Son. Why fhould I, Mother? poor birds they are not fet 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 fell again. L. Macd. Thou fpeak'ft with all thy wit, and yet i'faith, With wit enough for thee, Son. Was my father a traitor, mother? Son. What is a traitor? L. Macd. Why, one that fwears and lies. L. Macd. Every one that does fo, is a traitor, and must be hang'd. Son. And muft they all be hang'd, that swear and lie? L. Macd. Every one. Son. Who must hang them? L. Macd. Why, the honeft men. 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. 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 fhould quickly have a new father. L. Macd. Poor prattler! how thou talk'st ? Enter a Messenger. Mef. Blefs 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; Gg 4 If If you will take a homely man's advice, Be not found here; hence with your little ones. 2 Which is too nigh your perfon. Heav'n preferve you! I dare abide no longer. [Exit Meffenger. L. Mac. Whither should I fly ? 'I've done no harm. But I remember now, To fay, I'd done no harm?-What are thefe faces? Enter Murtherers. Mur. Where is your husband? L. Macd. I hope, in no place fo unsanctified, 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'as kill'd me, mother. Run away, pray you. [Stabbing him. [Exit L. Macduff, crying Murther; Murtherers purfue ber. To do worse to you avere fell cruelty.] Who can doubt it? But this is not what he would fay. A ftranger, of ordinary condition, accofts a woman of quality without ceremony; and tells her abruptly, that her life and her childrens lives are in imminent danger. But feeing the effect this had upon her, he adds, as we fhould read it, To fright you thus, methinks, I am too javage; Mal. SCENE IV. Changes to the King of England's Palace. L Enter Malcolm and Macduff. ET us feek out fome defolate fhade, and there Weep our fad bofoms empty. Macd. Let us rather Hold fast the mortal fword; and, like good men, 3 In former editions: Hold fast the mortal fword; and, like good men, Beftride our downfal birth doom] He who can discover what is meant by him that earnestly exhorts him to befride his downfal birth-doom, is at liberty to adhere to the prefent text; but it is probable that Shakespeare wrote, -like good men, Beftride our downfuln birthdom-The allufion is to a man from whom fomething valuable is about to be taken by violence, and who, that he may defend it without incumbrance, lays it on the ground, and ftands over it. with his weapon in his hand. Our birthdom, or birthright, fays he, Jies on the ground; let us, like men who are to fight for what is deareft to them, not abandon it, but ftand over it, and defend it. This is a strong picture of obftinate refolution, So Falstaff fays to Hal. When I am doren, if thou wilt beftride me, fo. Birthdam for birth-right is formed by the fame analogy with mafter dom in this play, fignifying the privileges or rights of a maf ter. Perhaps it might be birth-dame for mother; let us stand over our mother that lies bleeding on the ground. 4 Beflride our downfaln birth dem:-] To protect it from utter deftruction. The allufion is to the Hyperafpifts of the ancients, who beftrode their fellows faln in battle, and covered them with their fhields. WARBURTON. As As if it felt with Scotland, and yell'd out Mal. What I believe, I'll wail; What know, believe; and, what I can redress, What you have spoke, it may be so, perchance; You may deferve of him through me, and wisdom To offer up a weak, poor, innocent lamb, T' appeafe an angry God. Macd. I am not treacherous. Mal. But Macbeth is. 7 A good and virtuous nature may recoil In an imperial Charge. I crave your pardon : Though all things foul would bear the brows of Yet Grace muft look ftill fo. Like fyllables of dolour.] This prefents a ridiculous image. But what is infinuated under it is noble; that the portents and prodigies in the fkies, of which mention is made before, fhewed that Heaven fympathifed with Scotland. WARBURTON. 6 You may DISCERN of him through me,-] By Macduff's anfwer it appears we fhould read, -DESERVE of him- In an imperial Charge.-] A good mind may recede from goodnefs in the execution of a royal commiffion. 8 The Though all things foul, &c.] This is not very clear. meaning perhaps is this: My fufpicions cannot injure you, if you be virtuous, by fuppofing that a traitor may put on your virtuous appearance. I do not fay that your virtuous appearance proves you a traitor; for virtue muft wear its proper form, though that 1 A good and virtuous nature form be often counterfeited by vil may recoil lany. WARBURTON. Mal 7 Mal. Perchance, ev'n there, where I did find my doubts. Why in that rawnefs left you wife and children, Those precious motives, thofe ftrong knots of love, Without leave-taking ?-I pray you, Let not my jealoufies be your dishonours, But mine own fafeties. You may be rightly juft, Macd. Bleed, bleed, poor Country! Great Tyranny, lay thou thy Basis fure, For goodness dares not check thee !-* Wear thou thy wrongs His title is affear'd.-Fare thee well, lord; I would not be the villain that thou think'ft, And the rich Eaft to boot. Mal. Be not offended; 1 speak not as in abfolute fear of you. Macd. What fhould he be? 2. Mal. It is myself I mean, in whom I know All the particulars of vice fo grafted, 9 Why in that rawness- -] Without previous provifion, with out due preparation, without maturity of counfel. *Wear thou thy wrongs-] That is, Poor Country, wear thou thy wrongs. His title is affear'd.-] Af fear'd, a law term for confirmed. POPE. It is myself I mean, in whom I know] This conference of Malcolm with Macduff is taken out of the chronicles of Scotland. РОРЕ. That, |