Ross. You know not
Whether it was his wisdom or his fear. 5
L. Macd. 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,[4389] 10
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.
Ross. My dearest coz,[4390]
I pray you, school yourself: but, for your husband, 15
He is noble, wise, judicious, and best knows[4391]
The fits o' the season. I dare not speak much further:[4392]
But cruel are the times, when we are traitors
And do not know ourselves; when we hold rumour[4393][4394]
From what we fear, yet know not what we fear,[4394] 20
But float upon a wild and violent sea[4395]
Each way and move. I take my leave of you:[4396]
Shall not be long but I'll be here again:[4397]
Things at the worst will cease, or else climb upward
To what they were before. My pretty cousin, 25
Blessing upon you![4398]
L. Macd. Father'd he is, and yet he's fatherless.[4398][4399]
Ross. I am so much a fool, should I stay longer,[4398]
It would be my disgrace and your discomfort:[4398]
I take my leave at once.[4398] [Exit.
L. Macd. Sirrah, your father's dead:[4400] 30
And what will you do now? How will you live?
Son. As birds do, mother.
L. Macd. What, with worms and flies?[4401]
Son. With what I get, I mean; and so do they.[4402]
L. Macd. Poor bird! thou'ldst never fear the net nor lime,[4403]
The pitfall nor the gin.[4404] 35