MALCOLM
I know him now. Good God betimes remove162
The means that makes us strangers.
ROSS Sir, amen.
MACDUFF
Stands Scotland where it did?
ROSS Alas, poor country,
Almost afraid to know itself. It cannot
Be called our mother but our grave, where nothing166
But who knows nothing is once seen to smile;
Where sighs and groans, and shrieks that rend the air, Are made, not marked; where violent sorrow seems169
A modern ecstasy. The dead man's knell170
Is there scarce asked for who, and good men's lives171
Expire before the flowers in their caps,
Dying or ere they sicken.173
MACDUFF O, relation
Too nice, and yet too true!174
MALCOLM What's the newest grief?
ROSS
That of an hour's age doth hiss the speaker;175
176 Each minute teems a new one.
MACDUFF How does my wife?
ROSS
Why, well.
MACDUFF And all my children?
ROSS Well too.
MACDUFF
The tyrant has not battered at their peace?
ROSS
No, they were well at peace when I did leave 'em.