No Fear Shakespeare

Macbeth

William Shakespeare

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Act 4, Scene 2, Page 3

Original Text

Modern Text


SON
Then you’ll buy 'em to sell again.
SON
If so, you’d be buying them to sell again.


LADY MACDUFF
Thou speak’st with all thy wit; and yet, i' faith,
With wit enough for thee.
LADY MACDUFF
You talk like a child, but you’re very smart anyway.

45
SON
Was my father a traitor, Mother?
SON
Was my father a traitor, Mother?

LADY MACDUFF
Ay, that he was.
LADY MACDUFF
Yes, he was.

SON
What is a traitor?
SON
What is a traitor?

LADY MACDUFF
Why, one that swears and lies.
LADY MACDUFF
Someone who makes a promise and breaks it.

SON
And be all traitors that do so?
SON
And is everyone who swears and lies a traitor?

50
LADY MACDUFF
Every one that does so is a traitor and must be hanged.
LADY MACDUFF
Everyone who does so is a traitor and should be hanged.

SON
And must they all be hanged that swear and lie?
SON
And should everyone who makes promises and breaks them be hanged?

LADY MACDUFF
Every one.
LADY MACDUFF
Everyone.

SON
Who must hang them?
SON
Who should hang them?

LADY MACDUFF
Why, the honest men.
LADY MACDUFF
The honest men.

55
SON
Then the liars and swearers are fools, for there are liars and swearers enough to beat the honest men and hang up them.
SON
Then the liars are fools, for there are enough liars in the world to beat up the honest men and hang them.

LADY MACDUFF
Now, God help thee, poor monkey! But how wilt thou do for a father?
LADY MACDUFF
(laughing) Heaven help you for saying that, boy! (sad again) But what will you do without a father?

SON
If he were dead, you’d weep for him. If you would not, it were a good sign that I should quickly have a new father.
SON
If he were dead, you’d be weeping for him. If you aren’t weeping, it’s a good sign that I’ll soon have a new father.

LADY MACDUFF
Poor prattler, how thou talk’st!
LADY MACDUFF
Silly babbler, how you talk!

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