Page 2103 - Shakespeare - Vol. 3

committed treason enough for God’s sake, yet could not equivocate to [10]
heaven. O, come in, equivocator.

Knock.
Knock, knock, knock! Who’s there? Faith, here’s an English tailor come hither

for stealing out of a French hose. Come in, tailor; here you may roast your
goose.

Knock.
Knock, knock! Never at quiet! What are you? − But this place it too cold for
hell. I’ll devil-porter it no further. I had thought to have let in some of all

professions that go the primrose way to the everlasting bonfire.

Knock.
Anon, anon! I pray you remember the porter.

He opens the gate. Enter Macduff and Lennox.

MACDUFF
Was it so late, friend, ere you went to bed, [20]
That you do lie so late?

PORTER
Faith, sir, we were carousing till the second cock; and drink, sir, is a great
provoker of three things.

MACDUFF
What three things does drink especially provoke?

PORTER
Marry, sir, nose-painting, sleep, and urine. Lechery, sir, it provokes and
unprovokes: it provokes the desire but it takes away the performance.

Therefore much drink may be said to be an equivocator with lechery: it
makes him and it mars him; it sets him on and it takes him off; it persuades
him and disheartens him, makes [30] him stand to and not stand to; in
conclusion, equivocates him in a sleep and giving him the lie, leaves him.

MACDUFF