Enter LENNOX and another LORD.

       LENNOX
  1    My former speeches have but hit your thoughts,
  2    Which can interpret further: only, I say,
  3    Things have been strangely borne. The gracious Duncan
  4    Was pitied of Macbeth; marry, he was dead.
  5    And the right-valiant Banquo walk'd too late,
  6    Whom, you may say, if't please you, Fleance kill'd,
  7    For Fleance fled. Men must not walk too late.
  8    Who cannot want the thought how monstrous
  9    It was for Malcolm and for Donalbain
 10    To kill their gracious father? damned fact!
 11    How it did grieve Macbeth! did he not straight
 12    In pious rage the two delinquents tear,
 13    That were the slaves of drink and thralls of sleep?
 14    Was not that nobly done? Ay, and wisely too;
 15    For 'twould have anger'd any heart alive
 16    To hear the men deny't. So that, I say,
 17    He has borne all things well: and I do think
 18    That had he Duncan's sons under his key—
 19    As, an't please heaven, he shall not—they should find
 20    What 'twere to kill a father; so should Fleance.
 21    But, peace! for from broad words and 'cause he fail'd
 22    His presence at the tyrant's feast, I hear
 23    Macduff lives in disgrace: sir, can you tell
 24    Where he bestows himself?

       Lord
                                              The son of Duncan,
 25    From whom this tyrant holds the due of birth
 26    Lives in the English court, and is received
 27    Of the most pious Edward with such grace
 28    That the malevolence of fortune nothing
 29    Takes from his high respect. Thither Macduff
 30    Is gone to pray the holy king, upon his aid
 31    To wake Northumberland and warlike Siward,
 32    That, by the help of these—with Him above
 33    To ratify the work—we may again
 34    Give to our tables meat, sleep to our nights,
 35    Free from our feasts and banquets bloody knives,
 36    Do faithful homage and receive free honours:
 37    All which we pine for now. And this report
 38    Hath so exasperate the king that he
 39    Prepares for some attempt of war.

       LENNOX
                                                       Sent he to Macduff?

       Lord
 40    He did; and with an absolute "Sir, not I,"
 41    The cloudy messenger turns me his back,
 42    And hums, as who should say "You'll rue the time
 43    That clogs me with this answer."

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

       Lord
                                           I'll send my prayers with him.

          Exeunt