Macbeth, Act 2 Scene 4 runs 51 lines of dialogue, spoken by 3 speakers. That is shorter than the play’s average scene length of about 85 lines. This scene is part of Act 2 of Macbeth.
Full Dialogue
Old Man ♂
Threescore and ten I can remember well:
Within the volume of which time I have seen
Hours dreadful and things strange; but this sore night
Hath trifled former knowings.
Within the volume of which time I have seen
Hours dreadful and things strange; but this sore night
Hath trifled former knowings.
Ross ♂
Ah, good father,
Thou seest, the heavens, as troubled with man's act,
Threaten his bloody stage: by the clock, 'tis day,
And yet dark night strangles the travelling lamp:
Is't night's predominance, or the day's shame,
That darkness does the face of earth entomb,
When living light should kiss it?
Thou seest, the heavens, as troubled with man's act,
Threaten his bloody stage: by the clock, 'tis day,
And yet dark night strangles the travelling lamp:
Is't night's predominance, or the day's shame,
That darkness does the face of earth entomb,
When living light should kiss it?
Old Man ♂
'Tis unnatural,
Even like the deed that's done. On Tuesday last,
A falcon, towering in her pride of place,
Was by a mousing owl hawk'd at and kill'd.
Even like the deed that's done. On Tuesday last,
A falcon, towering in her pride of place,
Was by a mousing owl hawk'd at and kill'd.
Ross ♂
And Duncan's horses–a thing most strange and certain–
Beauteous and swift, the minions of their race,
Turn'd wild in nature, broke their stalls, flung out,
Contending 'gainst obedience, as they would make
War with mankind.
Beauteous and swift, the minions of their race,
Turn'd wild in nature, broke their stalls, flung out,
Contending 'gainst obedience, as they would make
War with mankind.
Old Man ♂
'Tis said they eat each other.
Ross ♂
They did so, to the amazement of mine eyes
That look'd upon't. Here comes the good Macduff.
How goes the world, sir, now?
That look'd upon't. Here comes the good Macduff.
How goes the world, sir, now?
Macduff ♂
Why, see you not?
Ross ♂
Is't known who did this more than bloody deed?
Macduff ♂
Those that Macbeth hath slain.
Ross ♂
Alas, the day!
What good could they pretend?
What good could they pretend?
Macduff ♂
They were suborn'd:
Malcolm and Donalbain, the king's two sons,
Are stol'n away and fled; which puts upon them
Suspicion of the deed.
Malcolm and Donalbain, the king's two sons,
Are stol'n away and fled; which puts upon them
Suspicion of the deed.
Ross ♂
'Gainst nature still!
Thriftless ambition, that wilt ravin up
Thine own life's means! Then 'tis most like
The sovereignty will fall upon Macbeth.
Thriftless ambition, that wilt ravin up
Thine own life's means! Then 'tis most like
The sovereignty will fall upon Macbeth.
Macduff ♂
He is already named, and gone to Scone
To be invested.
To be invested.
Ross ♂
Where is Duncan's body?
Macduff ♂
Carried to Colmekill,
The sacred storehouse of his predecessors,
And guardian of their bones.
The sacred storehouse of his predecessors,
And guardian of their bones.
Ross ♂
Will you to Scone?
Macduff ♂
No, cousin, I'll to Fife.
Ross ♂
Well, I will thither.
Macduff ♂
Well, may you see things well done there: adieu!
Lest our old robes sit easier than our new!
Lest our old robes sit easier than our new!
Ross ♂
Farewell, father.
Old Man ♂
God's benison go with you; and with those
That would make good of bad, and friends of foes!
That would make good of bad, and friends of foes!
51 lines rendered verbatim from the dialogue corpus.
Who’s On Stage
Speaking characters in this scene
| Character | Lines | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Ross | 26 | 51.0% |
| Macduff | 14 | 27.5% |
| Old Man | 11 | 21.6% |
Line distribution
The top speaker in this scene delivers 26 lines, while the scene’s average per speaker is about 17 lines.
Total speakers on stage
3 named characters speak in this scene.
Scene in Context
Position within Act 2
This is Scene 4 of 4 in Act 2 of Macbeth.
Scene length vs. play average
At 51 lines, this scene is shorter than the Macbeth average scene in Macbeth (~85 lines).
Adjacent scenes
Previous: Act 2 Scene 3 · Next: Act 3 Scene 1
About Act 2 Scene 4 of Macbeth
Who carries Act 2 Scene 4 of Macbeth?
Ross, with 26 lines — about 51% of the scene.
Is the scene a dialogue or a solo?
With 3 speakers and the lead holding 51% of the lines, this scene is a balanced multi-voice exchange.