MRS. SWDONS AS LADY MACBETH 59 



That death and nature do contend about them, 

 Whether they live or die. 



Macbeth. [ Within.'] Who's there ? what, ho ! 



Lady. 34 Alack, I am afraid they have awaked, 

 And 'tis not done. The attempt and not the deed 

 Confounds us. Hark ! I laid their daggers ready ; 

 He could not miss them. Had he not resembled 

 My father as he slept r I had done't.35 My husband ! 



Enter MACBETH. 



Macbeth. 36 1 have done the deed. Didst thou not hear a noise ? 



Lady. I heard the owl scream and the crickets cry. 

 Did not you speak ? 35 



Macbeth. When? 36 



Lady. Now. 



Macbeth. As I descended ? 37 



Lady. Ay. 



Macbeth. Hark ! 

 Who lies i' the second chamber ? 



Lady. Donalbain. 



Macbeth. This is a sorry sight. [Looking on his hands. 



Lady. A foolish thought, to say a sorry sight. 



Macbeth. 38 There's one did laugh in his sleep, and one cried 



' Murder ! ' 



That they did wake each other : I stood and heard them : 

 But they did say their prayers, and address'd them 

 Again to sleep. 



Lady. There are two lodged together. 



Macbeth. One cried ' God bless us ! ' and * Amen ' the other ; 

 As they had seen me with these hangman's hands : 

 Listening their fear, I could not say ' Amen,' 

 When they did say ' God bless us ! ' 



Lady. Consider it not so deeply. 



Macbeth. But wherefore could not I pronounce ' Amen ' ? 

 I had most need of blessing, and ' Amen ' 

 Stuck in my throat. 



34 The finest agony ; tossing of the arms. 



35 Agonised suspense, as if speechless with uncertainty whether discovered. 



36 Macbeth speaks all this like some horrid secret a whisper in the dark. 



37 Very well spoken ; horrid whisper. 



38 Mrs. Siddons here displays her wonderful power and knowledge of nature. 

 As if her inhuman strength of spirit overcome by the contagion of his remorse 

 and terror. Her arms about her neck and bosom, shuddering. 



