I go, and it is done; the bell-invites me.
Hear it not, Duncan; for—it is the knell—
Th't summons thee-to heaven, or—to hell!

SCENE SECOND. Enter Lady Macbeth.

[Exit.

Lady Macb. That—which hath made them—drunk—hath made me—bold; What hath quench'd—them—hath given me—fire. Hark! Peace!

It was the owl-th't shriek'd,—the fatal—bellman—

Which gives the stern'st-good night. He is about it.

The doors-are open; and the surfeited grooms—

Do mock their charge-with snores. I-have drugg'd-their possets,
Th't death-and nature-do contend about them,

Whether they live—or―die.

Macb. [Within.] Who's there? what, ho!

Lady Macb. Alack! I am afraid—they have awaked,—
And 't is not done. The attempt,-(and not the deed,)—
Confounds us. Hark! I laid their daggers-ready;

He could not miss them. Had he not resembled
My father-(as he slept) I had done't.

My husband!

[Enter Macbeth.

Macb. I have done-the deed. Did'st thou not hear a noise?
Lady Macb. I heard the owl scream,—and the crickets cry.

Lady Macb. A foolish thought,-to say-a sorry sight.

Macb. There's one-did laugh-in his sleep,-and one cried "murder !”

Th't they did wake each other: I stood-and heard them:

But they did say their prayers,—and address'd them

Again—to sleep.

Lady Macb. There are two-lodged together.

Macb. One cried,-" God bless us!" and-" Amen"-the other,

As they had seen me,-with these hangman's hands.

Listening their fear, I-could not say,―amen,

When they did say,-God bless us!

Lady Macb.

Consider it not-so deeply.

Macb. But wherefore-could not I-pronounce,―amen?

I-had most need-of blessing,-and-amen

Stuck in my throat.

Lady Macb.

These deeds-must not be thought

After these ways; so,-it will make us mad.

Macb. Methought-I heard a voice-cry,-Sleep-no more!

Macbeth-does murder sleep; the innocent sleep;

Sleep-th't knits up the ravel'd sleeve-of care,

The death of each day's-life,—

-sore labor's bath,

What do you mean?

Balm-of hurt minds,-great nature's-second course,
Chief nourisher—in life's feast.

Lady Macb.

Macb. Still-it cried,-" Sleep-no more!" to all the house: "Glamis-hath murder'd sleep; and therefore-Cawdor

Shall sleep-no more; Macbeth-shall sleep no more!"

Lady Macb. Who was it-th't thus cried? Why, worthy thane,
You do unbend-your noble strength-to think
So brainsickly-of things. Go,-get some water,—
And wash-this filthy witness—from your hand.
Why did you bring these daggers-from the place?
They must lie there. Go,-carry them; and smear
The sleepy grooms-with blood.

Macb.

I'll go-no more;
I am afraid-to think-what-I have done:
Look on 't-again-I dare not.

Lady Macb.

Infirm―of purpose!

Give me the daggers. The sleeping-and-the dead-
Are but as pictures: 't is the eye of childhood-
Th't fears-a painted devil. If he do bleed,-
I'll gild the faces of the grooms withal;
For-it must seem-their guilt.

[Exit. Knocking within.

Whence is that knocking?

Macb.
How is 't-with me,-when every noise-appalls me?

What hands-are here? Ha! they pluck out-mine eyes!
Will all great Neptune's ocean-wash-this blood-
Clean-from my hand? No; this-my hand-will-rather
The multitudinous seas-incarnadine,

Making-the green,-one-red.

XXX.-KING HENRY VIII. SHAKESPEARE.

King. My life-itself, and the best heart of it,
Thanks you for this great care: I stood i' the level
Of a full-charged confederacy, and give thanks

To you th't choked it. Let be called before us

That gentleman—of Buckingham's :—in person—

I'll hear him—his confessions justify;

And-(point-by point)-the treasons of his master

He shall again relate.

Enter Queen Katharine, with Duke of Norfolk, etc. She kneels. The king rises,

takes her up, kisses her, and places her by him.

Queen. Nay, we must longer kneel;

King. Arise, and take place by us.

I am a suitor.

Half your suit

Never name to us; you-have half our power;
The other moiety, (ere you ask,) is given;
Repeat your will, and take it.

Queen.

Thank your majesty.

That you would love yourself; and (in that love,)
Not unconsidered-leave your honor, nor

The dignity-of your office,-is the point

Of my petition.

King.

Lady mine,-proceed.

Queen. I am solicited,—(not—by a few,

And those of true condition,) th't your subjects—
Are in great grievance: there have been commissions
Sent down among them, which have flaw'd the heart—

Of all their loyalties:—wherein,-(although,)

My good lord cardinal, they vent reproaches

Most bitterly-on you, (as putter on

Of these exactions,) yet the king our master,

(Whose honor-Heaven-shield from soil!) even he escapes not Language unmannerly, yea,—such—which breaks

The sides of loyalty, and almost appears

In loud rebellion.

Norfolk.

Not-almost appears,

It doth appear: for, (upon these taxations,)—
The clothiers all, (not able to maintain
The many-to them 'longing,) have put off
The spinsters,-carders,―fullers,—weavers,—who,
(Unfit-for other life,) compell'd by hunger-
And lack of other means, (in desperate manner—
Daring-the event-to the teeth,) are all in uproar,
And Danger-serves among them.

King.

TAXATION!

Wherein? and what taxation? My lord cardinal,
You (that are blamed for it alike with us,)

Know you-of this taxation?

Wolsey.

Please you, sir,

I know-but of a single part, in aught—

Pertains to the state; and front-but in that file-
Where others tell steps with me.

No,-(my lord,)

Queen.
You know no more-than others: but-you-frame
Things-th't are known-alike, which are not wholesome
To those which would not know them,-and yet-must-
(Perforce) be their acquaintance. These exactions,
(Whereof my sovereign-would have note,)—they are
Most pestilent-to the hearing; and to bear them
The back-is sacrifice—to the load. They say
They are devised—by you; or else you suffer—
Too hard an exclamation.

Still-EXACTION.

King.
The nature of it?—In what kind, (let's know,)
Is this exaction?

Queen.

I am much too venturous

281

In tempting-of your patience; but am bolden'd—
Under your promised pardon. The subject's grief-
Comes through commissions, which compel-(from each)
The sixth part-of his substance to be levied-

Without delay; and-the pretense for this

Is named,-your wars-in France. This makes bold mouthe: Tongues-spit their duties out; and cold hearts-freeze

Allegiance in them: their curses— (now)

Live-where their prayers did; and-it's come to pass,

This tractable obedience-is a slave

To each incensed will. I would your highness—

Would give it quick consideration, for—

There is no primer business.

-but

I have no further gone in this than by

A single voice; and that-not pass'd me—
By learned approbation-of the judges. If I am
Traduced by ignorant tongues,-which neither know
My faculties-nor person,-yet-will be

The chronicles-of my doing,-let me say—

'Tis but the fate-of place,—and the rough brake—

Th't virtue-must go through. We must not stint-
Our necessary actions,-in the fear-

To cope malicious censurers; which—ever,—

As ravenous fishes,—do a vessel follow

Th't is new-trimmed; but benefit-no further-
Than vainly-longing. What we oft-do best,
By sick interpreters,-(once-weak ones,) is

Not ours,-or-not allow'd; what-worst,-(as oft)—
Hitting a grosser quality,—is cried up-
For our best act. If we shall stand still,

In fear-our motion-will be mock'd or carp'd at,
We should take root-here-where we sit, or-sit
State statues

King.

only.

Things-done well,

And-with a care,-exempt themselves from fear;
Things-done-without example,-in their issue-
Are to be fear'd. Have you a precedent—

Of this commission? I believe-not any.
We must not rend-our subjects-from our laws,
And stick them-in our will. Sixth-part-of each?
A trembling-contribution? Why, we take-
(From every tree,) lop, bark, and part o' the timber;
And, though we leave it-with a root, (thus hack'd)
The air-will drink the sap. To every county-
(Where this is question'd) send our letters, with
Free pardon-to each man-th❜t has denied

The force of this commission. Pray,—look to 't;
I put it to your care.

Wolsey. [To the secretary.] A word with you.
Let there be letters writ-to every shire

Of the king's grace—and pardon. The grieved commons
Hardly conceive of me; let it be noised

Th't-(through our intercession) this revokement
And pardon comes: I shall-(anon) advise you
Further-in the proceeding.

XXXI.—QUEEN KATHARINE ON TRIAL. SHAKESPEAre.

[The Queen comes to the King, and kneels at his feet; then speaks.]
Queen. Sir, I desire you,-do me right—and justice;
And to bestow your pity on me: for-
I-am a most poor woman, and a stranger,—
Born-out of your dominions; having—here—
No judge-indifferent,-nor-no more assurance
Of equal friendship—and proceeding. Alas, sir,
In what have I offended you? what cause-
Hath my behavior-given to your displeasure?
Th't thus you should proceed-to put me off,
And take your good grace from me? Heaven-witness,
I have been to you—a true—and humble wife,
At all times-to your will-conformable :
Ever-in fear-to kindle your dislike;
Yea, subject—to your countenance; glad,-
As I saw it inclined. When was the hour

I ever-contradicted your desire,

-or sorry,

Or made it not mine-too? Or which-of your friends-
Have I not strove-to love,-although I knew—

What friend-of mine

He were mine enemy?
That had to him-derived your anger,—did I
Continue-in my liking? Sir, call to mind
Th't I have been your wife (in this obedience)
Upward-of twenty years, and have been bless'd—
With many children by you. If,-in the course-
And process of this time,—you can report,
And prove it-too,-against mine honor-aught,
My bond-to wedlock,- -or my love-and duty,
Against your sacred person,-in God's name,
Turn me away; and let the foul'st contempt-
Shut door upon me, and so-give me up
To the sharpest kind of justice. Please you, sir,
The king,-(your father,) was reputed for
A prince-most prudent,—of an excellent-
And unmatched wit-and judgment: Ferdinand,
My father, (king of Spain,) was reckoned one
The wisest prince,-th't there had reign'd-by many