SCENE II. FIFE. MACDUFF'S CASTLE.
Enter LADY MACDUFF, her Son, and ROSS
LADY MACDUFF
What had he done, to make him ๏ฌy the land?
ROSS
You must have patience, madam.
LADY MACDUFF
He had none: His ๏ฌight was madness: when our actions do not, Our fears do make us traitors.
ROSS
You know not Whether it was his wisdom or his fear.
LADY MACDUFF
Wisdom! to leave his wife, to leave his babes, His mansion and his titles in a place From whence himself does ๏ฌy? He loves us not; He wants the natural touch: for the poor wren, The most diminutive of birds, will ๏ฌght, 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 ๏ฌight So runs against all reason.
ROSS
My dearest coz, I pray you, school yourself: but for your husband, He is noble, wise, judicious, and best knows
The ๏ฌts 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 ๏ฌoat 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!
LADY MACDUFF
Father'd he is, and yet he's fatherless.
ROSS
I am so much a fool, should I stay longer, It would be my disgrace and your discomfort:
I take my leave at once.
Exit
LADY MACDUFF
Sirrah, your father's dead; And what will you do now? How will you live?
SON
As birds do, mother.
LADY MACDUFF
What, with worms and ๏ฌies?
SON
With what I get, I mean; and so do they.
LADY MACDUFF
Poor bird! thou'ldst never fear the net nor lime, The pitfall nor the gin.
SON
Why should I, mother? Poor birds they are not set for.
My father is not dead, for all your saying.
LADY MACDUFF
Yes, he is dead; how wilt thou do for a father?
SON
Nay, how will you do for a husband?
LADY MACDUFF
Why, I can buy me twenty at any market.
SON
Then you'll buy 'em to sell again.
LADY MACDUFF
Thou speak'st with all thy wit: and yet, i' faith, With wit enough for thee.
SON
Was my father a traitor, mother?
LADY MACDUFF
Ay, that he was.
SON
What is a traitor?
LADY MACDUFF
Why, one that swears and lies.
SON
And be all traitors that do so?
LADY MACDUFF
Every one that does so is a traitor, and must be hanged.
SON
And must they all be hanged that swear and lie?
LADY MACDUFF
Every one.
SON
Who must hang them?
LADY MACDUFF
Why, the honest men.
SON
Then the liars and swearers are fools, for there are liars and swearers enow to beat the honest men and hang up them.
LADY MACDUFF
Now, God help thee, poor monkey!
But how wilt thou do for a father?
SON
If he were dead, you'ld weep for him: if you would not, it were a good sign that I should quickly have a new father.
LADY MACDUFF
Poor prattler, how thou talk'st!
Enter a Messenger
MESSENGER
Bless 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
LADY MACDUFF
Whither should I ๏ฌy?
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?
Enter Murderers
What are these faces?
FIRST MURDERER
Where is your husband?
LADY MACDUFF
I hope, in no place so unsancti๏ฌed Where such as thou mayst ๏ฌnd him.
FIRST MURDERER
He's a traitor.
SON
Thou liest, thou shag-hair'd villain!
FIRST MURDERER
What, you egg!
Stabbing him
Young fry of treachery!
SON
He has kill'd me, mother:
Run away, I pray you!
Dies
Exit LADY MACDUFF, crying 'Murder!' Exeunt Murderers, follow- ing her
