Macbeth: Act 5, Scene 1 Translation

A side-by-side translation of Act 5, Scene 1 of Macbeth from the original Shakespeare into modern English.

Original Text	Translated Text
Source: Folger Shakespeare Library
Enter a Doctor of Physic and a Waiting-Gentlewoman. DOCTOR I have two nights watched with you but can perceive no truth in your report. When was it she last walked? GENTLEWOMAN Since his Majesty went into the field, I have seen her rise from her bed, throw her nightgown 5 upon her, unlock her closet, take forth paper, fold it, write upon ’t, read it, afterwards seal it, and again return to bed; yet all this while in a most fast sleep.	Back in Scotland, at Macbeth's castle in Dunsinane, a doctor waits with one of Lady Macbeth's gentlewomen. They're keeping an eye out for Lady Macbeth's sleepwalking, which the gentlewoman reported began once Macbeth left to prepare the house for battle.
DOCTOR A great perturbation in nature, to receive at 10 once the benefit of sleep and do the effects of watching. In this slumb’ry agitation, besides her walking and other actual performances, what at any time have you heard her say? GENTLEWOMAN That, sir, which I will not report after 15 her. DOCTOR You may to me, and ’tis most meet you should. GENTLEWOMAN Neither to you nor anyone, having no witness to confirm my speech. 20 Enter Lady Macbeth with a taper. Lo you, here she comes. This is her very guise and, upon my life, fast asleep. Observe her; stand close.	The Doctor asks what Lady Macbeth has been saying and doing when she sleepwalks, but the Gentlewoman says no way. She's not ratting out her mistress to anyone—not even her doctor. With no other witnesses, nobody would believe her. Just then, Lady Macbeth walks in with a candle.
DOCTOR How came she by that light? GENTLEWOMAN Why, it stood by her. She has light by her continually. ’Tis her command. 25 DOCTOR You see her eyes are open. GENTLEWOMAN Ay, but their sense are shut. DOCTOR What is it she does now? Look how she rubs her hands. GENTLEWOMAN It is an accustomed action with her to 30 seem thus washing her hands. I have known her continue in this a quarter of an hour.	Seems like Lady Macbeth has been saying and doing some freaky things on these nightly strolls. For one thing, her eyes are wide open, and for another, she apparently always walks around with a candle. Plus she keeps rubbing her hands together. The Gentlewoman says she's seen her stand there wringing her hands like that for fifteen minutes straight before.
LADY MACBETH Yet here’s a spot. DOCTOR Hark, she speaks. I will set down what comes from her, to satisfy my remembrance the more 35 strongly. LADY MACBETH Out, damned spot, out, I say! One. Two. Why then, ’tis time to do ’t. Hell is murky. Fie, my lord, fie, a soldier and afeard? What need we fear who knows it, when none can call our power to 40 account? Yet who would have thought the old man to have had so much blood in him? DOCTOR Do you mark that? LADY MACBETH The Thane of Fife had a wife. Where is she now? What, will these hands ne’er be clean? No 45 more o’ that, my lord, no more o’ that. You mar all with this starting. DOCTOR Go to, go to. You have known what you should not. GENTLEWOMAN She has spoke what she should not, 50 I am sure of that. Heaven knows what she has known.	They proceed to watch Lady Macbeth ramble through a tortured speech, at once trying to clean her hands of an imaginary spot and nagging at her invisible husband. All the hand wringing and her question, "Who would have thought the old man to have so much blood in him?" leave little doubt as to what vexes the lady. This is also where we get the famous line, "Out, damned spot!"
LADY MACBETH Here’s the smell of the blood still. All the perfumes of Arabia will not sweeten this little hand. O, O, O! 55 DOCTOR What a sigh is there! The heart is sorely charged. GENTLEWOMAN I would not have such a heart in my bosom for the dignity of the whole body. DOCTOR Well, well, well. 60 GENTLEWOMAN Pray God it be, sir. DOCTOR This disease is beyond my practice. Yet I have known those which have walked in their sleep, who have died holily in their beds. LADY MACBETH Wash your hands. Put on your nightgown. 65 Look not so pale. I tell you yet again, Banquo’s buried; he cannot come out on ’s grave. DOCTOR Even so? LADY MACBETH To bed, to bed. There’s knocking at the gate. Come, come, come, come. Give me your 70 hand. What’s done cannot be undone. To bed, to bed, to bed. Lady Macbeth exits. DOCTOR Will she go now to bed? GENTLEWOMAN Directly.	Lady Macbeth continues her complaints, saying that there's not enough perfume in Arabia to get the smell of blood off her hands. The Gentlewoman and the Doctor agree that she has a troubled mind and a heavy heart. In fact, the doctor says this problem is way over his head.
DOCTOR Foul whisp’rings are abroad. Unnatural deeds 75 Do breed unnatural troubles. Infected minds To their deaf pillows will discharge their secrets. More needs she the divine than the physician. God, God forgive us all. Look after her. Remove from her the means of all annoyance 80 And still keep eyes upon her. So, good night. My mind she has mated, and amazed my sight. I think but dare not speak. GENTLEWOMAN Good night, good doctor. They exit.	The Doctor adds that there's a lot of strange talk and weird happenings going on, and he thinks Lady Macbeth probably needs help from a priest, not a doctor.