The firftlings of my hand. And even now, To crown my thoughts with acts, be it thought and done: The caftle of Macduff I will furprize, Seize upon Fife, give to the edge o' th' fword His wife, his babes, and all unfortunate fouls That trace him in his line. No boafting like a fool, This deed I'll do before this purpose cool. But no more fights. Where are these gentlemen? Excunt. Enter Lady Macduff, her Son, and Roffe. L. Macd. What had he done, to make him fly the land Roffe. You must have patience, Madam. L. Macd. He had none; His flight was madnefs; when our actions do not, Our fears do make us traitors. Roffe. You know not, Whether it was his wifdom, or his fear. * R. firfiling. y H. the for this. fo's, R. and C. No defcription of scene in the fo's. C. A room in Macduff's This called the fecond fcene in the cafile. L. Macd L. Macd. Wifdom? to leave his wife, to leave his babes, His manfion, and his titles, in a place From whence himself does fly. He loves us not, He wants the natural touch; for the poor wren, Raffe. My dearest ↳ couz, pray you, fchool yourself; but for your husband, He is noble, wife, judicious, and best knows с The fits o' th' feason. I dare not speak much further, d 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 fea Each way, and move. I take my leave of you; Things at the worst will cease, or elfe climb upward he's L. Macd. Father'd he is, and yet he 's fatherles. Roffe. I am fo much a fool, fhould I stay longer, It would be my disgrace, and your discomfort. I take iny leave at once. a P. and H. omit My. b P. and all after, except C. coufin for * P. and H. time for feafon. [Exit Roffe. d H. Anotu's for new. e C. And move each way. 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 fo do they. L. Macd. Poor bird! thou 'dft never fear the net, nor i lime, The pit-fall nor the gin. Son. Why fhould I, mother? poor birds they are not fet for. *My father is not dead for all your faying. 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 m 'Ilm buy 'em to fell again. L. Macd. Thou speak'ft with all thy wit, And yet i' faith with wit enough for thee. Son. Was my father a traitor, mother? L. Macd. Ay, that he was. Son. What is a traitor? L. Macd. Why, one that fwears, and lies. Son. And be all traitors that do fo? L. Macd. Every one that does fo, is a traitor, and must be hang'd. Son. And muft they all be hang'd that fwear and lie? Son. Then the liars and fwearers are fools; for there are liars and fwearers enow to beat the honeft 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 fign that I should quickly have a new father. L. Macd. Poor prattler, how thou talk'st! Enter a Meffenger. Mef. Bless you, fair dame! I am not to you known, Though in your state of honour I am perfect; I doubt, fome danger does approach you nearly. If you will take a homely man's advice, Be not found here; hence with your little ones. Which is too nigh your perfon. Heaven preferve you! L. Macd. Whither fhould I fly? L [Exit Meffenger. I have done no harm. But I remember now, I am in this earthly world, where to do harm The two laft fo's, R. P. and H. omit New. mit the. P_H. and C. less for worfe ; W. war Accounted • The laft f, and all after, except C. ship, i. e. pay observance. G 3 Accounted dangerous folly. Why then, alas! To fay, I have done no harm?What are thefe faces? Mur. Where is your husband? L. Macd. I hope, in no place fo unfanctified, Where fuch as thou may'ft find him. Mur. He's a traitor. Son. Thou ly'ft, thou fhag-ear'd villain. Mur. What, you egg? Young fry of treachery? Son. He has kill'd me, mother, Run away, I pray you. t [Stabbing him. [Exit L. Macduff, crying Murther; Mur therers purfue her. Enter Malcolm and Macduff. Malt. Let us feek out fome defolate fhade, and there Weep our fad bofois empty, Macd. Let us rather' So the firft f. and 0; the reft, bad fpeech, it would feem as if he (who is for bave. 1. r No direction in the fo's. s P. and all after, except C. omit t So T. and all after; all before, direct thus, Exit, crying Murther. But by placing this direction after the fon's flain) was to go out, crying Murther, which is abfurd. u This is the third scene in the fo's, R. and C. No defçription of the scene in the fo's. C. calls it a room in the palace, Hold |