'Amen' the other;

As they had seen mé with these hangman's hands.

Listening their fear, I could not say 'Amen,'
When they did say 'God bless us !'
Lady M.
Consider it not so deeply. 30
Macb. But wherefore could not I pronounce
'Amen'?

I had most need of blessing, and 'Amen'
Stuck in my throat.

Lady M. These deeds must not be thought After these ways; so, it will make us mad. Macb. Methought 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 labor's

bath,

Balm of hurt minds, great nature's second course,

Chief nourisher in life's feast,Lady M. What do you mean? Macb. Still it cried "Sleep no more!' to all the house : 41

'Glamis hath murder'd sleep, and therefore Cawdor [more.'

Shall sleep no more; Macbeth shall sleep no Lady M. 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?

Lady M. My hands are of your color; 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 71 So poorly in your thoughts.

Macb. To know my deed, 'twere best not know myself. [Knocking within. Wake Duncan with thy knocking! I would thou couldst !

[Exeunt.

SCENE III. The same. Knocking within. Enter a Porter. Porter. Here's a knocking indeed! If a man were porter of hell-gate, he should have old turning the key. [Knocking within.] Knock, knock, knock! Who's there, i' the name of Beelzebub? Here's a farmer, that hanged himself on the expectation of plenty: come in time; have napkins enow about you; here you'll sweat for't. [Knocking within.] Knock, knock! Who's there, in the 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: 0, come in, equivocator. [Knocking within.] 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. [Knocking within.] 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 the everlasting bonfire. [Knocking within.] Anon, anon! I pray you, remember the porter. [Opens the gate.

Enter MACDUFF and LENNOX.

Macd. Was it so late, friend, ere you went to bed,

That you do lie so late?

Port. 'Faith sir, we were carousing till the second cock and drink, sir, is a great provoker of three things.

Macd. What three things does drink especially provoke ? 30

Port. Marry, sir, nose-painting, sleep, and urine. Lechery, sir, it provokes, and unprovokes; it provokes the desire, but it takes away the performance : therefore, much drink may be said to be an equivocator with lechery: it makes him, and it mars him; it sets him on, and it takes him off; it persuades him, and disheartens him; makes him stand to, and not stand to; in conclusion, equivocates him in a sleep, and, giving him the lie, leaves him. Macd. I believe drink gave thee the lie last night.

41

Lady M.

Enter BANQUO.

What, in our house?

90

O Banquo, Banquo, Our royal master 's murder'd! Woe, alas! Ban. Too cruel any where. Dear Duff, I prithee, contradict thyself, And say it is not so.

Re-enter MACBETH and LENNOX, with Ross. Macb. Had I but died an hour before this chance,

I had lived 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.

Enter MALCOLM and DONALBAIN.

Don. What is amiss ?

Macb.

101

You are, and do not know't:

That had a heart to love, and in that heart
Courage to make 's love known ?
Lady M.

Help me hence, ho! Macd. Look to the lady.

Mal. [Aside to Don.] Why do we hold our tongues,

That most may claim this argument for ours? Don. [Aside to Mal.] What should be spoken here, where our fate,

Hid in an auger-hole, may rush, and seize us? Let's away;

Our tears are not yet brew'd.

129

Mal. [Aside to Don.] Nor our strong sorrow Upon the foot of motion. Ban.

Look to the lady: [Lady Macbeth is carried out. And when we have our naked frailties hid, That suffer in exposure, let us meet, And question this most bloody piece of work, To know it further. Fears and scruples shake