| ACT I SCENE VII | Macbeth's castle. | |
| | Hautboys and torches. Enter a Sewer, and diversServants with dishes and service, and pass over thestage. 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 | 5 |
| | 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 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, | |
| | Strong both against the deed; then, as his host, | 15 |
| | 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 | 20 |
| | The deep damnation of his taking-off; | |
| | And pity, like a naked new-born babe, | |
| | Striding the blast, or heaven's cherubin, horsed | |
| | Upon the sightless couriers of the air, | |
| | Shall blow the horrid deed in every eye, | 25 |
| | 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 | |
| | How now! what news? | 30 |
| 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 | 35 |
| | 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? | 40 |
| | 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 | 45 |
| | 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: | 50 |
| | 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; | 55 |
| | 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 | 60 |
| | 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. | 65 |
| 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 | 70 |
| | 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 | 75 |
| | 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? | 80 |
| 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, | 85 |
| | 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 | 90 |
| | 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 | |
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