The modern elocutionist, compiled and ed. by J.A. Jennings

Lady M. A foolish thought, to say a sorry sight.

Macb. There's one did laugh in 's sleep, and one cried 'Murder!'

That they did wake each other: I stood and heard them:

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

Again to sleep.

Lady M. 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 M.

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 M.

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 that knits up the ravell'd sleave of care,
The death of each day's life, sore labour's bath,
Balm of hurt minds, great nature's second course,
Chief nourisher in life's feast,-

Lady M.

What do you mean ?

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 M. Who was it that thus cried?

thane,

Why, worthy

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.

Infirm of purpose!

Lady M.
Give me the daggers: the sleeping and the dead
Are but as pictures: 'tis the eye of childhood
That fears a painted devil. If he do bleed,
I'll gild the faces of the grooms withal;

For it must seem their guilt.

Macb.

[Exit.

Knocking within.

Whence is that knocking?

How is't with me, when every noise appals 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.

Re-enter LADY MACBETH.

Lady M. My hands are of your colour; but I shame

To wear a heart so white. [Knocking within.] I hear a

knocking

At the south entry: retire we to our chamber :

A little water clears us of this deed.

How easy is it, then!

Your constancy

Hath left you unattended. [Knocking within.] Hark! more

knocking.

Get on your nightgown, lest occasion call us,

And show us to be watchers. Be not lost

So poorly in your thoughts.

Macb. To know my deed, 'twere best not know myself.

[Knocking within.

Wake Duncan with thy knocking! I would thou couldst!

FROM "THE TEMPEST." [1610.]

ACT IV. SCENE I.

Our revels now are ended. These our actors,

As I foretold you, were all spirits and

Are melted into air, into thin air:

And, like the baseless fabric of this vision,
The cloud-capp'd towers, the gorgeous palaces,
The solemn temples, the great globe itself,
Yea, all which it inherit, shall dissolve
And, like this insubstantial pageant faded,
Leave not a rack behind. We are such stuff
As dreams are made on, and our little life
Is rounded with a sleep.

[Exeunt.

INDEX OF AUTHORS.

ADELER, MAX,

AIDÉ, HAMILTON, -

ALDRICH, T. BAILEY,
ALLEN, ELIZABETH A.,
ALLINGHAM, WILLIAM,
ANDERSEN, HANS,

ANONYMOUS,