Macbeth | Page 8

on the
other.
[Enter Lady Macbeth.]
How now! what news?
LADY MACBETH. He has almost supp'd: why have you left the
chamber?

MACBETH. Hath he ask'd for me?
LADY MACBETH. Know you not he has?
MACBETH. We will proceed no further in this business: He hath
honour'd me of late; and I have bought Golden opinions from all sorts
of people, Which would be worn now in their newest gloss, Not cast
aside so soon.
LADY MACBETH. Was the hope drunk Wherein you dress'd yourself?
hath it slept since? And wakes it now, to look so green and pale At
what it did so freely? From this time Such I account thy love. Art thou
afeard To be the same in thine own act and valor As thou art in desire?
Wouldst thou have that Which thou esteem'st the ornament of life, And
live a coward in thine own esteem; Letting "I dare not" wait upon "I
would," Like the poor cat i' the adage?
MACBETH. Pr'ythee, peace! I dare do all that may become a man;
Who dares do more is none.
LADY MACBETH. What beast was't, then, That made you break this
enterprise to me? When you durst do it, then you were a man; And, to
be more than what you were, you would Be so much more the man.
Nor time nor place Did then adhere, and yet you would make both:
They have made themselves, and that their fitness now Does unmake
you. I have given suck, and know How tender 'tis to love the babe that
milks me: I would, while it was smiling in my face, Have pluck'd my
nipple from his boneless gums And dash'd the brains out, had I so
sworn as you Have done to this.
MACBETH. If we should fail?
LADY MACBETH. We fail! But screw your courage to the
sticking-place, And we'll not fail. When Duncan is asleep,-- Whereto
the rather shall his day's hard journey Soundly invite him, his two
chamberlains Will I with wine and wassail so convince That memory,
the warder of the brain, Shall be a fume, and the receipt of reason A
limbec only: when in swinish sleep Their drenched natures lie as in a

death, What cannot you and I perform upon The unguarded Duncan?
what not put upon His spongy officers; who shall bear the guilt Of our
great quell?
MACBETH. Bring forth men-children only; For thy undaunted mettle
should compose Nothing but males. Will it not be receiv'd, When we
have mark'd with blood those sleepy two Of his own chamber, and us'd
their very daggers, That they have don't?
LADY MACBETH. Who dares receive it other, As we shall make our
griefs and clamor roar Upon his death?
MACBETH. 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.
[Exeunt.]

ACT II.
SCENE I. Inverness. Court within the Castle.
[Enter Banquo, preceeded by Fleance with a torch.]
BANQUO. How goes the night, boy?
FLEANCE. The moon is down; I have not heard the clock.
BANQUO. And she goes down at twelve.
FLEANCE. I take't, 'tis later, sir.
BANQUO. Hold, take my sword.--There's husbandry in heaven; Their
candles are all out:--take thee that too.-- 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. Who's there?

[Enter Macbeth, and a Servant with a torch.]
MACBETH. A friend.
BANQUO. 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.
MACBETH. Being unprepar'd, Our will became the servant to defect;
Which else should free have wrought.
BANQUO. All's well. I dreamt last night of the three weird sisters: To
you they have show'd some truth.
MACBETH. 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.
BANQUO. At your kind'st leisure.
MACBETH. If you shall cleave to my consent,--when 'tis, It shall make
honor for you.
BANQUO. So I lose none In seeking to augment it, but still keep My
bosom franchis'd, and allegiance clear, I shall be counsell'd.
MACBETH. Good repose the while!
BANQUO. Thanks, sir: the like to you!
[Exeunt Banquo and Fleance.]
MACBETH. 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