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 Rosse. L. Macd. Sirrah, your father's dead; And what will you do now? How will you live? 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? Poor birds they are not set for. 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? L. Macd. Why, I can buy me twenty at any market. Son. Then you'll buy 'em 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? Son. What is a traitor? L. Macd. Why, one that swears and lies. Son. And be all traitors, that do so? L. Macd. Every one that does so, is a traitor, and must be hanged. lie? Son. And must they all be hanged, that swear and L. Macd. Every one. Son. Who must hang them? L. Macd. Why, the honest men. Son. Then the liars and swearers are fools: for VOL. IV. FF 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." If Be not found here; hence, with your little ones. Which is too nigh your person. Heaven preserve you! I dare abide no longer. L. Macd. I have done no harm. [Exit Messenger. Whither should I fly? But I remember now I am in this earthly world; where, to do harm, To say, I have done no harm? faces? Enter Murderers. Mur. Where is your husband? -What are these L. Macd. I hope, in no place so unsanctified, Where such as thou may'st find him. 9 - in your state of honour I am perfect.] i. e. I am perfectly acquainted with your rank of honour. Mal. But I have none: The king-becoming graces, As justice, verity, temperance, stableness, Acting it many ways. Nay, had I power, I should Uproar the universal All unity on earth. peace, confound O Scotland! Scotland! Mal. If such a one be fit to govern, speak: I am as I have spoken. Macd. Fit to govern! No, not to live.-O nation miserable, With an untitled tyrant bloody-scepter'd, When shalt thou see thy wholesome days again? By his own interdiction stands accurs'd, And does blaspheme his breed?-Thy royal father Died every day she lived. Fare thee well! Have banish'd me from Scotland.-O, my breast, Mal. Wip'd the black scruples, reconcil'd my thoughts 1 From over-credulous haste:] From over-hasty credulity. I put myself to thy direction, and No less in truth, than life: my first false speaking Is thine, and my poor country's, to command: Now we'll together; And the chance, of goodness, once, 'Tis hard to reconcile. Enter a Doctor. Mal. Well; more anon.-Comes the king forth, pray you? I Doct. Ay, sir: there are a crew of wretched souls, That stay his cure: their malady convinces2 The great assay of art; but, at his touch, Such sanctity hath heaven given his hand, They presently amend. Mal. "Tis call'd the evil: Macd. What's the disease he means? A most miraculous work in this good king: 2 convinces-] i. e. overpowers, subdues. Great tyranny, lay thou thy basis sure, For goodness dares not check thee! wear thou thy wrongs, Thy title is affeer'd!'-Fare thee well, lord: I would not be the villain that thou think'st Mal. Be not offended: I speak not as in absolute fear of you. Macd. What should he be? Mal. It is myself I mean: in whom I know All the particulars of vice so grafted, That, when they shall be open'd, black Macbeth Will seem as pure as snow; and the poor state Esteem him as a lamb, being compar'd With my confineless harms. Macd. Not in the legions Of horrid hell, can come a devil more damn'd In evils, to top Macbeth. Mal. Sudden, malicious, smacking of every sin That has a name: But there's no bottom, none, 7 Thy title is affeer'd!] Affeer'd, a law term for confirm'd. |