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Macbeth: Act 2, Scene 4



           Enter ROSS with an OLD MAN.

       Old Man
  1    Threescore and ten I can remember well:
  2    Within the volume of which time I have seen
  3    Hours dreadful and things strange; but this sore night
  4    Hath trifled former knowings.

       ROSS
                                                    Ha, good father,
  5    Thou seest, the heavens, as troubled with man's act,
  6    Threaten his bloody stage. By the clock, 'tis day,
  7    And yet dark night strangles the travelling lamp:
  8    Is't night's predominance, or the day's shame,
  9    That darkness does the face of earth entomb,
 10    When living light should kiss it?

       Old Man
                                                              'Tis unnatural,
 11    Even like the deed that's done. On Tuesday last,
 12    A falcon, towering in her pride of place,
 13    Was by a mousing owl hawk'd at and kill'd.

       ROSS
 14    And Duncan's horses—a thing most strange and certain—
 15    Beauteous and swift, the minions of their race,
 16    Turn'd wild in nature, broke their stalls, flung out,
 17    Contending 'gainst obedience, as they would make
 18    War with mankind.

       Old Man
                                    'Tis said they eat each other.

       ROSS
 19    They did so, to th' amazement of mine eyes
 20    That look'd upon't. Here comes the good Macduff.

             Enter MACDUFF.

 21    How goes the world, sir, now?

       MACDUFF
                                                    Why, see you not?

       ROSS
 22    Is't known who did this more than bloody deed?

       MACDUFF
 23    Those that Macbeth hath slain.

       ROSS
                                                    Alas, the day!
 24    What good could they pretend?

        MACDUFF
                                                 They were suborned:
 25    Malcolm and Donalbain, the king's two sons,
 26    Are stol'n away and fled; which puts upon them
 27    Suspicion of the deed.

       ROSS
                                              'Gainst nature still!
 28    Thriftless ambition, that wilt ravin up
 29    Thine own life's means! Then 'tis most like
 30    The sovereignty will fall upon Macbeth.

       MACDUFF
 31    He is already named, and gone to Scone
 32    To be invested.

       ROSS
                              Where is Duncan's body?

       MACDUFF
 33    Carried to Colmekill,
 34    The sacred storehouse of his predecessors,
 35    And guardian of their bones.

       ROSS
                                                    Will you to Scone?

       MACDUFF
 36    No, cousin, I'll to Fife.

       ROSS
                                                Well, I will thither.

       MACDUFF
 37    Well, may you see things well done there: adieu!
 38    Lest our old robes sit easier than our new!

       ROSS
 39    Farewell, father.

       Old Man
 40    God's benison go with you; and with those
 41    That would make good of bad, and friends of foes!

            Exeunt omnes.

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