That trace him in his line. No boasting like a fool; [Exeunt. SCENE II. Fife. A Room in MACDUFF's Castle. Enter Lady MACDUFF, her Son, and Rossi. L. Macd. What had he done, to make him fly the Whether it was his wisdom, or his fear. L. Macd. 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. Rosse. My dearest coz, 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: 1 Our flight is considered as evidence of treason But cruel are the times, when we are traitors, 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 up ward L. Macd. Father'd he is, and yet he's fatherless. Rosse. I am so much a fool, should I stay longer It would be my disgrace, and your discomfort. I take my leave at once. [Exit Sirrah, your father's dead, And what will you do now? Son. As birds do, mother. L. Macd. What, with worms and flies? Son. With what I get, I mean; and so do they. L. Macd. Poor bird! thou'dst never fear the net, nor lime, The pit-fall, nor the gin. Son. Why should I, mother? are not set for. Poor birds they My father is not dead, for all your saying. L. Macd. Yes, he is dead: how wilt thou do for a father? Son. Nay, how will you do for a husband? 2 That is, fear makes us credit rumour, yet we know not what to fear, because ignorant when we offend; meaning, of course, that under such a king as Macbeth “to do harm is often laudable, to do good sometime accounted dangerous folly." A. condition wherein men believe the more, because they fear, and fear the more, because they cannot foresee the danger. The meaning would seem too clear to warrant a note, but that certain com mentators have been troubled to see it. Move is for movement or motion. 3 Sirrah was often used as a term of familiar endearment. H L. Macd. Why, I can buy me twenty at any market. Son. Then you'll buy 'cm to sell again. L. Macd. Thou speak'st with all thy wit; And yet, i'faith, with wit enough for thee. Son. Was my father a traitor, mother? L. Macd. Ay, that he was. Son. What is a traitor? L. Macd. Why, one that swears and lies. L. Macd. Every one that does so is a traitor, and must be hang'd. Son. And must they all be hang'd, that swear and lie ? L. Macd. Every one. Son. Who must hang them? L. Macd. Why, the honest men. Son. Then the liars and swearers are fools; for there are liars and swearers enough to beat the honest men, and hang up them. L. Macd. Now, God help thee, poor monkey! But how wilt thou do for a father? Son. If he were dead, you'd weep for him: if you would not, it were a good sign that I should quickly have a new father. L. Macd. Poor prattler, how thou talk'st! Enter a Messenger. Mess. Bless you, fair dame! I am not to you known, Though in your state of honour I am perfect.* Be not found here; hence, with your little ones. That is, I am perfectly acquainted with your rank. 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. L. Macd. I have done no harm: [Ext. Whither should I fly? I am in this earthly world, where to do harm To say I have done no harm? - What are these faces? Enter Murderers. Mur. Where is your husband? L. Macd. I hope, in no place so unsanctified, Where such as thou may'st find him. He's a traitor. Mur. Mur. 5 [Stabbing him.] What, you egg! Young fry of treachery! Son. pray you. He has kill'd me, mother: [Dies. [Exit Lady MACDUFF, crying murder, and pursued by the Murderers. The old copy has shag-ear'd, upon which Mr. Knight remarks, "This should be probably shag-hair'd." Mr. Dyce, quoting this remark, adds, Assuredly it should: formerly, hair was often written hear; and shag-hear'd was doubtless altered by a mistake of the transcriber, or the original compositor, to shagear'd. King Midas, after his decision in favour of Pan, is the only human being on record to whom the latter epithet could be applied." Shag-hair'd was a common term of abuse. In Lodge's Incarnate Devils of this Age, 1596, we have "shag-heard slave." H. This scene," says Coleridge, " dreadful as it is, is still a relief, because a variety, because domestic, and therefore soothing, as associated with the only real pleasures of life. The conversation between Lady Macduff and her child heightens the pathos SCENE III. England. A Room in the King's Palace. Enter MALCOLM and MACDUFF. Mal. Let us seek out some desolate shade, and there Weep our sad bosoms empty. Let us rather Macd. As if it felt with Scotland, and yell'd out Mal. What I believe, I'll wail: What you have spoke, it may be so, perchance. This tyrant, whose sole name blisters our tongues, Was once thought honest: you have lov'd him well; He hath not touch'd you yet. I am young; but something You 2 may deserve of him through me; and wisdom and is preparatory for the deep tragedy of their assassination. Shakespeare's fondness for children is everywhere shown; - in Prince Arthur in King John; in the sweet scene in The Winter's Tale between Hermione and her son; nay, even in honest Evans' examination of Mrs. Page's schoolboy." H. 1 Birthdom, for the place of our birth, our native land. To bestride one that was down in battle, was a special bravery of friendship. See The Comedy of Errors, Act v. sc. 1, note 12. H. 2 The old copy reads discerne, an easy misprint for deserve. The emendation was made by Theobald. In the latter part of the line something is wanted to complete the sense "'tis wisdom to offer," &c. Through me means, by putting me out of the way. |