Modern (Modern)

Texts of this edition
Facsimiles
 4.2.0.117104.2
 4.2.0.21711 Enter [Lady Macduff], her Son, and Ross.
 4.2.11712Lady Macduff
 What had he done to make him fly the land?
 4.2.21713Ross
 You must have patience, madam.
 1714Lady Macduff
 You must have patience, madam.  He had none;
 4.2.31715His flight was madness. When our actions do not,
 4.2.41716Our fears do make us traitors.
 1717Ross
 Our fears do make us traitors.  You know not
 4.2.51718Whether it was his wisdom or his fear.
 4.2.61719Lady Macduff
 Wisdom? To leave his wife, to leave his babes,
 4.2.71720His mansion, and his titles, in a place
 4.2.81721From whence himself does fly? He loves us not;
 4.2.91722He wants the natural touch. For the poor wren,
 4.2.101723The most diminutive of birds, will fight,
 4.2.111724Her young ones in her nest, against the owl.
 4.2.121725All is the fear and nothing is the love;
 4.2.131726As little is the wisdom where the flight
 4.2.141727So runs against all reason.
 1728Ross
 So runs against all reason.  My dearest coz,
 4.2.151729I pray you school yourself. But for your husband,
 4.2.161730He is noble, wise, judicious, and best knows
 4.2.171731The fits o'th' season. I dare not speak much further,
 4.2.181732But cruel are the times when we are traitors
 4.2.191733And do not know ourselves; when we hold rumor
 4.2.201734From what we fear yet know not what we fear,
 4.2.211735But float upon a wild and violent sea
 4.2.221736Each way and none. I take my leave of you;
 4.2.231737Shall not be long but I'll be here again.
 4.2.241738Things at the worst will cease or else climb upward
 4.2.251739To what they were before. [To Son] My pretty cousin,
 4.2.261740Blessing upon you.
 4.2.271741Lady Macduff
 Fathered he is, 1742and yet he's fatherless.
 4.2.281743Ross
 I am so much a fool, should I stay longer
 4.2.291744It would be my disgrace and your discomfort.
 4.2.301745I take my leave at once.
 4.2.30.1Exit.
 1746Lady Macduff
 I take my leave at once.  Sirrah, your father's dead,
 4.2.311747And what will you do now? How will you live?
 4.2.321748Son
 As birds do, mother.
 1749Lady Macduff
 As birds do, mother.  What, with worms and flies?
 4.2.331750Son
 With what I get, I mean, and so do they.
 4.2.341751Lady Macduff
 Poor bird, 1752thou'dst never fear the net nor lime, 
 4.2.351753The pitfall, nor the gin.
 1754Son
 The pitfall, nor the gin.  Why should I, mother? 
 4.2.361755Poor birds they are not set for. 1756My father is not dead for all your saying.
 4.2.371757Lady Macduff
 Yes, he is dead. 1758How wilt thou do for a father?
 4.2.381759Son
 Nay, how will you do for a husband?
 4.2.391760Lady Macduff
 Why, I can buy me twenty at any market.
 4.2.401761Son
 Then you'll buy 'em to sell again.
 4.2.411762Lady Macduff
 Thou speak'st with all thy wit, 1763and yet i'faith with wit enough for thee.
 4.2.421764Son
 Was my father a traitor, mother?
 4.2.431765Lady Macduff
 Ay, that he was.
 4.2.441766Son
 What is a traitor?
 4.2.451767Lady Macduff
 Why, one that swears and lies.
 4.2.461768Son
 And be all traitors that do so?
 4.2.471769Lady Macduff
 Every one that does so is a traitor 1770and must be hanged.
 4.2.481771Son
 And must they all be hanged that swear and lie?
 4.2.491772Lady Macduff
 Every one.
 4.2.501773Son
 Who must hang them?
 4.2.511774Lady Macduff
 Why, the honest men.
 4.2.521775Son
 Then the liars and swearers are fools, for there 1776are liars and swearers enough to beat the honest men 1777and hang up them.
 4.2.531778Lady Macduff
 Now God help thee, poor monkey. 1779But how wilt thou do for a father?
 4.2.541780Son
 If he were dead, you'd weep for him; if you 1781would not, it were a good sign that I should quickly 1782have a new father.
 4.2.551783Lady Macduff
 Poor prattler, how thou talk'st!
 4.2.55.11784Enter a Messenger.
 4.2.561785Messenger
 Bless you, fair dame. I am not to you known,
 4.2.571786Though in your state of honor I am perfect;
 4.2.581787I doubt some danger does approach you nearly.
 4.2.591788If you will take a homely man's advice,
 4.2.601789Be not found here. Hence with your little ones.
 4.2.611790To fright you thus methinks I am too savage;
 4.2.621791To do worse to you were fell cruelty,
 4.2.631792Which is too nigh your person. Heaven preserve you,
 4.2.641793I dare abide no longer.
 4.2.64.1Exit.
 1794Lady Macduff
 I dare abide no longer.  Whither should I fly?
 4.2.651795I have done no harm. But I remember now
 4.2.661796I am in this earthly world where to do harm
 4.2.671797Is often laudable, to do good sometime
 4.2.681798Accounted dangerous folly. Why then, alas,
 4.2.691799Do I put up that womanly defense
 4.2.701800To say I have done no harm? 
 4.2.70.1Enter Murderers. 
 To say I have done no harm?   What are these faces?
 4.2.7118031 Murderer
 Where is your husband?
 4.2.721804Lady Macduff
 I hope in no place so unsanctified
 4.2.731805Where such as thou mayst find him.
 18061 Murderer
 Where such as thou mayst find him.  He's a traitor.
 4.2.741807Son
 Thou liest, thou shag-haired villain!
 18081 Murderer
 Thou liest, thou shag-haired villain!  What, you egg! 
 4.2.751809Young fry of treachery!
 4.2.75.1[Stabbing him.]
 1810Son
 Young fry of treachery!  He has killed me, mother. 
 4.2.761811Run away, I pray you.
 4.2.76.1Exit [Lady Macduff] crying "Murder," [pursued by the Murderers bearing her Son].
Internet Shakespeare Editions

Reading Room

Toolbox

About this text

Modern (Modern)
