Macbeth by William Shakespeare
Act 5 - Scene 1
Dunsinane. Ante-room in the castle.
Doctor : I have two nights watched with you, but can perceive
[p]no truth in
your report. When was it she last walked?
Gentlewoman : Since his majesty went into the field, I have seen
[p]her rise from
her bed, throw her night-gown upon
[p]her, unlock her closet, take
forth paper, fold it,
[p]write upon't, read it, afterwards seal it,
and again
[p]return to bed; yet all this while in a most fast sleep.
Doctor : A great perturbation in nature, to receive at once
[p]the benefit of
sleep, and do the effects of
[p]watching! In this slumbery agitation,
besides her
[p]walking and other actual performances, what, at
any
[p]time, have you heard her say?
Gentlewoman : That, sir, which I will not report after her.
Doctor : You may to me: and 'tis most meet you should.
Gentlewoman : Neither to you nor any one; having no witness to
[p]confirm my
speech.
[p][Enter LADY MACBETH, with a taper]
[p]Lo you, here she
comes! This is her very guise;
[p]and, upon my life, fast asleep.
Observe her; stand close.
Doctor : How came she by that light?
Gentlewoman : Why, it stood by her: she has light by her
[p]continually; 'tis her
command.
Doctor : You see, her eyes are open.
Gentlewoman : Ay, but their sense is shut.
Doctor : What is it she does now? Look, how she rubs her hands.
Gentlewoman : It is an accustomed action with her, to seem thus
[p]washing her
hands: I have known her continue in
[p]this a quarter of an hour.
Lady Macbeth : Yet here's a spot.
Doctor : Hark! she speaks: I will set down what comes from
[p]her, to satisfy
my remembrance the more strongly.
Lady Macbeth : Out, damned spot! out, I say!--One: two: why,
[p]then, 'tis time to
do't.--Hell is murky!--Fie, my
[p]lord, fie! a soldier, and afeard?
What need we
[p]fear who knows it, when none can call our power
to
[p]account?--Yet who would have thought the old man
[p]to have had
so much blood in him.
Doctor : Do you mark that?
Lady Macbeth : The thane of Fife had a wife: where is she now?--
[p]What, will these
hands ne'er be clean?--No more o'
[p]that, my lord, no more o' that:
you mar all with
[p]this starting.
Doctor : Go to, go to; you have known what you should not.
Gentlewoman : She has spoke what she should not, I am sure of
[p]that: heaven knows
what she has known.
Lady Macbeth : Here's the smell of the blood still: all the
[p]perfumes of Arabia
will not sweeten this little
[p]hand. Oh, oh, oh!
Doctor : What a sigh is there! The heart is sorely charged.
Gentlewoman : I would not have such a heart in my bosom for the
[p]dignity of the
whole body.
Doctor : Well, well, well,--
Gentlewoman : Pray God it be, sir.
Doctor : This disease is beyond my practise: yet I have known
[p]those which
have walked in their sleep who have died
[p]holily in their beds.
Lady Macbeth : Wash your hands, put on your nightgown; look not so
[p]pale.--I tell
you yet again, Banquo's buried; he
[p]cannot come out on's grave.
Doctor : Even so?
Lady Macbeth : To bed, to bed! there's knocking at the gate:
[p]come, come, come,
come, give me your hand. What's
[p]done cannot be undone.--To bed, to
bed, to bed!
Doctor : Will she go now to bed?
Gentlewoman : Directly.
Doctor : Foul whisperings are abroad: unnatural deeds
[p]Do breed unnatural
troubles: infected minds
[p]To their deaf pillows will discharge their
secrets:
[p]More needs she the divine than the physician.
[p]God, God
forgive us all! Look after her;
[p]Remove from her the means of all
annoyance,
[p]And still keep eyes upon her. So, good night:
[p]My mind
she has mated, and amazed my sight.
[p]I think, but dare not speak.
Gentlewoman : Good night, good doctor.
Previous: Act 4 - Scene 3
Next: Act 5 - Scene 2
