Enter Lennox and another Lord. LENNOX
My former speeches have but hit your thoughts,
Which can interpret farther. Only I say
Things have been strangely borne. The gracious
Duncan
Was pitied of Macbeth; marry, he was dead. 5
And the right valiant Banquo walked too late,
Whom you may say, if ’t please you, Fleance killed,
For Fleance fled. Men must not walk too late.
Who cannot want the thought how monstrous
It was for Malcolm and for Donalbain 10
To kill their gracious father? Damnèd 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, 15
For ’twould have angered 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 20
find
What ’twere to kill a father. So should Fleance.
But peace. For from broad words, and ’cause he
failed
His presence at the tyrant’s feast, I hear 25
Macduff lives in disgrace. Sir, can you tell
Where he bestows himself? | Meanwhile, elsewhere in Scotland, Lennox discusses Scotland's plight with another Lord. Isn't it weird that Duncan was murdered, that his run-away sons were blamed, that Banquo has now been murdered, that his run-away son (Fleance) is being blamed, and that everyone has a major case of déjà vu? Plus, the murders of Banquo and Duncan were too conveniently grieved by Macbeth, who had the most to gain from the deaths. Lennox then refers to Macbeth as a "tyrant," and asks the other Lord if he knows where Macduff has gone off to. |
LORD The son of Duncan
(From whom this tyrant holds the due of birth)
Lives in the English court and is received 30
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 35
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 honors, 40
All which we pine for now. And this report
Hath so exasperate the King that he
Prepares for some attempt of war. | Turns out Macduff has joined Malcolm in England. Malcolm and Macduff are doing a pretty good job of convincing the oh-so gracious and "pious" King Edward of England, along with some English noblemen, to help them in the fight against Macbeth, the tyrant. Brain Snack: Shakespeare's giving England and King Edward the Confessor (1042-1066) some serious props here. |
LENNOX Sent he to Macduff? LORD
He did, and with an absolute “Sir, not I,” 45
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 t’ hold what distance 50
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. 55 LORD I’ll send my prayers with him. They exit. | The two noblemen pray that Malcolm and Macduff might be successful and restore some order to the kingdom, even though news of the planned rebellion has reached Macbeth and he's preparing for war. Things are not looking too good for Macbeth at this point. |