Macbeth Act 1, Scene 7: Line-by-Line Modern English Translation

If it were done when 'tis done, then 'twere well

Modern English: If the matter were truly finished when the act is done, then it would be best

It were done quickly: if the assassination

Modern English: to do it quickly. If the assassination

Could trammel up the consequence, and catch

Modern English: could catch all the consequences in a net and achieve

With his surcease success; that but this blow

Modern English: success with his death—if only this one blow

Might be the be-all and the end-all here,

Modern English: could be the start and the end of everything here,

But here, upon this bank and shoal of time,

Modern English: just here, on this shallow shore of time,

We'ld jump the life to come. But in these cases

Modern English: we would risk the afterlife. But in these cases,

We still have judgment here; that we but teach

Modern English: we are always judged here on earth; we only teach

Bloody instructions, which, being taught, return

Modern English: violent lessons which, once taught, return

To plague the inventor: this even-handed justice

Modern English: to haunt the teacher. This impartial justice

Commends the ingredients of our poison'd chalice

Modern English: forces the contents of our own poisoned cup

To our own lips. He's here in double trust;

Modern English: to our own lips. He is here in double trust:

First, as I am his kinsman and his subject,

Modern English: first, because I am his relative and his subject,

Strong both against the deed; then, as his host,

Modern English: both strong reasons against the deed; then, as his host,

Who should against his murderer shut the door,

Modern English: who should shut the door against his murderer,

Not bear the knife myself. Besides, this Duncan

Modern English: not carry the knife myself. Besides, this Duncan

Hath borne his faculties so meek, hath been

Modern English: has used his power so gently, and has been

So clear in his great office, that his virtues

Modern English: so blameless in his great office, that his virtues

Will plead like angels, trumpet-tongued, against

Modern English: will plead like angels with trumpet voices against

The deep damnation of his taking-off;

Modern English: the horrible sin of his murder;

And pity, like a naked new-born babe,

Modern English: and pity, like a naked newborn baby

Striding the blast, or heaven's cherubim, horsed

Modern English: riding the wind, or heaven’s cherubs mounted

Upon the sightless couriers of the air,

Modern English: upon the invisible horses of the air,

Shall blow the horrid deed in every eye,

Modern English: will blast the news of this horrific act into everyone's eyes

That tears shall drown the wind. I have no spur

Modern English: until tears drown the wind. I have no spur

To prick the sides of my intent, but only

Modern English: to prick the sides of my intent, only

Vaulting ambition, which o'erleaps itself

Modern English: leaping ambition, which jumps too high

And falls on the other.

Modern English: and falls on the other side.

How now! what news?

Modern English: Well! What is the news?

Enter LADY MACBETH

Modern English: LADY MACBETH enters.

He has almost supp'd: why have you left the chamber?

Modern English: He has almost finished dinner. Why have you left the room?

Hath he ask'd for me?

Modern English: Has he asked for me?

Know you not he has?

Modern English: Don't you know he has?

We will proceed no further in this business:

Modern English: We will not go any further with this plan.

He hath honour'd me of late; and I have bought

Modern English: He has honored me lately, and I have earned

Golden opinions from all sorts of people,

Modern English: the high opinion of all kinds of people,

Which would be worn now in their newest gloss,

Modern English: which should be enjoyed now while it's fresh,

Not cast aside so soon.

Modern English: not thrown away so soon.

Was the hope drunk

Modern English: Was the hope you dressed yourself in

Wherein you dress'd yourself? hath it slept since?

Modern English: drunk? Has it been sleeping since then?

And wakes it now, to look so green and pale

Modern English: And does it wake up now, looking so sickly and pale

At what it did so freely? From this time

Modern English: at what it planned so boldly? From now on,

Such I account thy love. Art thou afeard

Modern English: this is how I'll value your love. Are you afraid

To be the same in thine own act and valour

Modern English: to be the same in your actions and courage

As thou art in desire? Wouldst thou have that

Modern English: as you are in your desires? Would you have the thing

Which thou esteem'st the ornament of life,

Modern English: you consider the crown of life,

And live a coward in thine own esteem,

Modern English: and yet live as a coward in your own eyes,

Letting 'I dare not' wait upon 'I would,'

Modern English: letting 'I'm afraid' follow 'I want to,'

Like the poor cat i' the adage?

Modern English: like the cat in the old story?

Prithee, peace:

Modern English: Please, be quiet.

I dare do all that may become a man;

Modern English: I dare to do everything that is proper for a man;

Who dares do more is none.

Modern English: anyone who dares to do more is not a man at all.

What beast was't, then,

Modern English: What kind of beast were you, then,

That made you break this enterprise to me?

Modern English: that made you suggest this plot to me?

When you durst do it, then you were a man;

Modern English: When you dared to do it, then you were a man;

And, to be more than what you were, you would

Modern English: and to be more than what you were, you would

Be so much more the man. Nor time nor place

Modern English: be so much more of a man. Neither the time nor the place

Did then adhere, and yet you would make both:

Modern English: were right then, yet you wanted to force them both.

They have made themselves, and that their fitness now

Modern English: Now they have come together on their own, and that very readiness

Does unmake you. I have given suck, and know

Modern English: dismantles your manhood. I have nursed a baby, and I know

How tender 'tis to love the babe that milks me:

Modern English: how sweet it is to love the infant at my breast;

I would, while it was smiling in my face,

Modern English: I would, even while it was smiling up at me,

Have pluck'd my nipple from his boneless gums,

Modern English: have ripped my nipple out of its soft, toothless mouth

And dash'd the brains out, had I so sworn as you

Modern English: and smashed its brains out, if I had sworn to do it as you

Have done to this.

Modern English: have sworn to do this.

If we should fail?

Modern English: What if we fail?

We fail!

Modern English: We, fail?

But screw your courage to the sticking-place,

Modern English: Just tighten your courage until it locks into place,

And we'll not fail. When Duncan is asleep--

Modern English: and we won't fail. When Duncan is asleep—

Whereto the rather shall his day's hard journey

Modern English: and his exhausting day of travel will make him

Soundly invite him--his two chamberlains

Modern English: sleep very soundly—I will overpower his two servants

Will I with wine and wassail so convince

Modern English: with so much wine and celebratory drinking

That memory, the warder of the brain,

Modern English: that memory, the brain's lookout,

Shall be a fume, and the receipt of reason

Modern English: will vanish like smoke, and the seat of reason

A limbeck only: when in swinish sleep

Modern English: will become a mere container for fumes. When they lie in a drunken sleep,

Their drenched natures lie as in a death,

Modern English: their soaked bodies looking like corpses,

What cannot you and I perform upon

Modern English: what can't you and I accomplish against

The unguarded Duncan? what not put upon

Modern English: the unprotected Duncan? What can't we blame on

His spongy officers, who shall bear the guilt

Modern English: his drunken officers, who will carry the guilt

Of our great quell?

Modern English: for our great murder?

Bring forth men-children only;

Modern English: Give birth to male children only;

For thy undaunted mettle should compose

Modern English: for your fearless spirit should produce

Nothing but males. Will it not be received,

Modern English: nothing but men. Won't everyone believe,

When we have mark'd with blood those sleepy two

Modern English: once we have smeared blood on those two sleeping men

Of his own chamber and used their very daggers,

Modern English: in his own bedroom and used their own daggers,

That they have done't?

Modern English: that they are the ones who did it?

Who dares receive it other,

Modern English: Who would dare to believe otherwise,

As we shall make our griefs and clamour roar

Modern English: when we will wail and cry out in loud grief

Upon his death?

Modern English: over his death?

I am settled, and bend up

Modern English: I am committed, and I will exert

Each corporal agent to this terrible feat.

Modern English: every muscle in my body for this terrible act.

Away, and mock the time with fairest show:

Modern English: Go now, and deceive everyone with a charming appearance;

False face must hide what the false heart doth know.

Modern English: a false face must hide what a false heart knows.

Exeunt

Modern English: They leave.