[Fife, Macduff's castle. Enter Lady Macduff, her Son, and Ross]
Lady Macduff
What had he done, to make him fly the land?
Ross
You must have patience, madam.
Lady Macduff
His flight was madness. When our actions do not,
Our fears do make us traitors.
Ross
Whether it was his wisdom or his fear.
Lady Macduff
Wisdom? To leave his wife, to leave his babes,
His mansion, and his titles in a place
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;
As little is the wisdom where the flight
So runs against all reason.
Ross
I pray you, school yourself. But for your husband,
He is noble, wise, judicious, and best knows
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
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. [To Son] My pretty cousin,
Lady Macduff
Fathered he is, and yet he's fatherless.
Ross
[Crying] I am so much a fool, should I stay longer
It would be my disgrace and your discomfort.
[Exit]
Lady Macduff
Sirrah, your father's dead.
And what will you do now? How will you live?
Son
Lady Macduff
What, with worms and flies?
Son
With what I get, I mean, and so do they.
Lady Macduff
Poor bird, thou'ldst never fear the net, nor lime,
The pitfall, nor the gin.
Son
Why should I, mother — poor birds they are not set for.
My father is not dead, for all your saying.
Lady Macduff
Yes, he is dead. How wilt thou do for a father?
Son
Nay, how will you do for a husband?
Lady Macduff
Why, I can buy me twenty at any market.
Son
Then you'll buy 'em to sell again.
Lady Macduff
Thou speak'st with all thy wit, and yet, i' faith,
With wit enough for thee.
Son
Was my father a traitor, mother?
Lady Macduff
Son
Lady Macduff
Why, one that swears and lies.
Son
And be all traitors that do so?
Lady Macduff
Every one that does so is a traitor, and must be hanged.
Son
And must they all be hanged that swear and lie?
Lady Macduff
Son
Lady Macduff
Son
Then the liars and swearers are fools,
for there are liars and swearers enough to beat
the honest men and hang up them.
Lady Macduff
Now, God help thee, poor monkey.
But how wilt thou do for a father?
Son
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.
Lady Macduff
Poor prattler, how thou talk'st.
[Enter a Messenger]
Messenger
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.
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.
[Exit]
Lady Macduff
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,
To say I have done no harm?
[Enter Murderers]
First Murderer
Lady Macduff
I hope, in no place so unsanctified
Where such as thou mayst find him.
First Murderer
Son
Thou liest, thou shag-eared villain.
First Murderer
[Stabbing him]
Son
He has killed me, mother.
[Dies. Exit Lady Macduff, crying. Exit Murderers, chasing her]
