ARKCODEX
Act II, Scene 2
1The same.
2Enter Lady Macbeth.
3Lady MacbethThat 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.
4MacbethWithin. Who’s there? what, ho!
5Lady MacbethAlack, I am afraid they have awaked,
And ’tis not done. The 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.
6Enter Macbeth.
7My husband!
8MacbethI have done the deed. Didst thou not hear a noise?
9Lady MacbethI heard the owl scream and the crickets cry.
Did not you speak?
10MacbethWhen?
11Lady MacbethNow.
12MacbethAs I descended?
13Lady MacbethAy.
14MacbethHark!
Who lies i’ the second chamber?
15Lady MacbethDonalbain.
16MacbethThis is a sorry sight. Looking on his hands.
17Lady MacbethA foolish thought, to say a sorry sight.
18MacbethThere’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 address’d them
Again to sleep.
19Lady MacbethThere are two lodged together.
20MacbethOne cried “God bless us!” and “Amen” the other;
As they had seen me with these hangman’s hands.
Listening their fear, I could not say “Amen,”
When they did say “God bless us!”
21Lady MacbethConsider it not so deeply.
22MacbethBut wherefore could not I pronounce “Amen”?
I had most need of blessing, and “Amen”
Stuck in my throat.
23Lady MacbethThese deeds must not be thought
After these ways; so, it will make us mad.
24MacbethMethought I heard a voice cry “Sleep no more!
Macbeth does murder 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—
25Lady MacbethWhat do you mean?
26MacbethStill it cried “Sleep no more!” to all the house:
“Glamis hath murder’d sleep, and therefore Cawdor
Shall sleep no more; Macbeth shall sleep no more.”
27Lady MacbethWho 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.
28MacbethI’ll go no more:
I am afraid to think what I have done;
Look on’t again I dare not.
29Lady MacbethInfirm 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 faces of the grooms withal;
For it must seem their guilt. Exit. Knocking within.
30MacbethWhence 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 in incarnadine,
Making the green one red.
31Reenter Lady Macbeth.
32Lady MacbethMy hands are of your colour; but I shame
To wear a heart so white. Knocking within. 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. Knocking within. Hark! more knocking.
Get on your nightgown, lest occasion call us,
And show us to be watchers. Be not lost
So poorly in your thoughts.
33MacbethTo know my deed, ’twere best not know myself. Knocking within.
Wake Duncan with thy knocking! I would thou couldst! Exeunt.