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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.
Enter Lady Macbeth.
Lady Macbeth:
My hands are of your color, but I shame
To wear a heart so white. (Knocking within.) I hear 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.—(Knocking within.) 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.
Macbeth:
To know my deed, ’twere best not know myself. (Knocking within.)
Wake Duncan with thy knocking! I would thou couldst!
(Exeunt.)
Scene Three. The same.
Enter a Porter. Knocking within.
Porter:
Here’s a knocking indeed! If a man were porter of hell gate, he should have old turning the key. (Knocking.) Knock, knock, knock. Who’s there, i’ th’ name of Belzebub? Here’s a farmer that hanged himself on the expectation of plenty: come in time; have napkins enow about you; here you’ll sweat for’t. (Knocking.) Knock, knock! Who’s there, i’ th’ other devil’s name? Faith, here’s an equivocator, that could swear in both the scales against either scale, who committed treason enough for God’s sake, yet could not equivocate to heaven: O, come in, equivocator. (Knocking.) Knock, knock, knock! Who’s there? Faith, here’s an English tailor come hither, for stealing out of a French hose: come in, tailor; here you may roast your goose. (Knocking.) Knock, knock. Never at quiet! What are you?—But this place is too cold for hell. I’ll devil-porter it no further: I had thought to have let in some of all professions, that go the primrose way to th’ everlasting bonfire. (Knocking.) Anon, anon! I pray you, remember the porter.
(Opens the gate.)
Enter Macduff and Lennox.
Macduff:
Was it so late, friend, ere you went to bed,
That you do lie so late?
Porter:
Faith, sir, we were carousing till the second cock; and drink, sir, is a great provoker of three things.
Macduff:
What three things does drink especially provoke?