BANQUO enters with FLEANCE, who lights the way with a torch.
BANQUO
How's the night going, boy?
FLEANCE
The moon has set. The clock hasn't struck yet.
BANQUO
The moon sets at twelve, right?
FLEANCE
I think it's later than that, sir.
BANQUO
Here, take my sword. The heavens are being stingy with their light. Take this, too. I'm tired and feeling heavy, but I can't sleep. Merciful powers, keep away the nightmares that plague me when I rest!
MACBETH enters with a SERVANT, who carries a torch.
Give me my sword. Who's there?
MACBETH
A friend.
BANQUO
You're not asleep yet, sir? The king's in bed. He's been in an unusually good mood and has granted many gifts to your household and servants. This diamond is a present from him to your wife for her boundless hospitality. (he hands MACBETH a diamond)
MACBETH
Because we were unprepared for the king's visit, we weren't able to entertain him as well as we would have wanted to.
BANQUO
Everything's OK. I had a dream last night about the three witches. At least part of what they said about you was true.
MACBETH
I don't think about them now. But when we have an hour to spare we can talk more about it, if you're willing.
BANQUO
Whenever you like.
MACBETH
If you stick with me, when the time comes, there will be something in it for you.
BANQUO
I'll do whatever you say, as long as I can do it with a clear conscience.
MACBETH
Rest easy in the meantime.
BANQUO
Thank you, sir. You do the same.
BANQUO and FLEANCE exit.
MACBETH
(to the SERVANT) Go and tell your mistress to strike the bell when my drink is ready. Get yourself to bed.
The SERVANT exits.
Is this a dagger I see in front of me, with its handle pointing toward my hand? (to the dagger) Come, let me hold you. (he grabs at the air in front of him without touching anything) I don't have you but I can still see you. Fateful apparition, isn't it possible to touch you as well as see you? Or are you nothing more than a dagger created by the mind, a hallucination from my fevered brain? I can still see you, and you look as real as this other dagger that I'm pulling out now. (he draws a dagger) You're leading me toward the place I was going already, and I was planning to use a weapon just like you. My eyesight must either be the one sense that's not working, or else it's the only one that's working right. I can still see you, and I see blood splotches on your blade and handle that weren't there before. (to himself) There's no dagger here. It's the murder I'm about to do that's making me think I see one. Now half the world is asleep and being deceived by evil nightmares. Witches are offering sacrifices to their goddess Hecate. Old man murder, having been roused by the howls of his wolf, walks silently to his destination, moving like *Tarquin, as quiet as a ghost. (speaking to the ground) Hard ground, don't listen to the direction of my steps. I don't want you to echo back where I am and break the terrible stillness of this moment, a silence that is so appropriate for what I'm about to do. While I stay here talking, Duncan lives. The more I talk, the more my courage cools.
A bell rings.
I'm going now. The murder is as good as done. The bell is telling me to do it. Don't listen to the bell, Duncan, because it summons you either to heaven or to hell.
MACBETH exits.
*Tarquin was a Roman prince who sneaked into a Roman wife's bedroom in the middle of the night and raped her.