Shakespeare Portal

Act 5, Scene 1

Dunsinane. A Room in the Castle.

  1. [Enter a Doctor of Physic and a Waiting-Gentlewoman.]
  2. Doctor
  3. 1957 I have two nights watched with you, but can perceive no
  4. 1958 truth in your report. When was it she last walked?
  5. Gentlewoman
  6. 1959 Since his majesty went into the field, I have seen her
  7. 1960 rise from her bed, throw her nightgown upon her, unlock her
  8. 1961 closet, take forth paper, fold it, write upon it, read it,
  9. 1962 afterwards seal it, and again return to bed; yet all this
  10. 1963 while in a most fast sleep.
  11. Doctor
  12. 1964 A great perturbation in nature,—to receive at once the
  13. 1965 benefit of sleep, and do the effects of watching— In this
  14. 1966 slumbery agitation, besides her walking and other actual
  15. 1967 performances, what, at any time, have you heard her say?
  16. Gentlewoman
  17. 1968 That, sir, which I will not report after her.
  18. Doctor
  19. 1969 You may to me; and 'tis most meet you should.
  20. Gentlewoman
  21. 1970 Neither to you nor any one; having no witness to confirm my
  22. 1971 speech. Lo you, here she comes!
  23. [Enter Lady Macbeth, with a taper.]
  24. Gentlewoman
  25. 1972 This is her very guise; and, upon my life, fast asleep. Observe
  26. 1973 her; stand close.
  27. Doctor
  28. 1974 How came she by that light?
  29. Gentlewoman
  30. 1975 Why, it stood by her: she has light by her continually; 'tis her
  31. 1976 command.
  32. Doctor
  33. 1977 You see, her eyes are open.
  34. Gentlewoman
  35. 1978 Ay, but their sense is shut.
  36. Doctor
  37. 1979 What is it she does now? Look how she rubs her hands.
  38. Gentlewoman
  39. 1980 It is an accustomed action with her, to seem thus washing her
  40. 1981 hands: I have known her continue in this a quarter of an hour.
  41. Lady Macbeth
  42. 1982 Yet here's a spot.
  43. Doctor
  44. 1983 Hark, she speaks: I will set down what comes from her, to
  45. 1984 satisfy my remembrance the more strongly.
  46. Lady Macbeth
  47. 1985 Out, damned spot! out, I say!— One; two; why, then 'tis
  48. 1986 time to do't ;—Hell is murky!—Fie, my lord, fie! a soldier,
  49. 1987 and afeard? What need we fear who knows it, when none can call
  50. 1988 our power to account?—Yet who would have thought the old man to
  51. 1989 have had so much blood in him?
  52. Doctor
  53. 1990 Do you mark that?
  54. Lady Macbeth
  55. 1991 The Thane of Fife had a wife; where is she now?—What,
  56. 1992 will these hands ne'er be clean? No more o' that, my lord, no
  57. 1993 more o' that: you mar all with this starting.
  58. Doctor
  59. 1994 Go to, go to; you have known what you should not.
  60. Gentlewoman
  61. 1995 She has spoke what she should not, I am sure of that:
  62. 1996 heaven knows what she has known.
  63. Lady Macbeth
  64. 1997 Here's the smell of the blood still: all the perfumes
  65. 1998 of Arabia will not sweeten this little hand. Oh, oh, oh!
  66. Doctor
  67. 1999 What a sigh is there! The heart is sorely charged.
  68. Gentlewoman
  69. 2000 I would not have such a heart in my bosom for the
  70. 2001 dignity of the whole body.
  71. Doctor
  72. 2002 Well, well, well,—
  73. Gentlewoman
  74. 2003 Pray God it be, sir.
  75. Doctor
  76. 2004 This disease is beyond my practice: yet I have known those
  77. 2005 which have walked in their sleep who have died holily in
  78. 2006 their beds.
  79. Lady Macbeth
  80. 2007 Wash your hands, put on your nightgown; look not so
  81. 2008 pale:—I tell you yet again, Banquo's buried; he cannot come
  82. 2009 out on's grave.
  83. Doctor
  84. 2010 Even so?
  85. Lady Macbeth
  86. 2011 To bed, to bed; there's knocking at the gate: come, come, come,
  87. 2012 come, give me your hand: what's done cannot be undone: to bed, to
  88. 2013 bed, to bed.
  89. [Exit.]
  90. Doctor
  91. 2014 Will she go now to bed?
  92. Gentlewoman
  93. 2015 Directly.
  94. Doctor
  95. 2016 Foul whisperings are abroad: unnatural deeds
  96. 2017 Do breed unnatural troubles: infected minds
  97. 2018 To their deaf pillows will discharge their secrets.
  98. 2019 More needs she the divine than the physician.—
  99. 2020 God, God, forgive us all!—Look after her;
  100. 2021 Remove from her the means of all annoyance,
  101. 2022 And still keep eyes upon her:—so, good-night:
  102. 2023 My mind she has mated, and amaz'd my sight:
  103. 2024 I think, but dare not speak.
  104. Gentlewoman
  105. 2025 Good-night, good doctor.
  106. [Exeunt.]