Act 2 Scene 1 40


A dagger of the mind, a false creation, Proceeding from the heat-oppressed brain?15 I see thee yet, in form as palpable16 As this which now I draw. Thou marshall'st17


I see thee still, And on thy blade and dudgeon19


Macbeth


15 heat-oppressed brain: feverish mind 16 palpable: clearly present/tangible


me the way that I was going;


And such an instrument I was to use. Mine eyes are made the fools o’ the other senses, Or else worth all the rest;18


gouts of blood,20 50


Which was not so before. There’s no such thing: It is the bloody business which informs Thus to mine eyes. Now o'er the one half-world Nature seems dead, and wicked dreams abuse The curtained sleep; witchcraft celebrates Pale Hecate's21


offerings, and withered murder,


Alarumed by his sentinel, the wolf, Whose howl's his watch, 22


thus with his stealthy pace. With Tarquin’s23 ravishing strides, towards his design


Moves like a ghost. Thou sure and firm-set earth, Hear not my steps, which way they walk, for fear Thy very stones prate24


of my whereabout, 60


And take the present horror from the time, Which now suits with it.25


I go, and it is done; the bell invites me. Hear it not, Duncan, for it is a knell27 That summons thee to heaven, or to hell. [Exit]


Whiles I threat, he lives:


Words to the heat of deeds too cold breath gives.26 [A bell rings]


23 17 Thou marshall’st: You lead/direct 18


Mine eyes…all the rest: Either my eyes are foolish compared to the other senses or are more perceptive than all the rest.


19 dudgeon: handle 20 gouts of blood: blood droplets


21 Hecate: goddess of witchcraft 22


Alarumed…his watch:Murder is awoken by his watchdog, the wolf


Tarquin: a Roman prince who crept stealthily to rape a sleeping victim


24 prate: tell 25


And take the present…suits with it: And destroy the horrifying silence which suits my purposes tonight


26


Words to the heat of deeds too cold breath gives:Words cool the heat of action.


27 knell: the ringing of a funeral bell


Key Quotations


BANQUOMerciful powers, / Restrain in me the cursed thoughts that nature / Gives way to in repose!


MACBETH Is this a dagger which I see before me, / The handle toward my hand? MACBETH Thou marshall'st me the way that I was going


36


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