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

  ACT V

  SCENE I

  Ireland.

  Ross, Lennox, Angus, various Nobles and Soldiers.

 

  Enter Fleance.

  ROSS Our good Fleance. News has already spread

  of the tyrant’s latest treachery.

  Accept our most profound remorse, which comes

  with the might of our good men to help

  exact revenge.

  FLEANCE Revenge? Too light a word.

  It would have been a fitting term after

  the murder of my dear father. But with the death

  of my love, revenge shall learn new meaning.

  LENNOX Surely, though, you will spare the people

  of Scotland?

  FLEANCE I will spare none close to Malcolm.

  All else shall live.

  ANGUS Well spoken. First among

  those are Seyton, Siward—

  FLEANCE First are those

  three murderers.

  ROSS Be heedful that our army,

  e’en swelled with your brave ranks, remains a fraction

  still of Scotland’s force.

  FLEANCE ’Tis of small consequence.

  Fear has fled me since the death of my Fiona.

  Caution and temperance have vanished with the loss

  of all I loved. I’ll happily gallop straight

  into the fiercest hordes of the warring world.

  ROSS News of Malcolm’s malady has spread.

  Perhaps his soldiers, deeming his cause unjust,

  will part and join our ranks.

  FLEANCE If not, our ranks will do.

  Better to die defying a tyrant than

  to live in fear of one.

 

  LENNOX Look! The heavens

  light a celestial streak.

  ANGUS A sign. It marks

  the fall of a king.

 

  FLEANCE And the rise

  of another. To the ships!

  Exeunt.

  SCENE II

  Dunsinane. Ramparts.

  Enter two guards.