NEN Gallery

SCENE IV. Outside Macbeth's castle.
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.

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: (note 53)
Is't night's predominance, or the day's shame,
That darkness does the face of earth entomb,
When living light should kiss it?

Old Man
'Tis unnatural, (note 54)
Even like the deed that's done. On Tuesday last,
A falcon, towering in her pride of place, (note 55)
Was by a mousing owl hawk'd at and kill'd. (note 57)

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.

Old Man
'Tis said they eat each other.

ROSS
They did so, to the amazement of mine eyes
That look'd upon't. Here comes the good Macduff.

Enter MACDUFF
How goes the world, sir, now?

MACDUFF
Why, see you not?

ROSS
Is't known who did this more than bloody deed?

MACDUFF
Those that Macbeth hath slain.

ROSS
Alas, the day!
What good could they pretend? (note 57)

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.

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. (note 58)

MACDUFF
He is already named, and gone to Scone
To be invested.

ROSS
Where is Duncan's body?

MACDUFF
Carried to Colmekill, (note 59)
The sacred storehouse of his predecessors,
And guardian of their bones.

ROSS
Will you to Scone? (note 60)

MACDUFF
No, cousin, I'll to Fife. (note 61)

ROSS
Well, I will thither. (note 62)

MACDUFF
Well, may you see things well done there: adieu!
Lest our old robes sit easier than our new!

ROSS
Farewell, father.

Old Man
God's benison go with you; and with those (note 63)
That would make good of bad, and friends of foes!

Exeunt

(53) The travelling lamp. 'The sun.' See Notes 90, Act I., and 2, Act II of this play.
(54) Unnatural, even like the deed that's done. Here again Shakespeare derives material from Holinshed and adapts it to his purpose. The historian, recording the prodigies that occurred after the murder of King Duffe, mentions, "For the space of six months together there appeared no sunne by day, nor moone by night, in any part of the realme, but still was the sky covered with continual clouds; and sometimes such outrageous winds arose, with lightenings and tempests, that the people were in great fear of present destruction."
(55} Towering in her pride of place. A technical phrase in falconry for' soaring at the highest point of flight:.
(56) A mousing owl. An owl hunting for mice, as its usual prey. Holinshed records the circumstance that "there was a sparhawk strangled by an owl;" and also that "horses of singular beauty and swiftness did eat their own flesh. "
(57) Pretend. ' Intend,' 'design,' 'purpose.' See Note 49
(58) The sovereignty will fall upon Macbeth. Because he stood next in succession to the crown, after the sons of Duncan. See Note 50 of this Act.
(59) Colme-kill. The famous Iona, one of the western isles, mentioned by Hollinshed its the burial-place of many ancient kings of Scotland: "Colme-kill" means the 'cell' or 'chapel of St. Columb.' See Note 19, Act I. "Kill," In the Erse language, signifies a burying. place.
(60) Scone. Where it was customary for the coronation of the Scottish kings to take place.
(61) I'll to Fife. Macduff's castle was at Fife.
(62) I will thither. Meaning to Scone; Shakespeare sometimes allowing a word to refer back to the antecedent which is not the last-named one.
(63) Benison. 'Blessing.' Old French, beniyon, ' benediction.'