No Fear Shakespeare
Macbeth
Get this No Fear to go!
Act 5, Scene 1
Original Text |
Modern Text |
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Enter a DOCTOR of physic and a
waiting-GENTLEWOMAN
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A DOCTOR and a
waiting-
GENTLEWOMAN
enter. |
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DOCTOR
I have two nights watched with you but can perceive no
truth in your report. When was it she last walked?
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DOCTOR
I’ve stayed up with you for two nights now, and I
haven’t seen any evidence of what you were talking about.
When was the last time you saw her sleepwalking?
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GENTLEWOMAN
Since his majesty went into the field, I have seen her rise
from her bed, throw her nightgown upon her, unlock her
closet, take forth paper, fold it, write upon ’t, read it,
afterwards seal it, and again return to bed; yet all this while
in a most fast sleep.
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GENTLEWOMAN
Since Macbeth went to war, I have seen her rise from her bed, put
on her nightgown, unlock her closet, take out some paper, fold it,
write on it, read it, seal it up, and then return to bed, remaining
asleep the entire time.
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DOCTOR
A great perturbation in nature, to receive at once the benefit
of sleep, and do the line>effects of watching. In this slumbery agitation, besides her
walking and other
actual performances, what, at any time, have you heard her
say?
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DOCTOR
It’s unnatural to be asleep and act as if you’re
awake. When she is like this, besides walking and performing various
activities, have you heard her say anything?
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GENTLEWOMAN
That, sir, which I will not report after her.
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GENTLEWOMAN
She says something, sir, but I will not repeat it to you.
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DOCTOR
You may to me, and ’tis most meet you should.
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DOCTOR
You can tell me. You really should.
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GENTLEWOMAN
Neither to you nor any one, having no witness to confirm my
speech.
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GENTLEWOMAN
I will not confess it to you nor to anyone else, because there was
no one else to witness her speech.
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Enter LADY MACBETH with a taper |
LADY MACBETH enters, holding a
candle. |
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Lo you, here she comes. This is her very guise; and, upon my life,
fast asleep. Observe her, stand close.
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Look, here she comes! This is exactly how she always looks,
and—I swear it—she is fast asleep. Watch
her. Keep hidden.
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15 |
DOCTOR
How came she by that light?
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DOCTOR
How did she get that candle?
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