Page 31 - Macbeth Modern Translation
P. 31
‘Yes, my Lord.’
‘Well I wish you a good trip.’
Courtiers, thanes and aides milled about in the courtyard.
‘Find ways of amusing yourselves till seven tonight,’ said Macbeth. ‘We will
spend the afternoon by ourself. God be with you.’
He went to a private room where an attendant waited.
‘Are those men here?’ he said.
‘They are, my Lord,’ said the attendant. ‘Outside the palace gate.’
‘Bring them to me.’
While the attendant was gone Macbeth paced. It was all very well to put on
a pleasant face for his guests but that wasn’t how he felt. He was on edge. To
become king was nothing. But to stay king: that’s what really mattered.
Banquo was the problem. He was a big threat: it was his great dignity that
was so frightening. And he was fearless. And careful. Banquo was the only
person in the world he feared and when Banquo was around he felt inferior,
as Mark Antony had done in the presence of Octavius Caesar.
He remembered the way Banquo had reproached the witches when they’d
first put the name of king on him. And he had insisted that they speak to him.
And when they did they looked respectful and hailed Banquo as the father
of a line of kings. On his own head they had placed a fruitless crown and put
a barren scepter in his hand! To be wrenched away by a hand not of his own
family – none of his sons succeeding him. So it was for Banquo’s descendants
that he had corrupted his soul. He had murdered the gracious Duncan for
them! Stuck thorns in his peace of mind just for them. And given his precious
soul to the Devil to turn Banquo’s sons into kings. All that for the seed of
Banquo! Rather than that he would defy Fate and fight it to the death.
The attendant returned with two rough-looking men.
‘Go to the door and stay there until we call,’ said Macbeth. When the
attendant had gone Macbeth nodded to the men. ‘Wasn’t it yesterday that
we spoke?’
‘It was,’ said one of them.
‘Well now,’ said Macbeth. ‘Have you thought about what I said?’
The two men exchanged glances.
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