| ACT II SCENE IV | Outside Macbeth's castle. | |
| | Enter ROSS and an old Man | |
| Old Man | Threescore and ten I can remember well: | |
| | Within the volume of which time I have seen | |
| | Hours dreadful and things strange; but this sore night | |
| | Hath trifled former knowings. | 5 |
| ROSS | Ah, good father, | |
| | Thou seest, the heavens, as troubled with man's act, | |
| | Threaten his bloody stage: by the clock, 'tis day, | |
| | And yet dark night strangles the travelling lamp: | |
| | Is't night's predominance, or the day's shame, | 10 |
| | That darkness does the face of earth entomb, | |
| | When living light should kiss it? | |
| Old Man | 'Tis unnatural, | |
| | Even like the deed that's done. On Tuesday last, | |
| | A falcon, towering in her pride of place, | 15 |
| | Was by a mousing owl hawk'd at and kill'd. | |
| ROSS | And Duncan's horses--a thing most strange and certain-- | |
| | Beauteous and swift, the minions of their race, | |
| | Turn'd wild in nature, broke their stalls, flung out, | |
| | Contending 'gainst obedience, as they would make | 20 |
| | War with mankind. | |
| Old Man | 'Tis said they eat each other. | |
| ROSS | They did so, to the amazement of mine eyes | |
| | That look'd upon't. Here comes the good Macduff. | |
| | Enter MACDUFF | |
| | How goes the world, sir, now? | 25 |
| MACDUFF | Why, see you not? | |
| ROSS | Is't known who did this more than bloody deed? | |
| MACDUFF | Those that Macbeth hath slain. | |
| ROSS | Alas, the day! | |
| | What good could they pretend? | 30 |
| MACDUFF | They were suborn'd: | |
| | Malcolm and Donalbain, the king's two sons, | |
| | Are stol'n away and fled; which puts upon them | |
| | Suspicion of the deed. | |
| ROSS | 'Gainst nature still! | 35 |
| | Thriftless ambition, that wilt ravin up | |
| | Thine own life's means! Then 'tis most like | |
| | The sovereignty will fall upon Macbeth. | |
| MACDUFF | He is already named, and gone to Scone | |
| | To be invested. | 40 |
| ROSS | Where is Duncan's body? | |
| MACDUFF | Carried to Colmekill, | |
| | The sacred storehouse of his predecessors, | |
| | And guardian of their bones. | |
| ROSS | Will you to Scone? | 45 |
| MACDUFF | No, cousin, I'll to Fife. | |
| ROSS | Well, I will thither. | |
| MACDUFF | Well, may you see things well done there: adieu! | |
| | Lest our old robes sit easier than our new! | |
| ROSS | Farewell, father. | 50 |
| Old Man | God's benison go with you; and with those | |
| | That would make good of bad, and friends of foes! | |
| | Exeunt | |
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