No Fear Shakespeare: Macbeth: Act 4, scene iii

Enter MALCOLM and MACDUFF

MALCOLM and MACDUFF enter.

	MALCOLM
	Let us seek out some desolate shade and there
	Weep our sad bosoms empty.

MALCOLM

Let's seek out some shady place where we can sit down alone and cry our hearts out.

	MACDUFF
	Let us rather
	Hold fast the mortal sword and, like good men,
	Bestride our downfall'n birthdom. Each new morn
5	New widows howl, new orphans cry, new sorrows
	Strike heaven on the face, that it resounds
	As if it felt with Scotland and yelled out
	Like syllable of dolor.

MACDUFF

Instead of crying, let's keep hold of our swords and defend our fallen homeland like honorable men. Each day new widows howl, new orphans cry, and new sorrows slap heaven in the face, until it sounds like heaven itself feels Scotland's anguish and screams in pain.

	MALCOLM
	What I believe I'll wail;
	What know believe, and what I can redress,
10	As I shall find the time to friend, I will.
	What you have spoke, it may be so perchance.
	This tyrant, whose sole name blisters our tongues,
	Was once thought honest. You have loved him well.
	He hath not touched you yet. I am young, but something
15	You may deserve of him through me, and wisdom
	To offer up a weak, poor, innocent lamb
	T' appease an angry god.

MALCOLM

I will avenge whatever I believe is wrong. And I'll believe whatever I'm sure is true. And I'll put right whatever I can when the time comes. What you just said may perhaps be true. This tyrant, whose mere name is so awful it hurts us to say it, was once considered an honest man. You were one of his favorites. He hasn't done anything to harm you yet. I'm inexperienced, but maybe you're planning to win Macbeth's favor by betraying me to him. It would be smart to offer someone poor and innocent like me as a sacrificial lamb to satisfy an angry god like Macbeth.

	MACDUFF
	I am not treacherous.

MACDUFF

I am not treacherous.

	MALCOLM
	But Macbeth is.
20	A good and virtuous nature may recoil
	In an imperial charge. But I shall crave your pardon.
	That which you are, my thoughts cannot transpose.
	Angels are bright still, though the brightest fell.
	Though all things foul would wear the brows of grace,
25	Yet grace must still look so.

MALCOLM

But Macbeth is. Even someone with a good and virtuous nature might give way to a royal command. But I beg your pardon. My fears can't actually make you evil. Angels are still bright even though Lucifer, the brightest angel, fell from heaven. Even though everything evil wants to look good, good still has to look good too.