READ STUDY GUIDE: Act I, scenes v–vii |
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Act I, Scene v:
Inverness. A Room in Macbeth's Castle.
Inverness. A Room in 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, 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 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." |
| Glamis thou art, and Cawdor; and shalt be |
| What thou art promis'd; 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 |
| The illness should attend it. What thou wouldst highly, |
| That wouldst thou holily; wouldst not play false, |
| And yet wouldst wrongly win: thou'dst have, great Glamis, |
| That which cries, "Thus thou must do, if thou have it: |
| And that which rather thou dost fear to do |
| Than wishest should be undone." Hie thee hither, |
| That I may pour my spirits in thine ear; |
| And chastise with the valor of my tongue |
| All that impedes thee from the golden round, |
| Which fate and metaphysical aid doth seem |
| To have thee crown'd withal. |
| [Enter an Attendant.] |
| What is your tidings? |
| ATTENDANT: |
| The king comes here tonight. |
| LADY MACBETH: |
| Thou'rt mad to say it: |
| Is not thy master with him? who, were't so, |
| Would have inform'd for preparation. |
| ATTENDANT: |
| 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: |
| Give him tending; |
| He brings great news. |
| [Exit Attendant.] |
| The raven himself is hoarse |
| That croaks the fatal entrance of Duncan |
| Under my battlements. Come, you spirits |
| 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 |
| Shake my fell purpose, nor keep peace between |
| The effect and it! Come to my woman's breasts, |
| And take my milk for gall, your murdering ministers, |
| Wherever in your sightless substances |
| You wait on nature's mischief! Come, thick night, |
| 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! |
| 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, |
| Duncan comes here tonight. |
| LADY MACBETH: |
| And when goes hence? |
| MACBETH: |
| To-morrow,—as he purposes. |
| LADY MACBETH: |
| O, never |
| Shall sun that morrow see! |
| 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 |
| Must be provided for: and you shall put |
| This night's great business into my despatch; |
| Which shall to all our nights and days to come |
| Give solely sovereign sway and masterdom. |
| MACBETH: |
| We will speak further. |
| LADY MACBETH: |
| Only look up clear; |
| To alter favor ever is to fear: |
| Leave all the rest to me. |
| [Exeunt.] |
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