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

SCENE VIII

  Dunsinane. Malcolm’s chamber.

  Malcolm, seated. Enter Doctor and Siward.

  SIWARD He’s not moved from this window since the death

  of his brief wife. ’Tis as if he’s frozen.

  DOCTOR He is not frozen; only the thoughts have

  within him froze. He is beyond physic.

  SIWARD But you must intervene. You are a doctor.

  And he is king.

  DOCTOR Even doctors cannot

  heal a mind diseased. Our good king

  has supped from the root of sorrow; once

  ingested, ’tis not quick to leave the blood.

  Enter Messenger.

  MESSENGER My king! An army doth approach, with Fleance

  at its head!

  SIWARD What, to Dunsinane?

  MESSENGER My king? Dost hear?

  SIWARD Go to, sirrah!

  Exit Messenger.

  SIWARD My king!

  We must defend! Grant me authority

  to summon our men. Merely nod your head—

  Enter Nurse.

  DOCTOR What now, nurse?

  NURSE I swear, it was not me.

  ’Twas the brutal lady.

  SIWARD Shall maladies

  never cease? She walks as she sleeps,

  and speaks as she walks.

  DOCTOR ’Tis the sign

  of a mind disturbed.

  NURSE Forgive me, Lady Malcolm.

  A saint more righteous I’d not seen.

  SIWARD E’en so?

  NURSE ’Twas Seyton, and his daughter. You were but

  the stepping stone. I spoke false! O! Forgive!

  MALCOLM False?

  SIWARD The king rouses!

  DOCTOR O unlikely

  physic! One malady heals another.

  MALCOLM Speak again, nurse.

  NURSE Forgive! Malcolm

  has been sore deceived. O forgive!

  Malcolm rises and stabs her. She dies.

  MALCOLM Prepare my army.

  Exit Siward.

  DOCTOR My liege, I joy to see

  you roused.

  MALCOLM I do not. Better I had sunk

  unto the depths. O black nurse! Evil Seyton!

  They dragged my queen onto the gallows—whilst I,

  their donkey, was by them led.

  Nothing is but what is not.

  DOCTOR And now?

  MALCOLM If half a man, I’d take my own life.

  I am Cawdor, after all: so who

  more fit? Yet e’en for this, I lack resolve.

  Thus, to Fleance.

  Let his men do what I cannot.

  Exit Malcolm.

  DOCTOR And I, anywhere but here. Farewell,

  Dunsinane. Your walls I pray to never

  see again.

  Exit.