A drunken porter jokes as he answers persistent knocking at the castle gate. Macduff discovers Duncan's murdered body and raises the alarm. Macbeth kills the guards, and Malcolm and Donalbain secretly decide to flee for safety.
SCENE IV. The same. Without the Castle.
Enter Ross and an Old Man.
OLD MAN
Threescore and ten I can remember well,Within the volume of which time I have seenHours dreadful and things strange, but this sore nightHath trifled former knowings.
ROSS
Ha, good father,Thou seest the heavens, as troubled with man’s act,Threatens 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?
OLD MAN
’Tis unnatural,Even like the deed that’s done. On Tuesday last,A falcon, towering in her pride of placeThe highest point reached by a falcon before it swoops upon its prey.,Was by a mousing owl hawk’d at and kill’d.
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 makeWar 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.
ROSS
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?
MACDUFF
They were suborn’dto bribe or secretly induce someone to commit a wrongful act..Malcolm and DonalbainKing Duncan’s younger son and Malcolm’s brother., the King’s two sons,Are stol’n away and fled; which puts upon themSuspicion of the deed.
ROSS
’Gainst nature still:Thriftless ambition, that will ravinTo devour greedily or seize as prey. upThine own life’s means!—Then ’tis most likeThe sovereignty will fall upon Macbeth.
MACDUFF
He is already nam’d; and gone to SconeTo be invested.
ROSS
Where is Duncan’s body?
MACDUFF
Carried to ColmekillColmekill, now Iona, an island monastery and traditional burial place of Scottish kings.,The sacred storehouse of his predecessors,And guardian of their bones.
ROSS
Will you to Scone?
MACDUFF
No, cousin, I’ll to Fife.
ROSS
Well, I will thither.
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 thoseThat would make good of bad, and friends of foes!
Exeunta stage direction indicating that two or more characters leave the stage..