ACT III
SCENE VI Forres. The palace.


 [Enter LENNOX and another Lord]

LENNOX My former speeches have but hit your thoughts,
 Which can interpret further: only, I say,
 Things have been strangely borne. The
 gracious Duncan
 Was pitied of Macbeth: marry, he was dead:
 And the right-valiant Banquo walk'd too late;
 Whom, you may say, if't please you, Fleance kill'd,
 For Fleance fled: men must not walk too late.
 Who cannot want the thought how monstrous
 It was for Malcolm and for Donalbain
 To kill their gracious father? damned fact!
 How it did grieve Macbeth! did he not straight
 In pious rage the two delinquents tear,
 That were the slaves of drink and thralls of sleep?
 Was not that nobly done? Ay, and wisely too;
 For 'twould have anger'd any heart alive
 To hear the men deny't. So that, I say,
 He has borne all things well: and I do think
 That had he Duncan's sons under his key--
 As, an't please heaven, he shall not--they
 should find
 What 'twere to kill a father; so should Fleance.
 But, peace! for from broad words and 'cause he fail'd
 His presence at the tyrant's feast, I hear
 Macduff lives in disgrace: sir, can you tell
 Where he bestows himself?

Lord The son of Duncan,
 From whom this tyrant holds the due of birth
 Lives in the English court, and is received
 Of the most pious Edward with such grace
 That the malevolence of fortune nothing
 Takes from his high respect: thither Macduff
 Is gone to pray the holy king, upon his aid
 To wake Northumberland and warlike Siward:
 That, by the help of these--with Him above
 To ratify the work--we may again
 Give to our tables meat, sleep to our nights,
 Free from our feasts and banquets bloody knives,
 Do faithful homage and receive free honours:
 All which we pine for now: and this report
 Hath so exasperate the king that he
 Prepares for some attempt of war.

LENNOX Sent he to Macduff?

Lord He did: and with an absolute 'Sir, not I,'
 The cloudy messenger turns me his back,
 And hums, as who should say 'You'll rue the time
 That clogs me with this answer.'

LENNOX And that well might
 Advise him to a caution, to hold what distance
 His wisdom can provide. Some holy angel
 Fly to the court of England and unfold
 His message ere he come, that a swift blessing
 May soon return to this our suffering country
 Under a hand accursed!

Lord I'll send my prayers with him.

 [Exeunt]




 MACBETH


ACT IV