THE SHAKESPEARE PROJECT Macbeth (Abridged) By William Shakespeare
© The Shakespeare Project
Characters (In order of appearance) First Witch Second Witch Third Witch Rosse, Nobleman of Scotland King Duncan, King of Scotland Macbeth, General of the King’s Army Banquo, General of the King’s Army Lady Macbeth A Porter Macduff, Nobleman of Scotland Murderer The Ghost of Banquo Lord Lady Macduff Boy, Son to Macduff Malcolm, the King of Scotland’s Son Setting England at the end of Act 4 Scotland throughout the rest of the play
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Act 1 Scene 1 First Witch
When shall we three meet again? In thunder, lightning, or in rain?
Second Witch
When the hurlyburly’s done, When the battle’s lost and won.
Third Witch
That will be ere the set of sun.
First Witch
Where the place?
Second Witch
Upon the heath.
Third Witch
There to meet with Macbeth.
All Witches
Fair is foul, and foul is fair: Hover through the fog and filthy air. Act 1 Scene 2
Enter King Duncan and Rosse Rosse
God save the King!
King Duncan
Whence cam’st thou, worthy Thane?
Rosse
From Fife, great King, Where the Norweyan banners flout the sky, And fan our people cold. Norway himself, With terrible numbers, Assisted by that most disloyal traitor, The Thane of Cawdor, began a dismal conflict; Till that Bellona’s bridegroom lapp’d in proof, Confronted him with self-comparisons, Point against point, rebellious arm ‘gainst arm, Curbing his lavish spirit: and, to conclude, The victory fell on us.
King Duncan
Great happiness! No more that Thane of Cawdor shall deceive Our bosom interest. Go pronounce his present death, And with his former title greet Macbeth.
Rosse
I’ll see it done.
King Duncan
What he hath lost, noble Macbeth hath won.
Exit King Duncan and Rosse
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Act 1 Scene 3 Third Witch
A drum! A drum! Macbeth doth come.
Enter Macbeth and Banquo Macbeth
So foul and fair a day I have not seen.
All Witches
The Weird Sisters, hand in hand, Posters of the sea and land, Thus do go about, about: Thrice to thine, and thrice to mine, And thrice again, to make up nine.
Macbeth
Speak, if you can: what are you?
First Witch
All hail, Macbeth! Hail to thee, Thane of Glamis!
Second Witch
All hail, Macbeth! Hail to thee, Thane of Cawdor!
Third Witch
All hail, Macbeth! That shalt be King hereafter.
Banquo
Good sir, why do you start, and seem to fear Things that do sound so fair? I’th’name of truth, Are ye fantastical, or that indeed Which outwardly ye show? My noble partner You greet with present grace, and great prediction Of noble having, and of royal hope, That he seems rapt withal: to me you speak not. If you can look into the seeds of time, And say which grain will grow, and which will not, Speak then to me, who neither beg, nor fear, Your favours nor your hate.
First Witch
Hail!
Second Witch
Hail!
Third Witch
Hail!
First Witch
Lesser than Macbeth, and greater.
Second Witch
Not so happy, yet much happier.
Third Witch
Thou shalt get kings, though thou be none: So all hail, Macbeth and Banquo!
Macbeth
Stay, you imperfect speakers, tell me more. By Sinel’s death I know I am Thane of Glamis; But how of Cawdor? The Thane of Cawdor lives, A prosperous gentleman; and to be King Stands not within the prospect of belief, No more than to be Cawdor. Say from whence
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You owe this strange intelligence? Or why Upon this blasted heath you stop our way With such prophetic greeting? Speak, I charge you. Banquo
The earth hath bubbles, as the water has, And these are of them. Whither are they vanish’d?
Macbeth
Your children shall be kings.
Banquo
You shall be king.
Macbeth
And Thane of Cawdor too; went it not so?
Enter Rosse Rosse
We are sent, To give thee from our royal master thanks; Only to herald thee into his sight, Not pay thee. And, for an earnest of a greater honour, He bade me, from him, call thee Thane of Cawdor: In which addition, hail, most worthy Thane, For it is thine.
Macbeth
The Thane of Cawdor lives: why do you dress me In borrow’d robes?
Rosse
Who was the Thane, lives yet; But under heavy judgement bears that life Which he deserves to lose. Whether he was combin’d With those of Norway, or did line the rebel With hidden help and vantage, or that with both He labour’d in his country’s wrack, I know not; But treasons capital, confess’d and prov’d, Have overthrown him.
Macbeth
(Aside) Glamis, and Thane of Cawdor: The greatest is behind. Thanks for your pains. Do you not hope your children shall be kings, When those that gave the Thane of Cawdor to me Promis’d no less to them? (Aside) Two truths are told, As happy prologues to the swelling act Of the imperial theme. I thank you, gentlemen.
Exit Banquo and Rosse Macbeth
This supernatural soliciting Cannot be ill; cannot be good: If ill, why hath it given me earnest of success, Commencing in a truth? I am Thane of Cawdor: If good, why do I yield to that suggestion Whose horrid image doth unfix my hair, And make my seated heart knock at my ribs, Against the use of nature? Present fears
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Are less than horrible imaginings. My thought, whose murther yet is but fantastical, Shakes so my single state of man, That function is smother’d in surmise, And nothing is, but what is not. If Chance will have me King, why, Chance may crown me, Without my stir. Come what come may, Time and the hour runs through the roughest day. Act 1 Scene 4 Enter King Duncan King Duncan
My plenteous joys, Wanton in fullness, seek to hide themselves In drops of sorrow. Sons, kinsmen, Thanes, And you whose places are the nearest, know, We will establish our estate upon Our eldest, Malcolm; whom we name hereafter The Prince of Cumberland: which honour must Not unaccompanied invest him only, But signs of nobleness, like stars, shall shine On all deservers. From hence to Inverness, And bind us further to you.
Macbeth
The rest is labour, which is not us’d for you: I’ll be myself the harbinger, and make joyful The hearing of my wife with your approach; So, humbly take my leave.
King Duncan
My worthy Cawdor!
Exit King Duncan and Macbeth Act 1 Scene 5 Enter Lady Macbeth Lady Macbeth
‘They met me in the day of success; and I have learn’d by the perfect’st report, they have more in them than mortal knowledge. When I burn’d in desire to question them further, they made themselves air, into which they vanish’d. Whiles I stood rapt in the wonder of it, came missives from the King, who all-hail’d me, “Thane of Cawdor”; by which title, before, these Weird Sisters saluted me, and referr’d 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 promis’d thee. Lay it to thy heart, and farewell.’ Glamis thou art, and Cawdor; and shalt be What thou art promis’d. Yet do I fear thy nature:
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It is too full o’th’milk of human kindness, To catch the nearest way. Thou wouldst be great; Art not without ambition, but without The illness should attend it: what thou wouldst highly, That wouldst thou holily; wouldst not play false, And yet wouldst wrongly win; thou’dst have, great Glamis, That which cries, ‘Thus thou must do,’ if thou have it; And that which rather thou dost fear to do, Than wishest should be undone. Hie thee hither, That I may pour my spirits in thine ear, And chastise with the valour of my tongue All that impedes thee from the golden round, Which fate and metaphysical aid doth seem To have thee crown’d withal. The raven himself is hoarse That croaks the fatal entrance of Duncan Under my battlements. Come, you Spirits That tend on mortal thoughts, unsex me here, And fill me, from the crown to the toe, top-full Of direst cruelty! Make thick my blood, Stop up th’access and passage to remorse; That no compunctious visiting’s of Nature Shake my fell purpose, nor keep peace between Th’effect and it! Come to my woman’s breasts, And take my milk for gall, you murth’ring ministers, Wherever in your sightless substances You Wait on Nature’s mischief! Come, thick Night, And pall thee in the dunnest smoke of Hell, That my keen knife see not the wound it makes, Nor Heaven peep through the blanket of the dark, To cry, ‘Hold, hold!’ Enter Macbeth Lady Macbeth
Great Glamis! Worthy Cawdor! Greater than both, by the all-hail hereafter! Thy letters have transported me beyond This ignorant present, and I feel now The future in the instant.
Macbeth
My dearest love, Duncan comes here to-night.
Lady Macbeth
And when goes hence?
Macbeth
To-morrow, as he purposes.
Lady Macbeth
O! Never Shall sun that morrow see! Your face, my Thane, is as a book, where men May read strange matters. To beguile the time, Look like the time; bear welcome in your eye, Your hand, your tongue: look like th’innocent flower, But be the serpent under’t. He that’s coming Must be provided for; and you shall put
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This night’s great business into my dispatch; Which shall to all our days and nights to come Give solely sovereign sway and masterdom. Exit Macbeth and Lady Macbeth Act 1 Scene 6 Enter King Duncan and Banquo King Duncan
This castle hath a pleasant seat; the air Nimbly and sweetly recommends itself Unto our gentle senses.
Banquo
This guest of summer, The temple-haunting martlet, does approve, By his loved mansionry, that the heaven’s breath Smells wooingly here: no jutty, frieze, Buttress, nor coign of vantage, but this bird Hath made his pendent bed, and procreant cradle: Where they most breed and haunt, I have observ’d The air is delicate.
Enter Lady Macbeth Lady Macbeth
At your kind’st leisure.
King Duncan
Where’s the Thane of Cawdor? We cours’d him at the heels, and had a purpose To be his purveyor: but he rides well; And his great love, sharp as his spur, hath holp him To his home before us. Fair and noble hostess, We are your guest to-night.
Exit King Duncan, Banquo and Lady Macbeth Act 1 Scene 7 Enter Macbeth Macbeth
If it were done, when ‘tis done, then ‘twere well It were done quickly: if th’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’d 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 th’inventor: this even-handed Justice Commends th’ingredience of our poison’d chalice To our own lips. He’s here in double trust: First, as I am his kinsman and his subject,
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Strong both against the deed; then, as his host, Who should against his murtherer 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-tongu’d, against The deep damnation of his taking off; And Pity, like a naked new-born babe, Striding the blast, or heaven’s Cherubins, hors’d 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 th’other Enter Lady Macbeth Macbeth
How now! What news?
Lady Macbeth
He has almost supp’d. Why have you left the chamber?
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 esteem, Letting ‘I dare not’ wait upon ‘I would,’ Like the poor cat I’th’adage? 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
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(Whereto the rather shall his day’s hard journey Soundly invite him), 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 Th’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 receiv’d, When we have mark’d with blood those sleepy two Of his own chamber, and us’d their very daggers, That they have done’t?
Lady Macbeth
Who dares receive it other, As we shall make our grief’s 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 false heart doth know.
Exit Lady Macbeth Act 2 Scene 1 Macbeth
Is this a dagger, which I see before me, The handle toward my hand? Come, let me clutch thee: I have thee not, and yet I see thee still. 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? I see thee yet, in form as palpable As this which now I draw. 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’th’other senses, Or else worth all the rest: I see thee still; And on thy blade, and dudgeon, gouts of blood, Which was not so before. 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 curtain’d sleep: Witchcraft celebrates Pale Hecate’s off’rings; and wither’d Murther, Alarum’d by his sentinel, the wolf, Whose howl’s his watch, thus with his stealthy pace,
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With Tarquin’s ravishing strides, towards his design Moves like a ghost. Thou sure and firm-set earth, Hear not my steps, which way they walk, for fear Thy very stones prate of my where-about, And take the present horror from the time, Which now suits with it. Whiles I threat, he lives: Words to the heat of deeds too cold breath gives. I go, and it is done: the bell invites me. Hear it not, Duncan; for it is a knell That summons thee to Heaven, or to Hell. Exit Macbeth Act 2 Scene 2 Enter Lady Macbeth Lady Macbeth
That which hath made them drunk hath made me bold: What hath quench’d them hath given me fire. Hark! Peace! It was the owl that shriek’d, 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 drugg’d their possets, That Death and Nature do contend about them, Whether they live, or die.
Macbeth
Who’s there? What, ho!
Lady Macbeth
Alack! I am afraid they have awak’d, And ‘tis not done: th’attempt and not the deed 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. My husband!
Enter Macbeth Macbeth
I have done the deed. Didst thou not hear a noise?
Lady Macbeth
I heard the owl scream, and the crickets cry. Did not you speak?
Macbeth
Methought, I heard a voice cry, ‘Sleep no more! Macbeth does murther Sleep,’ the innocent Sleep; Sleep, that knits up the ravell’d sleave of care, The death of each day’s life, sore labour’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: ‘Glamis hath murther’d Sleep, and therefore Cawdor Shall sleep no more, Macbeth shall sleep no more!’
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Lady Macbeth
Who was it that thus cried? Why, worthy Thane, You do unbend your noble strength, to think 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
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 dead, Are but as pictures; ‘tis the eye of childhood That fears a painted devil. If he do bleed, I’ll gild the face of the grooms withal, For it must seem their guilt.
Exit Lady Macbeth Macbeth
Whence is that knocking? How is’t with me, when every noise appals 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 rather The multitudinous seas incarnadine, Making the green one red.
Enter Lady Macbeth Lady Macbeth
My hands are of your colour; but I shame To wear a heart so white. I hear a knocking 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. Hark! More knocking. Get on your night-gown, 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. Wake Duncan with thy knocking: I would thou couldst!
Exit Macbeth and Lady Macbeth Act 2 Scene 3 Enter Porter Porter
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 Belzebub? Here’s a farmer, that hang’d himself on th’expectation of plenty: come in, time-
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pleaser; have napkins enow about you; here you’ll sweat for’t. knock, knock. Who’s there, i’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. Exit Porter Enter Macbeth and Macduff Macduff
Is the king stirring, worthy Thane?
Macbeth
Not yet.
Macduff
He did command me to call timely on him: I have almost slipp’d the hour.
Exit Macduff Macbeth
‘Twas a rough night.
Enter Macduff Macduff
O horror! Horror! Horror! Tongue nor heart cannot conceive, nor name thee!
Macbeth
What’s the matter?
Macduff
Confusion now hath made his masterpiece! Most sacrilegious Murther hath broke ope The Lord’s anointed Temple, and stole thence The life o’th’building!
Macbeth
Mean you his Majesty?
Exit Macbeth Enter Lady Macbeth Lady Macbeth
What’s the business, That such a hideous trumpet calls to parley The sleepers of the house? Speak, speak!
Macduff
O gentle lady, ‘Tis not for you to hear what I can speak: The repetition, in a woman’s ear, Would murther as it fell.
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Enter Banquo Macduff
O Banquo! Banquo! Our royal master’s murther’d!
Lady Macbeth
Woe, alas! What! In our house?
Banquo
Too cruel, anywhere. Dear Duff, I pr’ythee, contradict thyself, And say, it is not so.
Exit Banquo Enter Macbeth Macbeth
Had I died an hour before this chance, I had liv’d a blessed time; for, 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.
Macduff
Those of his chamber, as it seem’d, had done’t: Their hands and faces were all badg’d with blood; So were their daggers, which, unwip’d, we found Upon their pillows: they star’d, and were distracted; No man’s life was to be trusted with them.
Macbeth
O! Yet I do repent me of my fury, That I did kill them.
Macduff
Wherefore did you so?
Macbeth
Who can be wise, amaz’d, temperate and furious, Loyal and neutral, in a moment? No man: Th’expedition of my violent love Outrun the pauser, reason. Here lay Duncan, His silver skin lac’d with his golden blood; And his gash’d stabs look’d like a breach in nature For ruin’s wasteful entrance: there, the murtherers, Steep’d in the colours of their trade, their daggers Unmannerly breech’d with gore.
Enter Banquo Macbeth
Who could refrain, That had a heart to love, and in that heart Courage, to make’s love known?
Lady Macbeth
Help me hence, ho!
Banquo
Look to the Lady: And when we have our naked frailties hid,
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That suffer in exposure, let us meet, And question this most bloody piece of work, To know it further. Fears and scruples shake us: In the great hand of God I stand; and thence Against the undivulg’d pretence I fight Of treasonous malice. Macduff
And so do I.
Macbeth
Let’s briefly put on manly readiness, And meet i’th’hall together.
Exit Macbeth, Lady Macbeth and Macduff Act 2 Scene 4 Banquo
Threescore and ten I can remember well; Within the volume of which time I have seen Hours dreadful, and things strange, but this sore night Hath trifled former knowings.
Enter Macduff Banquo
Is’t known, who did this more than bloody deed?
Macduff
Those that Macbeth hath slain.
Banquo
Alas, the day! What good could they pretend?
Macduff
They were surborn’d. Malcolm and Donalbain, the King’s two sons, Are stol’n away and fled; which puts upon them Suspicion of the deed.
Banquo
‘Gainst nature still: Thriftless Ambition, that will ravin up Thine own life’s means! Then ‘tis most like The sovereignty will fall upon Macbeth. Will you to Scone?
Macduff
No cousin; I’ll to Fife.
Exit Macduff Act 3 Scene 1 Banquo
Thou hast it now, King, Cawdor, Glamis, all, As the Weird Women promis’d; and, I fear, Thou play’dst most foully for’t; yet it was said, It should not stand in thy posterity; But that myself should be the root and father Of many kings. If there come truth from them
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(As upon thee, Macbeth, their speeches shine), Why, by the verities on thee made good, May they not be my oracles as well, And set me up in hope? But, hush; no more. Enter Macbeth Macbeth
To-night we hold a solemn supper, Sir, And I’ll request your presence.
Banquo
Let your Highness Command upon me, to the which my duties Are with a most indissoluble tie Forever knit.
Macbeth
Ride you this afternoon?
Banquo
Ay, my good Lord.
Macbeth
Fail not our feast.
Banquo
My Lord, I will not.
Macbeth
We hear, our bloody cousins are bestow’d In England, and in Ireland; not confessing Their cruel patricide, filling their hearers With strange invention. But of that to-morrow, When, therewithal, we shall have cause of State, Craving us jointly. Hie you to horse: adieu, Till you return at night. Goes Fleance with you?
Banquo
Ay, my good Lord: our time does call upon’s.
Exit Banquo Macbeth
To be thus is nothing, but to be safely thus: Our fears in Banquo Stick deep, and in his royalty of nature Reigns that which would be fear’d: ‘tis much he dares; And, to that dauntless temper of his mind, He hath a wisdom that doth guide his valour To act in safety. There is none but he Whose being do I fear: and under him My Genius is rebuk’d; as, it is said, Mark Antony’s was by Caesar. He chid the Sisters, When first they put the name of King upon me, And bade them speak to him; then, prophet-like, They hail’d him father to a line of kings: Upon my head they plac’d a fruitless crown, And put a barren sceptre in my gripe, Thence to be wrench’d with an unlineal hand, No son of mine succeeding. If’t be so, For Banquo’s issue have I fil’d my mind; For them the gracious Duncan have I murther’d; Put rancours in the vessel of my peace,
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Only for them; and mine eternal jewel Given to the common Enemy of man, To make them kings, the seed of Banquo kings! Rather than so, come, fate, into the list, And champion me to th’utterance! Who’s there? Enter Murderer Macbeth
Well then, now Have you consider’d of my speeches? Know That is was he, in the times past, which held you So under fortune, which you thought had been Our innocent self? This I made good to you In our last conference; pass’d in probation with you, How you borne in hand; how cross’d; the instruments; Who wrought with them; and all things else, that might, To half a soul, and to a notion craz’d, Say, ‘Thus did Banquo.’
Murderer
We shall, my Lord, Perform what you command us.
Macbeth
I’ll call upon you straight: abide within.
Exit Murderer Macbeth
It is concluded: Banquo, thy soul’s flight, If it find Heaven, must find it out to-night. Act 3 Scene 2
Macbeth
We have scorch’d the snake, not kill’d it: She’ll close, and be herself; whilst our poor malice Remains in danger of her former tooth. But let the frame of things disjoint, both the worlds suffer, Ere we will eat our meal in fear, and sleep In the affliction of these terrible dreams, That shake us nightly. Better be with the dead, Whom we, to gain our peace, have sent to peace, Than on the torture of the mind to lie In restless ecstasy. Duncan is in his grave; After life’s fitful fever he sleeps well; Treason has done his worst: nor steel, nor poison, Malice domestic, foreign levy, nothing Can touch him further!
Exit Macbeth Act 3 Scene 3 Enter Banquo Banquo
Give us a light there, ho!
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Enter Murderer Murderer
A light, a light!
Banquo
It will be rain to-night.
Murderer
Let it come down.
Murderer kills Banquo Exit Murderer with Banquo Act 3 Scene 4 Enter Macbeth and Lady Macbeth Macbeth
You know your own degrees, sit down: at first And last, the hearty welcome.
Enter Murderer Murderer
My Lord, his throat is cut; That I did for him.
Macbeth
Thou art the best o’th’cut-throats; Yet he’s good that did the like for Fleance: If thou dids’t it, thou art the nonpareil.
Murderer
Most royal Sir… Fleance is scap’d.
Exit Murderer Lady Macbeth
My royal Lord, You do not give the cheer: the feast is sold, That is not often vouch’d, while ‘tis a-making, ‘Tis given with welcome: to feed were best at home; From thence, the sauce to meat is ceremony; Meeting were bare without it.
Macbeth
Sweet remembrancer! Now, good digestion wait on appetite, And health on both!
Enter Banquo’s ghost Macbeth
Which of you have done this? Thou canst not say, I did it: never shake Thy gory locks at me.
Lady Macbeth
Sit, worthy friends. My Lord is often thus, And hath been from his youth: pray you, keep seat; The fit is momentary; upon a thought He will again be well. If much you note him,
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You shall offend him, and extend his passion; Feed, and regard him not. Are you a man? Exit Banquo’s ghost Macbeth
Ay, and a bold one, that dare look on that Which might appal the Devil. If I stand here, I saw him. I do forget. Do not muse at me, my most worthy friends, I have a strange infirmity, which is nothing To those that know me. Come, love and health to all; Then, I’ll sit down. Give me some wine: fill full: I drink to th’general joy o’th’whole table, And to our dear friend Banquo, whom we miss; Would he were here!
Enter Banquo’s ghost Macbeth
What man dare, I dare: Approach thou like the rugged Russian bear, The arm’d rhinoceros, or th’Hyrcan tiger; Take any shape but that, and my firm nerves Shall never tremble: or, be alive again, And dare me to the desert with thy sword; If trembling I inhabit then, protest me The baby of a girl. Hence, horrible shadow! Unreal mock’ry, hence!
Exit Banquo’s ghost Macbeth
Why, so; being gone, I am a man again. Pray you, sit still.
Lady Macbeth
I pray you, speak not; he grows worse and worse; Question enrages him. At once, good night: Stand not upon the order of your going, But go at once. A kind good night to all.
Exit Macbeth and Lady Macbeth Act 3 Scene V This scene has been removed Act 3 Scene VI Enter Lord Lord
The son of Duncan, From whom this tyrant holds the due of birth, Lives in the English court; and is receiv’d Of the most pious Edward with such grace,
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That the malevolence of fortune nothing Takes from his high respect. Thither Macduff Is gone to pray the holy King, upon his aid To wake Northumberland, and warlike Siward; That, by the help of these (with Him above To ratify the work), we may again Give to our tables meat, sleep to our nights, Free from our feasts and banquets bloody knives, Do faithful homage, and receive free honours, All which we pine for now. And this report Hath so exasperate the King, that he Prepares for some attempt of war. Exit Lord Act 4 Scene 1 Second Witch
By the pricking of my thumbs, Something wicked this way comes.
Enter Macbeth First Witch
Macbeth! Macbeth! Macbeth! Beware Macduff; Beware the Thane of Fife. Dismiss me. Enough.
Second Witch
Macbeth! Macbeth! Macbeth! Be bloody, bold, and resolute: laugh to scorn The power of man, for none of woman born Shall harm Macbeth.
Third Witch
Be lion-mettled, proud, and take no care Who chafes, who frets, or where conspirers are: Macbeth shall never vanquish’d be, until Great Birnam wood to high Dunsinane hill Shall come against him.
Macbeth
That will never be: Who can impress the forest; bid the tree Unfix his earth-bound root? Sweet bodements! Good! Rebellious dead, rise never, till the wood Of Birnam rise; and our high-plac’d Macbeth Shall live the lease of Nature, pay his breath To time, and mortal custom. Yet my heart Throbs to know one thing: tell me (if your art Can tell so much), shall Banquo’s issue ever Reign in this kingdom?
All Witches
Seek to know no more.
Macbeth
Where are they? Gone? Let this pernicious hour Stand aye accursed in the calendar! Come in, without there!
Enter Lady Macbeth
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Lady Macbeth
‘Tis two or three, my Lord, that bring you word, Macduff is fled to England.
Macbeth
Time, thou anticipat’st my dread exploits: The flighty purpose never is o’ertook, Unless the deed go with it. From this moment, The very firstlings of my heart shall be The firstlings of my hand. And even now, To crown my thoughts with acts, be it thought and done: The castle of Macduff I will surprise; Seize upon Fife; give to th’edge o’th’sword His wife, his babes, and all unfortunate souls That trace him in his line. No boasting like a fool; This deed I’ll do, before this purpose cool: But no more sights. Where are these gentlemen? Come, bring me where they are.
Exit Macbeth and Lady Macbeth Act 4 Scene 2 Enter Lady Macduff Lady Macduff
‘My dearest coz, I pray you, school yourself: but, for your husband, He is noble, wise, judicious, and best knows The fits o’th’season. I dare not speak much further: But cruel are the times, when we are traitors, And do not know ourselves; when we hold rumour From what we fear, yet know not what we fear, But float upon a wild and violent sea Each way, and move. I take my leave of you: Shall not be long but I’ll be here again. Things at the worst will cease, or else climb upward To what they were before. My pretty cousin, Blessing upon you!’ What had he done, to make him fly the land?
Son
Was my father a traitor, mother?
Lady Macduff
Ay, that he was.
Son
What is a traitor?
Lady Macduff
Why, one that swears and lies.
Son
And be all traitors that do so?
Lady Macduff
Every one that does so is a traitor, and must be hang’d.
Son
And must they all be hang’d that swear and lie?
Lady Macduff
Every one.
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Enter Macbeth and Lady Macbeth Lady Macduff
Whither should I fly? I have done no harm. But I remember now I am in this earthly world, where, to do harm Is often laudable; to do good, sometime Accounted dangerous folly: why then, alas! Do I put up that womanly defence, To say, I have done no harm? What are these faces?
Macbeth
Where is your husband?
Lady Macduff
I hope, in no place so unsanctified, Where such as thou may’st find him.
Macbeth
He’s a traitor.
Lady Macduff
Murther!
Macbeth
Now God help thee, poor monkey! But how wilt thou do for a father?
Son
If he were dead, you’ld weep for him: if you would not, it were a good sign that I should quickly have a new father.
Macbeth
Poor prattler, how thou talk’st!
Exit Macbeth and Lady Macduff Lady Macbeth
Yet here’s a spot. 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 accompt? Yet who would have thought the old man to have had so much blood in him? 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. Here’s the smell of the blood still: all the perfumes of Arabia will not sweeten this little hand. Oh! Oh! Oh! Wash your hands, put on your night-gown; look not so pale. I tell you yet again, Banquo’s buried: he cannot come out on’s grave. 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 Lady Macbeth Act 4 Scene 3 Enter Malcolm and Macduff Malcolm
Your castle is surpris’d; your wife, and babes, Savagely slaughter’d: to relate the manner, Were, on the quarry of these murther’d deer,
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To add the death of you. Macduff
My children too?
Malcolm
Wife, children, servants, all That could be found.
Macduff
O! I could play the woman with mine eyes, And braggart with my tongue. But, gentle Heavens, 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. Come, go we to the King: our power is ready; Our lack is nothing but our leave. Macbeth Is ripe for shaking, and the Powers above Put on their instruments. Receive what cheer you may; The night is long that never finds the day.
Exit Malcolm and Macduff Act 5 Scene 1 This scene has been moved Act 5 Scene 2 This scene has been removed Act 5 Scene 3 Enter Macbeth Macbeth
Bring me no more reports; let them fly all: Till Birnam wood remove to Dunsinane, I cannot taint with fear. What’s the boy Malcolm? Was he not born of woman? The spirits that know All mortal consequence have pronounc’d me thus: ‘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: The mind I sway by, and the heart I bear, Shall never sag with doubt, nor shake with fear.
Exit Macbeth Act 5 Scene 4 Enter Malcolm and Macduff
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Malcolm
What wood is this before us?
Macduff
The wood of Birnam.
Malcolm
Let every soldier hew him down a bough, And bear’t before him: thereby shall we shadow The numbers of our host, and make discovery Err in report of us.
Exit Malcolm and Macduff Act 5 Scene 5 Enter Macbeth Macbeth
I have almost forgot the taste of fears. The time has been, my senses would have cool’d To hear a night-shriek; and my fell of hair Would at a dismal treatise rouse, and stir, As life were in’t. I have supp’d full with horrors: Direness, familiar to my slaughterous thoughts, Cannot once start me. Wherefore was that cry? ‘The Queen, my Lord, is dead.’ She should have died hereafter: There would have been a time for such a word. To-morrow, and to-morrow, and to-morrow, Creeps in this petty pace from day to day, To the last syllable of recorded time; And all our yesterdays have lighted fools The way to dusty death. Out, out, brief candle! Life’s but a walking shadow; a poor player, That struts and frets his hour upon the stage, And then is heard no more: it is a tale Told by an idiot, full of sound and fury, Signifying nothing. ‘Gracious my Lord, I should report that which I say I saw, But know not how to do’t. As I did stand my watch upon the hill, I look’d toward Birnam, and anon, methought, The wood began to move. Let me endure your wrath, if’t be not so. Within this three mile may you see it coming; I say, a moving grove.’ If thou speak’st false, Upon the next tree shalt thou hang alive, Till famine cling thee: if thy speech be sooth, I care not if thou dost for me as much. I pull in resolution; and begin To doubt th’equivocation of the fiend, That lies like truth: ‘Fear not, till Birnam wood Do come to Dunsinane’; and now a wood Comes toward Dunsinane. Arm, arm, and out!
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If this which he avouches does appear, There is nor flying hence, nor tarrying here. I ‘gin to be aweary of the sun, And wish th’estate o’th’world were now undone. Ring the alarum bell! Blow, wind! Come, wrack! At least we’ll die with harness on our back. Exit Macbeth Act 5 Scene 6 Enter Malcolm and Macduff Malcolm
Now, near enough: your leavy screens throw down, And show like those you are. You, worthy uncle, Shall, with my cousin, your right noble son, Lead our first battle: worthy Macduff, and we, Shall take upon’s what else remains to do, According to our order.
Macduff
Make all our trumpets speak; give them all breath, Those clamorous harbingers of blood and death.
Exit Malcolm and Macduff Act 5 Scene 7 Enter Macbeth Macbeth
They have tied me to a stake: I cannot fly, But, bear-like, I must fight the course. What’s he, That was not born of woman? Such a one Am I to fear, or none. Act 5 Scene 8
Enter Macduff Macduff
Turn, Hell-hound, turn!
Macbeth
Thou losest labour: As easy may’st thou the intrenchant air With thy keen sword impress, as make me bleed: Let fall thy blade on vulnerable crests; I bear a charmed life; which must not yield To one of woman born.
Macduff
Despair thy charm; And let the Angel, whom thou still hast serv’d, Tell thee, Macduff was from his mother’s womb Untimely ripp’d.
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Macbeth
Accursed be that tongue that tells me so, For it hath cow’d my better part of man: And be these juggling fiends no more believ’d, That palter with us in a double sense; That keep the word of promise to our ear, And break it to our hope. I’ll not fight with thee.
Macduff
Then yield thee, coward, And live to be the show and gaze o’th’time: We’ll have thee, as our rarer monsters are, Painted upon a pole, and underwrit, ‘Here may you see the tyrant.’
Macbeth
I will not yield, To kiss the ground before young Malcolm’s feet, And to be baited with the rabble’s curse. Though Birnam wood be come to Dunsinane, And thou oppos’d, being of no woman born, Yet I will try the last: before my body I throw my warlike shield: lay on, Macduff; And damn’d be him that first cries, ‘Hold enough!’
They fight All Witches
Sleep no more!
Macduff kills Macbeth Act 5 Scene 9 Enter Malcolm Malcolm
I would the friends we miss were safe arriv’d.
Macduff
Hail, King! For so thou art. Behold, where stands Th’usurper’s cursed head: the time is free. I see thee compass’d with thy kingdom’s pearl, That speak my salutation in their minds; Whose voices I desire aloud with mine, Hail, King of Scotland!
Malcolm
We shall not spend a large expense of time, Before we reckon with your several loves, And make us even with you. My Thanes and kinsmen, Henceforth be Earls; the first that ever Scotland In such an honour nam’d. What’s more to do, Which would be planted newly with the time, As calling home our exil’d friends abroad, That fled the snares of watchful tyranny; Producing forth the cruel ministers Of this dead butcher, and his fiend-like Queen, Who, as ‘tis thought, by self and violent hands Took off her life; this, and what needful else That calls upon us, by the grace of Grace,
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We will perform in measure, time, and place. So thanks to all at once, and to each one, Whom we invite to see us crown’d at Scone. All Witches
Double, double toil and trouble: Fire, burn; and, cauldron, bubble. Peace! The charm’s wound up.
The End
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