Page 47 - Macbeth Modern Translation

His fear’s greater than his love for his family. Don’t talk to me about wisdom!
There’s no reason in his flight!’ She flung herself down on a chair and sobbed.

Her young son ran to her and stroked her hair. Ross put an arm around her.
‘Control yourself, my dearest cousin, I beg of you.’ He went to the door,
looked into the corridor, closed the door and came back to her. ‘Listen. Your
husband is noble and wise. He’s clever and has a deep understanding of the

politics of the present time.’

Lady Macduff looked doubtfully at him.

‘I daren’t say any more – but I’ll just say this: the times are bad when the most
loyal people are accused of being traitors – when we listen to rumours just
because we’re so afraid, and don’t even know what it is we fear but are just

battered by troubles – coming from all directions.’

He kept looking towards the door as he spoke. ‘I can’t say any more,’ he
said. ‘I have to go now but I’ll be back soon. Things can’t get any worse so
they’ll either end or start getting back to how they were.’

He ruffled the boy’s hair. ‘Bless you, my pretty cousin.

‘He’s an orphan even though he has a father,’ said Lady Macduff.

‘I would look a fool if I were to stay any longer,’ said Ross. ‘I’d start crying and

embarrass you. So I’ll go at once.’

When he had gone Lady Macduff drew the child on to her knee. ‘Your
father’s dead, Sweetheart. What will you do now? How are you going to
live?’

‘Like a bird, Mother.’

She brightened up, then. ‘What? By eating worms and flies?’

‘By eating whatever I can find, I mean. Like they do.’

‘Poor little chicken.’ She cuddled him. ‘You’ve never had to be afraid of nets,
or bird lime, or any other trap.’

‘Why should I, Mother? No-one would want to trap such an unimportant bird.
Anyway, my father’s not dead, whatever you may say!’

‘Yes he is. What are you going to do for a father?’

‘No, the question is, what are you going to do for a husband?’

‘Hrumphh! I can buy twenty at the market!’

‘You’d have to sell them again. What would you do with twenty husbands?’

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