She Has a Light by Her Continually
Macbeth: Act 5, Scene 1
Enter a Doctor of Physic
and a Waiting-Gentlewoman.
Doctor
1I have two nights watched with you, but can
2perceive no truth in your report. When was it
3she last walked?
Gentlewoman
4Since his majesty went into the field, I have
5seen her rise from her bed, throw her night-gown
6.closet: chest.
6upon her, unlock her closet, take forth paper, fold
7it, write upon't, read it, afterwards seal it, and again
8return to bed; yet all this while in a most fast sleep.
Doctor
9A great perturbation in nature, to receive at once
10.do the effects of watching: do the actions of a waking person. 11.agitation: activity.
10the benefit of sleep, and do the effects of
11watching! In this slumbery agitation, besides her
12.actual performances: i.e., observed activities.
12walking and other actual performances, what, at any
13time, have you heard her say?
Gentlewoman
14.That which I will not report after her: i.e., things which I will not repeat.
14That, sir, which I will not report after her.
Doctor
15.meet: fitting, proper.
15You may to me, and 'tis most meet you
16should.
Gentlewoman
17.having no witness : because I have no witness. Apparently Lady Macbeth has said what we will soon hear her say, which amounts to a confession of murder. The Gentlewoman dares not repeat such things without a witness.
17Neither to you nor any one; having no witness
18to confirm my speech.
Enter LADY [MACBETH], with a taper.
19.her very guise: exactly the way she always looks. 20.stand close: stay out of sight.
 | Artist: Johann Heinrich Füssli |
19Lo you, here she comes! This is her very guise; and,
20upon my life, fast asleep. Observe her; stand close.
Doctor
21How came she by that light?
Gentlewoman
22Why, it stood by her. She has light by her
23continually; 'tis her command.
Doctor
24You see, her eyes are open.
Gentlewoman
25.their sense: i.e., the ability to see.
 | Helen Rynne as Lady Macbeth |
25Ay, but their sense is shut.
Doctor
26What is it she does now? Look, how she rubs
27her hands.
Gentlewoman
28It is an accustomed action with her, to seem thus
29washing her hands. I have known her continue in
30this a quarter of an hour.
LADY MACBETH
31Yet here's a spot.
Doctor
32.set down: write down.
32Hark! she speaks. I will set down what comes
33.satisfy: confirm.
33from her, to satisfy my remembrance the more
34strongly.
LADY MACBETH
35Out, damned spot! out, I say!—One: two: why,
36then, 'tis time to do't.—Hell is murky!—Fie, my
37lord, fie! a soldier, and afeard? What need we
38fear who knows it, when none can call our power
39to account?—Yet who would have thought the old
40man to have had so much blood in him?
Doctor
41Do you mark that?
LADY MACBETH
42The thane of Fife had a wife; where is she now?—
43What, will these hands ne'er be clean?—No more o'
44that, my lord, no more o' that: you mar all with
45.this starting: these startled movements. Apparently Lady Macbeth is imagining the moments just after the murder of King Duncan, especially Macbeth's reaction to the knocking at the gate. 46.go to: "Go to" is a colloquial phrase with many possible meanings. In this case, the Doctor means something like "ai yi yi! we have a big problem."
 | Annika Boris as Lady Macbeth |
45this starting.
Doctor
46Go to, go to; you have known what you should
47not.
Gentlewoman
48She has spoke what she should not, I am sure
49of that; heaven knows what she has known.
LADY MACBETH
50Here's the smell of the blood still. All the
51perfumes of Arabia will not sweeten this
52little hand. O, O, O!
Doctor
53.sorely charg'd: painfully overfull.
53What a sigh is there! The heart is sorely
54charg'd.
Gentlewoman
55I would not have such a heart in my bosom
56for the dignity of the whole body.
Doctor
57Well, well, well.
Gentlewoman
58.Pray God it be, sir: The Doctor uses the phrase "well, well, well" as an expression of wonder and dismay; the Gentlewoman purposely takes the word "well" in its sense of "good, healthy." 59.beyond my practise: beyond the scope of my expertise.
58Pray God it be, sir.
Doctor
59This disease is beyond my practise; yet I
60have known those which have walked in
61their sleep who have died holily in their beds.
LADY MACBETH
62Wash your hands, put on your nightgown;
63look not so pale.—I tell you yet again, Banquo's
64.come out on's grave: come out of his grave.
64buried; he cannot come out on's grave.
Doctor
65Even so?
LADY MACBETH
66To bed, to bed! there's knocking at the gate:
67come, come, come, come, give me your hand. What's
68done cannot be undone.—To bed, to bed, to bed!
Exit Lady.
Doctor
69Will she go now to bed?
Gentlewoman
70Directly.
Doctor
71Foul whisperings are abroad. Unnatural deeds
72Do breed unnatural troubles; infected minds
73To their deaf pillows will discharge their secrets.
74More needs she the divine than the physician.
76.the means of all annoyance: anything which might cause injury. The Doctor may think Lady Macbeth might commit suicide. 77.still: always.
75God, God forgive us all! Look after her;
76Remove from her the means of all annoyance,
77And still keep eyes upon her. So, good night:
78.mated: stupefied, bewildered, shocked.
78My mind she has mated, and amazed my sight.
79I think, but dare not speak.
Gentlewoman
Good night, good doctor.
Exeunt.
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Source: https://shakespeare-navigators.com/macbeth/T51.html
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