Macbeth. William Shakespeare

      We'ld jump the life to come. But in these cases 480

      We still have judgment here; that we but teach

      Bloody instructions, which, being taught, return

      To plague the inventor: this even-handed justice

      Commends the ingredients of our poison'd chalice

      To our own lips. He's here in double trust; 485

      First, as I am his kinsman and his subject,

      Strong both against the deed; then, as his host,

      Who should against his murderer shut the door,

      Not bear the knife myself. Besides, this Duncan

      Hath borne his faculties so meek, hath been 490

      So clear in his great office, that his virtues

      Will plead like angels, trumpet-tongued, against

      The deep damnation of his taking-off;

      And pity, like a naked new-born babe,

      Striding the blast, or heaven's cherubim, horsed 495

      Upon the sightless couriers of the air,

      Shall blow the horrid deed in every eye,

      That tears shall drown the wind. I have no spur

      To prick the sides of my intent, but only

      Vaulting ambition, which o'erleaps itself 500

      And falls on the other.

      [Enter LADY MACBETH]

      How now! what news?

      Lady Macbeth. He has almost supp'd: why have you left the chamber?

      Macbeth. Hath he ask'd for me? 505

      Lady Macbeth. Know you not he has?

      Macbeth. We will proceed no further in this business:

      He hath honour'd me of late; and I have bought

      Golden opinions from all sorts of people,

      Which would be worn now in their newest gloss, 510

      Not cast aside so soon.

      Lady Macbeth. Was the hope drunk

      Wherein you dress'd yourself? hath it slept since?

      And wakes it now, to look so green and pale

      At what it did so freely? From this time 515

      Such I account thy love. Art thou afeard

      To be the same in thine own act and valour

      As thou art in desire? Wouldst thou have that

      Which thou esteem'st the ornament of life,

      And live a coward in thine own esteem, 520

      Letting 'I dare not' wait upon 'I would,'

      Like the poor cat i' the adage?

      Macbeth. Prithee, peace:

      I dare do all that may become a man;

      Who dares do more is none. 525

      Lady Macbeth. What beast was't, then,

      That made you break this enterprise to me?

      When you durst do it, then you were a man;

      And, to be more than what you were, you would

      Be so much more the man. Nor time nor place 530

      Did then adhere, and yet you would make both:

      They have made themselves, and that their fitness now

      Does unmake you. I have given suck, and know

      How tender 'tis to love the babe that milks me:

      I would, while it was smiling in my face, 535

      Have pluck'd my nipple from his boneless gums,

      And dash'd the brains out, had I so sworn as you

      Have done to this.

      Macbeth. If we should fail?

      Lady Macbeth. We fail! 540

      But screw your courage to the sticking-place,

      And we'll not fail. When Duncan is asleep—

      Whereto the rather shall his day's hard journey

      Soundly invite him—his two chamberlains

      Will I with wine and wassail so convince 545

      That memory, the warder of the brain,

      Shall be a fume, and the receipt of reason

      A limbeck only: when in swinish sleep

      Their drenched natures lie as in a death,

      What cannot you and I perform upon 550

      The unguarded Duncan? what not put upon

      His spongy officers, who shall bear the guilt