Macbeth

I come , Graymalkin .

Paddock calls .

Anon .

Show me , show me .

Hail !

Hail !

Hail !

They met me in the day of success , and I have learned by the perfect’st report they have more in them than mortal knowledge . When I burned in desire to question them further , they made themselves air , into which they vanished . Whiles I stood rapt in the wonder of it came missives from the King , who all-hailed me “ Thane of Cawdor , ” by which title , before , these Weïrd Sisters saluted me and referred me to the coming on of time with “ Hail , king that shalt be . ” This have I thought good to deliver thee , my dearest partner of greatness , that thou might’st not lose the dues of rejoicing by being ignorant of what greatness is promised thee . Lay it to thy heart , and farewell .

How goes the night , boy ?

And she goes down at twelve .

I take ’t ’tis later , sir .

Here’s a knocking indeed ! If a man were porter of hell gate , he should have old turning the key . Knock , knock , knock ! Who’s there , i’ th’ name of Beelzebub ? Here’s a farmer that hanged himself on th’ expectation of plenty . Come in time ! Have napkins enough about you ; here you’ll sweat for ’t . Knock , knock ! Who’s there , in th’ other devil’s name ? Faith , here’s an equivocator that could swear in both the scales against either scale , who committed treason enough for God’s sake yet could not equivocate to heaven . O , come in , equivocator . Knock , knock , knock ! Who’s there ? Faith , here’s an English tailor come hither for stealing out of a French hose . Come in , tailor . Here you may roast your goose . Knock , knock ! Never at quiet . — What are you ? — But this place is too cold for hell . I’ll devil-porter it no further . I had thought to have let in some of all professions that go the primrose way to th’ everlasting bonfire .

Anon , anon !

I pray you , remember the porter .

Faith , sir , we were carousing till the second cock , and drink , sir , is a great provoker of three things .

What three things does drink especially provoke ?

Marry , sir , nose-painting , sleep , and urine . Lechery , sir , it provokes and unprovokes . It provokes the desire , but it takes away the performance . Therefore much drink may be said to be an equivocator with lechery . It makes him , and it mars him ; it sets him on , and it takes him off ; it persuades him and disheartens him ; makes him stand to and not stand to ; in conclusion , equivocates him in a sleep and , giving him the lie , leaves him .

I believe drink gave thee the lie last night .

That it did , sir , i’ th’ very throat on me ; but I requited him for his lie , and , I think , being too strong for him , though he took up my legs sometime , yet I made a shift to cast him .

There’s but one down . The son is fled .

We have lost best half of our affair .

Was my father a traitor , mother ?

Ay , that he was .

What is a traitor ?

Why , one that swears and lies .

And be all traitors that do so ?

Every one that does so is a traitor and must be hanged .

And must they all be hanged that swear and lie ?

Every one .

Who must hang them ?

Why , the honest men .

Then the liars and swearers are fools , for there are liars and swearers enough to beat the honest men and hang up them .

Now God help thee , poor monkey ! But how wilt thou do for a father ?

If he were dead , you’d weep for him . If you would not , it were a good sign that I should quickly have a new father .

Poor prattler , how thou talk’st !

I have two nights watched with you but can perceive no truth in your report . When was it she last walked ?

Since his Majesty went into the field , I have seen her rise from her bed , throw her nightgown upon her , unlock her closet , take forth paper , fold it , write upon ’t , read it , afterwards seal it , and again return to bed ; yet all this while in a most fast sleep .

A great perturbation in nature , to receive at once the benefit of sleep and do the effects of watching . In this slumb’ry agitation , besides her walking and other actual performances , what at any time have you heard her say ?

That , sir , which I will not report after her .

You may to me , and ’tis most meet you should .

Neither to you nor anyone , having no witness to confirm my speech .

Lo you , here she comes . This is her very guise and , upon my life , fast asleep . Observe her ; stand close .

How came she by that light ?

Why , it stood by her . She has light by her continually . ’Tis her command .

You see her eyes are open .

Ay , but their sense are shut .

What is it she does now ? Look how she rubs her hands .

It is an accustomed action with her to seem thus washing her hands . I have known her continue in this a quarter of an hour .

Yet here’s a spot .

Hark , she speaks . I will set down what comes from her , to satisfy my remembrance the more strongly .

Out , damned spot , out , I say ! One . Two . Why then , ’tis time to do ’t . Hell is murky . Fie , my lord , fie , a soldier and afeard ? What need we fear who knows it , when none can call our power to account ? Yet who would have thought the old man to have had so much blood in him ?

Do you mark that ?

The Thane of Fife had a wife . Where is she now ? What , will these hands ne’er be clean ? No more o’ that , my lord , no more o’ that . You mar all with this starting .

Go to , go to . You have known what you should not .

She has spoke what she should not , I am sure of that . Heaven knows what she has known .

Here’s the smell of the blood still . All the perfumes of Arabia will not sweeten this little hand . O , O , O !

What a sigh is there ! The heart is sorely charged .

I would not have such a heart in my bosom for the dignity of the whole body .

Well , well , well .

Pray God it be , sir .

This disease is beyond my practice . Yet I have known those which have walked in their sleep , who have died holily in their beds .

Wash your hands . Put on your nightgown . Look not so pale . I tell you yet again , Banquo’s buried ; he cannot come out on ’s grave .

Even so ?

To bed , to bed . There’s knocking at the gate . Come , come , come , come . Give me your hand . What’s done cannot be undone . To bed , to bed , to bed .

Will she go now to bed ?

Directly .