden opinions from all sort of people, Which would be worn now in their newest gloss, Lady. Was the hope drunk Wherein you dressed yourself? hath it slept since? I dare do all that may become a man ; Lady. What beast was't then That made you break this enterprize to me? * Macb. If we should fail- But screw your courage to the sticking-place, 1 "Or."-Johnson. "The cat loves fish, but does not wet her foot." An alembic to emit fumes and vapours only. 4 Bibulous, like a sponge. Murder, manquellers, in old language, murderers; same with kill. Macb. 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. ACT II. SC. 2. THE MURDER. Enter Lady Macbeth. Lady. That which hath made them drunk, hath made me bold; What hath quench'd them, hath giv'n me fire. Hark! peace! It was the owl that shrieked, the fatal bell-man, Which gives the stern'st good night- -he is about it The doors are open; and the surfeited grooms 1 Do mock their charge with snores. I've drugged their possets, That death and nature do contend about them, Whether they live or die. Enter Macbeth. Macb. Who's there?--what, ho! Lady. Alack! I am afraid they have awak'd, Macb. I've done the deed-didst thou not hear a noise? Macb. When? Lady. Now. Macb. As I descended? Lady. Ay. Macb. Hark-who lies i' th' second chamber? [Looks on his hands. Lady. A foolish thought, to say a sorry sight. Macb. There's one did laugh in's sleep, and one cry'd murder! They waked each other; and I stood and heard them; But they did say their prayers, and address them Again to sleep. Lady. There are two lodged together. Macb. One cry'd 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. 1 Macbeth is employed in the deed. ? The king. 3 See note 7, p. 9. 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! Lady. What do you mean? Macb. Still it cry'd sleep no more, to all the house; Lady. Who was it that thus cry'd? Why, worthy Thane, 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 Are but as pictures; 'tis the eye of childhood I'll gild the faces of the grooms withal, For it must seem their guilt.2 Knocks within. Macb. Whence is that knocking! How is it with me, when every noise appals me? [Exit. [Starting. What hands are here? hah! they pluck out mine eyes. Will all great Neptune's ocean wash this blood Clean from my hand? No; this my hand will rather Making the green one red ACT III. Sc. 4. THE BANQUET. Enter Macbeth as King, Lady M. Rosse, Lenox, Lords, and Mach. You know your own degrees; sit down: At first and last, the hearty welcome. "A skein of silk is called a sleeve of silk."-Johnson. A pun often jars on the ear in Shakespeare's noblest passages:-"Now is it Rome indeed, and room enough," &c.-Jul. Cæs. Act I. Sc. 2. Punning was one of the literary vices of his age. |