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“What,
you egg! Young fry of treachery!”
ACT IV , Scene 2:
Lady Macduff,
Son , Messenger, Murderers
Fife.
Macduff's castle.
LADY MACDUFF:
Sirrah, your father's dead;
And what will you do
now? How will you live?
Son: As birds do, mother.
LADY MACDUFF:
What, with worms and flies?
Son: With what I get, I mean; and so do they.
LADY MACDUFF: Poor bird!
Son: My father is not dead,
for all your saying.
LADY MACDUFF: Yes, he is dead;
how wilt thou do for a father?
Son: Nay, how will you do for a husband?
LADY MACDUFF: Why, I can buy me
twenty at any market.
Son: Then you'll buy 'em
to sell again.
LADY MACDUFF: Thou speak'st with all thy wit: and yet, i'
faith,
With wit enough for
thee.
Son: Was my father a traitor, mother?
LADY MACDUFF: Ay, that he was.
Son: What is a traitor?
LADY MACDUFF: Why, one that
swears and lies.
Son: And be all traitors that do so?
LADY MACDUFF: Every one that
does so is a traitor, and must be hanged.
Son: And must they all be hanged that swear and
lie?
LADY MACDUFF: Every one.
Son: Who must hang them?
LADY MACDUFF: Why, the honest
men.
Son: Then the liars and swearers
are fools, for there are liars and swearers
enow
to beat the honest men and hang up them.
LADY MACDUFF: Now, God help
thee, poor monkey!
But how wilt thou do for
a father?
Son: If he were dead, you'ld
weep for him: if you would not,
it
were a good sign that I should quickly have a new father.
LADY MACDUFF: Poor prattler,
how thou talk'st!
{Enter a Messenger.}
Messenger: Bless you, fair dame! I am not to you known,
Though in your state of
honor I am perfect.
I doubt some danger does
approach you nearly:
If you will take a
homely man's advice,
Be not found here;
hence, with your little ones.
Heaven preserve you! I dare abide no
longer.
[Exit.]
LADY MACDUFF:
Whither should I fly?
I have done no
harm.
{Enter Murderers.}
What are these faces?
First Murderer: Where is your
husband?
LADY MACDUFF: I hope, in no
place so unsanctified
Where such as thou mayst find hi``````````m.
First Murderer: He's a
traitor.
Son: Thou liest, thou
shag-hair'd villain!
First Murderer: What,
you egg!
[Stabbing him.]
Young fry of treachery!
Son: He has kill'd me, mother:
Run away, I pray you!
[Dies.]
[Exit LADY MACDUFF,
crying 'Murder!' Exeunt
Murderers, following
her.]
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