The Tragedy of Macbeth

From: Subject: The Tragedy of Macbeth Date: Mon, 12 Oct 2009 15:11:40 -0400 MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/html; charset="Windows-1252" Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable Content-Location: http://www.nexuslearning.net/books/Elements_of_Lit_Course6/Renaissance/collection%204/Macbeth2%20p1.htm X-MimeOLE: Produced By Microsoft MimeOLE V6.00.2900.5579 The Tragedy of Macbeth

The Tragedy of = Macbeth, =20 Act II
William Shakespeare

Scene 1. Inverness. Court of Macbeth=92s=20 castle.

&= nbsp; =20 Enter BANQUO, and FLEANCE, with a torch before him = (on=20 the
= =20 way to bed).

Banquo.
       &nbs= p;       =20 How goes the night,=20 boy?
Fleance.
     &nbs= p;         =20 The moon is down; I have not heard the=20 clock.
Banquo.
     &nb= sp;         =20 And she goes down at=20 twelve.
Fleance.       = ;         =20 I take=92t, =92tis later,=20 sir.
Banquo.
      = ;      =20 Hold, take my sword. There=92s husbandry in=20 heaven.
5         &= nbsp;=20 Their candles are all out. Take thee that=20 too.
          = ; =20 A heavy summons lies like lead upon=20 me,
          = =20 And yet I would not sleep. Merciful=20 powers,
         &n= bsp; =20 Restrain in me the curs=E8d thoughts that=20 nature
         &nb= sp; =20 Gives way to in repose!

[Enter MACBETH, and a SERVANT with a torch.]

            = Give me my=20 sword!
10         = Who=92s=20 there?
Macbeth.
     &n= bsp;     =20 A=20 friend.
Banquo.
     &n= bsp;     =20 What, sir, not yet at rest? The king=92s=20 a-bed:
         &nb= sp; =20 He hath been in unusual pleasure,=20 and
          = =20 Sent forth great largess to your=20 offices:
15        This = diamond he=20 greets your wife=20 withal,
         &n= bsp; =20 By the name of most kind hostess; and shut=20 up
          &= nbsp;=20 In measureless=20 content.
Macbeth.      &nbs= p;            = ; =20 Being=20 unprepared,
        &nbs= p;  =20 Our will became the servant to=20 defect,
          &n= bsp;=20 Which else should free have=20 wrought.
Banquo.       = ;            = =20 All=92s = well.
20         I = dreamt=20 last night of the three weird=20 sisters:
         &= nbsp; =20 To you they have showed some=20 truth.
Macbeth.       =          =20 I think not of=20 them.
         &nbs= p; =20 Yet, when we can entreat an hour to=20 serve,
         &nb= sp; =20 We would spend it in some words upon that=20 business,
         =   =20 If you would grant the=20 time.
Banquo.       &n= bsp;        =20 At your kind=92st=20 leisure.
Macbeth.
25    &nbs= p;   =20 If you shall cleave to my consent, when=20 =92tis,
          &n= bsp; It=20 shall make honor for=20 you.
Banquo.        &nb= sp;       =20 So I lose=20 none
          = ; =20 In seeking to augment it, but still=20 keep
          = ; =20 My bosom franchised and allegiance=20 clear,
          &nb= sp; I=20 shall be=20 counseled.
Macbeth.      &n= bsp;     =20 Good repose the=20 while!
Banquo.
30     &= nbsp;  =20 Thanks, sir. The like to you!

[Exit BANQUO, with FLEANCE.]

Macbeth.
&nb= sp; =20 Go bid thy mistress, when my drink is=20 ready,
&nb= sp; =20 She strike upon the bell. Get thee to bed.

[Exit SERVANT.]

            Is = this a=20 dagger which I see before=20 me,
          = =20 The handle toward my hand? Come, let me clutch=20 thee.
35        I have thee = not, and=20 yet I see thee=20 still.
         &nb= sp; =20 Art thou not, fatal vision,=20 sensible
          &= nbsp;=20 To feeling as to sight, or art thou=20 but
          = =20 A dagger of the mind, a false=20 creation,
         =   =20 Proceeding from the heat-oppress=E8d=20 brain?
40         I see = thee=20 yet, in form as=20 palpable
         &= nbsp; =20 As this which now I=20 draw.
         &nbs= p; =20 Thou marshal=92st me the way that I was=20 going;
         &nb= sp; =20 And such an instrument I was to=20 use.
          = ; =20 Mine eyes are made the fools o=92 th=92 other=20 senses,
45        Or else = worth all=20 the rest. I see thee=20 still;
         &nb= sp; =20 And on thy blade and dudgeon gouts of=20 blood,
         &nb= sp; =20 Which was not so before. There=92s no such=20 thing.
         &nb= sp; =20 It is the bloody business which=20 informs
          &n= bsp;=20 Thus to mine eyes. Now o=92er the one=20 half-world
50         = Nature=20 seems dead, and wicked dreams=20 abuse
          &nbs= p; The=20 curtained sleep; witchcraft=20 celebrates
         = ;  =20 Pale Hecate=92s offerings; and withered=20 murder,
         &n= bsp; =20 Alarumed by his sentinel, the=20 wolf,
         &nbs= p; =20 Whose howl=92s his watch, thus with his stealthy=20 pace,
55         With = Tarquin=92s=20 ravishing strides, towards his=20 design
         &nb= sp; =20 Moves like a ghost. Thou sure and firm-set=20 earth,
         &nb= sp; =20 Hear not my steps, which way they walk, for=20 fear
          = ; =20 Thy very stones prate of my=20 whereabout,
        &nbs= p;  =20 And take the present horror from the=20 time,
60        Which now = suits with=20 it. Whiles I threat, he=20 lives:
         &nb= sp; =20 Words to the heat of deeds too cold breath gives.

[A bell rings.]

            I = go, and=20 it is done: the bell invites=20 me.
          = =20 Hear it not, Duncan, for it is a=20 knell
         &nbs= p; =20 That summons thee to heaven, or to=20 hell.        =20 [Exit.]

Scene 2. Macbeth=92s = castle.

&= nbsp; =20 Enter LADY MACBETH.

Lady=20 Macbeth.
        &nb= sp;  =20 That which hath made them drunk hath made me=20 bold;
         &nbs= p; =20 What hath quenched them hath given me fire. Hark!=20 Peace!
         &nb= sp; =20 It was the owl that shrieked, the fatal=20 bellman,
         &= nbsp; =20 Which gives the stern=92st good-night. He is about=20 it.
5         The doors = are=20 open, and the surfeited=20 grooms
         &nb= sp; =20 Do mock their charge with snores. I have drugged their=20 possets,
          &= nbsp;=20 That death and nature do contend about=20 them,
         &nbs= p; =20 Whether they live or die.
Macbeth=20 (within).         = ;   =20 Who=92s there? What, ho?
Lady=20 Macbeth.
        &nb= sp;  =20 Alack, I am afraid they have=20 awaked.
10         And = =92tis not=20 done! Th=92 attempt and not the=20 deed
          = ; =20 Confounds us. Hark! I laid their daggers=20 ready;
         &nb= sp; =20 He could not miss =92em. Had he not=20 resembled
         =   =20 My father as he slept, I had done=92t.

[Enter MACBETH.]

            My = husband!
Macbeth.
     =       =20 I have done the deed. Didst thou not hear a noise?
Lady=20 Macbeth.
15         = I heard=20 the owl scream and the crickets=20 cry.
          = ; =20 Did not you=20 speak?
Macbeth.       =             &= nbsp;=20 When?
Lady=20 Macbeth.          &= nbsp; =20 Now.
Macbeth.       &n= bsp;    =20 As I descended?
Lady=20 Macbeth.          &= nbsp; =20 Ay.
Macbeth.       &nb= sp;    =20 Hark!
         &nbs= p; =20 Who lies i=92 th=92 second chamber?
Lady=20 Macbeth.        =20 Donalbain.
20=20 Macbeth.          &= nbsp; =20 This is a sorry sight.
Lady=20 Macbeth.
        &nb= sp;  =20 A foolish thought, to say a sorry=20 sight.
Macbeth.
     &n= bsp;     =20 There=92s one did laugh in =92s sleep, and one cried=20 =93Murder!=94
        &n= bsp;  =20 That they did wake each other. I stood and heard=20 them.
         &nbs= p; =20 But they did say their prayers, and addressed=20 them
          = ; =20 Again to sleep.
25 Lady=20 Macbeth.         There are = two=20 lodged=20 together.
Macbeth.
     = ;      =20 One cried =93God bless us!=94 and =93Amen=94 the=20 other,
         &nb= sp; =20 As they had seen me with these hangman=92s=20 hands:
         &nb= sp; =20 List=92ning their fear, I could not say=20 =93Amen,=94
        &nbs= p;  =20 When they did say =93God bless us!=94
Lady=20 Macbeth.          &= nbsp; =20 Consider it not so=20 deeply.
Macbeth.
30     = ;   =20 But wherefore could not I pronounce=20 =93Amen=94?
        &nbs= p;  =20 I had most need of blessing, and=20 =93Amen=94
         = ;  =20 Stuck in my throat.
Lady=20 Macbeth.          &= nbsp; =20 These deeds must not be=20 thought
         &n= bsp; =20 After these ways; so, it will make us=20 mad.
Macbeth.
       = ;    =20 Methought I heard a voice cry =93Sleep no=20 more!
35         = Macbeth does=20 murder sleep=94=97the innocent=20 sleep,
         &nb= sp; =20 Sleep that knits up the raveled sleave of=20 care,
         &nbs= p; =20 The death of each day=92s life, sore labor=92s=20 bath,
         &nbs= p; =20 Balm of hurt minds, great nature=92s second=20 course,
          &n= bsp;=20 Chief nourisher in life=92s feast=97=97
Lady=20 Macbeth.          &= nbsp; =20 What do you=20 mean?
Macbeth.
40     &= nbsp;  =20 Still it cried =93Sleep no more!=94 to all the=20 house:
         &nb= sp; =20 =93Glamis hath murdered sleep, and therefore=20 Cawdor
         &nb= sp; =20 Shall sleep no more: Macbeth shall sleep no more.=94
Lady=20 Macbeth
        &nbs= p;  =20 Who was it that thus cried? Why, worthy=20 thane,
         &nb= sp; =20 You do unbend your noble strength, to=20 think
45         So = brainsickly=20 of things. Go get some=20 water,
         &nb= sp; =20 And wash this filthy witness from your=20 hand.
         &nbs= p; =20 Why did you bring these daggers from the=20 place?
         &nb= sp; =20 They must lie there: go carry them, and=20 smear
         &nbs= p; =20 The sleepy grooms with=20 blood.
Macbeth.       &nbs= p;            = ;=20 I=92ll go no = more.
50        =20 I am afraid to think what I have=20 done;
         &nbs= p; =20 Look on =92t again I dare not.
Lady=20 Macbeth.          &= nbsp; =20 Infirm of=20 purpose!
         &= nbsp; =20 Give me the daggers. The sleeping and the=20 dead
          = ; =20 Are but as pictures. =92Tis the eye of=20 childhood
         =   =20 That fears a painted devil. If he do=20 bleed,
55         = I=92ll gild the=20 faces of the grooms=20 withal,
         &n= bsp; =20 For it must seem their=20 guilt.           &= nbsp;        =20 [Exit. Knock=20 within.]
Macbeth.      &nbs= p;     =20 Whence is that=20 knocking?
         =   =20 How is=92t with me, when every noise appalls=20 me?
          = =20 What hands are here? Ha! They pluck out mine=20 eyes!
         &nbs= p; =20 Will all great Neptune=92s ocean wash this=20 blood
60         Clean = from my=20 hand? No; this my hand will=20 rather
         &nb= sp; =20 The multitudinous seas=20 incarnadine,
         &nb= sp; =20 Making the green one red.

[Enter LADY MACBETH.]

Lady=20 Macbeth.
        &nb= sp;  =20 My hands are of your color, but I=20 shame
         &nbs= p; =20 To wear a heart so white. (Knock.)     I hear = a=20 knocking
65         At = the=20 south entry. Retire we to our=20 chamber.
         &= nbsp; =20 A little water clears us of this=20 deed:
         &nbs= p; =20 How easy is it then! Your=20 constancy
         =   =20 Hath left you unattended. (Knock.)     Hark! = more=20 knocking.
         =   =20 Get on your nightgown, lest occasion call=20 us
70         And show = us to be=20 watchers. Be not=20 lost
          = ; =20 So poorly in your=20 thoughts.
Macbeth.
     = ;      =20 To know my deed, =92twere best not know=20 myself.
[Knock.]
     &= nbsp;     =20 Wake Duncan with thy knocking! I would thou=20 couldst!
[Exeunt.]

Scene 3. Macbeth=92s = castle.

&= nbsp; =20 Enter a PORTER. Knocking within.

Porter.     Here=92s a knocking indeed! If = a man=20 were porter of=20 hell
          = ; =20 gate, he should have old turning the key.=20 (Knock.)    =20 Knock
          &nbs= p;=20 knock, knock! Who=92s there, i=92 th=92 name of=20 Beelzebub?
          = ; =20 Here=92s a farmer, that hanged himself on th=92 expectation=20 of
5         plenty. = Come in=20 time! Have napkins enow about you;=20 here
          = ; =20 you=92ll sweat for =92t. (Knock.)     Knock, = knock! Who=92s=20 there,=20 in
          &= nbsp;=20 th=92 other devil=92s name? Faith, here=92s an equivocator,=20 that
          = ; =20 could swear in both the scales against either scale;=20 who
          = =20 committed treason enough for God=92s sake, yet could=20 not
10         = equivocate to=20 heaven. O, come in, equivocator.=20 (Knock.)
        =    =20 Knock, knock, knock! Who=92s there? Faith, here=92s an=20 English
         &n= bsp; =20 tailor come hither for stealing out of a French hose:=20 come
          = ; =20 in, tailor. Here you may roast your goose. (Knock.)=20 Knock,
         &nb= sp; =20 knock; never at quiet! What are you? But this place is=20 too
15        cold for hell. = I=92ll=20 devil-porter it no further. I had thought=20 to
          &= nbsp;=20 have let in some of all professions that go the primrose=20 way
          = =20 to th=92 everlasting bonfire. (Knock.) Anon, anon! (Opens=20 an
          &= nbsp;=20 entrance.) I pray you, remember the porter.

[Enter MACDUFF and LENNOX.]

Macduff.
       &nb= sp;   =20 Was it so late, friend, ere you went to=20 bed,
20         That = you do lie=20 so late?
Porter.     Faith, sir, we = were=20 carousing till the second cock:=20 and
          = =20 drink, sir, is a great provoker of three=20 things.
Macduff.        = What=20 three things does drink especially=20 provoke?
Porter.     Marry, sir,=20 nose-painting, sleep, and urine. Lechery,=20 sir,
25         it = provokes and=20 unprovokes; it provokes the desire, but=20 it
          &= nbsp;=20 takes away the performance: therefore much drink may=20 be
          &= nbsp;=20 said to be an equivocator with lechery: it makes him and=20 it
          &= nbsp;=20 mars him; it sets him on and it takes him off; it=20 persuades
         =   =20 him and disheartens him; makes him stand to and not=20 stand
30         to; in = conclusion, equivocates him in a sleep, and giving=20 him
          = =20 the lie, leaves=20 him.
Macduff.        = I=20 believe drink gave thee the lie last=20 night.
Porter.     That it did, sir, = i=92 the=20 very throat on me: but I=20 requited
         &= nbsp; =20 him for his lie, and, I think, being too strong for him,=20 though
35         he = took up my=20 legs sometime, yet I make a shift to cast=20 him.
Macduff.     Is thy master=20 stirring?

[Enter MACBETH.]

            = Our=20 knocking has awaked him; here he=20 comes.
Lennox.
     &nb= sp;     =20 Good morrow, noble=20 sir.
Macbeth.        = =20 Good morrow,=20 both.
Macduff.
     &nb= sp;     =20 Is the king stirring, worthy=20 thane?
Macbeth.       &nbs= p;=20 Not=20 yet.
Macduff.
40     &n= bsp;  =20 He did command me to call timely on=20 him:
          = ; =20 I have almost slipped the=20 hour.
Macbeth.        = ;=20 I=92ll bring you to=20 him.
Macduff.
     &nbs= p;     =20 I know this is a joyful trouble to=20 you;
          = ; =20 But yet =92tis=20 one.
Macbeth.
     &nbs= p; =20 The labor we delight in physics=20 pain.
        This is the=20 door.
45 = Macduff.        =20 I=92ll make so bold to=20 call,
        For =92tis my = limited=20 service.           = ;     =20 [Exit=20 MACDUFF.]
Lennox.
     =   =20 Goes the king hence=20 today?
Macbeth.       = =20 He does: he did appoint=20 so.
Lennox.
      =   =20 The night has been unruly. Where we=20 lay,
        Our chimneys = were blown=20 down, and, as they say,
50     Lamentings = heard i=92=20 th=92 air, strange screams of=20 death,
        And = prophesying with=20 accents terrible
        Of = dire=20 combustion=B0and confused=20 events
        New hatched = to th=92=20 woeful time: the obscure=20 bird
        Clamored the = livelong=20 night. Some say, the = earth
       =20 Was feverous and did shake.
55=20 Macbeth.          &n= bsp; =20 =92Twas a rough=20 night.
Lennox.
     &nb= sp;   =20 My young remembrance cannot=20 parallel
         &= nbsp; A=20 fellow to it.
[Enter=20 MACDUFF.]
Macduff.
    &= nbsp;      =20 O horror, horror, horror! Tongue nor=20 heart
         &nbs= p; =20 Cannot conceive nor name thee.
Macbeth and=20 Lennox.         What=92s the = matter?
Macduff.
60     = ;   =20 Confusion now hath made his=20 masterpiece.
        &nb= sp;  =20 Most sacrilegious murder hath broke=20 ope
          = =20 The Lord=92s anointed temple, and stole=20 thence
         &nb= sp; =20 The life o=92 th=92=20 building.
Macbeth.      &nb= sp; =20 What is=92t you say? The=20 life?
Lennox.
     &nbs= p;     =20 Mean you his majesty?=20
Macduff.
65       = =20 Approach the chamber, and destroy your=20 sight
         &nbs= p; =20 With a new Gorgon: do not bid me=20 speak;
         &nb= sp; =20 See, and then speak yourselves. Awake, awake!

[Exeunt MACBETH and LENNOX.]

            = Ring the=20 alarum bell. Murder and=20 treason!
         &= nbsp; =20 Banquo and Donalbain! Malcolm!=20 Awake!
70        Shake off = this=20 downy sleep, death=92s=20 counterfeit,
        &nb= sp;  =20 And look on death itself! Up, up, and=20 see
          = =20 The great doom=92s image! Malcolm!=20 Banquo!
         &n= bsp; =20 As from your graves rise up, and walk like=20 sprites,
         &= nbsp; =20 To countenance this horror. Ring the bell.

[Bell rings. Enter LADY MACBETH.]

Lady=20 Macbeth.
75         = What=92s=20 the=20 business,
         =   =20 That such a hideous trumpet calls to=20 parley
          &nb= sp; The=20 sleepers of the house? Speak,=20 speak!
Macduff.       &nbs= p;    =20 O gentle=20 lady,
          &nbs= p; =92Tis=20 not for you to hear what I can=20 speak:
         &nb= sp; =20 The repetition, in a woman=92s=20 ear,
          = ; =20 Would murder as it fell.

[Enter BANQUO.]

80         O Banquo,=20 Banquo!
         &n= bsp; =20 Our royal master=92s murdered.
Lady Macbeth. Woe,=20 alas!
         &nbs= p; =20 What, in our=20 house?
Banquo.       &= nbsp;    =20 Too cruel=20 anywhere.
         =   =20 Dear Duff, I prithee, contradict=20 thyself,
         &= nbsp; =20 And say it is not so.

[Enter MACBETH, LENNOX, and ROSS.]

Macbeth.
85       &= nbsp;=20 Had I but died an hour before this=20 chance,
         &n= bsp; =20 I had lived a bless=E8d time; for from this=20 instant
         &n= bsp; =20 There=92s nothing serious in=20 mortality:
          = ; =20 All is but toys. Renown and grace is=20 dead,
         &nbs= p; =20 The wine of life is drawn, and the mere=20 lees
90         Is left this = vault to=20 brag of.

[Enter MALCOLM and DONALBAIN.]

Donalbain.
       &= nbsp;   =20 What is=20 amiss?
Macbeth.       = =20 You are, and do not=20 know=92t.
         =   =20 The spring, the head, the fountain of your=20 blood
         &nbs= p; =20 Is stopped; the very source of it is=20 stopped.
Macduff.
     =       =20 Your royal father=92s=20 murdered.
Malcolm.      &nb= sp; =20 O, by=20 whom?
Lennox.
95     &n= bsp;  =20 Those of his chamber, as it seemed, had=20 done=92t:
         =   =20 Their hands and faces were all badged with=20 blood;
         &nb= sp; =20 So were their daggers, which unwiped we=20 found
         &nbs= p; =20 Upon their pillows. They stared, and were=20 distracted.
        &nbs= p;  =20 No man=92s life was to be trusted with=20 them.
Macbeth.
100     = =20 O, yet I do repent me of my=20 fury,
         &nbs= p; =20 That I did kill=20 them.
Macduff.       &= nbsp;=20 Wherefore did you=20 so?
Macbeth.
       = ;    =20 Who can be wise, amazed, temp=92rate and=20 furious,
         &= nbsp; =20 Loyal and neutral, in a moment? No=20 man.
          = ; =20 The expedition of my violent love
105     = Outrun=20 the pauser, reason. Here lay=20 Duncan,
         &n= bsp; =20 His silver skin laced with his golden=20 blood,
         &nb= sp; =20 And his gashed stabs looked like a breach in=20 nature
         &nb= sp; =20 For ruin=92s wasteful entrance: there, the=20 murderers,
         = ;  =20 Steeped in the colors of their trade, their=20 daggers
110     Unmannerly breeched with = gore. Who=20 could=20 refrain,
         &= nbsp; =20 That had a heart to love, and in that=20 heart
         &nbs= p; =20 Courage to make =92s love known?
Lady=20 Macbeth.          &= nbsp; =20 Help me hence,=20 ho!
Macduff.
      = ;     =20 Look to the lady.
Malcolm (aside to=20 DONALBAIN).     Why do we hold our=20 tongues,
         &= nbsp; =20 That most may claim this argument for ours?
Donalbain = (aside to=20 MALCOLM).
115      What should be = spoken=20 here,
         &nbs= p; =20 Where our fate, hid in an=20 auger-hole,
         &nbs= p; =20 May rush, and seize us? Let=92s=20 away:
         &nbs= p; =20 Our tears are not yet brewed.
Malcolm (aside to=20 DONALBAIN).     Nor our strong=20 sorrow
          &nb= sp;=20 Upon the foot of=20 motion.
Banquo.        = Look=20 to the lady.

[LADY MACBETH is carried = out.]

120     And=20 when we have our naked frailties=20 hid,
           = That suffer=20 in exposure, let us=20 meet
          = ; =20 And question this most bloody piece of=20 work,
         &nbs= p; =20 To know it further. Fears and scruples shake=20 us.
          = =20 In the great hand of God I stand, and=20 thence
125     Against the undivulged = pretense I=20 fight
         &nbs= p; =20 Of treasonous=20 malice.
Macduff.       &nb= sp;    =20 And so do=20 I.
All.        &n= bsp;   =20 So=20 all.
Macbeth.
      &nbs= p;    =20 Let=92s briefly put on manly=20 readiness,
         = ;  =20 And meet i=92 th=92 hall = together.
All.     Well=20 contented.

[Exeunt all but MALCOLM and DONALBAIN.]

Malcolm.         What = will you=20 do? Let=92s not consort with=20 them.
130       To show an unfelt = sorrow=20 is an=20 office
          &nb= sp;=20 Which the false man does easy. I=92ll to=20 England.
Donalbain.
    &nbs= p;      =20 To Ireland, I; our separated=20 fortune
         &n= bsp; =20 Shall keep us both the safer. Where we=20 are
          = =20 There=92s daggers in men=92s smiles; the near in=20 blood,
         &nb= sp; =20 The nearer bloody.
135=20 Malcolm.         This = murderous=20 shaft that=92s=20 shot
          = ; =20 Hath not yet lighted, and our safest=20 way
          = =20 Is to avoid the aim. Therefore to=20 horse;
         &nb= sp; =20 And let us not be dainty of=20 leave-taking,
        &n= bsp;  =20 But shift away. There=92s warrant in that=20 theft
140     Which steals itself when = there=92s no=20 mercy left.

[Exeunt.]

Scene 4. = Outside=20 Macbeth=92s castle.

&= nbsp; =20 Enter ROSS with an OLD MAN.

Old=20 Man.
         &= nbsp; =20 Threescore and ten I can remember=20 well:
         &nbs= p; =20 Within the volume of which time I have=20 seen
          = ; =20 Hours dreadful and things strange, but this sore=20 night
         &nbs= p; =20 Hath trifled former=20 knowings.
Ross.       =      =20 Ha, good = father,
5         Thou=20 seest the heavens, as troubled with man=92s=20 act,
          = ; =20 Threatens his bloody stage. By th=92 clock =92tis=20 day,
          = ; =20 And yet dark night strangles the traveling=20 lamp:
         &nbs= p; =20 Is=92t night=92s predominance, or the day=92s=20 shame,
         &nb= sp; =20 That darkness does the face of earth=20 entomb,
         &n= bsp; =20 When living light should kiss it?
10 Old=20 Man.           = ; =20 =92Tis=20 unnatural,
         = ;  =20 Even like the deed that=92s done. On Tuesday=20 last
          = ; =20 A falcon, tow=92ring in her pride of=20 place,
          &nb= sp; Was=20 by a mousing owl hawked at and=20 killed.
Ross.
      &nbs= p;    =20 And Duncan=92s horses=97a thing most strange and=20 certain=97
15        = Beauteous and=20 swift, the minions of their=20 race,
         &nbs= p; =20 Turned wild in nature, broke their stalls, flung=20 out,
           = ;=20 Contending =92gainst obedience, as they would=20 make
          = ; =20 War with mankind.
Old=20 Man.           = ; =20 =92Tis said they eat each=20 other.
Ross.
      = ;     =20 They did so, to th=92 amazement of mine=20 eyes,
         &nbs= p; =20 That looked upon=92t.

[Enter=20 MACDUFF.]

20         Here = comes=20 the good=20 Macduff.
         &= nbsp; =20 How goes the world, sir,=20 now?
Macduff.       &n= bsp;    =20 Why, see you=20 not?
Ross.
       &= nbsp;   =20 Is=92t known who did this more than bloody=20 deed?
Macduff.
       &nb= sp;   =20 Those that Macbeth hath=20 slain.
Ross.         = Alas, the=20 day!
          = ; =20 What good could they=20 pretend?
Macduff.       &n= bsp;=20 They were = suborned:
25        =20 Malcolm and Donalbain, the king=92s two=20 sons,
         &nbs= p; =20 Are stol=92n away and fled, which puts upon=20 them
          = ; =20 Suspicion of the=20 deed.
Ross.       &nbs= p;=20 =92Gainst nature=20 still.
          &nb= sp;=20 Thriftless ambition, that will ravin=20 up
            = Thine=20 own life=92s means! Then =92tis most=20 like
30         The = sovereignty=20 will fall upon=20 Macbeth.
Macduff.
     =       =20 He is already named, and gone to=20 Scone
          &nbs= p; To=20 be=20 invested.
Ross.       &nbs= p;    =20 Where is Duncan=92s=20 body?
Macduff.
      &nb= sp;    =20 Carried to=20 Colmekill,
          = ; =20 The sacred storehouse of his=20 predecessors
        &nb= sp;  =20 And guardian of their bones.
35=20 Ross.           = ; =20 Will you to=20 Scone?
Macduff.
     &n= bsp;     =20 No, cousin, I=92ll to=20 Fife.
Ross.       &nbs= p;        =20 Well, I will=20 thither.
Macduff.
     =       =20 Well, may you see things well done there.=20 Adieu,
         &nb= sp; =20 Lest our old robes sit easier than our=20 new!
Ross.
      &= nbsp;    =20 Farewell, father.
Old=20 Man.
40         = God=92s=20 benison go with you, and with=20 those
         &nbs= p; =20 That would make good of bad, and friends of foes!

[Exeunt omnes.]

End of Act 2 =

Click here to navigate through = the play: Act=20 1, Act=20 3, Act=20 4, Act=20 5,

and Act=20 2 Homework.

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