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Macbeth - Act 3, scene 2
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Last updated: Fri, Jul 31, 2015
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Macbeth - Act 3, scene 2Act 3, scene 2
Scene 2
Synopsis:
Both Lady Macbeth and Macbeth express their unhappiness. Macbeth speaks of his fear of Banquo especially. He refers to a dreadful deed that will happen that night but does not confide his plan for Banquo’s murder to Lady Macbeth.
Enter Macbeth’s Lady and a Servant.LADY MACBETH 1115 Is Banquo gone from court?
SERVANT
1116 Ay, madam, but returns again tonight.
LADY MACBETH
1117 Say to the King I would attend his leisure
1118 For a few words.
SERVANT 1119 5Madam, I will.He exits.
LADY MACBETH 1120 Naught’s had, all’s spent,
1121 Where our desire is got without content.
1122 ’Tis safer to be that which we destroy
1123 Than by destruction dwell in doubtful joy.
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Enter Macbeth.1124 10 How now, my lord, why do you keep alone,
1125 Of sorriest fancies your companions making,
1126 Using those thoughts which should indeed have died
1127 With them they think on? Things without all remedy
1128 Should be without regard. What’s done is done.
MACBETH
1129 15 We have scorched the snake, not killed it.
1130 She’ll close and be herself whilst our poor malice
1131 Remains in danger of her former tooth.
1132 But let the frame of things disjoint, both the worlds
1133 suffer,
1134 20 Ere we will eat our meal in fear, and sleep
1135 In the affliction of these terrible dreams
1136 That shake us nightly. Better be with the dead,
1137 Whom we, to gain our peace, have sent to peace,
1138 Than on the torture of the mind to lie
1139 25 In restless ecstasy. Duncan is in his grave.
1140 After life’s fitful fever he sleeps well.
1141 Treason has done his worst; nor steel nor poison,
1142 Malice domestic, foreign levy, nothing
1143 Can touch him further.
LADY MACBETH 1144 30 Come on, gentle my lord,
1145 Sleek o’er your rugged looks. Be bright and jovial
1146 Among your guests tonight.
MACBETH 1147 So shall I, love,
1148 And so I pray be you. Let your remembrance
1149 35 Apply to Banquo; present him eminence
1150 Both with eye and tongue: unsafe the while that we
1151 Must lave our honors in these flattering streams
1152 And make our faces vizards to our hearts,
1153 Disguising what they are.
LADY MACBETH 1154 40 You must leave this.
MACBETH
1155 O, full of scorpions is my mind, dear wife!
1156 Thou know’st that Banquo and his Fleance lives.
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LADY MACBETH 1157 But in them nature’s copy’s not eterne.
MACBETH
1158 There’s comfort yet; they are assailable.
1159 45 Then be thou jocund. Ere the bat hath flown
1160 His cloistered flight, ere to black Hecate’s summons
1161 The shard-born beetle with his drowsy hums
1162 Hath rung night’s yawning peal, there shall be done
1163 A deed of dreadful note.
LADY MACBETH 1164 50 What’s to be done?
MACBETH
1165 Be innocent of the knowledge, dearest chuck,
1166 Till thou applaud the deed.—Come, seeling night,
1167 Scarf up the tender eye of pitiful day
1168 And with thy bloody and invisible hand
1169 55 Cancel and tear to pieces that great bond
1170 Which keeps me pale. Light thickens, and the crow
1171 Makes wing to th’ rooky wood.
1172 Good things of day begin to droop and drowse,
1173 Whiles night’s black agents to their preys do
1174 60 rouse.—
1175 Thou marvel’st at my words, but hold thee still.
1176 Things bad begun make strong themselves by ill.
1177 So prithee go with me.
They exit.