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Scene IIThe sameEnter Lady MacbethLady 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.MacbethWithinWho’s there? what, ho!Lady 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.Enter MacbethMy husband!MacbethI have done the deed. Didst thou not hear a noise?Lady MacbethI heard the owl scream and the crickets cry. Did not you speak?MacbethWhen?Lady MacbethNow.MacbethAs I descended?Lady MacbethAy.MacbethHark! Who lies i’ the second chamber?Lady MacbethDonalbain.MacbethThis is a sorry sight.Looking on his handsLady MacbethA foolish thought, to say a sorry sight.MacbethThere’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.Lady MacbethThere are two lodged together.MacbethOne 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!‘Lady MacbethConsider it not so deeply.MacbethBut wherefore could not I pronounce ‘Amen’? I had most need of blessing, and ‘Amen’ Stuck in my throat.Lady MacbethThese deeds must not be thought After these ways; so, it will make us mad.MacbethMethought I heard a voice cry ‘Sleep no more! Macbeth does murder sleep’, the innocent sleep, Sleep that knits up the ravell’d sleeve 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,—Lady MacbethWhat do you mean?MacbethStill 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.‘Lady 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.MacbethI’ll go no more: I am afraid to think what I have done; Look on’t again I dare not.Lady 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 withinMacbethWhence 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.Re-enter Lady MacbethLady MacbethMy hands are of your colour; but I shame To wear a heart so white.Knocking withinI 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 withinHark! more knocking. Get on your nightgown, lest occasion call us, And show us to be watchers. Be not lost So poorly in your thoughts.MacbethTo know my deed, ’twere best not know myself.Knocking withinWake Duncan with thy knocking! I would thou couldst!Exeunt

William Shakespeare: Macbeth, Act II

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William Shakespeare: Macbeth, Act II, Scene III

  • William Shakespeare: Macbeth, Act II, Scene III

TrendingHere are the facts and trivia that people are buzzing about.

Did Birds Evolve from Dinosaurs?

The Twelve Dancing Princesses

Current Events This Week: January 2023

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Andersen’s Fairy Tales: Contents

The Celtic Twilight: A Teller of Tales

TrendingHere are the facts and trivia that people are buzzing about.

Did Birds Evolve from Dinosaurs?

The Twelve Dancing Princesses

Current Events This Week: January 2023

African Americans by the Numbers

Andersen’s Fairy Tales: Contents

The Celtic Twilight: A Teller of Tales

  • Did Birds Evolve from Dinosaurs?
  • The Twelve Dancing Princesses
  • Current Events This Week: January 2023
  • African Americans by the Numbers
  • Andersen’s Fairy Tales: Contents
  • The Celtic Twilight: A Teller of Tales