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Act II

Macduff
Was it so late, friend, ere you went to bed,
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 him stand to, and not stand to; in conclusion, equivocates him in a sleep, and, giving him the lie, leaves him.
Macduff
I believe drink gave thee the lie last night.
Porter
That it did, sir, i’ the very throat on me: but I requited him for his lie; and, I think, being too strong for him, though he took up my legs sometime, yet I made a shift to cast him.
Macduff
Is thy master stirring?
Lennox
Good morrow, noble sir.
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