Things Have Been Strangely Borne

Verse

My former speeches have but hit your thoughts,

Which can interpret farther. Only I say

Things have been strangely borne. The gracious

Duncan

Was pitied of Macbeth; marry, he was dead.

And the right valiant Banquo walked too late,

Whom you may say, if ’t please you, Fleance killed,

For Fleance fled. Men must not walk too late.

Who cannot want the thought how monstrous

It was for Malcolm and for Donalbain

To kill their gracious father? Damnèd fact,

How it did grieve Macbeth! Did he not straight

In pious rage the two delinquents tear

That were the slaves of drink and thralls of sleep?

Was not that nobly done? Ay, and wisely, too,

For ’twould have angered any heart alive

To hear the men deny ’t. So that I say

He has borne all things well. And I do think

That had he Duncan’s sons under his key

(As, an ’t please heaven, he shall not) they should

find

What ’twere to kill a father. So should Fleance.

But peace. For from broad words, and ’cause he

failed

His presence at the tyrant’s feast, I hear

Macduff lives in disgrace. Sir, can you tell

Where he bestows himself?