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Mac. Where are they? Gone?-Let this pernicious

hour

Stand aye accursed in the calendar* !—

Come in, without there!

Enter LENOX.

Len. What's your grace's will?
Mac. Saw you the weird sisters?

150

Len. No, my lord..

Mac. Came they not by you?

Len. No, indeed, my lord.

Mac. Infected be the air whereon they ride;
And damn'd all those that trust them!--I did hear
The galloping of horse who was't came by?.

Len. 'Tis two or three, my lord, that bring you

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Mac. *Time, thou anticipat'st my dread exploits i

The flighty purpose never is o'er-took,

Unless the deed go with it: from this moment,
The very firstlings* of my heart shall be

The firstlings of my hand. And even now

To crown my thoughts with acts, be it thought and

done :

The castle of Macduff I will surprise;

Seize upon Fife; give to the edge o'the sword
His wife, his babes, and all unfortunate souls
That trace him in his line". No boasting like a fool;

This

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This deed I'll do, before this purpose cool: "But no more sights!-Where are these gentlemen? "Come, bring me where they are."

SCENE II.

[Exeunt.

Enter MACDUFF's Wife, her Son, and RossE.

L. Macd. What had he done, to make him fly the land?

Rosse. You must have patience, madam.

L. Macd. He had none:

His flight was madness: when our actions do not, Our fears do make us traitors.

Rosse. You know not,

Whether it was his wisdom, or his fear.

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L. Macd. Wisdom! to leave his wife, to leave his

babes,

His mansion, and his titles, in a place

From whence himself does fly? He loves us not;
He wants the *natural touch: for the poor wren*,
The most diminutive of birds, will fight,
Her young ones in her nest, against the owl.
All is the fear, and nothing is the love;

As little is the wisdom, where the flight
So runs against all reason.

Rossc. My dearest,coz”, :

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I pray you, school yourself: but, for your husband,
He is noble, wise, judicious, and best knows
The fits o'the season. I dare not speak much further:

But

But crucl are the times, when we are traitors,
And do not know ourselves; *when we hold rumour
From what we fear, yet know not what we fear;
But float upon a wild and violent sea,

Each way, and move.-I take my leave of you:
Shall not be long but I'll be here again:

2

Things at the worst will cease, or else climb upward To what they were before.-My pretty cousin, 201 Blessing upon you!

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.

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[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.

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"L. Macd. Poor bird! thou'dst never fear the net, nor lime,

"The pit-fall, nor the gin.

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"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.

"L. Macd. Thou speak'st with all thy wit; and

yet 'ifaith,

"With wit enough for thee.

"Son. Was my father a traitor, mother?

« L. Macd. Ay, that he was.

"Son. What is a traitor?

"L. Mac. Why, one that swears and lies. "Son. And be all traitors, that do so?

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"L. Macd. Every one that does so, is a traitor, "and must be hang'd.

"Son. And must they all be hang'd, that swear "and lie?

"L. Macd. Every one.

"Son. Who must hang them?

"L. Macd. Why, the honest men,

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"Son. Then the liars and swearers are fools: for «there are liars and swearers enough to beat the ho"nest 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.

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Mes. Bless you, fair dame! I am not to you known, Though in your state of honour I am perfect*. I doubt, some danger does approach you nearly : If you will take a homely mán's advice,

Be

Be not found here; hence, with your little ones. "To fright you thus, methinks, I am too savage; "To do worse to you, were fell cruelty,

"Which is too nigh your person." Heaven preserve

you!

I dare abide no longer.

L. Macd. Whither should I fly?

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[Exit Messenger.

I have done no harm. But I remember now
I am in this earthly world: where, to do harm,
Is often laudable; to do good, sometime,
Accounted dangerous folly: why then, alas!
Do I put up that womanly defence,

To say, I have done no harm ?---- "What are these faces?

"Enter Murderers.

"Mur. Where is your husband?

"L. Macd. I hope, in no place so unsanctified, 260 "Where such as thou may'st find him.

"Mur. He's a traitor.

"Son. Thou ly'st, thou shag-ear'd villain*.

"Mur. What, you egg?

"Young fry of treachery?

"Son. He has kill'd me, mother;

"Run away, I pray you.

"[Exit L. MACDUFF, crying Murder."

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