(Knock.)

 

Hark, more knocking.

Get on your night-gown, lest occasion call us

And show us to be watchers. Be not lost

So poorly in your thoughts.

MACB.

To know my deed, 'twere best not know myself.

 

Knock.

 

Wake Duncan with thy knocking! I would thou couldst!

 

Exeunt.

 

 

Scene III

 

Enter a Porter. Knocking within.

 

PORT. Here's a knocking indeed! If a man were porter of Hell Gate, he should have old turning the key. (Knock.) Knock, knock, knock! Who's there, i' th' name of Belzebub? Here's a farmer, that hang'd himself on th' expectation of plenty. Come in time! Have napkins enow about you, here you'll sweat for't. (Knock.) Knock, knock! Who's there, in th' other devil's name? Faith, here's an equivocator, that could swear in both the scales against either scale, who committed treason enough for God's sake, yet could not equivocate to heaven. O, come in, equivocator. (Knock.) Knock, knock, knock! Who's there? Faith, here's an English tailor come hither for stealing out of a French hose. Come in, tailor, here you may roast your goose. (Knock.) Knock, knock! Never at quiet! What are you? But this place is too cold for hell. I'll devil-porter it no further. I had thought to have let in some of all professions that go the primrose way to th' everlasting bonfire. (Knock.) Anon, anon! [Opens the gate.] I pray you remember the porter.

 

Enter Macduff and Lennox.

MACD.

Was it so late, friend, ere you went to bed,

That you do lie so late?

PORT. Faith, sir, we were carousing till the second cock; and drink, sir, is a great provoker of three things.

MACD. What three things does drink especially provoke?

PORT. Marry, sir, nose-painting, sleep, and urine. Lechery, sir, it provokes, and unprovokes: it provokes the desire, but it takes away the performance. Therefore much drink may be said to be an equivocator with lechery: it makes him, and it mars him; it sets him on, and it takes him off; it persuades him, and disheartens him; makes him stand to, and not stand to; in conclusion, equivocates him in a sleep, and giving him the lie, leaves him.

MACD. I believe drink gave thee the lie last night.

PORT. That it did, sir, i' the very throat on me; but I requited him for his lie, and (I think) being too strong for him, though he took up my legs sometime, yet I made a shift to cast him.

MACD. Is thy master stirring?

 

Enter Macbeth.

 

Our knocking has awak'd him; here he comes.

LEN.

Good morrow, noble sir.

MACB.

Good morrow, both.

MACD.

Is the King stirring, worthy thane?

MACB.

Not yet.

MACD.

He did command me to call timely on him,

I have almost slipp'd the hour.

MACB.

I'll bring you to him.

MACD.

I know this is a joyful trouble to you;

But yet 'tis one.

MACB.

The labor we delight in physics pain.

This is the door.

MACD.

I'll make so bold to call,

For 'tis my limited service.

 

Exit Macduff.

 

LEN.

Goes the King hence to-day?

MACB.

He does; he did appoint so.

LEN.

The night has been unruly. Where we lay,

Our chimneys were blown down, and (as they say)

Lamentings heard i' th' air; strange screams of death,

And prophesying, with accents terrible,

Of dire combustion and confus'd events

New hatch'd to th' woeful time. The obscure bird

Clamor'd the livelong night. Some say, the earth

Was feverous, and did shake.

MACB.

'Twas a rough night.

LEN.

My young remembrance cannot parallel

A fellow to it.

 

Enter Macduff.

 

MACD.

O horror, horror, horror! Tongue nor heart

Cannot conceive nor name thee!

MACB. AND LEN.

What's the matter?

MACD.

Confusion now hath made his masterpiece!

Most sacrilegious murther hath broke ope

The Lord's anointed temple, and stole thence

The life o' th' building!

MACB.

What is't you say – the life?

LEN.

Mean you his Majesty?

MACD.

Approach the chamber, and destroy your sight

With a new Gorgon.