The Tragedy of Macbeth, Part II: The Seed of Banquo

by Noah Lukeman

FIRST GUARD ’Tis awful strange. The heavens churn, as if

  battling with each other.

  SECOND GUARD Such a night I have not seen.

  FIRST GUARD ’Tis almost daybreak, yet ’neath such stars, the

  day seems near broke.

  SECOND GUARD Does not sit well for Scotland.

  FIRST GUARD Think you?

  SECOND GUARD When the stars cross just so, bodes the

  death of a saint.

  Enter Ghost of Macbeth.

  SECOND GUARD You there! Stand to!

  FIRST GUARD Do not come closer!

  SECOND GUARD Look! He floats!

  FIRST GUARD Why, ’tis King Macbeth!

  SECOND GUARD He tries to speak but cannot!

  Exit Ghost of Macbeth.

  FIRST GUARD O hideous night!

  SECOND GUARD Never have these ramparts needed more

  guarding— and never have we been less equipped!

  Exeunt.

  SCENE III

  Dunsinane. Malcolm’s chamber.

  Malcolm, seated.

  Enter Seyton.

  SEYTON The hunt advances for our lord Macduff’s

  three murderers. They should be caught by midday.

  MALCOLM Is this a day which breaks outside

  my window? Why streaks the light a bloody red?

  SEYTON ’Tis but a sunrise, my lord.

  MALCOLM Does not bode well.

  Fleance is dead, yet still I am not safe.

  SEYTON You seem safe enough.

  MALCOLM Another seed

  of Banquo must hide far in the land.

  SEYTON Closer,

  I fear.

  MALCOLM What say you?

  SEYTON Nothing, my lord. I have

  o’erspoke myself.

  MALCOLM Speak again. Now, sirrah!

  SEYTON My lord, I should not want to be the cause

  of some misfortune.

  MALCOLM A greater shall descend

  if presently you do not speak.

  SEYTON So be it—

  but pray you, do not then direct your wrath

  upon the one conveying. A certain nurse

  has of late approached me and has confided

  misgivings about her lady. She has discovered . . .

  intentions on your throne.

  MALCOLM A lady? My throne?

  Who, pray? Who? Speak!

  SEYTON Your queen.

  MALCOLM What!?

  Lies! Treason! You shall hang! Guards! Guards!

  SEYTON My lord, I vow, ’tis true. She was heard plotting—

  MALCOLM Guards!

  SEYTON And aims to avenge her parents—

  MALCOLM Guards! Ho!

  SEYTON And claims that she is rightful Cawdor!

 

  Enter Guards

  MALCOLM What? Cawdor?

  FIRST GUARD My king? We crave your bidding.

  MALCOLM Cawdor, say you? My queen?

  SECOND GUARD My liege?

  MALCOLM Go to.

  Exit Guards.

 

  SEYTON She was heard claiming her father’s title. She

  ’magines

  she is Cawdor, and by this right can seize

  your throne and rule Scotland alone.

  MALCOLM Can it be? One so close?

  SEYTON I speak true,

  my king. I have the nurse who will avouch.

  She waits outside the door.

  MALCOLM Fetch her.

  Seyton opens the door.

  Enter Nurse.

  NURSE My liege.

  MALCOLM Speak truly, woman, or these words shall be

  your last.

  NURSE My king, your lady I’ve attended

  these several days.

 

  SEYTON Go on.

  NURSE She owns a face

  of virtue, yet such secret ambition I ne’er

  have witnessed—

  MALCOLM Guards!

  NURSE Upon her entrance she demanded

  I fetch the scepter.

  MALCOLM Scepter? For what purpose?

  NURSE So, said she, to test the weight of it.

  Before I’d barely pressed it to her palm,

  she demanded that I bring her crown.

  MALCOLM Crown?

  NURSE She aimed to wear it e’en to bed,

  but hid it so that you would not suspect.

  And when your royal chamber sat vacant,

  she had me lead her thither.

  MALCOLM My chamber? Wherefore?

  NURSE To sit in your very throne. Startled

  at the sight, I inquired of her motive.

  In order, she answered, that she might feel her future.

  MALCOLM On this very throne?

  Enter Guards.