Page 33 - Macbeth Modern Translation

Macbeth Modern Translation: Act 3, Scene 2

Lady Macbeth rang for a servant. When he came in to her room she said:
‘Has Banquo gone from court?’
‘Yes, Madam, but he’s coming back tonight.’

‘Tell the king I’d like to see him when he’s free. Just for a few words, tell him.’

Lady Macbeth couldn’t settle down to anything. She felt very painfully that
we gain nothing and waste everything when we get what we want without it
bringing us happiness. It would be better to be Duncan than to be alive but
tortured with fears and doubts.

She heard Macbeth’s footsteps approaching and she ran to the door to
meet him.

‘Oh hello, my Lord,’ she said, taking his hand. ‘Why do you hide away with
your sad thoughts? They should have died with the person they’re thinking of.

You shouldn’t worry about things you can’t do anything about. What’s done
is done.’

‘We’ve wounded the snake, not killed it,’ he said. ‘And it will recover and bite
us. It will take forever to get rid of these nightmares that shake me nightly. It
would be better to be with the one we killed, because we gave him peace,
than to be king and be tortured like this. Duncan’s in his grave. After the fever

of life he sleeps well.’ Macbeth smiled grimly. ‘Treason has done him a favour.
Nothing – neither steel nor poison, personal problems nor politics – nothing
can touch him any more.’

Lady Macbeth sat down and drew him down beside her. ‘Come on, my love.
Don’t look so downcast. Be bright and jovial with your guests tonight.’

He looked up at her and smiled. ‘I will, my love. And I hope you will be too.
And I want you to pay particular attention to Banquo. Treat him as a special
guest – in every way: how you look at him and what you say to him. We must
be careful not to drop our guard.’

He sunk his head into his hands and sobbed. She put her arms around his
neck. ‘You must stop this,’ she said.

‘Oh, my mind is full of scorpions,’ he said. ‘You know that Banquo and
Fleance are still alive!’

‘But they won’t live forever.’

‘That’s true,’ he said. ‘So cheer up.’ He smiled. ‘Something dreadful’s going
to happen to them by nightfall.’

‘What?’

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