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[Fife. Macduff's castle.]
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Enter Macduff's wife, her Son, and Ross.
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LADY MACDUFF:
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What had he done, to make him fly the land?
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ROSS:
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You must have patience, madam.
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LADY MACDUFF:
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He had none;
His flight was madness. When our actions do not,
Our fears do make us traitors.(5)
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ROSS:
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You know not
Whether it was his wisdom or his fear.
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LADY MACDUFF:
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Wisdom? To leave his wife, to leave his
babes,
His mansion, and his titles, in a place(10)
From whence himself does fly? He loves us not;
He wants the natural touch: for the poor wren,
The most diminutive of birds, will fight,
Her young ones in her nest, against the owl.
All is the fear and nothing is the love;(15)
As little is the wisdom, where the flight
So runs against all reason.
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ROSS:
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My dearest coz,
I pray you, school yourself. But for your husband,
He is noble, wise, judicious, and best knows(20)
The fits o’ the season. I dare not speak much further;
But cruel are the times, when we are traitors
And do not know ourselves; when we hold rumor
From what we fear, yet know not what we fear,
But float upon a wild and violent sea(25)
Each way and move. I take my leave of you;
Shall not be long but I'll be here again.
Things at the worst will cease, or else climb upward
To what they were before. My pretty cousin,
Blessing upon you!(30)
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LADY MACDUFF:
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Father'd he is, and yet he's fatherless.
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ROSS:
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I am so much a fool, should I stay longer,
It would be my disgrace and your discomfort.
I take my leave at once.
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Exit Ross.
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LADY MACDUFF:
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Sirrah, your father's dead.(35)
And what will you do now? How will you live?
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SON:
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As birds do, Mother.
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LADY MACDUFF:
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What, with worms and flies?
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SON:
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With what I get, I mean; and so do they.
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LADY MACDUFF:
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Poor bird! Thou'ldst never fear the net nor(40)
lime,
The pitfall nor the gin.
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SON:
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Why should I, Mother? Poor birds they are not set for.
My father is not dead, for all your saying.
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LADY MACDUFF:
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Yes, he is dead. How wilt thou do for a father?(45)
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SON:
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Nay, how will you do for a husband?
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LADY MACDUFF:
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Why, I can buy me twenty at any market.
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SON:
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Then you'll buy ’em to sell again.
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LADY MACDUFF:
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Thou speak'st with all thy wit, and yet, i’ faith,
With wit enough for thee.(50)
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SON:
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Was my father a traitor, Mother?
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LADY MACDUFF:
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Ay, that he was.
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SON:
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What is a traitor?
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LADY MACDUFF:
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Why, one that swears and lies.
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SON:
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And be all traitors that do so?(55)
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LADY MACDUFF:
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Everyone that does so is a traitor and must
be hanged.
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SON:
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And must they all be hanged that swear and lie?
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LADY MACDUFF:
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Every one.
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SON:
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Who must hang them?(60)
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LADY MACDUFF:
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Why, the honest men.
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SON:
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Then the liars and swearers are fools; for there are liars
and swearers enough to beat the honest men and hang up
them.
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LADY MACDUFF:
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Now, God help thee, poor monkey! But how(65)
wilt thou do for a father?
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SON:
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If he were dead, you'ld weep for him: if you would not,
it were a good sign that I should quickly have a new
father.
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LADY MACDUFF:
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Poor prattler, how thou talk'st!(70)
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Enter a Messenger.
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MESSENGER:
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Bless you, fair dame! I am not to you known,
Though, in your state of honor I am perfect.
I doubt some danger does approach you nearly.
If you will take a homely man's advice,
Be not found here; hence, with your little ones.(75)
To fright you thus, methinks I am too savage;
To do worse to you were fell cruelty,
Which is too nigh your person. Heaven preserve you!
I dare abide no longer.
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Exit.
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LADY MACDUFF:
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Whither should I fly?(80)
I have done no harm. But I remember now
I am in this earthly world, where to do harm
Is often laudable, to do good sometime
Accounted dangerous folly. Why then, alas,
Do I put up that womanly defense,(85)
To say I have done no harm?—What are these faces?
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Enter Murderers.
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FIRST MURDERER:
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Where is your husband?
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LADY MACDUFF:
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I hope, in no place so unsanctified Where such as thou mayst find him.
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FIRST MURDERER:
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He's a traitor.
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SON:
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Thou liest, thou shag-ear'd villain!(90)
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FIRST MURDERER:
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What, you egg!
[Stabs him.]
Young fry of treachery!
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SON:
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He has kill'd me, Mother.
Run away, I pray you!
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Exit [Lady Macduff], crying “Murder!”
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[Exeunt murderers.]
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