her rise from her bed, throw her nightgown upon her, unlock her closet, take forth paper, fold it, write upon 't, read it, afterwards seal it, and again return to bed; yet all this while in a most fast sleep. Doct. A great perturbation in nature,-to receive at once the benefit of sleep, and do the effects of watching!—In this slumbery agitation, besides her walking and other actual performances, what, at any time, have you heard her say? Doct. You may to me; Gent. That, sir, which I will not report after her. and 'tis most meet you should. Gent. Neither to you nor any one; having no witness to confirm my speech.-Lo you, here she comes! Enter Lady MACBETH, with a taper. This is her very guise; and, upon my life, fast asleep. Observe her; stand close. Doct. How came she by that light? Gent. Why, it stood by her: she has light by her continually; 'tis her command. Doct. You see, her eyes are open. Gent. Ay, but their sense' are shut. Doct. What is it she does now? Look, how she rubs her hands. Gent. It is an accustomed action with her, to seem thus washing her hands: I have known her continue in this a quarter of an hour. Lady M. Yet here's a spot. Doct. Hark! she speaks: I will set down what comes from her, to satisfy my remembrance the more strongly. Lady M. 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 much blood in him? Doct. Do you mark that? Lady M. 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. not. Doct. Go to, go to; you have known what you should Gent. She has spoke what she should not, I am sure of that heaven knows what she has known. Lady M. Here's the smell of the blood still: all the perfumes of Arabia will not sweeten this little hand. Oh, oh, oh! Doct. What a sigh is there! The heart is sorely charged. Gent. I would not have such a heart in my bosom for the dignity of the whole body. Doct. Well, well, well,— Gent. Pray God it be, sir. Doct. This disease is beyond my practice: yet I have known those which have walked in their sleep who have died holily in their beds. Lady M. 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. Doct. Even so? Lady M. 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. Doct. Will she go now to bed? Gent. Directly. Doct. Foul whisperings are abroad: unnatural deeds Do breed unnatural troubles: infected minds To their deaf pillows will discharge their secrets: Gent. Good night, good doctor. [Exit. [Exeunt. SCENE II. The country near Dunsinane. Enter, with drum and colours, MENTEITH, CAITHNESS, ANGUS, LENNOX, and Soldiers. Ment. The English power is near, led on by Malcolm, His uncle Siward, and the good Macduff: Revenges burn in them; for their dear causes Would to the bleeding and the grim alarm Excite the mortified man. Ang. Near Birnam wood Shall we well meet them; that way are they coming. Of all the gentry: there is Siward's son, Ment. What does the tyrant? Caith. Great Dunsinane he strongly fortifies: He cannot buckle his distemper'd course(107) His secret murders sticking on his hands ; Ment. Who, then, shall blame His pester'd senses to recoil and start, When all that is within him does condemn Itself for being there? To give obedience where 'tis truly ow'd: Meet we the medicine of the sickly weal; To dew the sovereign flower, and drown the weeds. [Exeunt, marching. SCENE III. Dunsinane. A room in the castle. Enter MACBETH, Doctor, and Attendants. Macb. Bring me no more reports; let them fly all: I cannot taint with fear. What's the boy Malcolm? The mind I sway by and the heart I bear Enter a Servant. The devil damn thee black, thou cream-fac'd loon! Where gott'st thou that goose look? Serv. There is ten thousand Macb. Serv. Geese, villain? Soldiers, sir. Macb. Go prick thy face, and over-red thy fear, Are counsellors to fear. What soldiers, whey-face? [Exit Servant. Seyton!-I'm sick at heart, When I behold-Seyton, I say!-This push Which the poor heart would fain deny, and dare not.- Enter SEYTON. Sey. What is your gracious pleasure? Macb. What news more? Sey. All is confirm'd, my lord, which was reported. Send out more horses, skirr the country round; Hang those that talk of fear.—Give me mine armour.- Doct. As she is troubled with thick-coming fancies, That keep her from her rest. Mach. Not so sick, my lord, Cure her(110) of that: Canst thou not minister to a mind diseas'd; Raze out the written troubles of the brain; Cleanse the stuff'd bosom of that perilous stuff(111) Doct. Must minister to himself. Therein the patient Macb. Throw physic to the dogs,-I'll none of it.- 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, (112) or what purgative drug, Would scour these English hence? Hear'st thou of them? Doct. Ay, my good lord; your royal preparation Makes us hear something. Macb. Bring it after me. I will not be afraid of death and bane, VOL. VII. F |