Macbeth: Act II, Scene 4

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.

ROSSE.ROSSE

Ha, good father,

Thou seest the heavens, as troubled with man’s act,

Threatens his bloody stage. By th’ 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.OLD MAN

’Tis unnatural,

Even like the deed that’s done. On Tuesday last,

A falcon, tow’ring in her pride of place,

Was by a mousing owl hawk’d at, and kill’d.

ROSSE.ROSSE

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.OLD MAN

’Tis said, they eat each other.

ROSSE.ROSSE

They did so—to th’ amazement of mine eyes

That look’d upon’t.

Here comes the good Macduff.

How goes the world, sir, now?

MACD.MACDUFF

Why, see you not?

ROSSE.ROSSE

Is’t known who did this more than bloody deed?

MACD.MACDUFF

Those that Macbeth hath slain.

ROSSE.ROSSE

Alas the day,

What good could they pretend?

MACD.MACDUFF

They were suborned.

Malcolm and Donalbain, the King’s two sons,

Are stol’n away and fled, which puts upon them

Suspicion of the deed.

ROSSE.ROSSE

’Gainst nature still!

Thriftless ambition, that will ravin up

Thine own live’s means! Then ’tis most like

The sovereignty will fall upon Macbeth.

MACD.MACDUFF

He is already nam’d, and gone to Scone

To be invested.

ROSSE.ROSSE

Where is Duncan’s body?

MACD.MACDUFF

Carried to Colmekill,

The sacred store-house of his predecessors

And guardian of their bones.

ROSSE.ROSSE

Will you to Scone?

MACD.MACDUFF

No, cousin, I’ll to Fife.

ROSSE.ROSSE

Well, I will thither.

MACD.MACDUFF

Well, may you see things well done there: adieu,

Lest our old robes sit easier than our new!

ROSSE.ROSSE

Farewell, father.

OLD MAN.OLD MAN

God’s benison go with you, and with those

That would make good of bad, and friends of foes!