Macbeth | Act 1.7

Macbeth’s castle

[Hautboys and torches. Enter a Sewer,
and divers Servants with dishes and
service, and pass over the stage.
Then enter MACBETH]

MACBETH     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?

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 valour
   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    Prithee, 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 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 received,
   When we have mark’d with blood those sleepy two
   Of his own chamber and used their very daggers,
   That they have done’t?

LADY MACBETH    Who dares receive it other,
   As we shall make our griefs and clamour 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 1.6 | Act 2.1


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Updated: April 26, 2021 — 8:17 am