Macbeth: Act I, Scene vii; First Folio
Macbeth. Act 1, Scene 7. Macbeth
(This text is featured in our interview with Maria-Christina Oliveras and Nance Williamson)
(This text is also featured in our interview with Ty Jones)
Click here to open a scanned version.
Click here to open a modern version.
- If it were done, when ’tis done, then ‘twer well,
- It were done quickly: If th’Assassination
- Could trammell vp the Consequence, and catch
- With his surcease, Successe: that but this blow
- Might be the be all, and the end all. Heere,
- But heere, vpon this Banke and Schoole of time,
- Wee’ld iumpe the life to come. But in these Cases,
- We still haue iudgement heere, that we but teach
- Bloody Instructions, which being taught, returne
- To plague th’Inuenter, This euen-handed Iustice
- Commends th’Ingredience of our poyson’d Challice
- To our owne lips. Hee’s heere in double trust;
- First, as I am his Kinsman, and his Subiect,
- Strong both against the Deed: Then, as his Host,
- Who should against his Murtherer shut the doore,
- Not beare the knife my selfe. Besides, this Duncane
- Hath borne his Faculties so meeke; hath bin
- So cleere in his great Office, that his Vertues
- Will pleade like Angels, Trumpet-tongu’d against
- The deepe damnation of his taking off:
- And Pitty, like a naked New-borne-Babe,
- Striding the blast, or Heauens Cherubin, hors’d
- Vpon the sightlesse Curriors of the Ayre,
- Shall blow the horrid deed in euery eye,
- That teares shall drowne the winde. I haue no Spurre
- To pricke the sides of my intent, but onely
- Vaulting Ambition, which ore-leapes it selfe,
- And falles on th’other.