No Fear Shakespeare
Macbeth
Get this No Fear to go!
Act 2, Scene 2, Page 4
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Modern Text |
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60 |
MACBETH
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.
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MACBETH
Where is that knocking coming from? What’s happening to
me, that I’m frightened of every noise? (looking at his hands) Whose hands are
these? Ha! They’re plucking out my eyes. Will all the water
in the ocean wash this blood from my hands? No, instead my hands
will stain the seas scarlet, turning the green waters red.
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Enter LADY MACBETH
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LADY MACBETH enters. |
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65 |
LADY MACBETH
My hands are of your color, but I shame
To wear a heart so white.
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LADY MACBETH
My hands are as red as yours, but I would be ashamed if my heart
were as pale and weak.
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Knock within |
A sound of knocking from offstage. |
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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.
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I hear someone knocking at the south entry. Let’s go back
to our bedroom. A little water will wash away the evidence of our
guilt. It’s so simple! You’ve lost your
resolve.
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Knock within |
A sound of knocking from offstage. |
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| 70 |
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.
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Listen! There’s more knocking. Put on your nightgown, in
case someone comes and sees that we’re awake. Snap out of
your daze.
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MACBETH
To know my deed, ’twere best not know myself.
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MACBETH
Rather than have to think about my crime, I’d prefer to
be completely unconscious.
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Knock within |
A sound of knocking from offstage. |
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| 75 |
Wake Duncan with thy knocking. I would thou couldst.
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Wake Duncan with your knocking. I wish you could!
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Exeunt |
They exit. |
