The Tragedy of Macbeth: ACT I , SCENE V. Inverness. Macbeth's castle.

The Tragedy of Macbeth: ACT I


	Introduction

	ACT I

		SCENE I. A desert place.

		SCENE II. A camp near Forres.

		SCENE III. A heath near Forres.

		SCENE IV. Forres. The palace.

		SCENE V. Inverness. Macbeth's castle.

		SCENE VI. Before Macbeth's castle.

		SCENE VII. Macbeth's castle.

	ACT II

	ACT III

	ACT IV

	ACT V

	About the Play

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SCENE V. Inverness. Macbeth's castle.

Enter LADY MACBETH, reading a letter

LADY MACBETH

      'They met me in the day of success: and I have
      learned by the perfectest report, they have more in
      them than mortal knowledge. When I burned in desire
      to question them further, they made themselves air,
5     into which they vanished. Whiles I stood rapt in
      the wonder of it, came missives from the king, who
      all-hailed me 'Thane of Cawdor;' by which title,
      before, these weird sisters saluted me, and referred
      me to the coming on of time, with 'Hail, king that
10    shalt be!' This have I thought good to deliver
      thee, my dearest partner of greatness, that thou
      mightst not lose the dues of rejoicing, by being
      ignorant of what greatness is promised thee. Lay it
      to thy heart, and farewell.'
15    Glamis thou art, and Cawdor; and shalt be
      What thou art promised: yet do I fear thy nature;
      It is too full o' the milk of human kindness
      To catch the nearest way: thou wouldst be great;
      Art not without ambition, but without
20    The illness should attend it: what thou wouldst highly,
      That wouldst thou holily; wouldst not play false,
      And yet wouldst wrongly win: thou'ldst have, great Glamis,
      That which cries 'Thus thou must do, if thou have it;
      And that which rather thou dost fear to do
25    Than wishest should be undone.' Hie thee hither,
      That I may pour my spirits in thine ear;
      And chastise with the valour of my tongue
      All that impedes thee from the golden round,
      Which fate and metaphysical aid doth seem
30    To have thee crown'd withal.

Enter a Messenger

What is your tidings?

Messenger

The king comes here to-night.

LADY MACBETH

      Thou'rt mad to say it:
      Is not thy master with him? who, were't so,
35    Would have inform'd for preparation.

Messenger

      So please you, it is true: our thane is coming:
      One of my fellows had the speed of him,
      Who, almost dead for breath, had scarcely more
      Than would make up his message.

LADY MACBETH

40 Give him tending;
He brings great news.

Exit Messenger

      The raven himself is hoarse
      That croaks the fatal entrance of Duncan
      Under my battlements. Come, you spirits
45    That tend on mortal thoughts, unsex me here,
      And fill me from the crown to the toe top-full
      Of direst cruelty! make thick my blood;
      Stop up the access and passage to remorse,
      That no compunctious visitings of nature
50    Shake my fell purpose, nor keep peace between
      The effect and it! Come to my woman's breasts,
      And take my milk for gall, you murdering ministers,
      Wherever in your sightless substances
      You wait on nature's mischief! Come, thick night,
55    And pall thee in the dunnest smoke of hell,
      That my keen knife see not the wound it makes,
      Nor heaven peep through the blanket of the dark,
      To cry 'Hold, hold!'

Enter MACBETH

      Great Glamis! worthy Cawdor!
60    Greater than both, by the all-hail hereafter!
      Thy letters have transported me beyond
      This ignorant present, and I feel now
      The future in the instant.

MACBETH

My dearest love,
65 Duncan comes here to-night.

LADY MACBETH

And when goes hence?

MACBETH

To-morrow, as he purposes.

LADY MACBETH

      O, never
      Shall sun that morrow see!
70    Your face, my thane, is as a book where men
      May read strange matters. To beguile the time,
      Look like the time; bear welcome in your eye,
      Your hand, your tongue: look like the innocent flower,
      But be the serpent under't. He that's coming
75    Must be provided for: and you shall put
      This night's great business into my dispatch;
      Which shall to all our nights and days to come
      Give solely sovereign sway and masterdom.

MACBETH

We will speak further.

LADY MACBETH

80    Only look up clear;
      To alter favour ever is to fear:
      Leave all the rest to me.

Exeunt

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