Macbeth Read online

  82 To make me hunger more, that I should forge Quarrels unjust against the good and loyal,

  Destroying them for wealth.

  MACDUFF This avarice

  Sticks deeper, grows with more pernicious root

  86 Than summer-seeming lust, and it hath been 87 The sword of our slain kings. Yet do not fear.

  88 Scotland hath foisons to fill up your will 89 Of your mere own. All these are portable, 90 With other graces weighed.

  MALCOLM

  But I have none. The king-becoming graces,

  As justice, verity, temp'rance, stableness,

  93 Bounty, perseverance, mercy, lowliness, Devotion, patience, courage, fortitude,

  95 I have no relish of them, but abound 96 In the division of each several crime, Acting in many ways. Nay, had I pow'r, I should

  Pour the sweet milk of concord into hell,

  99 Uproar the universal peace, confound 100 All unity on earth.

  MACDUFF O Scotland, Scotland!

  MALCOLM

  If such a one be fit to govern, speak.

  I am as I have spoken.

  MACDUFF Fit to govern?

  No, not to live! O nation miserable,

  With an untitled tyrant bloody-sceptered,104

  When shalt thou see thy wholesome days again,

  Since that the truest issue of thy throne

  By his own interdiction stands accursed107

  And does blaspheme his breed? Thy royal father108

  Was a most sainted king; the queen that bore thee,

  Oft'ner upon her knees than on her feet,110

  Died every day she lived. Fare thee well.111

  These evils thou repeat'st upon thyself

  Hath banished me from Scotland. O my breast,

  Thy hope ends here.

  MALCOLM Macduff, this noble passion,

  Child of integrity, hath from my soul

  Wiped the black scruples, reconciled my thoughts116

  To thy good truth and honor. Devilish Macbeth

  By many of these trains hath sought to win me118

  Into his power; and modest wisdom plucks me119

  From overcredulous haste; but God above120

  Deal between thee and me, for even now

  I put myself to thy direction and

  Unspeak mine own detraction, here abjure

  The taints and blames I laid upon myself

  For strangers to my nature. I am yet125

  Unknown to woman, never was forsworn,

  Scarcely have coveted what was mine own,

  At no time broke my faith, would not betray

  The devil to his fellow, and delight

  No less in truth than life. My first false speaking130

  Was this upon myself. What I am truly

  Is thine and my poor country's to command;

  Whither indeed, before thy here-approach,

  Old Siward with ten thousand warlike men

  135 Already at a point was setting forth.

  136 Now we'll together; and the chance of goodness Be like our warranted quarrel. Why are you silent?

  MACDUFF

  Such welcome and unwelcome things at once

  'Tis hard to reconcile.

  Enter a Doctor.

  MALCOLM

  136 Well, more anon.-Comes the king forth, I pray you?

  DOCTOR

  Ay, sir. There are a crew of wretched souls

  140 That stay his cure. Their malady convinces 142 The great assay of art; but at his touch, Such sanctity hath heaven given his hand,

  They presently amend.

  MALCOLM I thank you, doctor.

  Exit [Doctor].

  MACDUFF

  143 What's the disease he means?

  MALCOLM 'Tis called the evil.

  A most miraculous work in this good king,

  Which often since my here-remain in England

  I have seen him do: how he solicits heaven

  146 Himself best knows, but strangely visited people, All swoll'n and ulcerous, pitiful to the eye,

  150 The mere despair of surgery, he cures, 152 Hanging a golden stamp about their necks, 153 Put on with holy prayers, and 'tis spoken To the succeeding royalty he leaves

  The healing benediction. With this strange virtue,154

  He hath a heavenly gift of prophecy,

  And sundry blessings hang about his throne

  That speak him full of grace.156

  Enter Ross.159

  MACDUFF See who comes here.

  MALCOLM

  My countryman; but yet I know him not.160

  MACDUFF

  My ever gentle cousin, welcome hither.

  MALCOLM

  I know him now. Good God betimes remove162

  The means that makes us strangers.

  ROSS Sir, amen.

  MACDUFF

  Stands Scotland where it did?

  ROSS Alas, poor country,

  Almost afraid to know itself. It cannot

  Be called our mother but our grave, where nothing166

  But who knows nothing is once seen to smile;

  Where sighs and groans, and shrieks that rend the air, Are made, not marked; where violent sorrow seems169

  A modern ecstasy. The dead man's knell170

  Is there scarce asked for who, and good men's lives171

  Expire before the flowers in their caps,

  Dying or ere they sicken.173

  MACDUFF O, relation

  Too nice, and yet too true!174

  MALCOLM What's the newest grief?

  ROSS

  That of an hour's age doth hiss the speaker;175

  176 Each minute teems a new one.

  MACDUFF How does my wife?

  ROSS

  Why, well.

  MACDUFF And all my children?

  ROSS Well too.

  MACDUFF

  The tyrant has not battered at their peace?

  ROSS

  No, they were well at peace when I did leave 'em.

  MACDUFF

  180 Be not a niggard of your speech. How goes't?

  ROSS

  When I came hither to transport the tidings

  182 Which I have heavily borne, there ran a rumor 183 Of many worthy fellows that were out, 184 Which was to my belief witnessed the rather For that I saw the tyrant's power afoot.

  Now is the time of help. Your eye in Scotland

  Would create soldiers, make our women fight

  To doff their dire distresses.

  MALCOLM Be't their comfort

  We are coming thither. Gracious England hath

  190 Lent us good Siward and ten thousand men, An older and a better soldier none

  That Christendom gives out.

  ROSS Would I could answer

  This comfort with the like. But I have words

  That would be howled out in the desert air,

  195 Where hearing should not latch them.

  MACDUFF What concern they,

  The general cause or is it a fee-grief196

  Due to some single breast?

  ROSS No mind that's honest

  But in it shares some woe, though the main part

  Pertains to you alone.

  MACDUFF If it be mine,

  Keep it not from me; quickly let me have it.200

  ROSS

  Let not your ears despise my tongue forever,

  Which shall possess them with the heaviest sound

  That ever yet they heard.

  MACDUFF Hmm-I guess at it.

  ROSS

  Your castle is surprised, your wife and babes

  Savagely slaughtered. To relate the manner

  Were, on the quarry of these murdered deer,206

  To add the death of you.

  MALCOLM Merciful heaven-

  [To Macduff ]

  What, man, ne'er pull your hat upon your brows.208

  Give sorrow words. The grief that does not speak209

  Whispers the o'erfraught heart and bids
it break.210

  MACDUFF

  My children too?

  ROSS Wife, children, servants, all

  That could be found.212

  MACDUFF And I must be from thence?

  My wife killed too?

  ROSS I have said.

  MALCOLM Be comforted.

  Let's make us med'cines of our great revenge

  To cure this deadly grief.

  MACDUFF

  He has no children. All my pretty ones?

  Did you say all? O hellkite! All?

  What, all my pretty chickens and their dam

  219 At one fell swoop?

  MALCOLM

  220 Dispute it like a man.

  MACDUFF I shall do so;

  But I must also feel it as a man.

  I cannot but remember such things were

  That were most precious to me. Did heaven look on

  And would not take their part? Sinful Macduff,

  225 They were all struck for thee. Naught that I am, Not for their own demerits but for mine

  Fell slaughter on their souls. Heaven rest them now.

  MALCOLM

  Be this the whetstone of your sword. Let grief

  Convert to anger; blunt not the heart, enrage it.

  MACDUFF

  230 O, I could play the woman with mine eyes And braggart with my tongue. But, gentle heavens,

  232 Cut short all intermission. Front to front Bring thou this fiend of Scotland and myself.

  Within my sword's length set him. If he scape,

  Heaven forgive him too.

  MALCOLM This tune goes manly.

  236 Come, go we to the king. Our power is ready; 237 Our lack is nothing but our leave. Macbeth Is ripe for shaking, and the pow'rs above

  239 Put on their instruments. Receive what cheer you may.

  240 The night is long that never finds the day.

  Exeunt.

  V.1Enter a Doctor of Physic and a Waiting Gentlewoman.

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

  GENTLEWOMAN Since his majesty went into the field I have seen her rise from her bed, throw her nightgown5 upon her, unlock her closet, take forth paper, fold it,6 write upon't, read it, afterwards seal it, and again return to bed; yet all this while in a most fast sleep.

  DOCTOR A great perturbation in nature, to receive at once the benefit of sleep and do the effects of watching.10 In this slumb'ry agitation, besides her walking and other actual performances, what at any time have you heard her say?

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

  DOCTOR You may to me, and 'tis most meet you should.16

  GENTLEWOMAN Neither to you nor anyone, having no17 witness to confirm my speech.

  Enter Lady [Macbeth], with a taper.

  Lo you, here she comes. This is her very guise, and,19 upon my life, fast asleep. Observe her; stand close.20

  DOCTOR How came she by that light?

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

  DOCTOR You see her eyes are open.

  GENTLEWOMAN Ay, but their sense are shut.

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

  GENTLEWOMAN It is an accustomed action with her, to seem thus washing her hands. I have known her continue 30in this a quarter of an hour.

  LADY MACBETH Yet here's a spot.

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

  LADY MACBETH 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 40 much blood in him?

  DOCTOR Do you mark that?

  42LADY MACBETH 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.45

  46DOCTOR Go to, go to! You have known what you should not.

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

  50 LADY MACBETH Here's the smell of the blood still. All the perfumes of Arabia will not sweeten this little hand.

  Oh, oh, oh!

  53 DOCTOR What a sigh is there. The heart is sorely charged.

  GENTLEWOMAN I would not have such a heart in my bosom for the dignity of the whole body.55

  DOCTOR Well, well, well.

  GENTLEWOMAN Pray God it be, sir.

  DOCTOR This disease is beyond my practice. Yet I have58 known those which have walked in their sleep who have died holily in their beds.60

  LADY MACBETH 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.

  DOCTOR Even so?

  LADY MACBETH 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.

  Exit.

  DOCTOR Will she go now to bed?

  GENTLEWOMAN Directly.

  DOCTOR

  Foul whisp'rings are abroad. Unnatural deeds70

  Do breed unnatural troubles. Infected minds

  To their deaf pillows will discharge their secrets.

  More needs she the divine than the physician.

  God, God forgive us all. Look after her;

  Remove from her the means of all annoyance,75

  And still keep eyes upon her. So good night.

  My mind she has mated, and amazed my sight.77

  I think, but dare not speak.

  GENTLEWOMAN Good night, good doctor.

  Exeunt.

  V.2Drum and Colors. Enter Menteith, Caithness,

  Angus, Lennox, Soldiers.

  MENTEITH

  The English pow'r is near, led on by Malcolm,

  His uncle Siward, and the good Macduff.

  3 Revenges burn in them; for their dear causes 4 Would to the bleeding and the grim alarm 5 Excite the mortified man.

  ANGUS Near Birnam Wood

  Shall we well meet them; that way are they coming.

  CAITHNESS

  Who knows if Donalbain be with his brother?

  LENNOX

  8 For certain, sir, he is not. I have a file Of all the gentry. There is Siward's son

  10 And many unrough youths that even now 11 Protest their first of manhood.

  MENTEITH What does the tyrant?

  CAITHNESS

  Great Dunsinane he strongly fortifies.

  Some say he's mad; others that lesser hate him

  Do call it valiant fury; but for certain

  15 He cannot buckle his distempered cause 16 Within the belt of rule.

  ANGUS Now does he feel

  His secret murders sticking on his hands.

  18 Now minutely revolts upbraid his faith breach.

  19 Those he commands move only in command, 20 Nothing in love. Now does he feel his title Hang loose about him, like a giant's robe

  Upon a dwarfish thief.

  MENTEITH Who then shall blame

  23 His pestered senses to recoil and start, When all that is within him does condemn

  Itself for being there?

  CAITHNESS Well, march we on

  To give obedience where 'tis truly owed.

  Meet we the med'cine of the sickly weal;27

  And with him pour we in our country's purge

  Each drop of us.

  LENNOX Or so much as it needs

  To dew the sovereign flower and drown the weeds.30

  Make we our march towards Birnam.

  Exeunt, marching.

  V.3Enter Macbeth, Doctor, and Attendants.

  MACBETH

  Bring me no more reports. Let them fly all.

  Till Birnam Wood remove to Dunsinane,

  I cann
ot taint with fear. What's the boy Malcolm?3

  Was he not born of woman? The spirits that know

  All mortal consequences have pronounced me thus:5

  "Fear not, Macbeth. No man that's born of woman

  Shall e'er have power upon thee." Then fly, false thanes, And mingle with the English epicures.8

  The mind I sway by and the heart I bear9

  Shall never sag with doubt nor shake with fear.10

  Enter Servant.

  The devil damn thee black, thou cream-faced loon!11

  Where got'st thou that goose look?12

  SERVANT

  There is ten thousand-

  MACBETH Geese, villain?

  SERVANT Soldiers, sir.

  MACBETH

  16 Go prick thy face and over-red thy fear, 17 Thou lily-livered boy. What soldiers, patch?

  Death of thy soul! those linen cheeks of thine

  Are counselors to fear. What soldiers, whey-face?

  SERVANT

  20 The English force, so please you.

  MACBETH

  Take thy face hence. [Exit Servant.]

  Seyton!-I am sick at heart,

  22 When I behold-Seyton, I say!-This push 23 Will cheer me ever, or disseat me now.

  I have lived long enough. My way of life

  25 Is fall'n into the sere, the yellow leaf, And that which should accompany old age,

  As honor, love, obedience, troops of friends,

  I must not look to have; but, in their stead,

  Curses not loud but deep, mouth-honor, breath,

  30 Which the poor heart would fain deny, and dare not.

  Seyton!

  Enter Seyton.

  SEYTON

  What's your gracious pleasure?

  MACBETH What news more?

  SEYTON

  All is confirmed, my lord, which was reported.

  MACBETH

  I'll fight till from my bones my flesh be hacked.

  Give me my armor.

  SEYTON 'Tis not needed yet.

  MACBETH

  I'll put it on.

  37 Send out more horses, skirr the country round, Hang those that talk of fear. Give me mine armor.

  How does your patient, doctor?

  DOCTOR Not so sick, my lord,

  As she is troubled with thick-coming fancies40

  That keep her from her rest.

  MACBETH Cure her of that.

  Canst thou not minister to a mind diseased,

  Pluck from the memory a rooted sorrow,

  Raze out the written troubles of the brain,44

  And with some sweet oblivious antidote45

  Cleanse the stuffed bosom of that perilous stuff

  Which weighs upon the heart?

  DOCTOR Therein the patient

  Must minister to himself.

  MACBETH

  Throw physic to the dogs, I'll none of it.49

  [To an Attendant]

  Come, put mine armor on. Give me my staff.50

  Seyton, send out.-Doctor, the thanes fly from me.-

  Come, sir, dispatch.-If thou couldst, doctor, cast52

  The water of my land, find her disease,

  And purge it to a sound and pristine health,

  I would applaud thee to the very echo,

  That should applaud again.-Pull't off, I say.-

  What rhubarb, senna, or what purgative drug

  Would scour these English hence? Hear'st thou of them?

  DOCTOR

  Ay, my good lord. Your royal preparation

  Makes us hear something.60