Enter BANQUO, and FLEANCE bearing a torch before him
BANQUO
1 How goes the night, boy?
FLEANCE
2 The moon is down; I have not heard the clock.
BANQUO
3 And she goes down at twelve.
FLEANCE
4 I take't, 'tis later, sir.
BANQUO
5 Hold, take my sword. There's husbandry in heaven; 6 Their candles are all out. Take thee that too. 7 A heavy summons lies like lead upon me, 8 And yet I would not sleep: merciful powers, 9 Restrain in me the cursed thoughts that nature 10 Gives way to in repose! Enter MACBETH, and a Servant with a torch 11 Give me my sword. 12 Who's there?
MACBETH
13 A friend.
BANQUO
14 What, sir, not yet at rest? The king's a-bed: 15 He hath been in unusual pleasure, and 16 Sent forth great largess to your offices. 17 This diamond he greets your wife withal, 18 By the name of most kind hostess; and shut up 19 In measureless content.
MACBETH
20 Being unprepared, 21 Our will became the servant to defect; 22 Which else should free have wrought.
BANQUO
23 All's well. 24 I dreamt last night of the three weird sisters: 25 To you they have show'd some truth.
MACBETH
26 I think not of them: 27 Yet, when we can entreat an hour to serve, 28 We would spend it in some words upon that business, 29 If you would grant the time.
BANQUO
30 At your kind'st leisure.
MACBETH
31 If you shall cleave to my consent, when 'tis, 32 It shall make honour for you.
BANQUO
33 So I lose none 34 In seeking to augment it, but still keep 35 My bosom franchised and allegiance clear, 36 I shall be counsell'd.
MACBETH
37 Good repose the while!
BANQUO
38 Thanks, sir: the like to you!
Exeunt BANQUO and FLEANCE
MACBETH
39 Go bid thy mistress, when my drink is ready, 40 She strike upon the bell. Get thee to bed. Exit Servant 41 Is this a dagger which I see before me, 42 The handle toward my hand? Come, let me clutch thee. 43 I have thee not, and yet I see thee still. 44 Art thou not, fatal vision, sensible 45 To feeling as to sight? or art thou but 46 A dagger of the mind, a false creation, 47 Proceeding from the heat-oppressed brain? 48 I see thee yet, in form as palpable 49 As this which now I draw. 50 Thou marshall'st me the way that I was going; 51 And such an instrument I was to use. 52 Mine eyes are made the fools o' the other senses, 53 Or else worth all the rest; I see thee still, 54 And on thy blade and dudgeon gouts of blood, 55 Which was not so before. There's no such thing: 56 It is the bloody business which informs 57 Thus to mine eyes. Now o'er the one halfworld 58 Nature seems dead, and wicked dreams abuse 59 The curtain'd sleep; witchcraft celebrates 60 Pale Hecate's offerings, and wither'd murder, 61 Alarum'd by his sentinel, the wolf, 62 Whose howl's his watch, thus with his stealthy pace. 63 With Tarquin's ravishing strides, towards his design 64 Moves like a ghost. Thou sure and firm-set earth, 65 Hear not my steps, which way they walk, for fear 66 Thy very stones prate of my whereabout, 67 And take the present horror from the time, 68 Which now suits with it. Whiles I threat, he lives: 69 Words to the heat of deeds too cold breath gives. A bell rings 70 I go, and it is done; the bell invites me. 71 Hear it not, Duncan; for it is a knell 72 That summons thee to heaven or to hell.