If it were done when 'tis done... (1.7.1-29).

If it were done when 'tis done, then 'twere well
It were done quickly: if the assassination
Could trammel up the consequence, and catch
With his surcease success; that but this blow
Might be the be-all and the end-all here,
But here, upon this bank and shoal of time,
We'd jump the life to come. But in these cases
We still have judgment here; that we but teach
Bloody instructions, which, being taught, return
To plague the inventor: this even-handed justice
Commends th' ingredience of our poison'd chalice
To our own lips. He's here in double trust;
First, as I am his kinsman and his subject,
Strong both against the deed; then, as his host,
Who should against his murderer shut the door,
Not bear the knife myself. Besides, this Duncan
Hath borne his faculties so meek, hath been
So clear in his great office, that his virtues
Will plead like angels, trumpet-tongued, against
The deep damnation of his taking-off;
And pity, like a naked new-born babe,
Striding the blast, or heaven's cherubim, horsed
Upon the sightless couriers of the air,
Shall blow the horrid deed in every eye,
That tears shall drown the wind. I have no spur
To prick the sides of my intent, but only
Vaulting ambition, which o'erleaps itself
And falls on th' other -.

If it were done...quickly ] i.e. "If I could guarantee that no further complications arise from the murder, and the whole matter would be neatly concluded, then it would be best to kill Duncan and kill him quickly".

trammel up ] to entangle in a net from which nothing can break free. Thus, if the assassination of Duncan could ensnare the crown, he would not hesitate to commit the crime.

catch ] a continuation of the netting metaphor.

his surcease ] Duncan's death.

here ] on earth.

bank and shoal ] Critics are divided on the meaning of this passage. A few critics argue that it is a classroom metaphor, with "bank" actually "bench" and "shoal" meaning "school". This theory developed because the folio version of the play spells "shoal" "schoole", and one of the meanings of "bank" in Shakespeare's day was "bench". "Time is thus seen as the period of judgement, testing, or 'crisis', and as a school; corresponding to these meanings we have later in the speech, 'judgment here' and 'teach bloody instructions'" (Muir 38). However, with the knowledge that "schoole" was a common seventeenth-century spelling of "shoal", it is more likely that the line corresponds to the previous metaphor suggested by "trammel" and "catch", and that "bank" means "sand-bank" and "shoal" means "shallow" (an elevated sandbar which is smooth and on which there is a depth of water eleven meters or less). Therefore, our life on earth is compared to a shoal with its shallow water, and our afterlife is the deep and wide ocean.

jump the life to come ] risk our afterlife.

have judgment ] are to be judged.

that...plague the inventor ] so that he who kills a king to gain the throne teaches his bloody method to others -- a method that will return to hurt the one who first decided to commit regicide. Macbeth knows that if he murders the king to gain the crown, another, hungry for power, will surely do the same to him when he becomes king.

even-handed ] impartial.

Commends ] presents.

chalice ] goblet; cup used in the communion service.

ingredience ] 1) ingredients; 2) Kittredge argues "elements composing the draught in the chalice" (20). This would be in keeping with the allusion to the goblet used in the communion service.

faculties ] powers as king. Duncan has been a kind and dedicated ruler.

clear ] pure.

plead ] advocate; plead their case.

taking-off ] a euphemism for Duncan's death.

striding ] standing with legs apart.

blast ] gust of air.

cherubim ] an order of angels. The hierarchy of angels ranked from lowest to highest into the following nine orders: angels, archangels, principalities, powers, virtues, dominions, thrones, cherubim, and seraphim.

sightless couriers ] invisible messengers -- i.e. the winds.

Tears...wind ] The tears of all who learn of Macbeth's crime will come as a downpour and "check the storm of their anger" (Wilson 114).

intent ] intentions, purpose.

Vaulting ] leaping (onto a horse's back). "I have no spur to stimulate my guilty intention except ambition -- ambition which is like a too eager rider, who in vaulting into the saddle o'erleaps himself and falls on the other side of the horse" (Muir 41).

th' other ] the other side. Macbeth's last words are interrupted by the entrance of Lady Macbeth.

COMMENTARY

Macbeth's first soliloquy reaffirms that the three witches, by informing him that he will be "king hereafter" (1.3.50), have merely kindled his own innermost desire to obtain the throne. Their prediction may encourage Macbeth to act upon his secret thoughts, as does the prodding of Lady Macbeth, but it does not dictate Macbeth's course of action. Macbeth makes a conscious choice to forsake morality and pursue his "Vaulting ambition" (28). This soliloquy exposes Macbeth's conflicting feelings about the murder. His first thoughts revolve around the consequences of committing the crime. In lines 1-12 his primary concern and reason for hesitation is the possibility that someone will exact that "even-handed Justice" (10) upon him. Once Macbeth usurps the throne there will be others who will plot to steal it from him. Some critics seem to end their analysis at this point and conclude that Macbeth "wishes intensely the death of Duncan" (Langford xxxv) and that only his fear of potential ramifications is a deterrent. However, the second half of the soliloquy supports the fact that Macbeth is deeply troubled by the horror of killing Duncan, who is a benevolent ruler, honest man, and good friend. It is guilt and not fear of the consequences that is Macbeth's greatest obstacle.