by William Shakespeare (1564 - 1616)
The Assassination
Language: English
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 the ingredients 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. I have no spur To prick the sides of my intent, but only Vaulting ambition, which o’erleaps itself And falls on the other.
Macbeth Act 1, Scene 7 Lines 1-16, 25-28
Researcher for this page: Joost van der Linden [Guest Editor]
Text Authorship:
- by William Shakespeare (1564 - 1616), appears in Macbeth [author's text not yet checked against a primary source]
Musical settings (art songs, Lieder, mélodies, (etc.), choral pieces, and other vocal works set to this text), listed by composer (not necessarily exhaustive):
- by Aija Draguns (b. 1999), "The Assassination", 2021 [ baritone and string quartet ]
Score: Soundcloud [external link]  [sung text checked 1 time]
Researcher for this page: Joost van der Linden [Guest Editor]
This text was added to the website: 2025-11-08
Line count: 21
Word count: 152