Woonsocket High School - Quiver Yearbook (Woonsocket, RI)

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THE QUIVER I-ady. Macduff. Lady. Macduff. I-ady. Macduff. So entered in his room straightway, and Lord! 1 saw the king lie dead upon his couch, His chamberlains with diggers in their hands, Besmeared with blood, and drunk as drunk could be But Sinel's son did enter after me; Seeing the king, did kill the grooms straightway, Protesting that his rage it was so great He could not 'strain his hand from killing them. A fouler murder never saw the light: A wise and just man was our good King Duncan, His virtues great, his bad traits few, so few He seemed too good for this poor earth of ours. Know you not who was author of the deed? ’Twixt you and me, I think the grooms, though low, Are innocent of any wrong or death: They were so drunk they knew nothing at all. Macbeth, you know, has hoped to be the king, And ambition overthrows all good in one. The murder of the chamberlains, coming then. So soon after the murder of the king, Must lay suspicion heavy on Macbeth. Think you Macbeth would be so base, so shorn Of all thought of his fellowmen, to kill His king, his kinsman, and his guest ? I think his not so good a nature That ’twould not stoop, to kill his kith and kin, Though laws of hospitality forbid, Though whom he kills, the sovereign, his most graci ous king, Whose virtues shine like stars up in the sky, Whose kindliness and meekness are well known, Who’s trusting even to a very fault. What other reasons have you to suspect him? Also, his trying to accuse the grooms, When his word is worth ten of theirs ’fore judge, Savors too much of trying to subvert The guilt from him entirely to the others. Then, too, his going so soon to Scone, As if he wished the crown upon his head Where none could take it from him. (I tell you, I will not go to see him crowned at Scone, Who I believe has murdered our kind Duncan.)

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8 THE QUIVER (SCENES LEFT OUT BY SHAKESPEARE) Act II. Scene V. A Room in Macduff’s Castle. Evening. (Enter Lady Macduff. Sits.) Lady Mrcduff. Where is my husband? He hath said to me That he’d return ere set of sun this day. He planned to hasten home from Inverness As soon as—Hark! Why! Footsteps on the stairs! (Enter Macduff hastily, bursting in like ma 1.) Macduff. Most gracious wife, the royal Duncan’s murthered: Lady. What, our king is murthered in cold blood? Macduff. At Cawdor’s castle was he set upon. Two grooms, kept with him, were besmeared with blood, And question fastened on them of the deed. Macbeth, in rage, hath killed them in their beds As he went in to view the Gorgon sight. (Sits.) Lady. Have you no tidings of this grave affair Save what you have related now to me? Macduff. But little is the knowledge of the deed. None of us know the time, the place, the doer. The story, as I know it, is quite brief: King Duncan had made plans to honor Cawdor, By presents and his presence at his home. He thence arrived on Friday night the last: And after sup, to bed did go apace. ’Tis said Macbeth was up at midnight. Also That owls did shriek, and the poor whippoorwill Did weep the livelong night. So horrible Was the night that the day dare’d not come up Till long after its time accustomed, and The raven, bird of witchcraft, held his post O’er the castle like a harbinger so grim Of death to someone in the castle. Lord Angus did awake at early morn And then did hear a bell toll, once, twice, thrice; Then thought he heard a voice cry out i’the night. Soon after, Ross and I came to the place; The drunken porter slow did ope the door; Then soon did Macbeth come upon us. I wished to see the king on urgent matters,

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10 THE QUIVER Lady. Macduff. Lady. His effort to accuse the sons and heirs Of Duncan makes me not a little wary, And I for one will not have aught with him. My love for Duncan will prevent me ever From 'knowledging Macbeth as rightful king. When suspicions dark as these hang o’er his head. You think Macbeth so lost, so vile, so mean. That he would ki.l the king in furtherance Of his ambition, let result what may? I think him vile enough for anything. His actions before this have not pleased me. I'm not the only thane that thinks him guilty. Enough of horror now, my dearest man, Tis late, and we must fain to sleep. We’ll talk again anon. (Exeunt). BUELL W. HUDSON. ’20. LADY MACBET’HS PREPARATION FOR THE MURDER OF DUNCAN Scene I. The room assigned to Duncan in Macbeth's castle. Enter Lady Macbeth. Lady Macbeth. Ah! here is the place where a dark deed will soon be performed. Duncan will soon enter a sleep in yonder cot from which he will ne’er awaken. But the grooms must bear the guilt. In this, small alcove will they sleep, after partaking of the drink that I shall prepare for them. Ne'er shall anyone suspect my worthy lord. (Exit.) Scene II. Courtyard in Macbeth’s castle. Enter Macbeth and Lady Macbeth. Lady Macbeth. All’s well, most worthy husband. Soon shall you be king. Macbeth. But if we're discovered! What then? Lady Macbeth. Faint heart, where is thy courage? He who chances nothing wins nothing. Macbeth. No faint heart am I. Go on. Lady Macbeth. Fear is not mine, as you well know. Hark, I’ll do’t myself if you are fearful. If not, take heed of what I say. I shall have all ready. At the signal you will but have to drive the knife.