Scene I

[Dunsinane. Anteroom in the castle.]

Enter a Doctor of Physic, and a Waiting Gentlewoman.

DOCTOR:

I have two nights watched with you, but can perceive
no truth in your report. When was it she last walked?

DOCTOR:

I have watched two nights with you, but I can perceive no
truth in your report. When was it she last walked?

GENTLEWOMAN:

Since his Majesty went into the field, I have
seen her rise from her bed, throw her nightgown upon her,
unlock her closet, take forth paper, fold it, write upon't, read(5)
it, afterwards seal it, and again return to bed; yet all this
while in a most fast sleep.

GENTLEWOMAN:

Since his majesty went into the field, I have seen her
rise from her bed, throw her nightgown upon her, unlock her
closet, take out paper, fold it, write upon it, read it,
afterwards seal it, and again return to bed. But all this
she did while she was fast asleep.

DOCTOR:

A great perturbation in nature, to receive at once the
benefit of sleep and do the effects of watching! In this slumbery
agitation, besides her walking and other actual performances,(10)
what, at any time, have you heard her say?

DOCTOR:

A great disturbance in nature, to receive at once the
benefit of sleep, and do things as if awake. In this
slumbery agitation, besides her walking and other actual
performances, what, at any time, have you heard her say?

GENTLEWOMAN:

That, sir, which I will not report after her.

GENTLEWOMAN:

That, sir, which I will not report about her.

DOCTOR:

You may to me, and ’tis most meet you should.

DOCTOR:

You may to me, and it is most proper you should.

GENTLEWOMAN:

Neither to you nor any one, having no witness
to confirm my speech.(15)

Enter Lady [Macbeth], with a taper.

Lo you, here she comes! This is her very guise, and, upon
my life, fast asleep. Observe her; stand close.

GENTLEWOMAN:

Neither to you nor any one, having no witness to confirm my
speech. Look you, here she comes!

This is her very disguise, and, upon my life, fast asleep. Observe
her; stand close.

DOCTOR:

How came she by that light?

DOCTOR:

Where did she get that light?

GENTLEWOMAN:

Why, it stood by her. She has light by her
continually; ’tis her command.(20)

GENTLEWOMAN:

Why, it stood by her. She has light by her continually; it is her
command.

DOCTOR:

You see, her eyes are open.

DOCTOR:

You see, her eyes are open.

GENTLEWOMAN:

Ay, but their sense is shut.

GENTLEWOMAN:

Yes, only she doesn’t see anything.

DOCTOR:

What is it she does now? Look how she rubs her
hands.

DOCTOR:

What’s she doing now? Look how she rubs her hands.

GENTLEWOMAN:

It is an accustomed action with her, to seem(25)
thus washing her hands. I have known her continue in
this a quarter of an hour.

GENTLEWOMAN:

She’s accustomed to it, to seem to washing her
hands in this way. I have known her continue in this way for a quarter of an hour.

LADY MACBETH:

Yet here's a spot.

LADY MACBETH:

Still here's a spot.

DOCTOR:

Hark, she speaks! I will set down what comes from
her, to satisfy my remembrance the more strongly.(30)

DOCTOR:

Listen, she speaks. I will set down what she says, to
satisfy my remembrance the more strongly.

LADY MACBETH:

Out, damned spot! Out, I say! One–two—
why then ’tis time to do't. Hell is murky. Fie, my lord, fie!
A soldier, and afeard? What need we fear who knows it,
when none can call our power to account? Yet who would
have thought the old man to have had so much blood in(35)
him?

LADY MACBETH:

Out, damned spot! Out, I say! One; two; why, then it is
time to do it. Hell is murky! For shame, my lord, for shame! A soldier,
and afeard? What need we fear who knows it, when none can call
our power to account? Yet who would have thought the old man to
have had so much blood in him?

DOCTOR:

Do you mark that?

DOCTOR:

Do you mark that?

LADY MACBETH:

The Thane of Fife had a wife; where is she
now? What, will these hands ne'er be clean? No more o’
that, my lord, no more o’ that. You mar all with this(40)
starting.

LADY MACBETH:

The Baron of Fife had a wife; where is she now? What,
will these hands never be clean? No more of that, my lord, no
more of that. You mar all with this starting.

DOCTOR:

Go to, go to; you have known what you should not.

DOCTOR:

O no! You have known what you should not.

GENTLEWOMAN:

She has spoke what she should not, I am sure
of that. Heaven knows what she has known.

GENTLEWOMAN:

She has spoken what she should not, I am sure of that.
Heaven knows what she has known.

LADY MACBETH:

Here's the smell of the blood still. All the perfumes(45)
of Arabia will not sweeten this little hand. Oh, oh,
oh!

LADY MACBETH:

Here's the smell of the blood still. All the perfumes
of Arabia will not sweeten this little hand. Oh, oh, oh!

DOCTOR:

What a sigh is there! The heart is sorely charged.

DOCTOR:

What a sigh that is! The heart is sorely perplexed.

GENTLEWOMAN:

I would not have such a heart in my bosom
for the dignity of the whole body.(50)

GENTLEWOMAN:

I don’t wish to have such a heart in my bosom for the
dignity of the whole body.

DOCTOR:

Well, well, well—

DOCTOR:

Well, well, well,

GENTLEWOMAN:

Pray God it be, sir.

GENTLEWOMAN:

Pray God it be, sir.

DOCTOR:

This disease is beyond my practice. Yet I have
known those which have walked in their sleep who have
died holily in their beds.(55)

DOCTOR:

This disease is beyond my practice. Yet I have known those
which have walked in their sleep who have died holily in
their beds.

LADY MACBETH:

Wash your hands, put on your nightgown;
look not so pale. I tell you yet again, Banquo's buried; he
cannot come out on's grave.

LADY MACBETH:

Wash your hands, put on your nightgown; look not so
pale. I tell you yet again, Banquo's buried; he cannot come
out on his grave.

DOCTOR:

Even so?

DOCTOR:

Even so?

LADY MACBETH:

To bed, to bed; there's knocking at the gate.(60)
Come, come, come, come, give me your hand. What's
done cannot be undone. To bed, to bed, to bed.

LADY MACBETH:

To bed, to bed; there's knocking at the gate. Come, come, come,
come, give me your hand. What’s done cannot be undone. To bed, to
bed, to bed.

Exit Lady.

DOCTOR:

Will she go now to bed?

DOCTOR:

Will she go now to bed?

GENTLEWOMAN:

Directly.

GENTLEWOMAN:

Directly.

DOCTOR:

Foul whisperings are abroad. Unnatural deeds(65)
Do breed unnatural troubles: infected minds
To their deaf pillows will discharge their secrets:
More needs she the divine than the physician.
God, God, forgive us all! Look after her;
Remove from her the means of all annoyance,
And still keep eyes upon her. So good night:
My mind she has mated, and amazed my sight:
I think, but dare not speak.

DOCTOR:

Disgustingly filthy rumors are circulating. Unnatural deeds
Do breed unnatural troubles. Infected minds
Will tell their secrets to their deaf pillows.
She needs the divine more than she needs the physician.
God, God, forgive us all! Look after her.
Take everything from her that she might use to harm herself,
And still keep your eyes on her. So, good-night.
She has stupefied my mind, and amazed my sight.
I think, but dare not speak.

GENTLEWOMAN:

Good night, good doctor.

GENTLEWOMAN:

Good-night, good doctor.

Exeunt.