| ACT II. | |
| SCENE II. The same. Without the Castle. | |
| [Enter Ross and an old Man.] |
| OLD MAN. | |
| Threescore and ten I can remember well: |
| Within the volume of which time I have seen |
| Hours dreadful and things strange; but this sore night |
| Hath trifled former knowings. |
| ROSS. | |
| Ah, good father, |
| Thou seest, the heavens, as troubled with man's act, |
| Threaten his bloody stage: by the clock 'tis day, |
| And yet dark night strangles the travelling lamp; |
| Is't night's predominance, or the day's shame, |
| That darkness does the face of earth entomb, |
| When living light should kiss it? |
| OLD MAN. | |
| 'Tis unnatural, |
| Even like the deed that's done. On Tuesday last, |
| A falcon, towering in her pride of place, |
| Was by a mousing owl hawk'd at and kill'd. |
| ROSS. | |
| And Duncan's horses,--a thing most strange and certain,-- |
| Beauteous and swift, the minions of their race, |
| Turn'd wild in nature, broke their stalls, flung out, |
| Contending 'gainst obedience, as they would make |
| War with mankind. |
| OLD MAN. | |
| 'Tis said they eat each other. |
| ROSS. | |
| They did so; to the amazement of mine eyes, |
| That look'd upon't. |
| Here comes the good Macduff. |
| [Enter 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! |
| What good could they pretend? |
| MACDUFF. | |
| They were suborn'd: |
| 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: |
| Thriftless ambition, that wilt ravin up |
| Thine own life's means!--Then 'tis most like, |
| The sovereignty will fall upon Macbeth. |
| MACDUFF. | |
| He is already nam'd; and gone to Scone |
| To be invested. |
| ROSS. | |
| Where is Duncan's body? |
| MACDUFF. | |
| Carried to Colme-kill, |
| 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 those |
| That would make good of bad, and friends of foes! |
| [Exeunt.] |