Macbeth, Act 5, Scene 1

I have two nights watched with you, but can perceive no truth in your report. When was it she last walked?

I have kept watch with you for two nights, but I can see no truth in what you report. When was the last time she walked?

Since his Majesty went into the field, I have seen her rise from her bed, throw her nightgown upon her, unlock her closet, take forth paper, fold it, write upon’t, read it, afterwards seal it, and again return to bed; yet all this while in a most fast sleep.

Since his Majesty went off to war, I have seen her get up from her bed, throw her nightgown over herself, unlock her cabinet, take out paper, fold it, write on it, read it, then seal it, and go back to bed again; and all that time she was in the deepest sleep.

A great perturbation in nature, to receive at once the benefit of sleep, and do the effects of watching. In this slumbery agitation, besides her walking and other actual performances, what, at any time, have you heard her say?

It is a great disturbance in her nature, to get the benefit of sleep and at the same time do the things one does awake. In this sleepy activity, besides her walking and the other things she actually does, what have you at any time heard her say?

That, sir, which I will not report after her.

Things, sir, that I will not repeat after her.

You may to me; and ’tis most meet you should.

You may repeat them to me; and it is entirely proper that you should.

Neither to you nor anyone; having no witness to confirm my speech.

Not to you nor to anyone, since I have no witness to back up what I say.

Lo you, here she comes! This is her very guise; and, upon my life, fast asleep. Observe her; stand close.

Look, here she comes! This is exactly how she behaves; and, on my life, she is fast asleep. Watch her; stay hidden.

How came she by that light?

How did she get that light?

Why, it stood by her: she has light by her continually; ’tis her command.

Why, it was standing beside her: she has a light by her all the time; that is her order.

You see, her eyes are open.

You see, her eyes are open.

Ay, but their sense are shut.

Yes, but their sight is shut.

What is it she does now? Look how she rubs her hands.

What is she doing now? Look how she rubs her hands.

It is an accustomed action with her, to seem thus washing her hands. I have known her continue in this a quarter of an hour.

That is a habit of hers, to look as if she is washing her hands. I have known her to keep it up for a quarter of an hour.

Yet here’s a spot.

There is still a spot here.

Hark, she speaks. I will set down what comes from her, to satisfy my remembrance the more strongly.

Listen, she is speaking. I will write down what comes out of her, to help my memory hold it more firmly.

Out, damned spot! out, I say! One; two. Why, then ’tis time to do’t. Hell is murky! Fie, my lord, fie! a soldier, and afeard? What need we fear who knows it, when none can call our power to account? Yet who would have thought the old man to have had so much blood in him?

Out, cursed spot! Out, I say! One; two. Well, then it is time to do it. Hell is dark! Shame, my lord, shame! A soldier, and afraid? Why should we be afraid of who knows it, when no one can question our power? Still, who would have thought the old man would have had so much blood in him?

Do you mark that?

Do you hear that?

The Thane of Fife had a wife. Where is she now?—What, will these hands ne’er be clean? No more o’ that, my lord, no more o’ that: you mar all with this starting.

The Thane of Fife had a wife. Where is she now?—What, will these hands never be clean? No more of that, my lord, no more of that: you spoil everything with this startling.

Go to, go to. You have known what you should not.

Enough, enough. You have learned things you should not have.

She has spoke what she should not, I am sure of that: heaven knows what she has known.

She has said things she should not have, I am sure of that: heaven knows what she has learned.

Here’s the smell of the blood still: all the perfumes of Arabia will not sweeten this little hand. Oh, oh, oh!

The smell of the blood is still here: all the perfumes of Arabia will not sweeten this little hand. Oh, oh, oh!

What a sigh is there! The heart is sorely charged.

What a sigh that is! The heart is painfully loaded.

I would not have such a heart in my bosom for the dignity of the whole body.

I would not have such a heart inside my chest for all the honour of the whole body.

Well, well, well.

Well, well, well.

Pray God it be, sir.

I pray to God that it is well, sir.

This disease is beyond my practice: yet I have known those which have walked in their sleep, who have died holily in their beds.

This illness is beyond my skill: still, I have known people who walked in their sleep who died in a state of grace in their beds.

Wash your hands, put on your nightgown; look not so pale. I tell you yet again, Banquo’s buried; he cannot come out on’s grave.

Wash your hands, put on your nightgown; do not look so pale. I tell you once more, Banquo is buried; he cannot come out of his grave.

Even so?

Is that so?

To bed, to bed. There’s knocking at the gate. Come, come, come, come, give me your hand. What’s done cannot be undone. To bed, to bed, to bed.

To bed, to bed. There is knocking at the gate. Come, come, come, come, give me your hand. What is done cannot be undone. To bed, to bed, to bed.

Will she go now to bed?

Will she go to bed now?

Directly.

Straight away.

Foul whisp’rings are abroad. Unnatural deeds Do breed unnatural troubles: infected minds To their deaf pillows will discharge their secrets. More needs she the divine than the physician.— God, God, forgive us all! Look after her; Remove from her the means of all annoyance, And still keep eyes upon her. So, good night: My mind she has mated, and amaz’d my sight. I think, but dare not speak.

Evil rumours are going around. Unnatural deeds breed unnatural troubles: diseased minds will unload their secrets to their deaf pillows. She needs a priest more than a doctor.—God, God, forgive us all! Look after her; take away from her anything she could harm herself with, and keep your eyes on her all the time. So, good night: she has bewildered my mind and stunned my eyes. I have my thoughts, but I dare not say them.

Good night, good doctor.

Good night, good doctor.