ACT 5
[Enter a Doctor of Physic and a Waiting-Gentlewoman]
DOCTOR
I have two nights watched with you, but can perceive
I’ve watched for two nights now with you, but can’t see
no truth in your report. When was it she last walked?
evidence supporting what you say. When did she last walk?
GENTLEWOMAN
Since his majesty went into the field, I have seen
Since Macbeth left for battle, I have seen
her rise from her bed, throw her night-gown upon her,
her get up from bed, put on her night-gown,
unlock her closet, take forth paper, fold it,
unlock her cupboard, take some paper, fold it,
write upon't, read it, afterwards seal it, and again
write on it, read it, then seal it, and then
return to bed; yet all this while in a most fast sleep.
return to bed. Yet all the while she’s fast asleep.
DOCTOR
A great perturbation in nature, to receive at once
What a confused disposition, for she gets
the benefit of sleep, and do the effects of
the benefit of sleep, whilst doing things
watching! In this slumbery agitation, besides her
a waking person would! When in this sleepy state, besides her
walking and other actual performances, what, at any time,
walking and other things she does, what, at any time,
have you heard her say?
have you heard her say?
GENTLEWOMAN
That, sir, which I will not report after her.
She’s said things I cannot repeat to you.
DOCTOR
You may to me: and 'tis most meet you should.
You can to me, and it’s important that you do.
GENTLEWOMAN
Neither to you nor any one; having no witness to
I won’t to you nor anyone because I have no witnesses
confirm my speech.
to verify my words.
[Enter LADY MACBETH, with a taper]
Lo you, here she comes! This is her very guise;
Hey look, here she comes! That’s just the way she always looks;
and, upon my life, fast asleep. Observe her; stand close.
and, I bet my life, she’s fast asleep. Watch her, stay close.
DOCTOR
How came she by that light?
How did she get the candle?
GENTLEWOMAN
Why, it stood by her: she has light by her
It was by her bed; she has a candle next to her
continually; 'tis her command.
all the time. That’s what she’s ordered.
DOCTOR
You see, her eyes are open.
You see, her eyes are open.
GENTLEWOMAN
Ay, but their sense is shut.
Yes, but they are not working.
DOCTOR
What is it she does now? Look, how she rubs her hands.
What is she doing now? Look, how she rubs her hands.
GENTLEWOMAN
It is an accustomed action with her, to seem thus
She does this all the time, appearing to be
washing her hands: I have known her continue in
washing her hands. I’ve known her carry on like this
this a quarter of an hour.
for a quarter of an hour.
LADY MACBETH
Yet here's a spot.
There’s still a spot here.
DOCTOR
Hark! She speaks: I will set down what comes from her,
Listen! She’s speaking. I’ll write down what she says,
to satisfy my remembrance the more strongly.
so that I don’t forget it.
LADY MACBETH
Out, damned spot! Out, I say!--One: two: why, then,
Get off, damned spot! Get off, I say! One, two: well then
'tis time to do't.--Hell is murky!--Fie, my lord, fie!
It’s time to do it. Hell is a dark place! Crap, my lord, crap!
A soldier, and afeard? What need we
You call yourself a soldier, but you’re scared? Why do we need
fear who knows it, when none can call our power to
to fear who knows of it, when no one has the proof that
account?--Yet who would have thought the old man
we are guilty? Yet who would have thought the old man
to have had so much blood in him.
would have so much blood in him.
DOCTOR
Do you mark that?
Do you hear that?
LADY MACBETH
The thane of Fife had a wife: where is she now?--
The thane of Fife had a wife: where is she now?
What, will these hands ne'er be clean?--No more o' that,
What, will I never get these hands clean? No more of that,
my lord, no more o' that: you mar all with
my lord, no more of that: you’ll spoil everything
this starting.
by acting jumpy.
DOCTOR
Go to, go to; you have known what you should not.
That’s proof; you’ve heard something you shouldn’t.
GENTLEWOMAN
She has spoke what she should not, I am sure of that:
She’s said something she shouldn’t have, I’m sure of that:
heaven knows what she has known.
God knows what secrets she’s been hiding.
LADY MACBETH
Here's the smell of the blood still: all the
My hands still smell of blood. All the
perfumes of Arabia will not sweeten this little hand.
perfumes of Arabia won’t make my hand smell sweet.
Oh, oh, oh!
Oh, oh, oh!
DOCTOR
What a sigh is there! The heart is sorely charged.
That was a heavy sigh! Her heart is burdened.
GENTLEWOMAN
I would not have such a heart in my bosom for the
I wouldn’t want a heart like that, even if
dignity of the whole body.
I was made a queen.
DOCTOR
Well, well, well,--
Well, well, well…
GENTLEWOMAN
Pray God it be, sir.
I pray to God all was well, sir.
DOCTOR
This disease is beyond my practise: yet I have known
I don’t have experience treating this disease, yet I have known
those which have walked in their sleep who have died
of people who have sleep-walked and have died
holily in their beds.
innocently in bed.
LADY MACBETH
Wash your hands, put on your nightgown; look not so
Wash your hands, put on your nightgown; don’t look so
pale.--I tell you yet again, Banquo's buried; he
pale. I tell you once again, Banquo is buried; he
cannot come out on's grave.
cannot rise out of his grave.
DOCTOR
Even so?
Really?
LADY MACBETH
To bed, to bed! There's knocking at the gate:
To bed, to bed! There’s knocking at the gate:
come, come, come, come, give me your hand.
come, come, come, come, give me your hand.
What's done cannot be undone.--To bed, to bed, to bed!
What’s done can’t be undone. To bed, to bed, to bed!
[Exit]
DOCTOR
Will she go now to bed?
Will she now go to bed?
GENTLEWOMAN
Directly.
Straight to bed.
DOCTOR
Foul whisperings are abroad: unnatural deeds
Bad rumours have been whispered; weird actions
Do breed unnatural troubles: infected minds
Make weird things occur. When folk are sick,
To their deaf pillows will discharge their secrets:
They speak their secrets, thinking no one’s listening.
More needs she the divine than the physician.
She needs a priest more than she needs a doctor.
God, God forgive us all! Look after her;
God, God forgive us all! Look after her;
Remove from her the means of all annoyance,
And stop her bringing harm unto herself,
And still keep eyes upon her. So, good night:
And keep an eye on her. And so, goodnight:
My mind she has mated, and amazed my sight.
She’s shocked my mind, and she’s amazed my sight
I think, but dare not speak.
I daren’t say what I’m thinking.
GENTLEWOMAN
Good night, good doctor.
Goodnight, doctor.
[Exeunt]
