ARKCODEX
Act IV, Scene 2
1Fife. Macduff’s castle.
2Enter Lady Macduff, her Son, and Ross.
3Lady MacduffWhat had he done, to make him fly the land?
4RossYou must have patience, madam.
5Lady MacduffHe had none:
His flight was madness: when our actions do not,
Our fears do make us traitors.
6RossYou know not
Whether it was his wisdom or his fear.
7Lady MacduffWisdom! to leave his wife, to leave his babes,
His mansion and his titles in a place
From whence himself does fly? He loves us not;
He wants the natural touch: for the poor wren,
The most diminutive of birds, will fight,
Her young ones in her nest, against the owl.
All is the fear and nothing is the love;
As little is the wisdom, where the flight
So runs against all reason.
8RossMy dearest coz,
I pray you, school yourself: but for your husband,
He is noble, wise, judicious, and best knows
The fits o’ the season. I dare not speak much further;
But cruel are the times, when we are traitors
And do not know ourselves, when we hold rumour
From what we fear, yet know not what we fear,
But float upon a wild and violent sea
Each way and move. I take my leave of you:
Shall not be long but I’ll be here again:
Things at the worst will cease, or else climb upward
To what they were before. My pretty cousin,
Blessing upon you!
9Lady MacduffFather’d he is, and yet he’s fatherless.
10RossI am so much a fool, should I stay longer,
It would be my disgrace and your discomfort:
I take my leave at once. Exit.
11Lady MacduffSirrah, your father’s dead:
And what will you do now? How will you live?
12SonAs birds do, mother.
13Lady MacduffWhat, with worms and flies?
14SonWith what I get, I mean; and so do they.
15Lady MacduffPoor bird! thou’ldst never fear the net nor lime,
The pitfall nor the gin.
16SonWhy should I, mother? Poor birds they are not set for.
My father is not dead, for all your saying.
17Lady MacduffYes, he is dead: how wilt thou do for a father?
18SonNay, how will you do for a husband?
19Lady MacduffWhy, I can buy me twenty at any market.
20SonThen you’ll buy ’em to sell again.
21Lady MacduffThou speak’st with all thy wit; and yet, i’ faith,
With wit enough for thee.
22SonWas my father a traitor, mother?
23Lady MacduffAy, that he was.
24SonWhat is a traitor?
25Lady MacduffWhy, one that swears and lies.
26SonAnd be all traitors that do so?
27Lady MacduffEvery one that does so is a traitor, and must be hanged.
28SonAnd must they all be hanged that swear and lie?
29Lady MacduffEvery one.
30SonWho must hang them?
31Lady MacduffWhy, the honest men.
32SonThen the liars and swearers are fools, for there are liars and swearers enow to beat the honest men and hang up them.
33Lady MacduffNow, God help thee, poor monkey!
But how wilt thou do for a father?
34SonIf he were dead, you’d weep for him: if you would not, it were a good sign that I should quickly have a new father.
35Lady MacduffPoor prattler, how thou talk’st!
36Enter a Messenger.
37MessengerBless you, fair dame! I am not to you known,
Though in your state of honour I am perfect.
I doubt some danger does approach you nearly:
If you will take a homely man’s advice,
Be not found here; hence, with your little ones.
To fright you thus, methinks, I am too savage;
To do worse to you were fell cruelty,
Which is too nigh your person. Heaven preserve you!
I dare abide no longer. Exit.
38Lady MacduffWhither should I fly?
I have done no harm. But I remember now
I am in this earthly world; where to do harm
Is often laudable, to do good sometime
Accounted dangerous folly: why then, alas,
Do I put up that womanly defence,
To say I have done no harm?
39Enter Murderers.
40What are these faces?
41First MurdererWhere is your husband?
42Lady MacduffI hope, in no place so unsanctified
Where such as thou mayst find him.
43First MurdererHe’s a traitor.
44SonThou liest, thou shag-hair’d villain!
45First MurdererWhat, you egg! Stabbing him.
Young fry of treachery!
46SonHe has kill’d me, mother:
Run away, I pray you! Dies. Exit Lady Macduff, crying “Murder!” Exeunt Murderers, following her.