THE TRAGEDY OF MACBETH

Act 3 Scene 6

(Enter Lennox and another Lord)
l1l	Lennox	 My former speeches have but hit your thoughts,
l2l		Which can interpret farther. Only I say
l3l		Things have been strangely borne. The gracious Duncan
l4l		Was pitied of Macbeth: marry, he was dead#
l5l		And the right valiant Banquo walked too late,
l6l		Whom you may say, if ’t please you, Fleance killed,
l7l		For Fleance fled: men must not walk too late.
l8l		Who cannot want the thought how monstrous
l9l		It was for Malcolm and for Donalbain
l10l		To kill their gracious father? Damnèd fact,
l11l		How it did grieve Macbeth! Did he not straight
l12l		In pious rage the two delinquents tear,
l13l		That were the slaves of drink, and thralls of sleep?
l14l		Was not that nobly done? Ay, and wisely too,
l15l		For ’twould have angered any heart alive
l16l		To hear the men deny ’t. So that I say
l17l		He has borne all things well, and I do think
l18l		That had he Duncan’s sons under his key—
l19l		As, an ’t please heaven, he shall not—they should find
l20l		What ’twere to kill a father. So should Fleance.
l21l		But peace, for from broad words, and ’cause he failed
l22l		His presence at the tyrant’s feast, I hear
l23l		Macduff lives in disgrace. Sir, can you tell
l24l		Where he bestows himself?
	Lord	The son of Duncan
l25l		From whom this tyrant holds the due of birth
l26l		Lives in the English court, and is received
l27l		Of the most pious Edward with such grace
l28l		That the malevolence of fortune nothing
l29l		Takes from his high respect. Thither Macduff
l30l		Is gone to pray the holy King upon his aid
l31l		To wake Northumberland and warlike Siward,
l32l		That by the help of these—with Him above
l33l		To ratify the work—we may again
l34l		Give to our tables meat, sleep to our nights,
l35l		Free from our feasts and banquets bloody knives,
l36l		Do faithful homage, and receive free honours,
l37l		All which we pine for now. And this report
l38l		Hath so exasperate their king that he
l39l		Prepares for some attempt of war.
l40l	Lennox	Sent he to Macduff?
l41l	Lord	He did, and with an absolute “Sir, not I,”
l42l		The cloudy messenger turns me his back
l43l		And hums, as who should say “You’ll rue the time
l44l		That clogs me with this answer.”
	Lennox	And that well might
l45l		Advise him to a caution t’ hold what distance
l46l		His wisdom can provide. Some holy angel
l47l		Fly to the court of England and unfold
l48l		His message ere he come, that a swift blessing
l49l		May soon return to this our suffering country
l50l		Under a hand accursed.
	Lord	I’ll send my prayers with him.
		( 50B Exeunt)
	[[ACT INTERVAL]]