Macbeth by William Shakespeare

Author:William Shakespeare
Language: eng, eng
Format: epub, mobi, pdf
Publisher: Penguin Group USA, Inc.
Published: 1971-03-24T16:00:00+00:00

II.4Enter Ross with an Old Man.

OLD MAN

Threescore and ten I can remember well;1

Within the volume of which time I have seen

Hours dreadful and things strange, but this sore night

Hath trifled former knowings.4

ROSS Ha, good father,

Thou seest the heavens, as troubled with man’s act,5

Threatens his bloody stage. By th’ clock ’tis day,

And yet dark night strangles the traveling lamp.7

Is’t night’s predominance, or the day’s shame,8

That darkness does the face of earth entomb

When living light should kiss it?10

OLD MAN ’Tis unnatural,

Even like the deed that’s done. On Tuesday last

A falcon, tow’ring in her pride of place,12

Was by a mousing owl hawked at and killed.13

ROSS

And Duncan’s horses–a thing most strange and certain–

Beauteous and swift, the minions of their race,15

Turned wild in nature, broke their stalls, flung out,16

Contending ’gainst obedience, as they would make

War with mankind.

OLD MAN ’Tis said they ate each other.

ROSS

They did so, to th’ amazement of mine eyes

20 That looked upon’t.

Enter Macduff. Here comes the good Macduff.

How goes the world, sir, now?

MACDUFF Why, see you not?

ROSS

Is’t known who did this more than bloody deed?

MACDUFF

Those that Macbeth hath slain.

ROSS Alas the day,

24 What good could they pretend?

MACDUFF

They were suborned.

Malcolm and Donalbain, the king’s two sons,

Are stol’n away and fled, which puts upon them

Suspicion of the deed.

ROSS ’Gainst nature still.

28 Thriftless ambition, that will ravin up

29 Thine own life’s means! Then ’tis most like

30 The sovereignty will fall upon Macbeth.

MACDUFF

31 He is already named, and gone to Scone

32 To be invested.

ROSS Where is Duncan’s body?

MACDUFF

33 Carried to Colmekill,

The sacred storehouse of his predecessors

And guardian of their bones.

ROSS Will you to Scone?

MACDUFF

No, cousin, I’ll to Fife.

ROSS Well, I will thither.

MACDUFF

Well, may you see things well done there. Adieu,

Lest our old robes sit easier than our new.

ROSS

Farewell, father.

OLD MAN

God’s benison go with you, and with those40

That would make good of bad, and friends of foes.

Exeunt omnes.

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