Macbeth

Enter Macbeth and Banquo.

Macbeth

So foul and fair a day I have not seen.

Banquo

How far is’t call’d to Forres? What are these So wither’d and so wild in their attire, That look not like the inhabitants o’ the earth, And yet are on’t? Live you? or are you aught That man may question? You seem to understand me, By each at once her choppy finger laying Upon her skinny lips: you should be women, And yet your beards forbid me to interpret That you are so.

Macbeth

Speak, if you can: what are you?

First Witch

All hail, Macbeth! hail to thee, thane of Glamis!

Second Witch

All hail, Macbeth, hail to thee, thane of Cawdor!

Third Witch

All hail, Macbeth, thou shalt be king hereafter!

Banquo

Good sir, why do you start; and seem to fear Things that do sound so fair? I’ the name of truth, Are ye fantastical, or that indeed Which outwardly ye show?

Glamis thou art, and Cawdor; and shalt be What thou art promised: yet do I fear thy nature; It is too full o’ the milk of human kindness To catch the nearest way: thou wouldst be great; Art not without ambition, but without The illness should attend it: what thou wouldst highly, That wouldst thou holily; wouldst not play false, And yet wouldst wrongly win: thou’ldst 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 All that impedes thee from the golden round, Which fate and metaphysical aid doth seem To have thee crown’d withal.

Enter a Messenger.

What is your tidings?

Messenger

The king comes here to-night.

Lady Macbeth

Thou’rt mad to say it: Is not thy master with him? who, were’t so, Would have inform’d for preparation.

Messenger

So please you, it is true: our thane is coming: One of my fellows had the speed of him, Who, almost dead for breath, had scarcely more Than would make up his message.

Lady Macbeth

Give him tending; He brings great news. Exit Messenger. The raven himself is hoarse That croaks the fatal entrance of Duncan Under my battlements. Come, you spirits That tend on mortal thoughts, unsex me here, And fill me from the crown to the toe top-full Of direst cruelty! make thick my

If it were done when ’tis done, then ’twere well It were done quickly: if the assassination Could trammel up the consequence, and catch With his surcease success; that but this blow Might be the be-all and the end-all here, But here, upon this bank and shoal of time, We’ld jump the life to come. But in these cases We still have judgment here; that we but teach Bloody instructions, which, being taught, return To plague the inventor: this even-handed justice Commends the ingredients of our poison’d chalice To our own lips. He’s here in double trust; First, as I am his kinsman and his subject, Strong both against the deed; then, as his host, Who should against his murderer shut the door, Not bear the knife myself. Besides, this Duncan Hath borne his faculties so meek, hath been So clear in his great office, that his virtues Will plead like angels, trumpet-tongued, against The deep damnation of his taking-off; And pity, like a naked new-born babe, Striding the blast, or heaven’s cherubim, horsed Upon the sightless couriers of the air, Shall blow the horrid deed in every eye, That tears shall drown the wind. I have no spur To prick the sides of my intent, but only Vaulting ambition, which o’erleaps itself And falls on the other.

Enter Lady Macbeth.

How now! what news?

Enter Macbeth.

My husband!

Macbeth

I have done the deed. Didst thou not hear a noise?

Lady Macbeth

I heard the owl scream and the crickets cry. Did not you speak?

Macbeth

When?

Lady Macbeth

Now.

Macbeth

As I descended?

Lady Macbeth

Ay.

Macbeth

Hark! Who lies i’ the second chamber?

Lady Macbeth

Donalbain.

Macbeth

This is a sorry sight. Looking on his hands.

Lady Macbeth

A foolish thought, to say a sorry sight.

Macbeth

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 Macbeth

There are two lodged together.

Macbeth

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 Macbeth

Consider it not so deeply.

Macbeth

But wherefore could not I pronounce “Amen”? I had most need of blessing, and “Amen” Stuck in my throat.

Lady Macbeth

These deeds must not be thought After these ways; so, it will make us mad.

Macbeth

Methought I heard a voice cry “Sleep no more! Macbeth does murder sleep,” the innocent sleep, Sleep that knits up the ravell’d sleave of care, The death of each day’s life, sore labour’s bath, Balm of hurt minds, great nature’s second course, Chief nourisher in life’s feast⁠—

Lady Macbeth

What do you mean?

Macbeth

Still it cried “Sleep no more!” to all the house: “Glamis hath murder’d sleep, and therefore Cawdor Shall sleep no more; Macbeth shall sleep no more.”