Macbeth Page #2

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know that we will establish our estate

upon our eldest, Malcolm,

whom we name hereafter

the Prince of Cumberland.

(Macbeth) 'The Prince of Cumberland.

'That is a step on which I must fall down,

or else o'erleap,

'for in my way it lies.'

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 end-all here.

But here upon this bank

and shoal of time

we'd jump the life to come.

(Duncan) Does anybody know

what this is?

(Macbeth) But in these cases

we still have judgement here.

That we but teach bloody instructions

which return to plague the inventor.

This even-handed justice commends

the ingredience of our poisoned 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

would plead like angels,

trumpet-tongued against

the deep damnation of his taking-off.

I have no spur

to prick the sides of my intent

but only vaulting ambition

which o'erleaps itself

and falls on the other.

We will proceed no further

in this business.

Was the hope drunk

wherein you dressed 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 valour

as thou art in desire?

Wouldst thou have that

which thou esteem'st the ornament of life

and live a coward in thy own esteem,

letting "I dare not" wait upon "I would"?

Prithee, peace.

I dare do all that may become a man.

Who dares do more is none.

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.

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 plucked my nipple

from his boneless gums

and dashed the brains out

had I so sworn,

as you have done, to this.

If we should fail?

We fail.

But screw your courage

to the sticking place

and we'll not fail.

When Duncan is asleep

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 limbeck 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?

I am settled

and bend up each corporal agent

to this terrible feat.

Take my sword.

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.

Is this a dagger

which I see before me?

The handle toward my hand.

Come,

let me clutch thee.

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-oppressed brain.

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.

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

the curtained sleep.

Witchcraft celebrates

and withered murder

moves like a ghost.

I see thee yet,

in form as palpable

as this which now I draw.

Whiles I threat, he lives.

Words to the heat of deeds

too cold breath gives.

(Whispers in Gaelic)

The spring,

the head,

the fountain of your blood is stopped.

The very source of it is stopped.

Here lies Duncan,

his silver skin laced

with his golden blood.

There the murderers,

steeped in the colours of their trade.

Had I but died

an hour before this chance,

I had lived a blessed time.

But from this instant

there's nothing serious in mortality.

All is but toys.

Renown and grace is dead.

The wine of life is drawn

and the mere lees is left

this vault to brag of.

Live you?

Or are you aught

that man may question?

I have done the deed.

Why did you bring these daggers

from the place?

They must lie there.

What hands are here?

(Laughs)

(Macbeth) 'They pluck out mine eyes.'

Will all great Neptune's ocean

wash this blood clean from my hand?

No,

this my hand will rather

the multitudinous seas incarnadine,

making the green one red.

My hands are of your colour,

but I shame to wear a heart so white.

A little water clears us of this deed.

How easy is it then.

To know my deed

'twere best not know myself.

Good Macduff.

Good morrow, noble sir.

Good morrow, both.

Is the King stirring, worthy Thane?

- The King, is he stirring?

- Not yet.

He did command me

to call timely on him.

I have almost slipped the hour.

I'll bring you to him.

I'll make so bold to call.

- Goes the King hence today?

- He does; he did appoint so.

(Lennox) The night has been unruly.

Where we lay,

our temples were blown down

and, as they say,

lamentings heard in the air,

strange screams of death.

'Twas a rough night.

(Sharp intake of breath)

Confusion now

hath made his masterpiece.

Most sacrilegious murder

hath broke open

the Lord's anointed temple

and stole thence

the life of the building.

The life?

(Lennox) Mean you His Majesty?

(Macduff) Bid me not speak. You see.

Speak yourselves.

Awake!

Awake!

Ring the alarum bells!

Malcolm!

Malcolm!

Banquo!

Ring the alarum bells.

Banquo!

Shake off your downy sleep, man.

Death's counterfeit.

You come and look on death itself.

Huh?

Murder!

Treason!

(Lady Macbeth) What's the business?

Our royal master, he's murdered.

(Lady Macbeth) Murdered?

(Macduff) Murdered!

Those of his chamber,

their hands were all badged with blood.

Wherefore did you so?

Hm?

Who could refrain

that had a heart to love

and in that heart

courage to make love known?

(Bells ring)

How it does grieve Macbeth.

Did he not straight, in pious rage,

the two delinquents tear

that were the slaves of drink?

Was this not nobly done?

Ay.

'Twould have angered any heart alive

to hear the men deny it.

I say he has borne all things well.

Is't known who did

this more than bloody deed?

Those that Macbeth hath slain.

(Ross) Alas, the day.

What good could they pretend?

(Macduff) Malcolm, the King's son,

is stolen away and fled,

which puts upon him

suspicion of the deed.

'Tis most like

the sovereignty will fall upon Macbeth.

He is already named.

(Banquo) 'Thou hast it now.

'King, Cawdor,

'Glamis,

'all as the weird women promised.

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