Speeches (Lines) for Lady Macduff
in "Macbeth"
Total: 19

1

IV,2,1739

(stage directions). [Enter LADY MACDUFF, her Son, and ROSS]

Lady Macduff. What had he done, to make him fly the land?

2

IV,2,1741

Ross. You must have patience, madam.

Lady Macduff. He had none:
His flight was madness: when our actions do not,
Our fears do make us traitors.

3

IV,2,1746

Ross. You know not
Whether it was his wisdom or his fear.

Lady Macduff. Wisdom! to leave his wife, to leave his babes,
His mansion and his titles in a place
From whence himself does fly? He loves us not;
He wants the natural touch: for the poor wren,
The most diminutive of birds, will fight,
Her young ones in her nest, against the owl.
All is the fear and nothing is the love;
As little is the wisdom, where the flight
So runs against all reason.

4

IV,2,1769

Ross. My dearest coz,
I pray you, school yourself: but for your husband,
He is noble, wise, judicious, and best knows
The fits o' the season. I dare not speak
much further;
But cruel are the times, when we are traitors
And do not know ourselves, when we hold rumour
From what we fear, yet know not what we fear,
But float upon a wild and violent sea
Each way and move. I take my leave of you:
Shall not be long but I'll be here again:
Things at the worst will cease, or else climb upward
To what they were before. My pretty cousin,
Blessing upon you!

Lady Macduff. Father'd he is, and yet he's fatherless.

5

IV,2,1774

(stage directions). [Exit]

Lady Macduff. Sirrah, your father's dead;
And what will you do now? How will you live?

6

IV,2,1777

Son. As birds do, mother.

Lady Macduff. What, with worms and flies?

7

IV,2,1779

Son. With what I get, I mean; and so do they.

Lady Macduff. Poor bird! thou'ldst never fear the net nor lime,
The pitfall nor the gin.

8

IV,2,1783

Son. Why should I, mother? Poor birds they are not set for.
My father is not dead, for all your saying.

Lady Macduff. Yes, he is dead; how wilt thou do for a father?

9

IV,2,1785

Son. Nay, how will you do for a husband?

Lady Macduff. Why, I can buy me twenty at any market.

10

IV,2,1787

Son. Then you'll buy 'em to sell again.

Lady Macduff. Thou speak'st with all thy wit: and yet, i' faith,
With wit enough for thee.

11

IV,2,1790

Son. Was my father a traitor, mother?

Lady Macduff. Ay, that he was.

12

IV,2,1792

Son. What is a traitor?

Lady Macduff. Why, one that swears and lies.

13

IV,2,1794

Son. And be all traitors that do so?

Lady Macduff. Every one that does so is a traitor, and must be hanged.

14

IV,2,1796

Son. And must they all be hanged that swear and lie?

Lady Macduff. Every one.

15

IV,2,1798

Son. Who must hang them?

Lady Macduff. Why, the honest men.

16

IV,2,1802

Son. Then the liars and swearers are fools,
for there are liars and swearers enow to beat
the honest men and hang up them.

Lady Macduff. Now, God help thee, poor monkey!
But how wilt thou do for a father?

17

IV,2,1807

Son. If he were dead, you'ld weep for
him: if you would not, it were a good sign
that I should quickly have a new father.

Lady Macduff. Poor prattler, how thou talk'st!

18

IV,2,1819

(stage directions). [Exit]

Lady Macduff. Whither should I fly?
I have done no harm. But I remember now
I am in this earthly world; where to do harm
Is often laudable, to do good sometime
Accounted dangerous folly: why then, alas,
Do I put up that womanly defence,
To say I have done no harm?
[Enter Murderers]
What are these faces?

19

IV,2,1829

First Murderer. Where is your husband?

Lady Macduff. I hope, in no place so unsanctified
Where such as thou mayst find him.