Len.
My former speeches have but hit your thoughts, ^note
Which can interpret farther ^note: only I say

Things have been strangely borne ^note. The gracious Duncan
Was pitied of Macbeth: marry, he was dead:
And the right-valiant ^note Banquo walk'd too late;
Whom, you may say, if't please you, Fleance kill'd,
For Fleance fled: men must not walk too late.
Who cannot want ^note the thought, how monstrous ^note
It was for Malcolm and for Donalbain
To kill their gracious father? ^note damned fact!
How it did grieve Macbeth! ^note did he not straight,
In pious rage, the two delinquents tear,
That were the slaves of drink and thralls of sleep?
Was not that ^note nobly done? Ay, and ^note wisely too;
For 'twould have anger'd any heart alive
To hear the men deny't ^note. So that, I say,
He has borne all things well: and I do think
That, had he Duncan's sons under his key ^note—
As, an't ^note please heaven, he shall not—they should ^note find
What 'twere to kill a father; so should Fleance.
But, peace! for from broad words, and 'cause ^note he fail'd
His presence at the tyrant's feast, I hear,
Macduff lives in disgrace: sir, can you tell
Where he bestows himself?

Lord. ^note
The son ^note of Duncan,
From whom this tyrant holds the due of birth,
Lives ^note in the English court, and is ^note received
Of the most pious Edward with such grace

That the malevolence of fortune nothing ^note
Takes from his high respect. Thither Macduff
Is gone to pray the holy ^note king, upon ^note his aid ^note
To wake Northumberland and warlike Siward ^note:
That by the help of these, with Him above
To ratify the work, we may again
Give to our tables meat, sleep to our nights,
Free ^note from our feasts and banquets ^note bloody knives,
Do faithful homage and receive free honours:
All which we pine for now: and this report
Hath so exasperate ^note the king ^note that he
Prepares for some attempt of war ^note.

Len.
Sent he to Macduff?

Lord. ^note
He did: and with an absolute ‘Sir, not I,’
The cloudy messenger turns me his back,
And hums, as who should say ‘You'll rue the time
That clogs me with this answer.’

Len.
And that well might
Advise him to a caution, to ^note hold what distance
His wisdom can provide. Some holy angel
Fly to the court of England and unfold
His message ere he come, that a swift blessing
May soon return to this our suffering country ^note
Under a hand accursed!

Lord.
I'll send my prayers with him. ^note [Exeunt.

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