Enter Lady ⌜Macbeth.⌝LADY MACBETH That which hath made them drunk hath made me bold. What hath quenched them hath given me fire. Hark!—Peace.5 It was the owl that shrieked, the fatal bellman, Which gives the stern’st good-night. He is about it. The doors are open, and the surfeited grooms Do mock their charge with snores. I have drugged their possets,10 That death and nature do contend about them Whether they live or die.MACBETH, ⌜within⌝ Who’s there? what, ho!LADY MACBETH Alack, I am afraid they have awaked, And ’tis not done. Th’ attempt and not the deed15 Confounds us. Hark!—I laid their daggers ready; He could not miss ’em. Had he not resembled My father as he slept, I had done ’t.Enter Macbeth ⌜with bloody daggers.⌝ My husband?MACBETH I have done the deed. Didst thou not hear a noise?LADY MACBETH 20 I heard the owl scream and the crickets cry. Did not you speak?MACBETH When?LADY MACBETH Now.MACBETH As I descended?LADY MACBETH 25Ay.MACBETH Hark!—Who lies i’ th’ second chamber?LADY MACBETH Donalbain.
MACBETH This is a sorry sight.LADY MACBETH A foolish thought, to say a sorry sight.MACBETH 30 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 addressed them35 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, List’ning their fear. I could not say “Amen”40 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 45 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 raveled sleave of care,50 The death of each day’s life, sore labor’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.55 “Glamis hath murdered sleep, and therefore Cawdor Shall sleep no more. Macbeth shall sleep no more.”
LADY MACBETH Who was it that thus cried? Why, worthy thane, You do unbend your noble strength to think60 So brainsickly of things. Go get some water And wash this filthy witness from your hand.— Why did you bring these daggers from the place? They must lie there. Go, carry them and smear The sleepy grooms with blood.MACBETH 65 I’ll go no more. I am afraid to think what I have done. Look on ’t again I dare not.LADY MACBETH Infirm of purpose! Give me the daggers. The sleeping and the dead70 Are but as pictures. ’Tis the eye of childhood That fears a painted devil. If he do bleed, I’ll gild the faces of the grooms withal, For it must seem their guilt.She exits ⌜with the daggers.⌝ Knock within.MACBETH Whence is that75 knocking? How is ’t with me when every noise appalls me? What hands are here! Ha, they pluck out mine eyes. Will all great Neptune’s ocean wash this blood Clean from my hand? No, this my hand will rather80 The multitudinous seas incarnadine, Making the green one red.Enter Lady ⌜Macbeth.⌝LADY MACBETH My hands are of your color, but I shame To wear a heart so white.Knock. I hear a knocking85 At the south entry. Retire we to our chamber. A little water clears us of this deed. How easy is it, then! Your constancy Hath left you unattended.Knock.
Hark, more knocking.90 Get on your nightgown, lest occasion call us And show us to be watchers. Be not lost So poorly in your thoughts.MACBETH To know my deed ’twere best not know myself.Knock. Wake Duncan with thy knocking. I would thou95 couldst.They exit.
