When Duncan is asleep

his two chamberlains will I with wine and wassail so convince

that memory, the warder of the brain, shall be a-fume

and the receipt of reason a limbeck only.

When in swinish sleep their drenched natures lie as in a death

what cannot you and I perform upon the unguarded Duncan?

What not put upon his spongy officers

who shall bear the guilt of our great quell?

I am settled

and bend up each corporal agent to this terrible feat.

Take my sword.

Take thee that too.

A heavy summons lies like lead upon me

and yet I would not sleep.

Merciful powers,

restrain in me the cursed thoughts that nature gives way to in repose.

Is this a dagger which I see before me?

The handle toward my hand.

Come,

let me clutch thee.