Extrait de MACBETH

ACT III.
SCENE VI. Forres. A Room in the Palace.
	[Enter Lennox and another Lord.]
LENNOX.
	My former speeches have but hit your thoughts,
	Which can interpret further: only, I say,
	Thing's 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!
	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.
	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 receiv'd
	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
	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,"
	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 accurs'd!
LORD.
	I'll send my prayers with him.
	[Exeunt.]