Inverness. A Room in the Castle.
 HAUTBOYS and TORCHES.
 Enter a SEWER, and divers SERVANTS with dishes and service, and pass
 over the stage. Then enter MACBETH.

Macbeth	If it were done, when 'tis done then 'twere well
	It were done quickly. If th' assassination
	Could trammel up the consequence, and catch
	With his surcease success - that but this blow
	Might be the be-all and the end-all - here,
	But here, upon this bank and shoal of time,
	We'd jump the life to come. But in these cases
	We still have judgement here, that we but teach
	Bloody instructions, which, being taught, return
	To plague th' inventor. This even-handed justice
	Commends th' ingredience of our poisoned 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,
	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
	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,
	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?

Lady Macbeth	He has almost supped. Why have you left the chamber?

Macbeth	Hath he asked for me?

Lady Macbeth								Know you not he has?

Macbeth	We will proceed no further in this business.
	He hath honoured me of late; and I have bought
	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 dressed yourself? Hath it slept since?
	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
	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'th' adage?

Macbeth										Prithee, peace.
	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;
	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
	How tender 'tis to love the babe that milks me-
	I would, while it was smiling in my face,
	Have plucked my nipple from his boneless gums
	And dashed the brains out, had I so sworn
	As you have done to this.

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
	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
	Their drenchd natures lies as in a death,
	What cannot you and I perform upon
	Th' unguarded Duncan? What not put upon
	His spongy officers, who shall bear the guilt
	Of our great quell?

Macbeth						Bring forth men-children only;
	For thy undaunted mettle should compose
	Nothing but males. Will it not be received,
	When we have marked with blood those sleepy two
	Of his own chamber, and used their very daggers,
	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
	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.
