William Shakespeare's Macbeth, his famous "Scottish play" is the story of a good man turned evil by a dark ambition he cannot control.
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Macbeth

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Act V. Scene I.

Act V. Scene I.—Dunsinane. A Room in the
Castle.

Enter a Doctor of Physic and a Waiting-Gentle-
woman.

Doct. I have two nights watched with you,
but can perceive no troth in your report. When
was it she last walked?
Gen. Since his majesty went into the field,
I have seen her rise from her bed, throw her
night-gown upon her, unlock her closet, take
forth paper, fold it, write upon't, read it, after-
wards seal It, and again return to bed; yet all
this while in a most fast sleep.
Doct. A great perturbation in nature, to
receive at once the benefit of sleep and do the
effects of watching! In this slumbery agitation,
besides her walking and other actual perform-
ances, what, at any time, have you heard her say?
Gen. That, sir, which I will not report after
her.
Doct. You may to me, and 'tis most meet you
should.
Gen. Neither to you nor any one, having no
witness to confirm my speech.

Enter LADY MACBETH, with a taper.
Lo you! here she comes. This Is her very guise;
and, upon my life, fast asleep. Observe her?
stand close.
Doct. How came she by that light?
Gen. Why, it stood by her: she has light by
her continually; tis her command.
Doct. You see, her eyes are open.
Gen. Ay, but their sense is shut.
Doct. What is it she does now? Look, how
she rubs her hands.
Gen. It is an accustomed action with her, to
seem thus washing her hands. I have known
her to continue in this a quarter of an hour.
Lady M. Yet here's a spot.
Doct. Hark! she speaks. I will set down
what comes from her, to satisfy my remem-
brance the more strongly.
Lady M. Out, damned spot! out, I say! One;
two: why, then, 'tis time to do't. Hell is murky!
Fie, my lord, fie! a soldier, and afeard? What
need we fear who knows it, when none can call
our power to account? Yet who would have
thought the old man to have had so much
blood In him?
Doct. Do you mark that?
Lady M. The Thane of Fife had a wife:
where is she now? What! will these hands ne'er
be clean? No more o' that, my lord, no more
o' that: you mar all with this starting.
Doct. Go to. go to; you have known what
you should not.
Gen. She has spoke what she should not, I
am sure of that: Heaven knows what she has
known.
Lady M. Here's the smell of the blood still:
all the perfumes of Arabia will not sweeten this
little hand. Oh! oh! oh!
Doct. What a sigh is there! The heart is
sorely charged.
Gen. I would not have such a heart In my
bosom for the dignity of the whole body.
Doct. Well, well, well.
Gen. Pray God it be, sir.
Doct. This disease is beyond my practice:
yet I have known those which have walked in
their sleep who have died holily in their beds.
Lady M. wash your hands, put on your
night-gown; look not so pale. I tell you yet
again, Banquo's buried; he cannot come out
on's grave.
Doct. Even so?
Lady M. To bed, to bed: there's knocking
at the gate. Come, come, come, come, give me
your hand. What's done cannot be undone,
To bed, to bed, to bed. [Exit.
Doct. Will she go now to bed?
Gen. Directly.
Doct. Foul whisperings are abroad. Unnatu-
ral deeds
Do breed unnatural troubles; infected minds
To their deaf pillows will discharge their secrets;
More needs she the divine than the physician.
God, God forgive us all! Look after her;
Remove from her the means of all annoyance,
And still keep eyes upon her. So, good-night:
My mind she has mated, and amaz'd my sight.
I think, but dare not speak.
Gen. Good-night, good doctor. [Exeunt.
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