macbeth [a reduced version in a single act]

7/28/2019 Macbeth [a reduced version in a single act]

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MacbethA reduced version in a single act

Matthew Lee KnowlesApril 2013


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MACBETH

So humbly take my leave.

DUNCAN

True, worthy Banquo; he is full so valiant.

LADY MACBETH

'They met me in the day of success:

And I have shalt be!'

This have I thought good to deliver,

The illness should attend it: what thou wouldst highly,

To have thee crown'd withal.

MESSENGER

So please you, it is true: our thane is coming.

LADY MACBETH

Under my battlements. Come, you spirits,

You wait on nature's mischief! Come, thick night,

The future in the instant.

Shall sun that morrow see!

MACBETH

We will speak further.

DUNCAN

This castle hath a pleasant seat; the air.

BANQUO

Where they most breed and haunt, I have observed.

LADY MACBETH

All our service.

DUNCAN

To be his purveyor: but he rides well,

Give me your hand.

MACBETH

Could trammel up the consequence, and catch.

First, as I am his kinsman and his subject,

Upon the sightless couriers of the air,

Hath he ask'd for me?

LADY MACBETH

Was the hope drunk,

Letting 'I dare not' wait upon 'I would,'

And, to be more than what you were, you would.


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MACBETH

If we should fail?

LADY MACBETH

Shall be a fume, and the receipt of reason.

MACBETH

Nothing but males. Will it not be received,

Each corporal agent to this terrible feat.

FLEANCE

The moon is down; I have not heard the clock.

BANQUO

Restrain in me the cursed thoughts that nature

Sent forth great largess to your offices.I dreamt last night of the three weird sisters.

MACBETH

If you shall cleave to my consent, when 'tis.

BANQUO

Thanks, sir: the like to you!

MACBETH

To feeling as to sight?

Or art thou but which was not so before.There's no such thing:

Hear not my steps, which way they walk, for fear.

LADY MACBETH

That which hath made them drunk hath made me bold;

My father as he slept, I had done't.

Now.

MACBETH

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

LADY MACBETH

Consider it not so deeply.

MACBETH

Macbeth does murder sleep, the innocent sleep,

Shall sleep no more; Macbeth shall sleep no more,

I'll go no more.

Whence is that knocking?

LADY MACBETHMy hands are of your colour; but I shame.


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Hark! More knocking.

PORTER

Here's a knocking indeed!

If a time; have napkins enow about you;

Here, knock it no further: I had thought to have let inFaith sir, we were carousing.

MACDUFF

Away the performance: therefore, much drink.

PORTER

That it did, sir, i' the very throat on.

LENNOX

Good morrow, noble sir.

MACBETH

I'll bring you to him.

MACDUFF

For 'tis my limited service.

LENNOX

And prophesying with accents terrible.

MACDUFFO horror, horror, horror! Tongue nor heart!

The life o' the building!

Awake, awake!

LADY MACBETH

What's the business?

MACDUFF

O Banquo, Banquo.

MACBETH

Had I but died an hour before this chance,

You are, and do not know't.

LENNOX

Their hands and faces were an badged with blood.

MACBETH

Who can be wise, amazed, temperate and furious,

That had a heart to love, and in that heart.


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DONALBAIN

Where our fate.

BANQUO

And when we have our naked frailties hid,

So all.

MALCOLM

To show an unfelt sorrow is an office,

Is to avoid the aim. Therefore, to horse.

OLD MAN

Hours dreadful and things strange;

But this sore night - 'tis unnatural.

ROSSWar with mankind.

Is't known who did this more than bloody deed?

MACDUFF

Stol'n away and fled; which puts upon them.

ROSS

Where is Duncan's body?

Well, I will thither.

BANQUOThou hast it now: king, Cawdor, Glamis, all.

Of many kings. If there come truth from them.

LADY MACBETH

It had been as a gap in our great feast.

MACBETH

Ride you this afternoon?

BANQUOAs far, my lord, as will fill up the time.

MACBETH

In England and in Ireland, not confessing,

And so I do commend you to their backs. Farewell.

ATTENDANT

They are, my lord, without the palace gate.

MACBETH

To act in safety. There is none but he,No son of mine succeeding. If 't be so.


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THIRD MURDERER

Make it their walk.

FIRST MURDERER

Let it come down.

Wast not the way?

MACBETH

You know your own degrees; sit down: at first,

We will require her welcome,

Approaching the door.

Thou art the best o' the cut-throats: yet he's good,

But now I am cabin'd, cribb'd, confined, bound in,

No teeth for the present. Get thee gone: to-morrow.

Sweet remembrancer!

Who may I rather challenge for unkindness?Where?

Thy gory locks at me.

Ay, and a bold one, that dare look on that!

LADY MACBETH

Authorized by her grandam. Shame itself!

What, quite unmann'd in folly?

MACBETH

Ay, and since too, murders have been perform'd,

I do forget.Lords.

LADY MACBETH

But as a thing of custom: 'tis no other.

MACBETH

The baby of a girl. Hence, horrible shadow!

And overcome us like a summer's cloud.

LADY MACBETHQuestion enrages him. At once, good night.

MACBETH

It will have blood; they say, blood will have blood.

LADY MACBETH

Did you send to him, sir?

MACBETH

Stepp'd in so far that, should I wade no more.


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FIRST WITCH

Why, how now, Hecate! You look angerly.

HECATE

And I, the mistress of your charms,

Meet me i' the morning: thither he,And that distill'd by magic sleights,

Sits in a foggy cloud, and stays for me.

LENNOX

Gracious Duncan,

That were the slaves of drink and thralls of sleep?

His presence at the tyrant's feast, I hear,

Is gone to pray the holy king, upon his aid,

Sent he to Macduff?

His wisdom can provide, some holy angel.

FIRST WITCH

Thrice the brinded cat hath mew'd.

Toad, that under cold stone.

SECOND WITCH

Eye of newt and toe of frog.

THIRD WITCH

Scale of dragon, tooth of wolf,

Make the gruel thick and slab.

HECATE

O well done! I commend your pains.

SECOND WITCH

Something wicked this way comes.

MACBETH

I conjure you, by that which you profess,

Even till destruction sicken; answer me.

FIRST WITCH

Or from our masters?

Thyself and office deftly show!

Macbeth! Macbeth! Macbeth!

MACBETH

But yet I'll make assurance double sure.

SECOND WITCH

Listen, but speak not to't.


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MACBETH

Who can impress the forest, bid the tree.

SECOND WITCH

Seek to know no more.

THIRD WITCH

Show!

MACBETH

A third is like the former. Filthy hags!

What, is this so?

FIRST WITCH

Our duties did his welcome pay.

MACBETH

Saw you the weird sisters?

The galloping of horse: who was't came by?

The flighty purpose never is o'ertook,

But no more sights! Where are these gentlemen?

LADY MACDUFF

He had none,

He wants the natural touch: for the poor wren.

ROSSThe fits o' the season. I dare not speak.

Blessing upon you!

LADY MACDUFF

And what will you do now? How will you live?

SON

Why should I, mother? Poor birds they are not set for.

Then you'll buy 'em to sell again.

LADY MACDUFF

Why, one that swears and lies.

SON

Who must hang them?

LADY MACDUFF

But how wilt thou do for a father?

MESSENGER

Though in your state of honour I am perfect.


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ROSS

Expire before the flowers in their caps.

MACDUFF

How does my wife?

ROSS

No; they were well at peace when I did leave 'em.

MACDUFF

Now is the time of help; your eye in Scotland,

Would I could answer,

But in it shares some woe; though the main part.

Hum! I guess at it.

MALCOLMWhispers the o'er-fraught heart and bids it break.

ROSS

I have said.

MALCOLM

Dispute it like a man.

MACDUFF

Fell slaughter on their souls. Heaven rest them now!

Heaven forgive him too!

DOCTOR

I have two nights watched with you, but can perceive.

GENTLEWOMAN

Return to bed; yet all this while in a most fast sleep.

DOCTOR

You may to me: and 'tis most meet you should.

GENTLEWOMAN

Why, it stood by her: she has light by her,

Washing her hands: I have known her continue in.

LADY MACBETH

Lord, fie! A soldier, and afeard?

What need we this starting.

DOCTOR

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

This disease is beyond my practise: yet I have known.


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LADY MACBETH

To bed, to bed! There's knocking at the gate.

DOCTOR

Do breed unnatural troubles: infected minds.

MENTEITH

The English power is near, led on by Malcolm.

ANGUS

Shall we well meet them; that way are they coming.

MENTEITH

What does the tyrant?

ANGUSNow minutely revolts upbraid his faith-breach.

CAITHNESS

Well, march we on.

MACBETH

Bring me no more reports; let them fly all:

Shall e'er have power upon thee.

Then fly, geese, villain!

SERVANTThe English force, so please you.

As honour, love, obedience, troops of friends.

SEYTON

All is confirm'd, my lord, which was reported.

MACBETH

How does your patient, doctor?

And with some sweet oblivious antidote,

Come, sir, dispatch. If thou couldst, doctor, cast,Bring it after me.

MALCOLM

Cousins, I hope the days are near at hand,

Let every soldier hew him down a bough,

'Tis his main hope.

SIWARD

The time approaches.

Hang out our banners on the outward walls.


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SEYTON

It is the cry of women, my good lord.

MACBETH

Cannot once start me.

To the last syllable of recorded time.

MESSENGER

Gracious my lord.

MACBETH

Liar and slave!

I care not if thou dost for me as much.

Ring the alarum-bell!

Blow, wind! Come, wrack!

MALCOLM

Shall take upon 's what else remains to do.

MACBETH

They have tied me to a stake; I cannot fly,

Thou'lt be afraid to hear it,

No, nor more fearful.

MACDUFF

That way the noise is. Tyrant, show thy face!

By this great clatter, one of greatest note.

SIWARD

And little is to do.

MACBETH

Why should I play the Roman fool, and die?

MACDUFF

I have no words.

MACBETH

I bear a charmed life, which must not yield,

And be these juggling fiends no more believed,

I will not yield.

MALCOLM

I would the friends we miss were safe arrived.

ROSS

He only lived but till he was a man.


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SIWARD

Had he his hurts before?

MALCOLM

He's worth more sorrow.

MACDUFF

I see thee compass'd with thy kingdom's pearl.

MALCOLM

And make us even with you.

My thanes and kinsmen,

That calls upon us,

by the grace of Grace.

macbeth [a reduced version in a single act]

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