Macbeth - Power and Corruption (Polanski's the Tragedy of Macbeth) Page #3

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Conduct me to mine host.

We love him highly and shall

continue our graces towards him.

If it were done when 'tis done,

then 'twere well it were done quickly.

If the assassination could

trammel up the consequence...

... and catch,

with his surcease, success.

That but this blow might be

the be-all and the end-all here.

But here, upon this bank

and shoal of time...

... we'd jump the life to come.

Health to this household!

But in these cases,

we still have judgement here...

... that we but teach

bloody instructions...

... which, being taught,

return to plague the inventor.

He's here in double trust.

First, as I am his kinsman

and his subject...

... strong both against the deed.

Then as his host...

...who should against his murderer shut

the door, not bear the knife myself.

Besides, this Duncan hath borne

his faculties so meek...

... hath been so clear

in his great office...

... that his virtues will plead

like angels, trumpet-tongued...

... against the deep damnation

of his taking-off.

And pity, like a newborn babe striding

the blast, or heaven's cherubin...

... horsed upon the sightless couriers

of the air, shall blow...

... the horrid deed in every eye,

that tears shall drown the wind.

I have no spur to prick

the sides of my intent.

But only vaulting ambition...

...which o'erleaps itself

and falls on the other side.

- Why have you left the chamber?

- Hath he asked for me?

Know you not he has?

We will proceed no further

in this business.

He hath honoured me of late.

And I have bought golden opinions

from all sorts of people...

...which would be worn in their newest

gloss, not cast aside so soon.

Was the hope drunk,

wherein you dressed yourself?

Hath it slept since?

And wakes it now to look so green

and pale at what it did so freely?

From this time

such I account thy love.

Art thou afeard to be the same

in act as in desire?

Prithee, peace.

Wouldst thou live a coward, letting

"I dare not" wait upon "I would"?

Like the poor cat in the adage?

I dare do all that may become a man.

Who dares do more is none.

What beast was it then, that made you

break this enterprise to me?

When you durst do it,

then you were a man.

To be more than what you were,

you would be so much more the man.

Hail, Thane of Cawdor.

If we should fail?

We fail.

But screw your courage to

the sticking-place and we'll not fail.

Duncan's two chamberlains

will I with wine so convince...

...that memory, the warder

of the brain, shall be a fume.

I'll drug their possets.

When in swinish sleep their drenched

natures lie as in a death...

...what cannot you and I perform

upon the unguarded Duncan?

Bring forth men-children only...

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