Macbeth Act III Flashcards
I did so, and went further, which is now our
point of second meeting. Do you find your patience so
predominant in your nature that you can let this go?
Are you so gospelled to pray for this good man and for
his issue, whose heavy hand hath bowed you to the
grave and beggared yours forever?
Macbeth
Ay, in the catalogue ye go for men,
As hounds and greyhounds, mongrels, spaniels, curs,
Shoughs, water-rugs and demi-wolves, are clept
All by the name of dogs. The valued file
Distinguishes the swift, the slow, the subtle,
The housekeeper, the hunter — every one
According to the gift which bounteous nature
Hath in him closed, whereby he does receive
Particular addition from the bill
That writes them all alike — and so of men.
Now, if you have a station in the file
Not i’ the worst rank of manhood, say ‘t.
And I will put that business in your bosoms,
Whose execution takes your enemy off,
Grapples you to the heart and love of us,
Who wear our health but sickly in his life,
Which, in his death, were perfect.
Macbeth
So is he mine — and in such bloody distance,
That every minute of his being thrusts
Against my near’st of life; and though I could
With barefaced power sweep him from my sight
And bid my will avouch it. Yet I must not,
For certain friends, that are both his and mine,
Whose loves I may not drop, but wail his fall,
Who I myself struck down. And thence it is —
That I, to your assistance, do make love,
Masking the business from the common eye
For sundry weighty reasons.
Macbeth
Fleance, his son that keeps him company,
Whose absence is no less material to me
Than is his father’s, must embrace the fate
Of that dark hour. Resolve yourselves apart;
I’ll come to you anon.
Macbeth
It is concluded. Banquo, thy soul’s flight,
If it find heaven, must find it out tonight.
Macbeth
Nought’s had, all’s spent,
Where our desire is got without content.
‘Tis safer to be that which we destroy,
Than by destruction dwell in doubtful joy.
Lady Macbeth
We have scorched the snake, not killed it.
She’ll close and be herself, whilst our poor malice
Remains in danger of her former tooth.
Macbeth
Ere we will eat our meal in fear and sleep
In the affliction of these terrible dreams
That shake us nightly. Better be with the dead,
Whom we, to gain our peace, have sent to peace,
Than, on the torture of the mind, to lie
In restless ecstasy.
Macbeth
But in them nature’s copy’s not eterne.
Lady Macbeth
Come, sealing night,
Scarf up the tender eye of pitiful day;
And with thy bloody and invisible hand
Cancel and tear to pieces that great bond
Which keeps me pale. Light thickens,
and the crow makes wing to the rooky wood.
Good things of day begin to droop and drowse;
While night’s black agents to their preys do rouse.
Thou marvell’st at my words, but hold thee still.
Things bad begun make strong themselves by ill.
So, prithee, go with me.
Macbeth
Then stand with us.
The west yet glimmers with some streaks of day.
Now spurs the lated traveller apace
To gain the timely inn; and near approaches
The subject of our watch.
First murderer
Almost a mile — but he does usually,
So all men do, from hence to the palace gate
Make it their walk.
3rd murderer
Pronounce it for me, sir, to all our friends,
For my heart speaks they are welcome.
Lady Macbeth
Whole as the marble, founded as the rock,
As broad and general as the casing air.
But now I am cabined, cribbed, confined, bound in
To saucy doubts and fears.
Macbeth
There the grown serpent lies. The worm that’s fled
Hath nature that in time will venom breed —
No teeth for the present. Get thee gone. Tomorrow
We’ll hear ourselves again.
Macbeth
