Macbeth Act 2 Scene 4
Outside Macbeth's castle.
The Original
Plain Modern English
Enter Ross and an Old Man.
Old Man
Threescore and ten I can remember well:
Within the volume of which time I have seen
Hours dreadful and things strange; but this sore night
Hath trifled former knowings.
Old Man
I can remember seventy years clearly,
and in all that stretch of time I've seen
dreadful hours and strange things. But this awful night
makes everything before it look like child's play.
Ross
Ah, good father,
Thou seest, the heavens, as troubled with man's act,
Threaten his bloody stage: by the clock, 'tis day,
And yet dark night strangles the travelling lamp:
Is't night's predominance, or the day's shame,
That darkness does the face of earth entomb,
When living light should kiss it?
Ross
Ah, old friend —
you can see it: the heavens, disturbed by what mankind has done,
are threatening the bloody stage below. By the clock it's daytime,
and yet dark night is strangling the traveling sun.
Is night winning — or is the day too ashamed to show its face —
that darkness has buried the face of the earth
when living light should be kissing it?
Old Man
'Tis unnatural,
Even like the deed that's done. On Tuesday last,
A falcon, towering in her pride of place,
Was by a mousing owl hawk'd at and kill'd.
Old Man
It's unnatural —
just like the deed that's been done. Last Tuesday,
a falcon soaring at the peak of her flight
was attacked and killed by an ordinary mouse-hunting owl.
Ross
And Duncan's horses—a thing most strange and certain—
Beauteous and swift, the minions of their race,
Turn'd wild in nature, broke their stalls, flung out,
Contending 'gainst obedience, as they would make
War with mankind.
Ross
And Duncan's horses — strange but absolutely true —
beautiful, swift, the very best of their breed,
went wild, smashed out of their stalls, and charged loose,
refusing every command, as if they meant to declare
war on mankind.
Old Man
'Tis said they eat each other.
Old Man
They say the horses ate each other.
Ross
They did so, to the amazement of mine eyes
That look'd upon't. Here comes the good Macduff.
Ross
They did. I watched it happen
and couldn't believe my own eyes. — Here comes good Macduff.
Enter Macduff.
Ross
How goes the world, sir, now?
Ross
How goes the world now, sir?
Macduff
Why, see you not?
Macduff
Can't you see for yourself?
Ross
Is't known who did this more than bloody deed?
Ross
Do they know who committed this beyond-bloody deed?
Macduff
Those that Macbeth hath slain.
Macduff
The men Macbeth killed.
Ross
Alas, the day!
What good could they pretend?
Ross
God, what a day.
What could they possibly have hoped to gain?
Macduff
They were suborn'd:
Malcolm and Donalbain, the king's two sons,
Are stol'n away and fled; which puts upon them
Suspicion of the deed.
Macduff
They were paid off.
Malcolm and Donalbain, the king's two sons,
have slipped away and fled — which drops the suspicion
squarely on them.
Ross
'Gainst nature still!
Thriftless ambition, that wilt ravin up
Thine own life's means! Then 'tis most like
The sovereignty will fall upon Macbeth.
Ross
Against nature — again!
Wasteful ambition, devouring
the very source of your own life! Then it's most likely
the crown falls to Macbeth.
Macduff
He is already named, and gone to Scone
To be invested.
Macduff
He's already been named king, and he's gone to Scone
for the coronation.
Ross
Where is Duncan's body?
Ross
Where is Duncan's body?
Macduff
Carried to Colmekill,
The sacred storehouse of his predecessors,
And guardian of their bones.
Macduff
Carried to Colmekill —
the sacred vault of his royal ancestors,
the keeper of their bones.
Ross
Will you to Scone?
Ross
Are you going to Scone?
Macduff
No, cousin, I'll to Fife.
Macduff
No, cousin. I'm going home to Fife.
Ross
Well, I will thither.
Ross
Well — I'll head to Scone.
Macduff
Well, may you see things well done there: adieu!
Lest our old robes sit easier than our new!
Macduff
May you see things done well there. Farewell —
and let's hope our old clothes don't turn out to fit better than our new ones!
Ross
Farewell, father.
Ross
Farewell, old friend.
Old Man
God's benison go with you; and with those
That would make good of bad, and friends of foes!
Old Man
God's blessing go with you — and with anyone
who'd turn bad into good, and enemies into friends.
Exeunt. — End of Act Two.