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
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