“There’s daggers in men’s smiles”

Act 2, Sc 3 

(7 actors) lines 56-112/138 (some cutting needed)

Lenox Good morrow, Noble Sir.

Macbeth Good morrow both.

Macduffe Is the King stirring, worthy Thane ?

Macbeth Not yet.  

Macduffe He did command me to call timely on him :

I have almost slipt the houre.

Macbeth Ile bring you to him.

Macduffe I know this is a joyfull trouble to you,

But yet, 'tis one.

Macbeth This is the Doore.

Macduffe Ile make so bold to call,

For 'tis my appointed service. [Exit Macduffe.]

Lenox Goes the King hence to-day ?

Macbeth He does.

Lenox The Night ha's been unruly.

Where we lay, our Chimneys were blowne downe,

And ( as they say ) lamentings heard i'th' Ayre :

The obscure Bird clamor'd the live-long Night.

Some say, the Earth was Fev’rous,  

And did shake.

Macbeth 'Twas a rough Night.

[Enter Macduffe.]  

Macduffe O horror, horror, horror :

Macbeth & Lenox What's the matter ?

Lenox Meane you his Majestie ?

Macduffe Do not bid me speake :

See, and then speake your selves : awake, awake----

[Exeunt Macbeth and Lenox.]

Ring the Alarum Bell : Murther, and Treason,

Banquo, and Donalbaine : Malcolme awake,  

Shake off this Downey sleepe ( Deaths counterfeit )

And looke on Death it selfe : Malcolme, Banquo,

As from your Graves rise up, and walke like Spirits,

To countenance this horror. Ring the Bell !

[Bell rings. Enter Lady Macbeth.]  

Lady What's the Businesse ?

That such a hideous Trumpet calls to parley

The sleepers of the House ? speake, speake.

Macduffe O gentle Lady,  

'Tis not for you to heare what I can speake.

[Enter Banquo.]

O Banquo, Banquo, Our Royall Master's murther'd.

Lady Woe, alas :

What, in our House ?

Banquo Too cruell, any where.

Deare Duff, I prythee contradict thy selfe,

And say, it is not so.  

[Enter Macbeth, Lenox, and Rosse.]

Macbeth Had I but dy'd an houre before this chance,

I had liv'd a blessed time : for from this instant,

There's nothing serious in Mortalitie :

All is but Toyes : Renowne and Grace is dead.

[Enter Malcolme and Donalbaine.]

Donalbaine What is amisse ?

Macbeth You are, and do not know't :  

.

Macduffe Your Royall Father's murther'd.

Malcome Oh ! by whom ?

Lenox Those of his Chamber, as it seem'd, had don't :

Their Hands and Faces were all badg'd with blood,

So were their Daggers, which ( unwip'd ) we found

Upon their Pillowes : they star'd, and were distracted---

Macbeth O, yet I do repent me of my furie,  

That I did kill them.

Macduffe Wherefore did you so ?

Macbeth Who can be wise, amaz'd, temp'rate, & furious,

Loyall, and Neutrall, in a moment ? No man.

Here lay Duncan,

His Silver skinne, lac'd with His Golden Blood----

There the Murtherers,

Their Daggers breech'd with gore.

Who could refraine, that had a Heart to love

And in that heart, Courage to make his love knowne ?

Lady Helpe me hence, hoa.

Macduffe Looke to the Lady.

[Donalbaine & Malcome speake apart.]

Malcome What will you do ?

Let's not consort with them :

To shew an unfelt Sorrow, is an Office

Which the false man do's easie ;  

Ile to England.

Donalbaine To Ireland, I----

Our separated fortune shall keepe us both the safer.

Malcome This murtherous Shaft that's shot,

Hath not yet lighted : Therefore to Horse.

[Exeunt.]

Banquo Looke to the Lady : and then let us meet,

To question this most bloody piece of worke ;

In the great Hand of God I stand, and thence,

Against the undivulg'd pretence, I fight  

Of Treasonous Mallice.

Macduffe And so do I.

All So all.

Macbeth Let's briefely put on manly readinesse,

And meet i'th' Hall together.

All Well contented.

[Exeunt.]