Enter LADY [MACBETH].
LADY MACBETH
1 That which hath made them drunk hath made me bold;
2 What hath quench'd them hath given me fire. Hark! Peace!
3 It was the owl that shriek'd, the fatal bellman,
4 Which gives the stern'st good-night. He is about it:
5 The doors are open; and the surfeited grooms
6 Do mock their charge with snores. I have drugg'd their possets,
7 That death and nature do contend about them,
8 Whether they live or die. MACBETH [Within.]
Who's there? what, ho!
LADY MACBETH
9 Alack, I am afraid they have awaked,
10 And 'tis not done. The attempt and not the deed
11 Confounds us. Hark! I laid their daggers ready;
12 He could not miss 'em. Had he not resembled
13 My father as he slept, I had done't.
Enter MACBETH.
My husband!
MACBETH
14 I have done the deed. Didst thou not hear a noise?
LADY MACBETH
15 I heard the owl scream and the crickets cry.
16 Did not you speak?
MACBETH
When?
LADY MACBETH
Now.
MACBETH
As I descended?
LADY MACBETH
17 Ay.
MACBETH
Hark! Who lies i' the second chamber?
LADY MACBETH
18 Donalbain.
MACBETH
This is a sorry sight.
[Looking on his hands.]
LADY MACBETH
19 A foolish thought, to say a sorry sight.
MACBETH
20 There's one did laugh in's sleep, and one cried "Murder!"
21 That they did wake each other: I stood and heard them:
22 But they did say their prayers, and address'd them
23 Again to sleep.
LADY MACBETH
There are two lodged together.
MACBETH
24 One cried "God bless us!" and "Amen" the other;
25 As they had seen me with these hangman's hands.
26 List'ning their fear, I could not say "Amen,"
27 When they did say "God bless us!"
LADY MACBETH
Consider it not so deeply.
MACBETH
28 But wherefore could not I pronounce "Amen"?
29 I had most need of blessing, and "Amen"
30 Stuck in my throat.
LADY MACBETH
These deeds must not be thought
31 After these ways; so, it will make us mad.
MACBETH
32 Methought I heard a voice cry "Sleep no more!
33 Macbeth does murder sleep," the innocent sleep,
34 Sleep that knits up the ravell'd sleave of care,
35 The death of each day's life, sore labour's bath,
36 Balm of hurt minds, great nature's second course,
37 Chief nourisher in life's feast—
LADY MACBETH
What do you mean?
MACBETH
38 Still it cried "Sleep no more!" to all the house:
39 "Glamis hath murder'd sleep, and therefore Cawdor
40 Shall sleep no more; Macbeth shall sleep no more."
LADY MACBETH
41 Who was it that thus cried? Why, worthy thane,
42 You do unbend your noble strength, to think
43 So brainsickly of things. Go get some water,
44 And wash this filthy witness from your hand.
45 Why did you bring these daggers from the place?
46 They must lie there: go carry them; and smear
47 The sleepy grooms with blood.
MACBETH
I'll go no more:
48 I am afraid to think what I have done;
49 Look on't again I dare not.
LADY MACBETH
Infirm of purpose!
50 Give me the daggers: the sleeping and the dead
51 Are but as pictures: 'tis the eye of childhood
52 That fears a painted devil. If he do bleed,
53 I'll gild the faces of the grooms withal;
54 For it must seem their guilt.
Exit. Knock within.
MACBETH
Whence is that knocking?
55 How is't with me, when every noise appalls me?
56 What hands are here? ha! they pluck out mine eyes.
57 Will all great Neptune's ocean wash this blood
58 Clean from my hand? No, this my hand will rather
59 The multitudinous seas incarnadine,
60 Making the green one red.
Enter LADY [MACBETH].
LADY MACBETH
61 My hands are of your colour; but I shame
62 To wear a heart so white. (Knock.) I hear a knocking
63 At the south entry: retire we to our chamber;
64 A little water clears us of this deed:
65 How easy is it, then! Your constancy
66 Hath left you unattended. (Knock.) Hark! more knocking.
67 Get on your nightgown, lest occasion call us,
68 And show us to be watchers. Be not lost
69 So poorly in your thoughts.
MACBETH
70 To know my deed, 'twere best not know myself.
Knock.
71 Wake Duncan with thy knocking! I would thou couldst!
Exeunt.
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