Macbeth by William Shakespeare
Act 2 - Scene 4
Outside Macbeth’s castle.
Old Man : Threescore and ten I can remember well:
[p]Within the volume of which
time I have seen
[p]Hours dreadful and things strange; but this sore
night
[p]Hath trifled former knowings.
Ross : Ah, good father,
[p]Thou seest, the heavens, as troubled with man's
act,
[p]Threaten his bloody stage: by the clock, 'tis day,
[p]And yet
dark night strangles the travelling lamp:
[p]Is't night's
predominance, or the day's shame,
[p]That darkness does the face of
earth entomb,
[p]When living light should kiss it?
Old Man : 'Tis unnatural,
[p]Even like the deed that's done. On Tuesday
last,
[p]A falcon, towering in her pride of place,
[p]Was by a mousing
owl hawk'd at and kill'd.
Ross : And Duncan's horses--a thing most strange and certain--
[p]Beauteous
and swift, the minions of their race,
[p]Turn'd wild in nature, broke
their stalls, flung out,
[p]Contending 'gainst obedience, as they
would make
[p]War with mankind.
Old Man : 'Tis said they eat each other.
Ross : They did so, to the amazement of mine eyes
[p]That look'd upon't. Here
comes the good Macduff.
[p][Enter MACDUFF]
[p]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!
[p]What good could they pretend?
Macduff : They were suborn'd:
[p]Malcolm and Donalbain, the king's two
sons,
[p]Are stol'n away and fled; which puts upon them
[p]Suspicion
of the deed.
Ross : 'Gainst nature still!
[p]Thriftless ambition, that wilt ravin
up
[p]Thine own life's means! Then 'tis most like
[p]The sovereignty
will fall upon Macbeth.
Macduff : He is already named, and gone to Scone
[p]To be invested.
Ross : Where is Duncan's body?
Macduff : Carried to Colmekill,
[p]The sacred storehouse of his
predecessors,
[p]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!
[p]Lest our old robes
sit easier than our new!
Ross : Farewell, father.
Old Man : God's benison go with you; and with those
[p]That would make good of
bad, and friends of foes!
Previous: Act 2 - Scene 3
Next: Act 3 - Scene 1
