Act and scene where macbeth kills duncan

I have done the deed. Didst thou not hear a noise?

I have done the deed. Didn’t you hear a noise?

I heard the owl scream and the crickets cry. Did not you speak?

I heard the owl scream and the crickets cry. Did you say something?

Hark! Who lies i’ th’ second chamber?

Listen! Who’s sleeping in the second bedroom?

[looking at his hands] This is a sorry sight.

[Looking at the blood on his hands] This is a sorry sight.

A foolish thought, to say a sorry sight.

That’s a foolish thing to say, that it’s a “sorry sight."

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 addressed them Again to sleep.

One servant laughed in his sleep, and one cried, “murder!” so that they woke each other up. I stood and listened, but they just said their prayers and fell back asleep.

There are two lodged together.

Malcolm and Donalbain are asleep in the same room.

One cried, “God bless us!” and “Amen” the other, As they had seen me with these hangman’s hands. List’ning their fear I could not say “Amen,” When they did say “God bless us!”

One servant cried, “God bless us!” and the other said, “Amen,” as if they’d seen me with my blood-stained hands. Though I heard the fear in their voices, I couldn’t respond “Amen” when they said “God bless us!”

Consider it not so deeply.

Try not to think about it so much.

But wherefore could not I pronounce “Amen?” I had most need of blessing, and “Amen” Stuck in my throat.

But why couldn’t I say “Amen?” I needed God’s blessing most profoundly, but the word “Amen” got stuck in my throat.

These deeds must not be thought After these ways. So, it will make us mad.

We must not think in that way about what we’ve done. Thinking that way will drive us crazy.

Methought I heard a voice cry, “Sleep no more! Macbeth does murder sleep”—the innocent sleep, Sleep that knits up the raveled sleave of care, The death of each day’s life, sore labor’s bath, Balm of hurt minds, great nature’s second course, Chief nourisher in life’s feast.

I thought I heard a voice cry, “Sleep no more! Macbeth murders sleep.” Innocent sleep. Sleep that smooths away all our fears and worries; that puts an end to each day; that eases the aches of the day’s work; and soothes hurt minds. Sleep, the main and most nourishing course in the feast of life.

What do you mean?

What’s your meaning?

Still it cried, “Sleep no more!” to all the house. “Glamis hath murdered sleep, and therefore Cawdor Shall sleep no more. Macbeth shall sleep no more.”

The voice cried and cried, “Sleep no more!” to the entire house. “Glamis has murdered sleep, and therefore Cawdor will sleep no more. Macbeth will sleep no more.”

Who was it that 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.

Who was it that cried out these words? Oh, my noble thane, you make yourself weak and unable to act when you think so obsessively about things. Go get some water and wash this filthy evidence from your hands. Why did you bring these daggers from the room? They must remain there. Go return them and smear the sleeping servants with the blood.

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

I won’t go back. I’m afraid just to think about what I’ve done. I don’t dare to look at it again.

Infirm of purpose! 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.

You weakling! Give me the daggers. Dead and sleeping people are as harmless as pictures: it’s childish to fear a scary painting. If Duncan is still bleeding, I’ll cover the faces of the servants with the blood. They must appear to be guilty.

LADY MACBETH exits.

A knock sounds offstage.

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.

Where is that knocking coming from? What’s wrong with me, that every noise terrifies me? [Looking at his hands] Whose hands are these? Ha! They’re plucking out my eyes. Could even all the water in the ocean wash this blood from my hands? No, my hands would instead stain the seas crimson, turning the green water entirely red.

LADY MACBETH enters.

My hands are of your color, but I shame To wear a heart so white.

My hands are red like yours, but I’d be ashamed if my heart were as bloodless and cowardly as yours.

A knock sounds offstage.

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.

I hear knocking at the south gate. We must return to our bedroom. A little water will wash away all the evidence of what we’ve done. It is so easy! Your determination has deserted you.

A knock sounds offstage.

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.

Listen! More knocking. Put on your sleeping robe, so that when we have to appear it won't seem as if we’ve been awake and watching this whole time. Break free of the sad thoughts that hold you down.

To know my deed, ’twere best not know myself.

The only way I can acknowledge what I’ve done is to forget who I am.

A knock sounds offstage.

Wake Duncan with thy knocking. I would thou couldst.

Wake Duncan with your knocking. I wish you could.

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