Table of Contents
ACT 3, SCENE 6
Setting: Forres. The palace.
[Enter LENNOX and another Lord]
| LENNOX | My former speeches have but hit your thoughts, | |
| Which can interpret further: 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; | ||
| 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 | ||
| 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? | ||
| Lord | The son of Duncan, | |
| 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 | ||
| Is gone to pray the holy king, upon his aid | 30 | |
| 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, | ||
| Free from our feasts and banquets bloody knives, | ||
| Do faithful homage and receive free honours: | ||
| All which we pine for now: and this report | ||
| Hath so exasperate the king that he | ||
| Prepares for some attempt of war. | ||
| LENNOX | Sent he to Macduff? | |
| Lord | He did: and with an absolute 'Sir, not I,' | 40 |
| The cloudy messenger turns me his back, | ||
| And hums, as who should say 'You'll rue the time | ||
| That clogs 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 | ||
| May soon return to this our suffering country | ||
| Under a hand accursed! | ||
| Lord | I'll send my prayers with him. | |
| [Exeunt] |