Shakespeare Portal

Act 1, Scene 5

Inverness. A Room in Macbeth's Castle.

  1. [Enter Lady Macbeth, reading a letter.]
  2. Lady Macbeth
  3. 323 "They met me in the day of success; and I have
  4. 324 learned by the perfectest report they have more in them than
  5. 325 mortal knowledge. When I burned in desire to question them
  6. 326 further, they made themselves air, into which they vanished.
  7. 327 Whiles I stood rapt in the wonder of it, came missives from
  8. 328 the king, who all-hailed me, 'Thane of Cawdor'; by which title,
  9. 329 before, these weird sisters saluted me, and referred me to the
  10. 330 coming on of time, with 'Hail, king that shalt be!' This have
  11. 331 I thought good to deliver thee, my dearest partner of
  12. 332 greatness; that thou mightst not lose the dues of rejoicing, by
  13. 333 being ignorant of what greatness is promised thee. Lay it to thy
  14. 334 heart, and farewell."
  15. Lady Macbeth
  16. 335 Glamis thou art, and Cawdor; and shalt be
  17. 336 What thou art promis'd; yet do I fear thy nature;
  18. 337 It is too full o' the milk of human kindness
  19. 338 To catch the nearest way: thou wouldst be great;
  20. 339 Art not without ambition; but without
  21. 340 The illness should attend it. What thou wouldst highly,
  22. 341 That wouldst thou holily; wouldst not play false,
  23. 342 And yet wouldst wrongly win: thou'dst have, great Glamis,
  24. 343 That which cries, "Thus thou must do, if thou have it:
  25. 344 And that which rather thou dost fear to do
  26. 345 Than wishest should be undone." Hie thee hither,
  27. 346 That I may pour my spirits in thine ear;
  28. 347 And chastise with the valor of my tongue
  29. 348 All that impedes thee from the golden round,
  30. 349 Which fate and metaphysical aid doth seem
  31. 350 To have thee crown'd withal.
  32. [Enter an Attendant.]
  33. Lady Macbeth
  34. 351 What is your tidings?
  35. Attendant
  36. 352 The king comes here tonight.
  37. Lady Macbeth
  38. 353 Thou'rt mad to say it:
  39. 354 Is not thy master with him? who, were't so,
  40. 355 Would have inform'd for preparation.
  41. Attendant
  42. 356 So please you, it is true:—our thane is coming:
  43. 357 One of my fellows had the speed of him;
  44. 358 Who, almost dead for breath, had scarcely more
  45. 359 Than would make up his message.
  46. Lady Macbeth
  47. 360 Give him tending;
  48. 361 He brings great news.
  49. [Exit Attendant.]
  50. Lady Macbeth
  51. 362 The raven himself is hoarse
  52. 363 That croaks the fatal entrance of Duncan
  53. 364 Under my battlements. Come, you spirits
  54. 365 That tend on mortal thoughts, unsex me here;
  55. 366 And fill me, from the crown to the toe, top-full
  56. 367 Of direst cruelty! make thick my blood,
  57. 368 Stop up the access and passage to remorse,
  58. 369 That no compunctious visitings of nature
  59. 370 Shake my fell purpose, nor keep peace between
  60. 371 The effect and it! Come to my woman's breasts,
  61. 372 And take my milk for gall, your murdering ministers,
  62. 373 Wherever in your sightless substances
  63. 374 You wait on nature's mischief! Come, thick night,
  64. 375 And pall thee in the dunnest smoke of hell
  65. 376 That my keen knife see not the wound it makes
  66. 377 Nor heaven peep through the blanket of the dark
  67. 378 To cry, "Hold, hold!"
  68. [Enter Macbeth.]
  69. Lady Macbeth
  70. 379 Great Glamis! Worthy Cawdor!
  71. 380 Greater than both, by the all-hail hereafter!
  72. 381 Thy letters have transported me beyond
  73. 382 This ignorant present, and I feel now
  74. 383 The future in the instant.
  75. Macbeth
  76. 384 My dearest love,
  77. 385 Duncan comes here tonight.
  78. Lady Macbeth
  79. 386 And when goes hence?
  80. Macbeth
  81. 387 To-morrow,—as he purposes.
  82. Lady Macbeth
  83. 388 O, never
  84. 389 Shall sun that morrow see!
  85. 390 Your face, my thane, is as a book where men
  86. 391 May read strange matters:—to beguile the time,
  87. 392 Look like the time; bear welcome in your eye,
  88. 393 Your hand, your tongue: look like the innocent flower,
  89. 394 But be the serpent under't. He that's coming
  90. 395 Must be provided for: and you shall put
  91. 396 This night's great business into my despatch;
  92. 397 Which shall to all our nights and days to come
  93. 398 Give solely sovereign sway and masterdom.
  94. Macbeth
  95. 399 We will speak further.
  96. Lady Macbeth
  97. 400 Only look up clear;
  98. 401 To alter favor ever is to fear:
  99. 402 Leave all the rest to me.
  100. [Exeunt.]