Macbeth

Share
First folio
Modern text

Definitions

Key line

Enter Macduffes Wife, her Son, and Rosse.Enter Macduff's Wife, her Son, and Ross Mac IV.ii.1
Wife.WIFE 
What had he done, to make him fly the Land?What had he done to make him fly the land? Mac IV.ii.1
Rosse.ROSS 
You must haue patience Madam.You must have patience, madam. Mac IV.ii.2.1
Wife.WIFE 
He had none:He had none. Mac IV.ii.2.2
His flight was madnesse: when our Actions do not,His flight was madness; when our actions do not, Mac IV.ii.3
Our feares do make vs Traitors.Our fears do make us traitors. Mac IV.ii.4.1
Rosse.ROSS 
You know notYou know not Mac IV.ii.4.2
Whether it was his wisedome, or his feare.Whether it was his wisdom or his fear. Mac IV.ii.5
Wife.WIFE 
Wisedom? to leaue his wife, to leaue his Babes,Wisdom! To leave his wife, to leave his babes, Mac IV.ii.6
His Mansion, and his Titles, in a placeHis mansion and his titles, in a placetitle (n.)
possession, lordship, dominion
Mac IV.ii.7
From whence himselfe do's flye? He loues vs not,From whence himself does fly? He loves us not. Mac IV.ii.8
He wants the naturall touch. For the poore WrenHe wants the natural touch; for the poor wren,touch (n.)
trait, quality, feature
Mac IV.ii.9
natural (adj.)

old form: naturall
feeling proper affection, having normal feelings
want (v.)
lack, need, be without
(The most diminitiue of Birds) will fight,The most diminutive of birds, will fight,diminitive (adj.)

old form: diminitiue
diminutive
Mac IV.ii.10
Her yong ones in her Nest, against the Owle:Her young ones in her nest, against the owl. Mac IV.ii.11
All is the Feare, and nothing is the Loue;All is the fear and nothing is the love, Mac IV.ii.12
As little is the Wisedome, where the flightAs little is the wisdom, where the flight Mac IV.ii.13
So runnes against all reason.So runs against all reason. Mac IV.ii.14.1
Rosse.ROSS 
My deerest Cooz,My dearest cuz, Mac IV.ii.14.2
I pray you schoole your selfe. But for your Husband,I pray you school yourself. But, for your husband,school (v.)

old form: schoole
control, correct, teach wisdom to
Mac IV.ii.15
He is Noble, Wise, Iudicious, and best knowesHe is noble, wise, judicious, and best knows Mac IV.ii.16
The fits o'th' Season. I dare not speake much further,The fits o'the season. I dare not speak much further,season (n.)
age [period of history], time
Mac IV.ii.17
fit (n.)
conflict, beating, turmoil
But cruell are the times, when we are TraitorsBut cruel are the times when we are traitors Mac IV.ii.18
And do not know our selues: when we hold RumorAnd do not know, ourselves; when we hold rumour Mac IV.ii.19
From what we feare, yet know not what we feare,From what we fear, yet know not what we fear, Mac IV.ii.20
But floate vpon a wilde and violent SeaBut float upon a wild and violent sea, Mac IV.ii.21
Each way, and moue. I take my leaue of you:Each way and move. I take my leave of you; Mac IV.ii.22
Shall not be long but Ile be heere againe:Shall not be long but I'll be here again. Mac IV.ii.23
Things at the worst will cease, or else climbe vpward,Things at the worst will cease or else climb upward Mac IV.ii.24
To what they were before. My pretty Cosine,To what they were before. – My pretty cousin, Mac IV.ii.25
Blessing vpon you.Blessing upon you! Mac IV.ii.26
Wife.WIFE 
Father'd he is, / And yet hee's Father-lesse.Fathered he is, and yet he's fatherless. Mac IV.ii.27
Rosse.ROSS 
I am so much a Foole, should I stay longerI am so much a fool, should I stay longer Mac IV.ii.28
It would be my disgrace, and your discomfort.It would be my disgrace and your discomfort. Mac IV.ii.29
I take my leaue at once.I take my leave at once. Mac IV.ii.30
Exit Rosse.Exit Mac IV.ii.30
Wife.WIFE 
Sirra, your Fathers dead,Sirrah, your father's dead. Mac IV.ii.31
And what will you do now? How will you liue?And what will you do now? How will you live? Mac IV.ii.32
Son.SON 
As Birds do Mother.As birds do, mother. Mac IV.ii.33.1
Wife.WIFE 
What with Wormes, and Flyes?What, with worms and flies? Mac IV.ii.33.2
Son.SON 
With what I get I meane, and so do they.With what I get, I mean; and so do they. Mac IV.ii.34
Wife.WIFE 
Poore Bird, / Thou'dst neuer FearePoor bird! thou'dst never fear Mac IV.ii.35
the Net, nor Lime, / The Pitfall, nor the Gin.The net nor lime, the pitfall nor the gin!lime (n.)
birdlime
Mac IV.ii.36
gin (n.)
snare, trap
pitfall (n.)
bird-trap, fowler's snare
Son.SON 
Why should I Mother? / Poore Birds they are not set for:Why should I, mother? Poor birds they are not set for. Mac IV.ii.37
My Father is not dead for all your saying.My father is not dead, for all your saying. Mac IV.ii.38
Wife.WIFE 
Yes, he is dead: / How wilt thou do for a Father?Yes, he is dead. How wilt thou do for a father? Mac IV.ii.39
Son.SON 
Nay how will you do for a Husband?Nay, how will you do for a husband? Mac IV.ii.40
Wife.WIFE 
Why I can buy me twenty at any Market.Why, I can buy me twenty at any market. Mac IV.ii.41
Son.SON 
Then you'l by 'em to sell againe.Then you'll buy 'em to sell again. Mac IV.ii.42
Wife.WIFE 
Thou speak'st with all thy wit,Thou speak'st with all thy wit;wit (n.)
mental sharpness, acumen, quickness, ingenuity
Mac IV.ii.43
And yet I'faith with wit enough for thee.And yet, i' faith, with wit enough for thee. Mac IV.ii.44
Son.SON 
Was my Father a Traitor, Mother?Was my father a traitor, mother? Mac IV.ii.45
Wife.WIFE 
I, that he was.Ay, that he was. Mac IV.ii.46
Son.SON 
What is a Traitor?What is a traitor? Mac IV.ii.47
Wife.WIFE 
Why one that sweares, and lyes.Why, one that swears and lies.swear (v.)

old form: sweares
promise, vow, pledge
Mac IV.ii.48
Son.SON 
And be all Traitors, that do so.And be all traitors that do so? Mac IV.ii.49
Wife.WIFE 
Euery one that do's so, is a Traitor,Every one that does so is a traitor, Mac IV.ii.50
And must be hang'd.And must be hanged. Mac IV.ii.51
Son.SON 
And must they all be hang'd, that swear and lye?And must they all be hanged that swear and lie? Mac IV.ii.52
Wife.WIFE 
Euery one.Every one. Mac IV.ii.53
Son.SON 
Who must hang them?Who must hang them? Mac IV.ii.54
Wife.WIFE 
Why, the honest men.Why, the honest men. Mac IV.ii.55
Son.SON 
Then the Liars and Swearers are Fools: for there areThen the liars and swearers are fools; for there are Mac IV.ii.56
Lyars and Swearers enow, to beate the honest men, and hangliars and swearers enow to beat the honest men and hangenow (adv.)
enough
Mac IV.ii.57
vp them.up them. Mac IV.ii.58
Wife.WIFE 
Now God helpe thee, poore Monkie: / But how wiltNow God help thee, poor monkey! But how wilt Mac IV.ii.59
thou do for a Father?thou do for a father? Mac IV.ii.60
Son.SON 
If he were dead, youl'd weepe for him: if you would not,If he were dead, you'd weep for him; if you would Mac IV.ii.61
it were a good signe, that I should quickely haue a newnot, it were a good sign that I should quickly have a new Mac IV.ii.62
Father.father. Mac IV.ii.63
Wife.WIFE 
Poore pratler, how thou talk'st?Poor prattler, how thou talk'st! Mac IV.ii.64
Enter a Messenger.Enter a Messenger Mac IV.ii.64
Mes.MESSENGER 
Blesse you faire Dame: I am not to you known,Bless you, fair dame! I am not to you known,dame (n.)
lady, mistress, woman of rank
Mac IV.ii.65
Though in your state of Honor I am perfect;Though in your state of honour I am perfect.perfect (adj.)
well aware, fully informed
Mac IV.ii.66
state (n.)
status, rank, position
I doubt some danger do's approach you neerely.I doubt some danger does approach you nearly.nearly (adv.)

old form: neerely
closely, particularly, especially
Mac IV.ii.67
doubt (v.)
fear, be afraid [for], feel anxious [for]
If you will take a homely mans aduice,If you will take a homely man's advice,advice (n.)

old form: aduice
judgement, opinion, warning
Mac IV.ii.68
Be not found heere: Hence with your little onesBe not found here. Hence with your little ones! Mac IV.ii.69
To fright you thus. Me thinkes I am too sauage:To fright you thus methinks I am too savage;methinks(t), methought(s) (v.)

old form: Me thinkes
it seems / seemed to me
Mac IV.ii.70
fright (v.), past form frighted
frighten, scare, terrify
To do worse to you, were fell Cruelty,To do worse to you were fell cruelty,fell (adj.)
mighty, terrible
Mac IV.ii.71
Which is too nie your person. Heauen preserue you,Which is too nigh your person. Heaven preserve you!nigh (adj.)

old form: nie
near, close
Mac IV.ii.72
I dare abide no longer.I dare abide no longer. Mac IV.ii.73.1
Exit MessengerExit Mac IV.ii.73
Wife.WIFE 
Whether should I flye?Whither should I fly? Mac IV.ii.73.2
I haue done no harme. But I remember nowI have done no harm. But I remember now Mac IV.ii.74
I am in this earthly world: where to do harmeI am in this earthly world, where to do harm Mac IV.ii.75
Is often laudable, to do good sometimeIs often laudable, to do good sometime Mac IV.ii.76
Accounted dangerous folly. Why then (alas)Accounted dangerous folly. Why then, alas, Mac IV.ii.77
Do I put vp that womanly defence,Do I put up that womanly defencewomanly (adj.)
womanish, feeble, fearful
Mac IV.ii.78
To say I haue done no harme?To say I have done no harm? Mac IV.ii.79.1
Enter Murtherers.Enter Murderers Mac IV.ii.79
What are these faces?What are these faces? Mac IV.ii.79.2
Mur.MURDERER 
Where is your Husband?Where is your husband? Mac IV.ii.80
Wife.WIFE 
I hope in no place so vnsanctified,I hope in no place so unsanctifiedunsanctified (adj.)

old form: vnsanctified
unholy, wicked, ungodly
Mac IV.ii.81
Where such as thou may'st finde him.Where such as thou mayst find him. Mac IV.ii.82.1
Mur.MURDERER 
He's a Traitor.He's a traitor. Mac IV.ii.82.2
Son.SON 
Thou ly'st thou shagge-ear'd Villaine.Thou liest, thou shag-haired villain!shag-haired (adj.)

old form: shagge-ear'd
having shaggy hair, rough-haired
Mac IV.ii.83.1
Mur.MURDERER 
What you Egge?What, you egg, Mac IV.ii.83.2
Yong fry of Treachery?Young fry of treachery!fry (n.)
brood, offspring, progeny
Mac IV.ii.84.1
He stabs him Mac IV.ii.84
Son.SON 
He ha's kill'd me Mother,He has killed me, mother! Mac IV.ii.84.2
Run away I pray you.Run away, I pray you. Mac IV.ii.85
Exit crying Murther.Son dies. Exit Wife crying ‘ Murder ’ Mac IV.ii.85
 Previous Act IV, Scene II Next  
x

Jump directly to