Scene VI

[Forres. The palace.]

Enter Lennox, and another Lord.

LENNOX:

My former speeches have but hit your thoughts,
Which can interpret farther: only I say
Things have been strangely borne. The gracious Duncan
Was pitied of Macbeth: marry, he was dead.
And the right valiant Banquo walk'd too late,(5)
Whom, you may say, if't please you, Fleance kill'd,
For Fleance fled. Men must not walk too late.
Who cannot want the thought, how monstrous
It was for Malcolm and for Donalbain
To kill their gracious father? Damned fact!(10)
How it did grieve Macbeth! Did he not straight,
In pious rage, the two delinquents tear,
That were the slaves of drink and thralls of sleep?
Was not that nobly done? Ay, and wisely too,
For ’twould have anger'd any heart alive(15)
To hear the men deny't. So that, I say,
He has borne all things well; and I do think
That, had he Duncan's sons under his key—
As, an't please heaven, he shall not—they should find
What ’twere to kill a father; so should Fleance.(20)
But, peace! For from broad words, and ’cause he fail'd
His presence at the tyrant's feast, I hear,
Macduff lives in disgrace. Sir, can you tell
Where he bestows himself?

LENNOX:

The things I said before have only agreed your thoughts,
Which can explain more. I only say that this
Thing has been strangely endured. The gracious Duncan
Was lamented by Macbeth. By Mary, he was dead.
And the right valiant Banquo was out too late,
Whom, you may say, if it please you, was killed by Fleance,
Because Fleance fled. Men must not walk too late.
Who cannot think how monstrous
It was for Malcolm and for Donalbain
To kill their gracious father? Damned fact!
How it grieved Macbeth! Didn’t he, right away,
In pious rage, kill the two delinquents
That were the slaves of drink and in the thralls of sleep?
Wasn’t that nobly done? Yes, and wisely too;
Because it would have angered any heart alive,
To hear the men deny it. So I say,
He has put up with all things well, and I think
That, if he had Duncan's sons in his prison,
As, if it please heaven, he shall not, they should find
What it meant to kill a father. The same for Fleance.
Only, peace! Because from his bold words, and because he didn’t
Go to the tyrant's feast, I hear,
Macduff lives in disgrace. Sir, can you tell
Where he is?

LORD:

The son of Duncan,(25)
From whom this tyrant holds the due of birth,
Lives in the English court and is received
Of the most pious Edward with such grace
That the malevolence of fortune nothing
Takes from his high respect. Thither Macduff(30)
Is gone to pray the holy King, upon his aid
To wake Northumberland and warlike Siward;
That by the help of these, with Him above
To ratify the work, we may again
Give to our tables meat, sleep to our nights,(35)
Free from our feasts and banquets bloody knives,
Do faithful homage, and receive free honors—
All which we pine for now. And this report
Hath so exasperate the King that he
Prepares for some attempt of war.(40)

LORD:

Malcolm, Duncan’s son,
From whom Macbeth withholds his birthright,
Lives in the English court and is received
By the most pious King Edward with such grace
That the evil twist of fate takes nothing
From his high respect. There Macduff
Has gone to beg the holy king to send his aid
To support Northumberland and warlike Siward.
That, by the help of these two, together with Him above
To ratify the work, we may again
Put meat on our tables, and sleep through our nights,
Free from bloody knives at our feasts and banquets.
We give “faithful” homage and receive free titles,
Which we pine for now. And this report
Has so exasperated the king that he
Prepares for some attempt of war.

LENNOX:

Sent he to Macduff?

LENNOX:

Did he ask Macduff?

LORD:

He did: and with an absolute “Sir, not I,”
The cloudy messenger turns me his back,
And hums, as who should say, “You'll rue the time
That clogs me with this answer.”(45)

LORD:

He did, and Macduff with an absolute "Sir, not I."
The frowning messenger turns his back to me,
And mumbles under his breath, as if someone should say,
"You'll regret the time that burdens me with this answer."

LENNOX:

And that well might
Advise him to a caution, to hold what distance
His wisdom can provide. Some holy angel
Fly to the court of England and unfold
His message ere he come, that a swift blessing(50)
May soon return to this our suffering country
Under a hand accursed!

LENNOX:

And that well might
Make him take precautions, to stop at a point
That his wisdom can provide. Some holy angel
Fly to the court of England, and unfold
His message before he comes so that a swift blessing
May soon return to our country that suffers
Under a cursed hand!

LORD:

I'll send my prayers with him.

LORD:

I'll send my prayers with him.

Exeunt.