No Fear Shakespeare: Macbeth: Act 2 Scene 3

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Macbeth

William Shakespeare

Act 2 Scene 3

Original Text

Modern Text

PORTER

Original Text

Modern Text

PORTER

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Original Text	Modern Text
Enter a PORTER . Knocking within	A sound of knocking from offstage. A PORTER A porter is a doorkeeper. PORTER , who is obviously drunk, enters.
PORTER Here’s a knocking indeed! If a man were porter of hell-gate, he should have old turning the key.	PORTER Here’s a knocking indeed! If a man were porter of hell-gate, he should have old turning the key.
Knock within	Knock within
Knock, knock, knock! Who’s there, i' th' name of Beelzebub? Here’s a farmer that hanged himself on the expectation of plenty. Come in time, have napkins enough about you, here you’ll sweat for ’t.	Knock, knock, knock! Who’s there, i' th' name of Beelzebub? Here’s a farmer that hanged himself on the expectation of plenty. Come in time, have napkins enough about you, here you’ll sweat for ’t.
Knock within	Knock within
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! 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 within	Knock within
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! 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 within	Knock within
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 the everlasting bonfire.	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 the everlasting bonfire.
Knock within	Knock within
Anon, anon! I pray you, remember the porter.	Anon, anon! I pray you, remember the porter.
Opens the gate	Opens the gate
Enter MACDUFF and LENNOX	Enter MACDUFF and LENNOX
MACDUFF Was it so late, friend, ere you went to bed, That you do lie so late?	MACDUFF Was it so late, friend, ere you went to bed, That you do lie so late?
PORTER 'Faith sir, we were carousing till the second cock. And drink, sir, is a great provoker of three things.	PORTER 'Faith sir, we were carousing till the second cock. And drink, sir, is a great provoker of three things.
MACDUFF What three things does drink especially provoke?	MACDUFF What three things does drink especially provoke?
PORTER 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.	PORTER 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.
MACDUFF I believe drink gave thee the lie last night.	MACDUFF I believe drink gave thee the lie last night.
PORTER That it did, sir, i' th' 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.	PORTER That it did, sir, i' th' 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.
MACDUFF 15 Is thy master stirring?	MACDUFF Is thy master stirring?
Enter MACBETH	Enter MACBETH
Our knocking has awaked him. Here he comes.	Our knocking has awaked him. Here he comes.
LENNOX Good morrow, noble sir.	LENNOX Good morrow, noble sir.
MACBETH Good morrow, both.	MACBETH Good morrow, both.
MACDUFF Is the king stirring, worthy thane?	MACDUFF Is the king stirring, worthy thane?
MACBETH Not yet.	MACBETH Not yet.
MACDUFF He did command me to call timely on him. 20 I have almost slipped the hour.	MACDUFF He did command me to call timely on him. I have almost slipped the hour.
MACBETH I’ll bring you to him.	MACBETH I’ll bring you to him.
MACDUFF I know this is a joyful trouble to you, But yet ’tis one.	MACDUFF I know this is a joyful trouble to you, But yet ’tis one.
MACBETH The labor we delight in physics pain. This is the door.	MACBETH The labor we delight in physics pain. This is the door.
MACDUFF 25 I’ll make so bold to call, For ’tis my limited service.	MACDUFF I’ll make so bold to call, For ’tis my limited service.
Exit MACDUFF	Exit MACDUFF
LENNOX Goes the king hence today?	LENNOX Goes the king hence today?
MACBETH He does. He did appoint so.	MACBETH He does. He did appoint so.
LENNOX 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 confused events New hatched to the woeful time. The obscure bird Clamored the livelong night. Some say the Earth 35 Was feverous and did shake.	LENNOX 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 confused events New hatched to the woeful time. The obscure bird Clamored the livelong night. Some say the Earth Was feverous and did shake.
MACBETH 'Twas a rough night.	MACBETH 'Twas a rough night.
LENNOX My young remembrance cannot parallel A fellow to it.	LENNOX My young remembrance cannot parallel A fellow to it.
Enter MACDUFF	Enter MACDUFF
MACDUFF O horror, horror, horror! Tongue nor heart cannot conceive nor name thee!	MACDUFF O horror, horror, horror! Tongue nor heart cannot conceive nor name thee!
MACBETH & LENNOX What’s the matter?	MACBETH & LENNOX What’s the matter?
MACDUFF 40 Confusion now hath made his masterpiece. Most sacrilegious murder hath broke ope The Lord’s anointed temple, and stole thence The life o' th' building!	MACDUFF Confusion now hath made his masterpiece. Most sacrilegious murder hath broke ope The Lord’s anointed temple, and stole thence The life o' th' building!
MACBETH What is ’t you say? “The life”?	MACBETH What is ’t you say? “The life”?
LENNOX Mean you his majesty?	LENNOX Mean you his majesty?
MACDUFF 45 Approach the chamber, and destroy your sight With a new Gorgon. Do not bid me speak. See, and then speak yourselves.	MACDUFF Approach the chamber, and destroy your sight With a new Gorgon. Do not bid me speak. See, and then speak yourselves.
Exeunt MACBETH and LENNOX	Exeunt MACBETH and LENNOX
Awake, awake! Ring the alarum bell. Murder and treason! 50 Banquo and Donalbain! Malcolm! Awake! Shake off this downy sleep, death’s counterfeit, And look on death itself! Up, up, and see The great doom’s image! Malcolm! Banquo! As from your graves rise up, and walk like sprites, 55 To countenance this horror! Ring the bell	Awake, awake! Ring the alarum bell. Murder and treason! Banquo and Donalbain! Malcolm! Awake! Shake off this downy sleep, death’s counterfeit, And look on death itself! Up, up, and see The great doom’s image! Malcolm! Banquo! As from your graves rise up, and walk like sprites, To countenance this horror! Ring the bell
Bell rings. Enter LADY MACBETH	Bell rings. Enter LADY MACBETH
LADY MACBETH What’s the business, That such a hideous trumpet calls to parley The sleepers of the house? Speak, speak!	LADY MACBETH What’s the business, That such a hideous trumpet calls to parley The sleepers of the house? Speak, speak!
MACDUFF O gentle lady, 'Tis not for you to hear what I can speak: 60 The repetition, in a woman’s ear, Would murder as it fell.	MACDUFF O gentle lady, 'Tis not for you to hear what I can speak: The repetition, in a woman’s ear, Would murder as it fell.
Enter BANQUO	Enter BANQUO
O Banquo, Banquo, Our royal master’s murdered!	O Banquo, Banquo, Our royal master’s murdered!
LADY MACBETH Woe, alas! What, in our house?	LADY MACBETH Woe, alas! What, in our house?
BANQUO 65 Too cruel any where. Dear Duff, I prithee, contradict thyself, And say it is not so.	BANQUO Too cruel any where. Dear Duff, I prithee, contradict thyself, And say it is not so.
Enter MACBETH , LENNOX , and ROSS	Enter MACBETH , LENNOX , and ROSS
MACBETH Had I but died an hour before this chance, I had lived a blessèd time, for from this instant 70 There’s nothing serious in mortality. All is but toys. Renown and grace is dead. The wine of life is drawn, and the mere lees Is left this vault to brag of.	MACBETH Had I but died an hour before this chance, I had lived a blessèd time, for from this instant There’s nothing serious in mortality. All is but toys. Renown and grace is dead. The wine of life is drawn, and the mere lees Is left this vault to brag of.
Enter MALCOLM and DONALBAIN	Enter MALCOLM and DONALBAIN
DONALBAIN What is amiss?	DONALBAIN What is amiss?
MACBETH 75 You are, and do not know ’t. The spring, the head, the fountain of your blood Is stopped; the very source of it is stopped.	MACBETH You are, and do not know ’t. The spring, the head, the fountain of your blood Is stopped; the very source of it is stopped.
MACDUFF Your royal father’s murdered.	MACDUFF Your royal father’s murdered.
MALCOLM Oh, by whom?	MALCOLM Oh, by whom?
LENNOX Those of his chamber, as it seemed, had done ’t. 80 Their hands and faces were all badged with blood. So were their daggers, which unwiped we found Upon their pillows. They stared, and were distracted. No man’s life was to be trusted with them.	LENNOX Those of his chamber, as it seemed, had done ’t. Their hands and faces were all badged with blood. So were their daggers, which unwiped we found Upon their pillows. They stared, and were distracted. No man’s life was to be trusted with them.
MACBETH Oh, yet I do repent me of my fury, 85 That I did kill them.	MACBETH Oh, yet I do repent me of my fury, That I did kill them.
MACDUFF Wherefore did you so?	MACDUFF Wherefore did you so?
MACBETH Who can be wise, amazed, temp'rate, and furious, Loyal and neutral, in a moment? No man. Th' expedition of my violent love 90 Outrun the pauser, reason. Here lay Duncan, His silver skin laced with his golden blood, And his gashed stabs looked like a breach in nature For ruin’s wasteful entrance; there, the murderers, Steeped in the colors of their trade, their daggers 95 Unmannerly breeched with gore. Who could refrain, That had a heart to love, and in that heart Courage to make ’s love known?	MACBETH Who can be wise, amazed, temp'rate, and furious, Loyal and neutral, in a moment? No man. Th' expedition of my violent love Outrun the pauser, reason. Here lay Duncan, His silver skin laced with his golden blood, And his gashed stabs looked like a breach in nature For ruin’s wasteful entrance; there, the murderers, Steeped in the colors of their trade, their daggers Unmannerly breeched with gore. Who could refrain, That had a heart to love, and in that heart Courage to make ’s love known?
LADY MACBETH Help me hence, ho!	LADY MACBETH Help me hence, ho!
MACDUFF Look to the lady.	MACDUFF Look to the lady.
MALCOLM (aside to DONALBAIN ) Why do we hold our tongues, 100 That most may claim this argument for ours?	MALCOLM (aside to DONALBAIN ) Why do we hold our tongues, That most may claim this argument for ours?
DONALBAIN (aside to MALCOLM) What should be spoken here, where our fate, Hid in an auger-hole, may rush and seize us? Let’s away. Our tears are not yet brewed.	DONALBAIN (aside to MALCOLM) What should be spoken here, where our fate, Hid in an auger-hole, may rush and seize us? Let’s away. Our tears are not yet brewed.
MALCOLM (aside to DONALBAIN) Nor our strong sorrow 105 Upon the foot of motion.	MALCOLM (aside to DONALBAIN) Nor our strong sorrow Upon the foot of motion.
BANQUO Look to the lady.	BANQUO Look to the lady.
Exit LADY MACBETH , attended	Exit LADY MACBETH , attended
And when we have our naked frailties hid, That suffer in exposure, let us meet And question this most bloody piece of work, To know it further. Fears and scruples shake us. 110 In the great hand of God I stand, and thence Against the undivulged pretense I fight Of treasonous malice.	And when we have our naked frailties hid, That suffer in exposure, let us meet And question this most bloody piece of work, To know it further. Fears and scruples shake us. In the great hand of God I stand, and thence Against the undivulged pretense I fight Of treasonous malice.
MACDUFF And so do I.	MACDUFF And so do I.
ALL So all.	ALL So all.
MACBETH Let’s briefly put on manly readiness, 115 And meet i' th' hall together.	MACBETH Let’s briefly put on manly readiness, And meet i' th' hall together.
ALL Well contented.	ALL Well contented.
Exeunt all but MALCOLM and DONALBAIN	Exeunt all but MALCOLM and DONALBAIN
MALCOLM What will you do? Let’s not consort with them. To show an unfelt sorrow is an office Which the false man does easy. I’ll to England.	MALCOLM What will you do? Let’s not consort with them. To show an unfelt sorrow is an office Which the false man does easy. I’ll to England.
DONALBAIN To Ireland, I. Our separated fortune 120 Shall keep us both the safer. Where we are, There’s daggers in men’s smiles. The near in blood, The nearer bloody.	DONALBAIN To Ireland, I. Our separated fortune Shall keep us both the safer. Where we are, There’s daggers in men’s smiles. The near in blood, The nearer bloody.
MALCOLM This murderous shaft that’s shot Hath not yet lighted, and our safest way 125 Is to avoid the aim. Therefore, to horse, And let us not be dainty of leave-taking, But shift away. There’s warrant in that theft Which steals itself when there’s no mercy left.	MALCOLM This murderous shaft that’s shot Hath not yet lighted, and our safest way Is to avoid the aim. Therefore, to horse, And let us not be dainty of leave-taking, But shift away. There’s warrant in that theft Which steals itself when there’s no mercy left.
Exeunt	Exeunt