Page 49 - Macbeth Modern Translation

‘He’s a traitor,’ the one with the shaggy hair said.

The boy rushed at him and kicked him in the shin. ‘You lie, you shaggy-haired
lout!’ he cried.

‘What?’ The man grabbed him as he was about to kick him again. ‘You egg!’

He drew his dagger and thrust it viciously into the boy’s spine. Blood spurted
on to his face. ‘You traitor’s spawn!’

The boy turned pale and blood trickled out of his mouth and down his chin.
The shaggy haired man rubbed his shin. Lady Macduff stood with her mouth
open, unable to scream.

The boy fell heavily against his mother. ‘Run,’ he sighed. ‘I beg you.’ He
slipped to the floor and lay still.

Lady Macduff moved then. She began running, dodging round the men who
tried to catch her, and out into the corridor. ‘Help! Murder! Help! My babies!’
she cried.

The men followed her.

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Macbeth Modern Translation: Act 4, Scene 3

Malcolm ushered Macduff out into a garden at King Edward’s palace. The
sun shone out of a cloudless sky. ‘Let’s find some shade and pour our sorrows

out to each other,’ he said.

Macduff frowned. ‘Let’s rather take our swords and defend our poor country
like brave men,’ he said. He followed Malcolm towards a shady bower
beside a fountain. ‘Every day there are new widows and orphans. New howls
of grief reach up to heaven every day.’

Malcolm sat down and invited Macduff to join him on the bench. ‘I’ll only
weep for what I think is true,’ he said. ‘And only believe what I know to be a
fact. Perhaps what you’ve told me is true, and if and when I discover that
then it will be the time to take up swords. After all, this tyrant, whose name
blisters everyone’s tongue, was once considered noble and honourable. And
you loved him greatly: he’s done nothing to you yet. I’m young and
powerless but how do I know you’re not trying to win favour with him by
deceiving me? It’s possible that you think there may be some advantage in

offering up a weak, poor, innocent lamb like me as a sacrifice to an angry
god.’

Macduff looked at him with indignation. ‘I’m not treacherous,’ he said.

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