Colleen Mayer Lily Czartorski
The same. A hall in the palace.
[ A banquet prepared. Enter MACBETH, LADY MACBETH, ROSS, LENNOX, Lords, and Attendants ]
MACBETH You know your own degrees; sit down: at first
And last the hearty welcome.
Lords Thanks to your majesty.
MACBETH Ourself will mingle with society,
And play the humble host.
Our hostess keeps her state, but in best time
We will require her welcome.
LADY MACBETH Pronounce it for me, sir, to all our friends;
For my heart speaks they are welcome.
[First Murderer appears at the door]
MACBETH There's blood on thy face.
First Murderer 'Tis Banquo's then.
MACBETH 'Tis better thee without than he within.
Is he dispatch'd?
First Murderer My lord, his throat is cut; that I did for him.
MACBETH Thou art the best o' the cut-throats: yet he's good
That did the like for Fleance: if thou didst it,
Thou art the nonpareil.
First Murderer Most royal sir,
Fleance is 'scaped. 20
MACBETH Then comes my fit again: I had else been perfect,
Whole as the marble, founded as the rock,
As broad and general as the casing air:
But now I am cabin'd, cribb'd, confined, bound in
To saucy doubts and fears. But Banquo's safe?
First Murderer Ay, my good lord: safe in a ditch he bides,
With twenty trenched gashes on his head;
The least a death to nature.
MACBETH Thanks for that:
[Exit Murderer]
LADY MACBETH My royal lord,
You do not give the cheer: the feast is sold
MACBETH Sweet remembrancer!
Now, good digestion wait on appetite,
And health on both!
[ The GHOST OF BANQUO enters, and sits in MACBETH's place ]
MACBETH Here had we now our country's honour roof'd, 40
Were the graced person of our Banquo present;
Who may I rather challenge for unkindness
Than pity for mischance!
MACBETH Which of you have done this?
Lords What, my good lord?
MACBETH Thou canst not say I did it: never shake 50
Thy gory locks at me.
LADY MACBETH my lord is often thus,
And hath been from his youth: pray you, keep seat;
The fit is momentary; upon a thought
He will again be well: if much you note him,
You shall offend him and extend his passion:
Feed, and regard him not. Are you a man?
MACBETH Ay, and a bold one, that dare look on that
Which might appal the devil.
LADY MACBETH O proper stuff! 60
This is the very painting of your fear:
This is the air-drawn dagger which, you said,
Led you to Duncan. O, these flaws and starts,
Impostors to true fear, would well become
A woman's story at a winter's fire,
Authorized by her grandam. Shame itself!
Why do you make such faces? When all's done,
You look but on a stool.
MACBETH Prithee, see there! behold! look! lo!
[GHOST OF BANQUO vanishes]
LADY MACBETH What, quite unmann'd in folly?
MACBETH If I stand here, I saw him.
LADY MACBETH Fie, for shame!
MACBETH Blood hath been shed ere now
LADY MACBETH My worthy lord,
Your noble friends do lack you.
MACBETH I do forget.
Do not muse at me, my most worthy friends,
I have a strange infirmity, which is nothing
To those that know me. Come, love and health to all;
Then I'll sit down. Give me some wine; fill full.
I drink to the general joy o' the whole table,
And to our dear friend Banquo, whom we miss; 90
Would he were here! to all, and him, we thirst,
And all to all.
[Re-enter GHOST OF BANQUO]
MACBETH Avaunt! and quit my sight! let the earth hide thee!
What man dare, I dare:
Approach thou like the rugged Russian bear, 100
The arm'd rhinoceros, or the Hyrcan tiger;
Take any shape but that, and my firm nerves
Shall never tremble: or be alive again,
Unreal mockery, hence!
[GHOST OF BANQUO vanishes]
Why, so: being gone,
I am a man again. Pray you, sit still.
LADY MACBETH You have displaced the mirth, broke the good meeting,
With most admired disorder.
MACBETH Can such things be,
When now I think you can behold such sights,
And keep the natural ruby of your cheeks,
When mine is blanched with fear.
LADY MACBETH he grows worse and worse;
At once, good night:
Stand not upon the order of your going,
But go at once.
LADY MACBETH A kind good night to all!
[Exeunt all but MACBETH and LADY MACBETH]
MACBETH It will have blood; they say, blood will have blood:
What is the night?
LADY MACBETH Almost at odds with morning, which is which.
MACBETH How say'st thou, that Macduff denies his person
At our great bidding?
LADY MACBETH Did you send to him, sir?
MACBETH I hear it by the way; but I will send: 130
There's not a one of them but in his house
I keep a servant fee'd. I will to-morrow,
And betimes I will, to the weird sisters:
More shall they speak; for now I am bent to know,
By the worst means, the worst. For mine own good,
All causes shall give way: I am in blood
Stepp'd in so far that, should I wade no more,
Returning were as tedious as go o'er:
Strange things I have in head, that will to hand;
Which must be acted ere they may be scann'd. 140
LADY MACBETH You lack the season of all natures, sleep.
MACBETH Come, we'll to sleep. My strange and self-abuse
Is the initiate fear that wants hard use:
We are yet but young in deed.
[Exeunt]