No boasting like a fool;

This deed I'll do before this purpose cool.

But no more sights! – Where are these gentlemen?

Come bring me where they are.

Exeunt.

 

 

Scene II

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.

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.

ROSSE.

My dearest coz,

I pray you school yourself. But for your husband,

He is noble, wise, judicious, and best knows

The fits o' th' season. I dare not speak much further,

But cruel are the times when we are traitors,

And do not know ourselves; when we hold rumor

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.

Things at the worst will cease, or else climb upward

To what they were before. My pretty cousin,

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.

 

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 pitfall 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?

L. MACD. Ay, that he was.

SON. What is a traitor?

L. MACD. Why, one that swears and lies.

SON. And be all traitors that do so?

L. MACD.